Why am I in Indonesia
Why I am in Indonesia
Why am I in Indonesia and living in the jungle of Kalimantan or Borneo as I have always known it?
Well, it is a long story…
It started in 1995, my first trip to Indonesia.
I was on my way back to New Zealand after some time up in Norway – Amsterdam – Kuala Lumpur to hang out with Julian Dobbie, who was working for a New Zealand property developer, in Singapore, finally I landed in Jakarta.
Julian Dobbie & Hugh Lynn
I wasn’t ready for Indonesia, the heat, so many people, and the traffic.
They’re all mad, were my first thoughts. So many people squashed together, coming at you down the road, on both sides, on the foot-path, and the language?
This had been a Subud trip, right through I had hung out with Subud people, and I was heading towards Wisma Subud Cilandak, on Fatmawati Road, two hours away from the airport, depending on traffic, and the traffic rules in Jakarta, it determines the right time to go from point A to point B, and if you pick the wrong time, it can add an extra hour to your journey.
Wisma Subud Cilandak, Jl. Fatmawati, South Jakarta
Vibrant, alive this city is on fire, and nothing was the same as I knew it. The food, the people, the language, everything is different, and the damn heat. My thoughts were they’d lost control over the city. I suppose after being in places that had some order to them, Oslo, Amsterdam, Kuala Lumpur was a bit loose, and then Singapore, Jakarta seemed to be out of control. I could have been on Pluto, at times I thought I was.
I remember the first panic attacks I got with the heat; it just does not go away. I remember moving in to the guest house without air conditioning believing that it would be better If I learnt to adjust to the heat the natural way, now that was a dumb idea, but it takes me some years to figure it out that air conditioning in your room was good especially in the early stages.
Subud Guest House
Seems funny now, writing this from Kalimantan, because it is hot here, but my body has adjusted over these years.
Riza and Hugh in Rungan Sari, Kalimantan
After my first time into Indonesia, I found myself coming back. It seemed to be on the way to Europe and I was flying around a bit more now, on the way back to New Zealand, I’d stop off. My main reason for coming to Indonesia was because of Subud; Wisma Subud was the first international center, English speaking people from all over the world, coming and going.
Subud Hall Cilandak Jakarta
In 2001 I met Yanti, (Subud name, Murianti) and eventually we got married in April 2002
Hugh & Yanti Lynn Wedding Day, 13 April 2002
We brought Rafael, her son to Auckland, New Zealand in late 2003.
Rafael’s farewell family gathering
Rafael is ready for New Zealand adventure
We then moved to Gisborne, August 2004, my tribal area to start work doing tribal business, which lead on to working in The Treaty Settlement process for the Turanganui A Kiwa (Gisborne). This involved many different Iwi, Hapu and Whanau groups.
Gisborne City from Titirangi Hill out look
The Treaty Settlement Process Gisborne
Hugh with tribal elders of Turanganui A Kiwa
During this time I brought down some of our Indonesian family, first Nuraini for 3 months, then Riza for 9 months, then Elvira and Riza’s for a second trip.
Nuraini – Mt. Manganui Beach, East cape of New Zealand
Nuraini – Gisborne 2004
Riza and Elvira, Auckland 2007
Rafael, Riza, Elvira – Wainui Rd, Gisborne 2007
By this time we were making serious plans to go up to Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, and spend some time in Rungan Sari. Rungan Sari is a Subud international compound and is 36 km away from Palangka Raya.
Rungan Sari Compound, 36 km from the capital city of Palangka Raya
Wooden house were we living in Rungan Sari compound
Hugh Lynn - New Zealand 
Appreciate it for this terrific post, I am glad I found this website on yahoo.
Why, I’m surprised to find your writing. It’s just like reminding me something I can’t quite knowledge what. Perhaps there’s similarities in a different circumstance. You are from New Zealand, living in Indonesia; while I am an Indonesian living in New Zealand. My Kiwi husband and I have been to Wisma Subud back in 2006, visiting Mrs. Amaliya Lerrigo, the chairwoman of Srikandi org if you are familiar with her. Anyway, have a great life in a heat of Indonesia there with your lovely family.
Why, I’m surprised to read your writing here. It’s like reminding something that I can’t quite point at. Perhaps there’s a similarity in a different circumstance of your situation and mine. You’re a Kiwi married an Indonesian who lives in Indonesia, while I’m an Indonesian married to a Kiwi bloke and live in New Zealand. Anyway, have a great life in Indonesia with your lovely family.
Ka kite.
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Hugh and Yanti, Hi!
Hope that you are well and happy. Last saw both of you in Austria high on a mountain top in 2005 (you were very kind to me.). Nowadays I live in Canberra and do latihan alone.
All the best,
Maria Jamieson Polmeer