Indonesia

    We went to the Indonesian border at the Tebedu crossing. It was an experience straight out of the movies. The Malaysian side is all nice and pretty the Indonesian side poor and scary. It is an armed and guarded border with barbed wire and a gated crossing. There were people bringing less than legal alcohol across the border and rather unusual collection of people there. Malaysians go there for cheap goods as the Indonesian economy is very depressed. Within 10 minutes of crossing the border I was offered sex, pornography, guns, and beer. It didn't seem to matter that I was with my wife and her family. I was also the only non-Asian person there so I stuck out like a sore thumb. They had all manner of goods from electronics, to guns, to clothes, to pc software. There seemed to be a large criminal element there and I would caution anyone who would think of going alone. I felt safe with my wife's family but would not have if they weren't there.  The prices there were VERY cheap though, and the area is so different from the Malaysian side it really opens your eyes.