Q & A with Aging One (his asian experiences)

[aging one]

No Willy the guy who screwed me over worked on an oil rig and was Canadian. He got strung out on the H and was never the same. The CIA guy is still a good friend and I see him in the states. He has been retired for over 10 years. Lance Mason sadly died in a plane crash. He was piloting an overloaded plane that went down on takeoff near Cali, Colombia. Sad day that was.

[aging one]

So the first week in Bali was spent partying and enjoying the high life. Between Lance, Jose Luis, and Bill we had about 6 surfboards of varying sizes, being a novice I liked a bit of a longer board on about 7.5 feet.

Wake up, have some eggs prepared and served by the staff and by noon we were on the boards, surfing both Petti Tenget and Kuta, it was better out in Petti Tenget because on the waves were a bit smaller, and two it was more private. Bill didnt like crowds, I really dont know why as he took it all in stride and was the life of the party.

We finally decided to try Uluwatu, so into the old VW van that was at our disposal and off to the southern tip of Bali. After the long walk in we were delighted to have a few cold Bintang beers, and a joint courtesy of the local and ozzie surfers who were camping there. But upon having a closer look we decided this was not the site for us. Perfect waves yes, but breaking over coral only 1 to one and a half meters down. Fun to watch you bet, but not to die over.

Dinner was often a grand affair. Poppies was the place to eat and be seen. Back then it hadnt graduated to the ritzy place it is now both in Bali and Samui. They did great Mexican food, with some of the best guacamole made from Bali avacadoes that I ever had. Again packing up the van, with the people from the houses adjacent to ours and then stopping in Legion to pick up other friends. If we called ahead we could reserve a set of tables for 20 and have a lot of privacy. Needless to say every time we departed they would have to go into Denpassar and buy more tequila, as Bill, Lance and Jose Luis could drink a 5th each. Really wonderful wasted times. Arrive about 5:30 and watch the sunset, then into the restaurant, never leaving before 11.

But soon Bill was off back to LA, Lance to New Guini, and Jose Luis to god knows where. Then it was just Deborah and I. We got a motorcycle and began to revisit the places we had gone two years before. Ubud, was now much bigger and had a lot of nice restaurants, places to stay and individual villas built by now. But the cast of characters living in the old Ubud Palace were the wildest. Two stood out. Kyo, a Japanese American had been working on an idea for Thai fishermans pants Balinese style two years before and now he had them down. Kyo's were a cult favorite on Bali and the entire SE Asian travel route. He simply adapted the old Thai fisherman pants into something that would make into a backpack for when you travelled, and believe it or not a hammock when you had trouble finding a place to stay. He was selling 1000 pairs a month and making about 3 bucks a pair profit. His partner was Simon an Ozzie, who was the first flaming gay guy I ever met. One day in a dress the next day in skin tight lycra pants. He seemed to have a new cute Balinese boy everyday. But the guy was an artist, one great artist. He had been studying Balinese art with the masters for over 10 years, and with his use of color his painting often rivaled and passed his Balinese couterparts, he too was making a wad of cash. All of these things helped convince me I had made the right move in leaving the USA at age 29.

One of my best friends from the bay area was Carl Burman and he was also an inspiration he had married Mirah a Balinese princess in real life and had started a very successful fabric business in Bali, They were splitting time between the house I had sold him in Tiburon Cal. and Candi Dasa on the lower east coast of Bali where they had built they're dreamhouse. We decided to let the house go after 5 weeks, and travel up and see Carl. So first we checked in to the old Guest House I used to stay. Janji in, just off of Jalang Legion. Stayed long enough to visit with Ynoman and Ketut the owners and to store a lot of our luggage as we would be travelling by motorcycle. So off we went to Candi Dasa.

Carl and Mirah's house put the places on Petti Tenget to shame, he had one acre compound with his large house and a guest house. Separating them was a jet black pool that was constantly filled by Balinese figures spurting water out of various oriffices. Even back then Carl was having the time of his life playing the great white conqueror. The guy had one servant just to give him massages. He had hired the chef from one of the top hotels in Sanur and every meal was a gastronomic feast. I never thought turtle satay would be so damn good.

After a few days there we decided we would go north to visit Mt. Kintamani, and then a few days of golf and cool air up in the mountains of Bedugal. What a change up there. Around a thousand meters up and high temperatures in the mid 20's going down into the teens at night. For only 50 bucks again we had a house right on the course. So we played golf. I had played a lot as a child and in uni, but it was new to Deborah, she liked driving the golf cart more than golfing so we both had a good time. But we needed to get back to Bangkok as in a week my course would start.

So we decided to go back to Legion the next day, just making a short stop at the Bali Intercon hotel at Sanur beach on the way back. We pulled into the car park and I sent Deborah in to get the mail as by then the bike was running like shit and if we turned it off we had to push start it. So with all the bags tied on it I figured I would stay with the bike and Deborah would go in with my passport and Amex Card. Little did I realize that waiting for her for 10 minutes would be my last taste of freedom in the next six months. When she came out she was handcuffed and and about 5 guys were walking her to meet me!!

[ChiangMai noon]

great post AO.

I like these interview threads.
(Do you think viperload would enjoy it?)
I nominate Frankie to be the next in line for a Memock interview.

[aging one]

Nope I dont think Viperload would!! And I second the Frankie part!!

[kingwilly]

oh man - dont leave us hanging!

[aging one]

Let me get a beer or two in me, this next part is not that easy to talk about as you will soon see. A comedy of errors ending up in the loss of every dime I had in the world.

[MeMock]

Damn and I am about to go out for dinner. I look forward to reading it later tonight or tomorrow am.

Did you ever meet up with Bill Murray since he left Bali?

[aging one]

First a disclaimer. I like herb and have travelled Asia enjoying and looking for it. But I am not stupid. I would never carry it across a border, or attempt anything in an uncool place like Indonesia, Singapore, or Malaysia are. Save Singapore they are also Muslim nations. Bali may be Hindu but Indonesia isnt.

There are so many fun things to do in Bali the thought would never cross my mind to try and score anything there. But sure when it was there in Petti Tenget, or up is Candi Dasa I was right in there. So lets head onto into Part one, The Bali Intercon and Denpassar Police Station.

As she came out she was shaking her head and mouthing "fuck", one guy was on each arm, two in front and one behind. Up they walked, in barely understandable English I was asked "are you AO? Since they had my passport in my hand and there was poor Deborah the answer was "Yes, what is the problem, thinking what the hell had Deborah done. Boom they were on me, and down to the ground I went face first. The cuffs were slammed on and they marched us back into the Amex office.

The Amex staff cleared out as we came in. I was sat down and out came an opened package labled books. " Who sent you this package from Singapore, I did not have a clue what they were talking about. " All literature to Indonesia is subject to search and censorship the commander said" Fine I am against pornography too. Then he pulled out a book and it was in Chinese!! Fuck me what is this I was thinking, opened it and it was hollowed out and inside was a clear plastic bag. "Its ganja" he hissed at me. Fuck me, what the hell was going on and more than that what in gods name was gonna happen. It was 5 grams of marijuana. Do you know "Abdul Rahim"? What the hell, No I sure as hell dont, " Why did he send ganga to you in Bali"? " This is your name ah AO" "Yup thats my name but I sure as hell dont know any Abdul in Singapore." " I havent even been to Singapore!?

It was then he pulled out the short note to me signed Laurie Bauer. The smack freak had tried to be a nice guy, but sent me a package of ganga in labeled literature or books, and so now I am in deep fucking shit, and my girlfriend who doesnt even smoke the shit anymore is going down as well.

Into a car we went and arrived at the Denpassar police station. We were both thrown in cells but to this day I dont know what Deborah was like. Mine was not really a cell but a holding cell, only a cement floor and no bathroom only a spitoon. Its now 5pm and to say my heart was racing would be so damn true, I was almost hyperventilating, I had 5000 usd in travellers checks that the first guys had declined. Now I was in a police station with a zillion cops.

No food or water the first night, as if they forgot about me, never slept I must have walked a million miles. But the one thing that I could not get out of my head was the "clang" of the door when they shut it. The next morning was the first questioning. Where did Larie live, damn I didnt know the last I heard he was two on two off on a oil rig off Songkla. So that didnt make them happy. How do you know him? I met him in Thailand over 5 years ago, I only knew him from Samui. " Where are you staying?" I replied " the Janji Inn Jalang Legion". Then my jaw dropped " We will go there this afternoon to search you room". I had nothing but what would the guests and owners think, it would scare the shit out of all them for nothing. Plus the gentle Balinese couple that owned it might die of a heart attack.

Off we went in a car and a truck which to my great dismay had dogs, German Shepards in it. Parked on Jalang Legion and walked up the path to the losman, passing astonished travellers on the way out. Dogs barking men running ahead, fuck it was a real show. Ynoman and Ketut the wife and husband came running, "AO what happening", I quickly explained it involved ganja and for her and Ketut to help the cops. Anybody in the losman took off when the cops ordered them out. The dogs were let loose and they enjoyed the walk. Went to our room and they began to search it, nothing for half an hour as I knew, then a lot of yelling and shouting and out they come running with a paper bag. Ketut told me they had found what they were looking for in Deborahs bag. "What did you find" I asked, he laughed and said big problem now, you will find out in court. Out we went and back to the Denpassar jail, holding each other and just not believing what was going on. Deborah had nothing absolutely nothing in her baggage.

[Skulldigger]

Another quality post.

Seriously, I can imagine what it must have felt like...

[kingwilly]

complete nightmare material!

i had a (much much much less serious) brush with cops a number of years ago that also invovled being at a station and being interogatted etc etc

I ended up fainting dead away! just mental - my mind couldnt deal with the situation - it was like being in a whirlwind.

did you also feel like this AO ?

[aging one]

fcuk yes I did mate, it was the worst terror I had ever felt, total loss of freedom, visions of Midnight Express X 2 Deborah who did nothing was in there and she was the one carrying what they were looking for. What the hell was I too do?? No matter what I did I was not going to be able to fix this one in the long run, I still had hopes for the short run though.

[hillbilly]

More, more....

[aging one]

Mom aint come home and theres two kids to get to a bath and bed. Another change I am sure happened because of Bali.

Next edition I hope tomorrow. Denpassar Jail to the real thing.

[dirtydog]

One time I rammed this sawngthew with my truck at the traffic lights, unfortuneately this was in my more crazy days so I had my gun in my bumbag with my passport, so I left the truck in the middle of the road and went to a friends bar and asked him if it would be alright to leave my gun in his bar as I probably had to go down the police station, alas he said no, so there I am in the police station trying to get my passport out without them seeing my gun, it was a tad worrying I might add and wouldn't recommend it, still 350baht fine and I was on my way, that was for ramming the poxy taxi driver, I really don't know how well the gun would have gone down, ok it is licensed to keep loaded in the house, it is licensed to keep unloaded in the car and truck, but loaded on your person it aint liscensed for.

My mates wife got done for an unliscenced gun, he bought it from a policeman and had the initial liscence saying he could buy one, but all that means is you can arrange buying one and when you find the one you want you can submit the serial number etc etc etc and then get the liscecne to own, but his nice piggy friend gave him the gun right away, next day his house got raided and his wife was arrested for illegal firearm, 100,000baht bail and she was out on the streets again, the court case was at Chonburi so they also had to pay 100,000baht there so they could get their 100,000baht back from the Pattaya police, eventually she was fined 500baht for having an illegal firearm. which I might add had been bought from a policeman, shouldn't he be done for supplying illegal weapons?

[aging one]

Well the second night was no better, and I did have to piss just on the floor of the cell. The 3rd morning we were both taken to meet some police asshole who let us know the charges being brought against us. Trafficking in marijuana because it came in the mail, and again one more the surprise they had found that they would not reveal.

That night at about 6 they let me out of the cell and I did not know why, soon I heard Peter, and it was a buddy from the Janji Losman, David Grinsell, and hiding behind him were Ketut and Ynoman the owners of the place. I was shocked and happy to see them, they had brought KFC, and I got them to let Deborah out to have a feast with us. I was able to slip the phone number of my mate in SF to them so at least they could help me to get legal help and let Deborahs parents know of the major hiccup in the vacation.

But soon it was back in the damn cell without a thing to do and not a book one in English, soon I was cursing myself for not asking David to bring some books back. I really didnt believe these people would visit us and it did pick our spirits up as we knew nothing. How long in this jail, could I figure a way out without ending up in prison. How to get more cash than the 8 thousand I still had in T-checks. So many questions and no answers.

The next day we were finally sent to see the prosecutor. He couldnt speak English and there was no translator and my legal bahasa Indonesian is not that good. I was really starting to bang my head against the wall as I had never felt so out in the cold and not in control of my life. When we got back to the station David was there again with some books and a couple of burgers, As he left he said tell Deborah to open the burger up before she eats it, you do the same. What was he talking about I thought as I trudged back to my cell hamburger in hand. Upon opening the burger it was the first one I had ever seen that had valium as a burger condiment. He had slipped about 5 onto my burger. I popped to down and sat against the wall. Damn that was nice I awoke 6 hours later in the same position with spit drool all over me, but I had slept and now at least I could focus on what I wanted to do.

The next morning we were awoken early and loaded into the "black mariah" to be transported to the Provential Prison in Denpassar, it had not been moved out to past Kuta yet. To get there we had to drive around 3 of the walls, and it scared the shit out of me. It might have been built by the Dutch as it had over 10 meter walls with a guard tower on each corner. We pulled up to the gate which opened from the inside and drove in. Soon we were unloaded in full view of all the other inmates, and taken to see the "boss".

Two pairs of shorts a couple of shirts and some underwear and flipflops were all we were allowed. Then it came Deborah was led away to the womens section and I was put in a huge room meant for 30 but empty. Long cement sleeping platforms and a shitter at the end. Slam the door went and the prison stay had begun. We still had not been formally charged in court, still did not know what the surprise was and still had no confirmation anyone knew where we were save our friends in Bali.

[MeMock]

Wow, it is as bad as I imagined.

AO, what where you thinking those first few days? Where you in too much shock to think anything, where you thinking that it was all a bad mistake and you would be out soon or did you ever consider that this could be you life for ever?

[aging one]

Never thought of life because I knew they had nothing, and I thought I could beat it if they tried to plant something. As it turned out they did have nothing but it took a hell of a long time to find that out.

No MeMock nothing but thinking mate, but the worst is once I started to sleep, I had the longest and wierdest dreams of my life. But basically you just feel fear because you are really caged. The mind races to strange places. You damn well age.

[klongmaster]

You damn well age

Hence your nic, I guess...

scary but very interesting story AO

[MeMock]

Please take your time AO going through the first few weeks on the inside.

Did you have access to a telephone?
Did you get in contact with friends or family?
What about Deborah - how was she going?
Food?
Fellow inmates?
etc etc

[Marmite the Dog]

What about Deborah - how was she going?

Pops mentioned her in another thread, if I'm not mistaken...

[MeMock]

Theres another thread about pops in the can in bali?

[Marmite the Dog]

I took it to mean, how is she doing now. Sorry, I misunderstood your dodgy English.

[The Gent]

I know that this is going quite a bit off topic, but it seems to me that quite a few of the Americans here are from the SF Bay Area. AO is from San Rafael, FriscoFrankie is from SF, I'm from Palo Alto... any others?

Orange Co. - Anaheim
Great thread btw

[MeMock]

I took it to mean, how is she doing now. Sorry, I misunderstood your dodgy English.

Remember who we learnt it from

Actually, asking how deborah is doing now was going to be a question towards the end of this thread.

[aging one]

Deborah remained in prison with me the entire time. But I did not really see her for over 5 months. Perhaps once or twice a week. The next part of the story will cover food, prison gangs, the Bali mafia, servants in prison, and the availability of alcohol.