A book based on some of the unique characters and situations encountered during the course of a large construction project in East Java during a crucial time in Indonesia's history.
The cast includes all the usual suspects: Europeans, Australians, Americans etc. but the starring roles are Indonesians.
The timescale covers immediately before, during and after the downfall of the Soeharto regime.
Centred around the building of an Independent Power Plant consisting of eight coal-fired power stations, distribution systems and extensive infrastructure, with over ten thousand employees at the height of construction activities.
The account is based on the job and and it's impact on the area, an introduction to Javanese customs and culture, interaction between expats and locals, including the often weird and wonderful way that Indonesians view foreigners, plus the way some westerners behave when given the 'keys to the sweetie shop'.