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Ah yes, fond memories of Pelni. That was how we got into East Timor (overnight boat from Kupang), as we'd heard that all foreigners trying to get there by bus were being taken off and turned back at the West/East Timor border. No such checks at the port - we just walked down the gangplank.

I spent quite a while in Indonesia during the time of "President" (Dictator really) Suharto, and it was true that most people on the surface (probably out of fear) claimed to have blind faith in the ruling Golkar party. But you could always find a few who would tell you what they really thought...

And in answer to the question, the Soviet Union under Brezhnev, 1980. Just after the Moscow Olympics. The only holiday I've ever been on where we had an 'official guide' to accompany us everywhere.

Don't know if it's changed, but it used to be dead easy to spot (and avoid) the government spies following you around in Vietnam: they were the only ones dressed in patent leather black shoes, while every 'normal person' wore flip-flops... Stood out like beacons.