Table of Contents

Contents

Introduction............................................................ 9
Where the hell is East Kalimantan? 11
Samarinda: Original Borneo Jungle Town 20
The Java Princess 34
Pestilence A' Plenty 47
Transcending Chaos................................................ 55
The Pleasure Cruise That Almost Wasn't 61
The Holden Ute 66
Black Water Village...................................................91
Clint Takes a Wife 99
Life on the Mahakam River 105
Log Rafts and Rust-Buckets 116
The Magic of the Mahakam 126
An Unlikely Discovery 131
Denizens of the River 138
The Muara Muntai Hilton 144
The Dayak Queen 151
Boats and Blowpipes 157
Painting the Town Red in Singapore 185
The Wind-Up DC-3 194
Baby Ninety-Nine 205
Release the Hounds! 2112
Easy Meat and Not So Easy Meat 218
The American Crane 229
Treasures in the Jungle 237
Smuggler! 249
Central Borneo-The Highway to Hell! 273
The Golden Ghost Stag 281
Bridge Over the River Teweh 291
Ular! 300
The Living Jungle 308
A Knight in the Forest 314
Glossary 328

About the Author

Ross Lockyer, now in his late 70s, is retired and living with his wife Lestari near Kerikeri, Bay of Islands, in the far north of New Zealand. Friends have been telling him for over 30 years that he should write a book about his life and adventures in the forestry industry and the jungles of Asia and the Pacific. In 2013 he put pen to paper and started writing - "the book".

Eight years later that one book has transmogrified into five books. The first two books "An Accidental Bushman" and "Cannibals, Crocodiles and Cassowaries" have been edited and published and have sold some hundreds of copies. The third book "The River is my Highway" was published in November 2021 and is now available for purchase. Books four and five are scheduled to be edited and published over the next eighteen months or so.

Ross spent much of his life living and working in the forestry and logging industry in remote locations in Asia and the Pacific (Papua New Guinea, Irian Jaya/Indonesian West Papua, Borneo, Sumatra, Burma, Thailand, Philippines, Kiribati and others).

With a gung-ho approach to life (and his own safety), Ross threw himself into his work and immersed himself in the local cultures and communities wherever he went, learning the languages and customs that helped him fit in and do his job. He had many hair-raising adventures and close scrapes, and he encountered many amazing people wherever he went.

Reviews

Review: I have read a lot of books written by famous people, politicians, war heroes etc. and I must be quite honest after reading "The River is my Highway" these previous biographies fade into the distance. Ross is indeed a modern unsung hero and the way he tells about his experiences makes you feel you were right there alongside him. The way he describes all his experiences as if they were everyday occurrences is quite mind boggling when you understand the enormity of the situations he had to face. Well done Ross and I look forward to your next book. Frank Kennedy, Wharehine, NZ.; This, the third instalment in Ross Lockyer's account of his life experiences, is another rip-roaring tale of adventure, excitement and danger. Lots of danger, as Ross recalls his time in Indonesian Borneo, experiencing the most challenging of circumstances. Experiences that most of us could only ever dream of (or more likely have nightmares about) and promptly run away from. Not Ross. New Zealand's answer to Indiana Jones. Except that Ross' authentic adventures are real life and not staged for any studio cameras. I cannot but admire reading about his can-do attitude to life from his time in East Kalimantan and Samarinda, his readiness to learn and embrace the local language and culture, his journeys into the forests and mountains and travelling the length of the local rivers. His regular contact and brushes with the local tribes' people must have been both exciting and equally fraught with danger. This book carries on seamlessly from Ross' two earlier accounts of life in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, it is written in the same easy to read style, such that it grabs your attention making it hard to put down. I got into it quickly and was hooked immediately. This is a brilliant piece of writing from a man who, more than most, has lived his life to the full. I cannot wait until the fourth instalment is published later this year. Diolch yn fawr Ross. Lyn Griffiths, Abertawe, Cymru (South Wales). ;My Dad worked with Ross in Borneo. We were one of the few Kiwi families living in the same Weyerhauser camp as Ross and his beautiful wife Lestari in the mid 70s. I remember going spotlighting for Rusa deer in the jungle with Ross and a few of his men and as an 11 year old kiwi kid. The experience made quite an impression on me. Ross has come out with a great book giving the reader a rare insight into the culture of the people of Borneo as someone who lived and worked alongside them for a number of years. His accounts of his experiences dodging head-hunters, chasing log pirates, staying on-side with the Indonesian military and hunting in the jungle, is a great read that I found hard to put down. Looking forward to his next book! Andrew Widdowson - Leigh, Matakana. ; The author of this book enjoyed a career in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and beyond, during the last half of last century. His story is wonderful for a diverse range of reasons, and because of this may appeal to a broad range of readers. This book is episode three, of a five episode biography of Kiwi, Ross Lockyer and this one covers a five year period in Indonesian Borneo between 1973 and 1978 until a vehicle accident curtailed the episode. It's a very easy read and once the primary characters are identified, the chapters may be read in any order. Each one illustrates something of the endlessly fascinating life of an acute observer of the people and places and events in the work of selective harvesting in the forests of Borneo. These stories and events are what makes this book so interesting and generate plenty of reflection on social history, politics, economics, cultural imperialism, logging of ancient jungles and the effect of rampant capitalism on the indigenous inhabitants. The author recounts stories of remarkable resourcefulness in meeting the challenges of the work and the environment and it's interesting to ponder on the origins of true kiwi ingenuity nurtured in rural Taranaki. These are described in an earlier episode of this biography. It's also interesting to think about the attitudinal changes to our relationship to the natural environment since the time of this book. I suspect that the final episode of the biography will describe the author's personal change in this respect. Highly recommended as Great Yarns from an eventful, adventurous career. Dave Cameron, Whanganui. ;Experience the amazing adventures of a brave and resourceful Kiwi, Ross Lockyer. Having read and enjoyed his exploits in the first two books, The River is my Highway again held our attention. Ross's style is intriguing with delightful humour and attitude despite the challenges he faced in Borneo, Indonesia. Our family and friends await Ross's next publication. Enjoy those amazing adventures in the safety of a comfy home. All the best Ross. Keep writing. I doubt anyone else has better stories to tell! Cath and Trevor Ferguson, Kerikeri. ;Fascinating, adventurous read with such detail and an approach to story-telling that you are there with him. The description of Samarinda, camps, people and the environment bring back so many memories of my time there. An excellent and compelling book which keeps you on edge awaiting the next event in Pak Ross' (and Ibu Lestari's) adventure. J Gossage - Kerikeri. ;This third instalment in the extraordinarily adventurous life of the author is perhaps the best yet particularly with the introduction of "The Java Princess "to play a major role in his life. He either kept a daily diary or has an eidetic memory for detail. We are lead through remote primitive societies where back in the 1970's few foreigners had trod and learned quickly how to adapt to local customs for their own well-being! The frequent use of local dialect and English translation adds colour, but in the process does impede the flow of narrative somewhat. All in all, a well written and enjoyable read leading to anticipation of what comes next in the colourful and charmed life of this Kiwi jack of all trades." Ernest Watson, Kerikeri. Review- The River is my Highway. ; Having lived in Balikpapan for 18 years and travelled throughout Kalimantan selling Logging Trucks in the '80's I found Ross's book really interesting. It brought back fond memories of some of the crazy stuff that happens to you in developing Nations. Whether you relate to this book because you have been there and done that, or whether this is an arm-chair adventure it is a fun book that is hard to put down. I am looking forward to the next book. Jeff Barker, Sydney. ;The River is My Highway written by Ross Lockyer. One of a series by the author, was particularly entertaining and interesting to me as I have an Indonesian wife, and having spent holidays in Indonesia, Ross's adventures really draw me in. Unlike myself, Ross has lived among some of the more remote tribes of the jungle. I was interested in Ross's tame native wildlife too. Particularly with Orangutans that Ross kept for a time as pets before being transferred to a rehabilitation centre. These were orphan babies, displaced by Man's exploitation of jungle resources. The book also describes how Ross met his Indonesian Princess, Lestari, and their adventures, eating bush meat, animals that Ross hunted, shot and processed. A thoroughly good read. Tim Damerell, Tutukaka.