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The family moved to a crude oil production camp on the Indonesian island of Sumatra during the 1950's where Ernestine's third child was born and we lived for seven years. Note: the 'ubi' is a basic tropical food source derived from a plant's root. Rumbai, near Pekanbaru, was the camp name.
Life on Sumatra
Come to Sumatra, land of the ubi
Of the elusive sapphire and the mythical ruby
Land of equatorial splendor
Where white men go on a perennial bender
Come and behold the charm of the isle
Come to Rumbai and live in style
Try to fathom the native mind
Of the smiling houseboy who steals you blind
Come and fight the mildew and heat
Thrill to the patter of flat, brown feet
Join our gay, mad whirl of parties
And drink your fill of scotch, me hearties.
Come to the land of the casual life
Have an affair with another man's wife
Eat waterlogged meat; drink Heiniken's brew
Try cold storage eggs: you'll like them too.
The native culture you'll find complete
First they sleep and then they eat
And if they feel they're in a rut
Then they turn to the Betel nut.
And if it's movies you enjoy
You'll get your quota here, my boy
That is, of course, if you don't mind
The end in front and the beginning behind.
So hurry, hurry; don't delay
Pack your trunk and start today
Bring your shorts and tennis racquet
Highball glasses and a good strait jacket.
Sail across the blue Pacific
Come to Sumatra; it's really terrific
And around the island you can merrily roam
Counting the days 'til you go back home.