Robmac,Salam, Apa kamah?. I have had the same experiances with the Indonesians.it doesn't seem to matter what you or them have to say.
just have to love the "KOMOROW TOWER, VICTOR HOTEL ECHO UNIFORM KILO, 50 MILES SOUTH EAST MAINTAINING 8500.
VICTOR HOTEL ECHO UNIFORM KILO, CLEARED TO LAND RUNWAY ONE EIGHT, NEXT CALL BASE.
KOMOROW TOWER, VICTOR HOTEL ECHO UNIFIRM KILO, MA'AF, SAYA BELAM LANCAR DELAM BAHASA INDONESIA. APAKAH ANDA BERBAHASA INGGRIS?.
AAAH, VICTOR HOTEL ECHO UNIFORM KILO, KAMU BAHASA INDONESIA!. BAIK BAIK. SAYA BAHASA INGGRIS TIDAK BAIK. TIDAK APA APA.
you just know its going to be a good place to fly then
strangly enough,whilst off galloping around the Philippines, I had absolutely no problems with Mactan (west) control, cebu director, cebu tower,(cebu ground was a slight drama) Manila director and Manila tower and ground.
All ICAO English and very easy to work with.