Mon 17 Jul 2006-Day 6-Singapore
07:10 Wake up.
09:00 Sit rep w/ Bob across street. Transvestite poses in front of camera, asking if we need "movie star girl?"
11:30 Move to Hotel 6 in "Geylong District," the seediest in town. Cab driver refers to its "syndicate, criminal, ladies." Hookers present, they run away like pigeons as soon as they see the camera. Deals, exchanges taking place on the street from hand-to-hand on motorcycles. Dave cut loose for filming, as is Bob for his business. We decide to return to Malaysia, to port city of Melaka due to word of pirate info. being available there. Plan for filming on one of V.Ships anchored vessels tomorrow A.M. Company requests we not reveal or show vessel name. Lots of filming in seedier areas, though we never feel threatened, Singapore very safe. The crime in this district is primarily street dealing and backroom syndicate stuff, not theft or muggings.
19:30 Dave says he was kicked out of Metro station while filming."The police were very polite about it."
22:45 Ask front desk for 06:30 wake up. Discover we lost our camera light attachment. Probably left it in cab trunk. $500 piece of equipment. It is gone.
23:00 Lights out.
Sat 22 Jul 2006-Day 11-Medan, Indonesia
14:00 Depart hotel. Karem drives so slow. "Speed up," I order. He just smiles and says, "good for pictures." "Why don't you go faster?!" Still goes slow. Bob is seething, he did not like him from the start, but I had instructed him to say nothing. Mistake on my part.
16:00 Finally stops at restaurant. Waiter serves us "Indonesian style." Plate upon plate stacked in front of us. Unbeknownst to us, what you touch you pay for, and what you don't touch is returned for other customers. After I return from WC, a new man is sitting at the table. "Who is this?" I ask. "A co-worker." "Why is he here?" Only a vague answer. Get bill. Outrageous! $440,000 Rupiah! Obviously it was a set-up job. Then we go outside to find our bags being transferred into other vehicle parked next to it. Ask "what is going on?" He says he is changing drivers. Why? "Boss needs me here to drive oil officials." "But we discussed our plans, you never said anything about this." "My friend, my friend." "You lied to me, you broke your trust." "Get our things out, now! He's dumbfounded. "My friend." "Goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye." "Be grateful for your good fortune, use it to take care of your family. Good bye. Goodbye."
Tue 25 Jul 2006-Day 14-Lhoksumawe, Indonesia
06:15 Wake up. Hotel bath, no running water, pail bath. Sink drains thru wall and onto floor.
08:00 DC & I drive to search for elephant reserve I visited in 1997. Drivers ask for directions. Go out to village. Talk for 15 minutes while we wait in SUV. Then, they disappear with some men. Where did they go? Then, a group gathers around our vehicle. Man approaches with shotgun. Another perfect setup opportunity. Man slowly walks past, crosses the road. Where is he going with that gun?