On March 2, 1992 we arrived from Singapore (where we spent one night after our consulting work period in India), in Jakarta.
Remember, that I found the magazine with mention of our boss on the cover...
Bad news!
Remember, that I found the magazine with mention of our boss on the cover...
Bad news!
By taxi we arrived at the Hyatt Aryaduta Hotel.
We now had the kitty room decor in the Regency Club.
We go for a coffee with petit-four in the private lounge, with wonderful view from this height.
On March 3, after a good night sleep, we flew to Yogyakarta, Central Java, where we arrived around 15:00 and the driver was waiting for us.
A lovely drive up into the mountains of a good two hours.
Then awaits us a big surprise.
Things looked suspicious, with so many people at the gate of our villa... and the police was there, with security people from Dieng Djaya, our company.
Turned out that they'd robbed our villa for the 3rd time.
What a sight, what a mess, what an experience to find your home like this.
Pieter's Royal Gift, purchased at Harrods, London, the Tanner Krolle Attaché was cut to pieces... see previous post below.
Pieter's Royal Gift, purchased at Harrods, London, the Tanner Krolle Attaché was cut to pieces... see previous post below.
Ideally, you would love to turn around and fly home to the USA...
Our books and training material they left untouched!
Our books and training material they left untouched!
Not only robbing but vandalizing... On the bed are the cut off sleeves (see text I've added) of my most favorite jeans suit that Miss Yati, my couture seamstress did create for me.
It was so soft and pleasant to wear and you can see it here in this short video:
1991, June 24 – A Touch of Ireland In The Heart Of Georgia ←click link and watch on YouTube
~
We did move into a guest bungalow on the premises of the company.
We decided to quit, even if our contract said we had to come back three more periods of two months!
We did move into a guest bungalow on the premises of the company.
We decided to quit, even if our contract said we had to come back three more periods of two months!
The company being in financial trouble...
It's not worth all the stress, aside form having to wait for our travel expenses being reimbursed; we were still waiting on quite a sum of money...
On March 9 and 16, Pieter goes with me to the University clinic in Yogyakarta for having several fillings and also his partial repaired. It was not easy, understanding the dentist when he spoke while wearing his mask! But I managed to translate, and communicate while Pieter just 'opened' up his mouth for treatment! I also had my teeth cleaned.
We laughed a lot also.
We got a copy of the police report and had to hand in our Buku Biru (work permit) for our departure visa.
Pieter read in his new book from Scarlet, the sequel of Gone with the Wind.
(We only last week, finally found the time to watch the two video tapes of the movie... catching up on our life after completing our book!)
On March 19, the six perpetrators of the robbery in our villa got caught...
On March 20, we bring our Brabantia ironing board to Yati, my seamstress, so she can use it.
March 22, we visit the boarding school for saying our goodbye to all the girls that frequented our home on Sunday afternoons.
It's not worth all the stress, aside form having to wait for our travel expenses being reimbursed; we were still waiting on quite a sum of money...
On March 9 and 16, Pieter goes with me to the University clinic in Yogyakarta for having several fillings and also his partial repaired. It was not easy, understanding the dentist when he spoke while wearing his mask! But I managed to translate, and communicate while Pieter just 'opened' up his mouth for treatment! I also had my teeth cleaned.
We laughed a lot also.
We got a copy of the police report and had to hand in our Buku Biru (work permit) for our departure visa.
Pieter read in his new book from Scarlet, the sequel of Gone with the Wind.
(We only last week, finally found the time to watch the two video tapes of the movie... catching up on our life after completing our book!)
On March 19, the six perpetrators of the robbery in our villa got caught...
On March 20, we bring our Brabantia ironing board to Yati, my seamstress, so she can use it.
March 22, we visit the boarding school for saying our goodbye to all the girls that frequented our home on Sunday afternoons.
March 27, in Yogyakarta at Malioboro I found some sandals to wear.
Remember that both of us had given our hightops away to the compost people in India, since we had several pairs of shoes in Indonesia. ZERO!
April 2, on our way down from the Dieng Plateau area where the mushroom farms were located, we saw a cow tied to a beam on the bridge to be slaughtered. Not a very exhilarating sight... In these days around Idul Fitri, there is a lot of slaughter going on.
April 3, we went to Solo and the Kraton.
We also bought our final, fresh durian and ate half of it...
April 5, made photos from my LONG hair. Longest hair ever.
April 8, we say our final goodbye at the boarding school, you feel that there is true affection here, especially with Agnes, Wiwik and actually all of them!
We will not soon forget them...
On april 9, together with our driver Praytno and his wife, we depart for Jakarta, by car.
A beautiful route, via Banjarnegara, Purwokerto etc., in the direction of Cirebon (where Pieter's eldest brother was stationed). We arrived timely in Jakarta via the Interstate, for the final stretch it went rather rapid.
April 10, on Friday we go to the ABN/AMRO Bank for guilders, the Hyatt Aryaduta's neighboring Umum Bank Nasional did not have them. We now have a far smaller bundle of money... Those Rupiahs add up into the millions rather quick.
We check out and went to the airport with our 92 kg of luggage.
We would have to pay at least a fee over 15 excessive kilos, US $ 430.
Well, I had a feeling and luckily had put the photos in my purse to show that we got robbed and cleaned out, and this was ALL what was left.
The lady disappeared to discuss with her manager and came back with vouchers for the first class lounge and NO FEE. Pieter had to change his shirt, he got hot from all this. But now we could relax in the first class lounge. Pieter told me that I had to go shop and find me something special since I'd earned it!
That's when I bought the hand painted silk batik stole that I converted into a bolero.
Photo shows my sewing creation from that hand painted with gold silk batik stole...
~
Around 19:00 we depart on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, from Jakarta to Amsterdam in seats 24 A+B... with mixed feelings but rather relieved, now that all the stress is behind us.
Remember that both of us had given our hightops away to the compost people in India, since we had several pairs of shoes in Indonesia. ZERO!
April 2, on our way down from the Dieng Plateau area where the mushroom farms were located, we saw a cow tied to a beam on the bridge to be slaughtered. Not a very exhilarating sight... In these days around Idul Fitri, there is a lot of slaughter going on.
April 3, we went to Solo and the Kraton.
We also bought our final, fresh durian and ate half of it...
April 8, we say our final goodbye at the boarding school, you feel that there is true affection here, especially with Agnes, Wiwik and actually all of them!
We will not soon forget them...
On april 9, together with our driver Praytno and his wife, we depart for Jakarta, by car.
A beautiful route, via Banjarnegara, Purwokerto etc., in the direction of Cirebon (where Pieter's eldest brother was stationed). We arrived timely in Jakarta via the Interstate, for the final stretch it went rather rapid.
April 10, on Friday we go to the ABN/AMRO Bank for guilders, the Hyatt Aryaduta's neighboring Umum Bank Nasional did not have them. We now have a far smaller bundle of money... Those Rupiahs add up into the millions rather quick.
We check out and went to the airport with our 92 kg of luggage.
We would have to pay at least a fee over 15 excessive kilos, US $ 430.
Well, I had a feeling and luckily had put the photos in my purse to show that we got robbed and cleaned out, and this was ALL what was left.
The lady disappeared to discuss with her manager and came back with vouchers for the first class lounge and NO FEE. Pieter had to change his shirt, he got hot from all this. But now we could relax in the first class lounge. Pieter told me that I had to go shop and find me something special since I'd earned it!
Photo shows my sewing creation from that hand painted with gold silk batik stole...
~
Around 19:00 we depart on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, from Jakarta to Amsterdam in seats 24 A+B... with mixed feelings but rather relieved, now that all the stress is behind us.
To be continued...
Related link:
Adventure in Madras India, now Chennai | previous post by me
{Pieter’s Tanner Krolle Attaché - Royal Gift purchased at Harrods by English Friend} | previous post
72 Years Later... Gevaphone Spoken Letters to Military Brother Employed Overseas | previous post
1948 Gevaphone Record with Young Pieter Playing his Accordion for Brother in Uniform | previous post
{Our arrival in Jakarta, Indonesia} | previous post with view from private lounge in Hyatt Aryaduta, Jakarta
{Angels engraved on lucky calendar coin of 1969} | previous post showing the silk batik bolero in final photo
1948 Gevaphone Record with Young Pieter Playing his Accordion for Brother in Uniform | previous post
{Our arrival in Jakarta, Indonesia} | previous post with view from private lounge in Hyatt Aryaduta, Jakarta
{Angels engraved on lucky calendar coin of 1969} | previous post showing the silk batik bolero in final photo
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteoh, not really nice memories, to get robbed three times!!!
Good, this stress is all behind you!
Wishing you a lovely weekend ahead,
Love and hugs, Claudia xo
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteNo, that certainly is not a happy memory and nobody should have to go through this.
Hugs,
Mariette
What an adventurous life you both led. So sad to have been robbed in your home. Also sad to leave so many friends behind.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteYe, those were mixed emotions indeed. We did go back for a three week period many more times however and thus got to see those friends also.
Hugs,
Mariette
Gosh, what an adventure, both good and bad (the robberies, of course). It actually boggles my mind, the life you've lived -- I can't imagine the reality of it!
ReplyDeleteDearest Kim,
DeleteWell, the good thing is that nobody gets his/her script of life so we don't know what lies ahead of us. Once you are 'in' it, you have no choice. I hugged Pieter when this final robbery had happened and said: 'There are two things they never can take away from us; our Love for each other and our Faith!' Guess that's what always kept us going. It also teaches you what really is important in life!
Hugs,
Mariette
WoW - Amazing Photos From The Nineteen Hundreds - Looking Forward To The Next Installment
ReplyDeleteCheers
Dearest Travis,
DeleteYes, those were quite some adventures we lived through but it makes you realize what counts most and you only become stronger.
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh! Terrible thing when thieves go to people's homes!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, it is an awful invasion of privacy and if they create a mess and draw on the wall certain messages, it makes it complete.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hi Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine being robbed and I can't imagine having it happen 3 times. Terrible!
Your hair long and wavy at the ends is so pretty. Did you keep you hand painted batik stole? Very fine and pretty.
Hugs Betsy
Dearest Betsy,
DeleteIt sure is an awful experience. Pieter only had it happen once to him in his previous home in Horst, The Netherlands but I've never lived through any before.
Kept my hair in a long braid, all the time, for hygiene reasons at work. This was on a weekend when I could have it just loose after shampooing it.
The real gold hand painted batik stole you see in the final photo. As mentioned, I turned it into a bolero. For size 4 that was enough width with 90 cm or 35.4 inches.
Yes, I still have that!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette!
ReplyDeleteThanks for leaving me such nice comments this past week - and enabling me to come visit you here! I can see your very interesting life traveling the world with Pieter
is going to allow me some quality time reading back through many of your exciting posts. I too have traveled to amazing places so right now am not a 'happy camper' stuck here at home in North Carolina. I'm not even able to make my annual trek home to England to see family and friends - but plan to head across the pond next spring for certain!
Today, once again, we are being impacted by heavy rain from the latest hurricane - what a year this has been, and is, in so many ways.
Stay well - be happy - and BTW, I LOVE mushrooms!!!!!
Hugs, Mary
Dearest Mary,
DeleteThank you for your interest in reading our stories.
Well, our 1,500,000 miles on air travel were just work related. Not vacation...!
But we enjoyed every bit of free time, even minute-wise, we could indulge in.
Yes, we all are being restricted in a terrible way due to this very political virus.
Hope we soon regain our freedom back.
Hugs,
Mariette
Una mala experiencia que han vivido varias veces. los ladrones desordenan toda la casa, para encontrar cosoas de valor.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteSí, tienes tanta razón y dejaron un desastre en la cocina y el baño. Champú exprimido y lo que sea. Todo nuestro estéreo y la radio mundial se había ido... Tantos artículos y ropa, zapatos. Cortinas vandalizadas, etc.
Abrazos,
Mariette
I have never been robbed but still I can imagine the feeling of being violated
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteHope you never have to go through experiencing that feeling...
Hugs,
Mariette
Wow, that's quite a travel adventure!
ReplyDeleteDear ?
DeleteThat sure was enough and by the way, this was just coming home from work!
Hugs,
Mariette
Oh my!! What extraordinary hair and I love how creative you are when it comes to fashion! This new blogger slows the process down a bit until one gets comfortable with it I’m guessing .....
ReplyDeleteHelen
Dearest Helen,
DeleteThank you, that was the longest hair I've ever had.
It takes some vision for being able to buy a stole and creating such a bolero but I treasure that piece.
Wonder how the new blogger will hold up...
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, I can see why enough was enough after that third robbery. Were such robberies common, or perhaps did some of the locals consider you as "rich" foreigners and likely targets for a robbery. I don't know about everywhere in Taiwan, but I have never heard of anyone, local or foreign, having such an experience.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteThat indeed was enough! There was a lot of fraud inside the company and both of us saw through that and warned the owner. Guess those people involved kind of pestered us away... Initially we lived in one of the guest bungalows on the premises but were forced (not by the owner!) to live in the city. They will meet their final Judge one day.
Hugs,
Mariette
I remember reading about robbery in your past post, too. It's so heartbreaking to lose something in such a way. I'm glad the robbers got caught. One silver lining may be that you got first class lounge passes and no extra fee for the luggage. It's nice of the airline to do that :-) Love the photo of you with your longest hair. You look very pretty!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, Mariette!
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteYes, when I wrote about Pieter's Royal gift I did mention it briefly...
Oh, not having to pay the extra fee for the luggage was sure a huge blessing.
Yes, that was indeed my longest hair ever. But I changed it when we arrived in The Netherlands. No longer was I obliged to wear a braid for hygiene reasons.
Hugs,
Mariette
It must be the worst thing arriving home to find this situation Mariette, I know it would absolutely floor me. How clever you are to turn the stolen to a bolero, excellent idea and it looks fab💜 You certainly have had adventures along the way!
ReplyDeleteDearest Grace,
DeleteOh, when you arrive home, tired and encounter such a reception by police and lots of spectators, that sure is awful. But we both pulled through and were strong.
I remember sitting up almost all night for writing the list of things that were in the house... Couldn't sleep anyway and it caused me a big headache; naturally.
Many adventures while working all over the world.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hw frightening! I think you made a wise decision to leave. Wonderful that they took care of you at the airport. Lovely creation you made.
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteYes, we did not want to invest again for living there for three times, two months again. This was enough.
The treatment by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was indeed 'royal' and made us both very happy! Thank you for your compliment.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hai avuto una vita molto movimentata!Splendidi i tuoi lunghi capelli,buona domenica!
ReplyDeleteCara Olga,
DeleteChe ci credi o no, solo ora abbiamo un po' di tempo per riflettere sugli anni passati e scrivo tutto questo perché mio marito lo riviva. Può vedere sul suo iPad in grandi dimensioni. È bene alla fine andare oltre la tua vita... Sì, non abbiamo mai avuto un momento noioso o noioso nella nostra vita. Mi è piaciuto molto i miei capelli lunghi per gli anni che ho avuto, ma ora lo tengo molto più breve.
Un abbraccio,
Mariette