So, on April 11, 1992 we arrived on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in Amsterdam, with our 92 kilos of luggage, coming all the way from Jakarta, Indonesia.
No problems checking in with our courtesy cards in regard to Maximum Baggage Weight...
The customs inquired about the boxes and upon showing once again the photos from the robbery and explaining that all that was left we bring home, they let us pass.
Putting things in the locker and then traveling once more by rail to the South where my Parents lived.
Keep in mind that all our clothes got robbed; shoes and everything. Except what we had on our back and inside our luggage, coming from work in India...
We gave away both our hightop shoes to the people working in the hot compost, barefooted. You find link below post from previous adventures.
On April 13, during our 2nd night at my Parents' in my former bedroom, we woke up at 3:22 AM by an earthquake! The rattling and shaking lasted for 20 seconds.
Pieter said very calmly: 'Now THAT is an earthquake!'... Wow.
~
Yes, in my Province of Limburg... With 5.5 on the scale of Richter!
The above article appeared in the then bi-lingual Dutch/American newspaper the Windmill, a bi-weekly publication.
On April 15, I had my hair cut, the LONG braid got snatched off with the hairdresser's scissors. See post below about it where I show it being framed.
Happy at home and with short hair!
The weather is still inclement and rather cold.
We enjoy a nice Easter weekend and on April 20, on 2nd Easter Day we went to the Easter Concert of Dad's choir with a youth choir; very well.
On Monday we went to the city for buying a Sharp microwave for Mom & Dad as a gift.
We went to brother Piet's birthday on the 23rd.
On Saturday, April 25, we went with the early train of 6:30 AM to Zoetermeer for the Floriade. The biggest international Garden Exhibit that the Dutch hold every 10 years.
But oh, it was such inclement weather and cold and miserable...
We did not have the clothes for it, aside from our newly purchased leather jackets from the Leather Garment Factory in India.
Above, I'm admiring Begonias.
Cape violets...
I'm happy for being indoors in an orchid greenhouse and out of the chilling wind!
Wearing my newly bought sandals from Malioboro, Yogyakarta/Indonesia...
Remember ALL shoes got stolen. Those leggings were certainly not warming me much!
We both decided then and there to stock up on some warmer clothes, shoes and, all for keeping in The Netherlands...
Pieter was not as cold, even though wearing a short sleeved shirt was also not sufficient...
So typically Dutch with red tulips and lots of fragrant hyacinths.
Being indoors was a lot better, I see that here I swapped my sandals for shoes!
But we certainly enjoyed being there for the Floriade.
~
On April 26, brother Harry treated both of us and Mom & Dad on a dinner to celebrate his belated 12.5 year wedding anniversary.
Brother Harry on the left, with his wife and their three little ones...
It was very special, together.
We also celebrated Pieter's Birthday with family on the 29th.
That year, we'd come to The Netherlands early February, en route to our work to Indonesia, for celebrating my Birthday with my Parents and family and next day brother Harry's and also Mom's Birthday five days later.
So now fate had it, that due to our early leaving from Indonesia, also Pieter's Birthday got celebrated in our birth country.
Very special time this visit, for being with family and friends!
On May 1, on Friday, we go by train to the airport.
We had dropped off all the excessive luggage the day before, by car, and placed it in a locker.
There we go on May 1, with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines finally going home to Atlanta, Georgia/USA
We've come a long way with the remnants from our Life in Indonesia as baggage... Our Exodus!
BUT we sure got a Royal treatment with an upgrade to Business Class on our Courtesy Card with KLM
Menu card reads: Inspired by 'Floriade', the greatest flower show on earth.
Our lunch menu
Cold meal
KLM's Wine Cellar in the Sky
Wine
Champagne and wine...
Liquors and Aperitifs
Discover Holland flowerland... at Floriade 1992! The World Horticultural Exhibition is the most colorful and breathtaking event of the year. A unique show of flowers, plants, trees, vegetables and fruit. Held only once every ten years, Floriade will greet the world from April 11 to October 11 in Zoetermeer near The Hague.
KLM Royal Airlines is main sponsor and official carrier of Floriade 1992.
They sure did carry us back home in a very comfortable way with our upgrade to business class, thanks to the courtesy card we each had. We felt quite pampered in the upper deck.
A very appropriate way for sealing off our Life in Indonesia..
From Singapore to Jakarta and SURPRISE upon arrival at our Villa | previous post by me
Adventure in Madras India, now Chennai | previous post by me
{Did I loose my strength?... Like in Samson and Delilah?} | previous post by me showing my long braid
Pieter's Favorite Lambskin Leather Jacket Made New Again... | previous post by me
Dearest MAriette,
ReplyDeletewonderful Memories, even, it was after an earthquake!
You look sweet with short hair :O) The flower fields are wonderful!
Wishing you and Pieter a lovely weekend!
Love and hugs Claudia xo
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteCan't label an earthquake wonderful... neither being cold to the bone for lack of sufficient clothes. But the sight of the Floriade was worth the sacrifice.
And of course it was lovely for being with family and friends on Pieter's Birthday and also the Wedding Anniversary dinner...
Hugs,
Mariette
Bellissime foto,ah il terremoto ne so qualcosa.Ciao
ReplyDeleteCara Olga,
DeleteGrazie e sì, vivendo e lavorando in Italia ci saremmo aspettati un terremoto, ma non nella mia città natale...
Abbracci,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, What a nice welcome home after all the calamities in Asia. The earthquake was just a reminder that such adventures are a continual part of your life. I know that long hair can be a special emblem of feminine beauty, but it must have been a relief to have short hair for a while. Both styles look great on you! The flower show looks beautiful in the photographs. Too bad you didn't have the right clothes, but it looks like you had a good time anyway.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteYes, Mother Nature can give us at times a shake up to reality and we ought never forget its forces.
Yes, the short hair after dutifully keeping my braid for hygiene reasons at work, was certainly a relief!
That flower show was well worth it, regardless the mean and cold wind, we enjoyed being there as final year 'Dutchmen'. We became Americans the next year, while being back home we could finally start the procedure.
Hugs,
Mariette
It is so nice to spend time with the family. Happy memories for everyone. Beautiful flowers too.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteIt sure was nice to be with friends and family!
Hugs,
Mariette
Dear Mariette - it must have been a great relief for you both to rid yourselves of those final bad memories at the end of your stay in Indonesia before setting out on your new life in the States. Glad that you were able to break your journey and share several family birthdays in your homeland during tulip time.
ReplyDeleteDearest Rosemary,
DeleteThose are moments that nobody plans for and I neither wish this to anyone else!
We got out in time I guess and spend wonderful family time in The Netherlands, however cold but with spectacular sights at the Floriade.
Our return flight back to the USA was a royal one.
Hugs,
Mariette
You must have felt so much lighter after having your long hair cut :-) You look beautiful in your new short hair! How scary to be woken up in such an early hour by a big earthquake. The biggest I experienced was magnitude 4 earthquake and it was quite scary! Tulips at your parents’ place are beautiful. Also wonderful photos from Floriade!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, Mariette xo
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteBut surprisingly is that hair does not weight much at all; yet it gives you a light feeling! That braid is nicely preserved and still hanging in our bedroom, framed against ombré silk, inside a shadow box.
Yes, it was a scary wakeup but luckily no damage at my Parents', not like in the photo at some homes. You of course in Japan have more frequently and earthquake, just like in Indonesia, Italy or Mexico.
Tulips always look beautiful and the Floriade was quite a show!
Hugs,
Mariette
Thoroughly digested this post which I love!!! No matter the length or style of your hair, you are so lovely. The flowers, the menus (which I read), photos of you, Pieter and family ~~~ wonderful.
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
DeleteThank you and we both are grateful that we can tank on a wealth of memories; quite a variety.
Family time always is precious; thank you for your compliment.
Hugs,
Mariette
A bloody awesome post that I am truly liked, thank you my friend what a life you have had
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteThank you and our life for sure has never been boring!
Hugs,
Mariette
We visited Floriade one of the years when we visited our daughter in Amsterdam, and it was a most beautiful sight.
ReplyDeleteHow awful to have been robbed of your possessions, and then also go through an earthquake.
Luckily not much damage to your parent's house.
Dearest Sami,
DeleteGlad you too got to see the Floriade!
The earthquake did not cause any damage at my Parents'.
Well, at the time it was sure no fun to live through these things but we made it and can look back now to this adventure.
Hugs,
Mariette
Lots of ups and downs along the way Mariette, but when reunited with family things are always better ✨ Floriade looks beautiful, so many pretty blooms en masse are stunning. I'm hoping to see that myself tomorrow if it's not too rainy.
ReplyDeleteDearest Grace,
DeleteYes, that was the most rocky period of our lives I guess, so many unexpected things coming our way. But as you mention, behing 'home' things feel so much better. It was special to celebrate a birthday with family then flying home...
Hugs,
Mariette
Beautiful post. Your hair was cute short.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in the Netherlands my husband’s company flew us back and forth in business on KLM. It was a real treat!
Dearest Janey,
DeleteThank you and yes, when my hair was still very full, short looked great as well.
You both got very lucky while living in the Netherlands and being able to fly business on KLM!
We only got an upgrade, we always purchased economy tickets but that Courtesy Card worked miracles for us and yes, we were very frequent flyers with over 1,500,000 miles on our record.
Hugs,
Mariette