So off to Indonesia again, this time on my own. This always puts a different angle to travelling to far flung places and I find my senses are heightened. Just before Christmas as well, really don't want to go but the factories need my attention; prototypes to sign of prior to the forthcoming NEC Interiors Show and update meetings to be had - so off I go.

After three flights and twenty four hours of travel I arrive in central Java.  It's rainy season; the skies are grey and not the bright blue clear skies I always look forward to seeing.

My first night is spent in a faceless hotel with a dreary piano bar and a few lonely sad souls propping up the bar. I hate these places and look forward to the simple living on the sea shore in northern Java.

After a long following day in the first factory I arrive in my little sanctuary by the sea; will I be the only Westerner in town?

Thankfully not and I sigh with relief - when so far from home there is always some reassurance to have someone to talk to in the evenings with a common culture. I find I am sharing this little group of beach side rooms with an American, a Belgium and a very eccentric German working in the local power plant.

After another busy day I arrive to the beach house to find everyone is off to a party and I'm invited - it's Saturday night after all. I arrive at the party to find it full of the area's expats from all parts of Europe; it makes for a fun night! The party was put on to celebrate the German chap's birthday and he certainly made sure he enjoyed it.

The following morning I was having breakfast outside with the American, when Henrick's doors fly open and he jumps out of the room in black speedos - his German beer tankard full of Bintang beer and traditional German music blasting out at full volume - it was hilarious !

As there was no sun shinning I decided on a traditional Javenesse massage to pass the time. This was carried out by an old lady of about 80, with fingers like iron! She certainly sorted the aches - to be replaced by her own induced pain! The afternoon was spent with my camera walking on the beach taking in the traditional buildings and the rough sea.

Back to work on Monday; exciting new bed design to sign off. This is the best part of my job; putting great designs together as a team then seeing the concept turn into reality.

Tuesday is the start of the long journey back after a morning meeting with our Indonesian manager and our technician who had arrived from the uk the night before.

After handing over the batton and discussing the project he was arriving to carry out, I leave Indonesia once again to fly back to the ice covered UK and prepare for fast approaching Christmas. 


After all, there are a lot of customers looking forward to Christmas dinner on their new Frank Hudson table and sleeping in their new Frank Hudson bed.

Let's hope the snow stops falling!

Written by James Hudson