In 2003, I visited Indonesia for the second time and took part in a really fun comics convention. I wanted to see if I could import some of that grass roots DIY enthusiasm to Cambodia.

In 2005, I helped welcome Indonesian ‘Komikus’ Beng Rahadian out for a brief teaching visit. http://komikcambodia.blogspot.com/

Talent runs in the family: his wife, Lulu Ratana, is a filmmaker and here to meet up with other cinema enthusiasts. It was great to get the update first hand on what Beng’s been up to, both with his own comics and the association of comics artists he works with, Akademi Samali.

We caught up at one of the Indonesian restaurants here. (We figured starting off Halal would be OK after a busy day of travel. 😀 )
Here’s Lulu Ratna with high school friend Tita Larasati’s ‘Graphic Diary’ – for comics, it’s a small world!

Since this is an extremely brief trip, she was snapping pictures relentlessly to capture what impressions she could. Above: gratuitious squid picture!

Many of the comics reviews and profiles I did in 2003 have evaporated off the internet – I have comics enthusiast Darren Schroder to thank for meticulously archiving them!

Comic Cinta / Sektekomik / Komik Casa / Agung Komikaze / Beng Rahadian / Eko Nugroho / Taring Padi (no pictures) / Indonesian Comic Society

Perhaps time for an update!