The next leg of my 100th world record attempt journey around Borneo looked as though it was going to be a breeze – no longer was I worrying about the chastity device strapped about me, or how I would get to the next stage, and so I could concentrate on what lay before me.
The friendliest officer in the police station told me he “has power” and can stop any car he likes. As the traffic moved past the station door in fits and starts, hooters blaring and music drowning out our conversation, he pointed at selected cars, asking which type I’d like a lift in. I felt uneasy, knowing whichever car I looked at favorably he’d halt and instruct to transport me. What if that driver were in a hurry, sick, or in a bad mood?
A black 4×4 rocked to a stop a metre in front of the station door. It was a friend of the officer and I was told to hop in. Having no further information, I did, because now I knew the Indonesian Police had taken me into their care. I trusted them now and had every reason to keep my faith. These police were such good folks; I was treated as a special guest every hour until I was stamped out of the country at Aruk border post, east of Kuching, Malaysia.
The new and clean 4×4 accelerated into the traffic, dodging overloaded motorcycles and meandering through congested streets seemingly way too narrow for the traffic volume. The driver, Adi Suhari of Gabungan Pengusaha Jasa Konstruksi (081 257 362 588 / suhariadi@gmail.com) treated me to a delicious lunch, snacks and plenty of info to help me on my way.
We were approaching the frontier and I asked about border formalities. Adi, being vastly helpful to me, called a friend in Indonesian Immigration and sorted out what I needed to have done. We swung by the Immigration department in Sambas where officers came down specifically to attend to me. Again, I knew this excellent treatment was part of my police protection. I was amazed. It made me want to shout out to the world that the Indonesian Police of Kalimantan are good fellows; I know because I was treated like royalty by them for several days in a row.
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