Pieter and me at the foot of a giant tropical tree on May 12, 1983 on my very 1st trip to Indonesia.
Visiting this Botanical Garden in Bogor, some 60 km south of Jakarta, was quite something!
The gardens cover more than 80 hectares.
Very difficult to make good slides under the canopy of tree branches that keep the sunlight away!
These giants do resemble the redwoods that we saw later in California...
A buttressed tree trunk!
Daylight does not have much chance to peak through such a canopy of green...
Pieter holding the leaf of a White Bauhinia Blakeana to show its kind of heart shape.
By the time we reached the Bogor Presidential Palace, clouds darkened the sky...
We had to hurry to the car as we got treated by a tropical rain shower!
Yes, that is the Bogor Presidential Palace
Water lilies and Lotus flowers
Some with leaves as big as a huge pie plate!
Lotus flowers
Beautiful Water Lily...
~
We went back to the Mandarin hotel and got ready for our very special dinner seating right at the runway for a fashion show: {Yes; I was at an Yves Saint Laurent Prêt-À-Porter Show in Jakarta!}
What an experience for me, having studied 3 years of fashion...
First of all I want to say hello and wish you both a happy and blessed Easter.
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazing place Indonesia it seems and what can I add about the incredible images of those humongous trees in every which way !
It's a treasure you took so many pictures to remind you both of such wonderful path thru your life and that you share it with us. Sometimes when I see pictures of the past, I really think: "Where has time gone ?" And now it seems to me time is going even faster.
I also love your new header.
Thanks for dropping by and for sharing part of your life.
Hugs,
Fabby
Dearest Fabby,
DeleteThank you and to you and yours a happy Easter!
Indonesia is a wonderful country and those years spent there have probably been the best of our life. We both love nature and fresh tropical fruits and people.
Yes, those slides now become very valuable and a joy for traveling back; finding finally the time for doing so!
Hugs,
Mariette
Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteHugs Britt
Dearest Britt,
DeleteHappy Easter to you and yours!
Hugs,
Mariette
Huge sized trees!
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteYes, they are indeed huge!
Hugs,
Mariette
Votos de uma Santa Páscoa.
ReplyDeleteAndarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
Livros-Autografados
Querido Francisco Manuel,
DeleteFeliz Páscoa para ti e Idalisa!
Abraços,
Mariette
Amazingly huge trees. No doubt many years old.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for a Happy Easter to you and your family.
God bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteThose are the world's giants indeed.
Happy Easter to you and yours.
Hugs,
Mariette
I'm so amazed by your many travels, Mariette. What a fabulous place Indonesia is!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter!
Dearest Martha Jane,
DeleteAll work related with a little extra once in a while!
Indonesia is fabulous indeed, like Hawaii on steroids.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, Those trees certainly are magnificent. The wooden bench right in front is an unattractive distraction, and besides, wouldn't people sitting down want to face the trees? The Presidential residence is an attractive Neo-Classical building, but I wonder if it isn't plagued by mosquitoes with all that water near. The lotus flowers are beautiful, but to many who have spent time in Asia suggest dishes made with lotus seeds and lotus root!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteYes, indeed magnificent trees and one wonders about their age as the botanical gardens were laid out in 1817, formerly known as ‘s Lands Plantentuin te Buitenzorg (the National Botanical Gardens at Buitenzorg). Buitenzorg was founded in 1745 by Governor General Van Imhoff (1705-1750). Van Imhoff constructed a country estate on this location, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1834. In 1856 a new palace was completed, which during colonial times served as the official residence of the governor general and at present functions as the presidential palace. Among others it accommodates the extensive art collection assembled by President Soekarno (1901-1970).
The above is from Royal Netherlands Institute.
More info about this Indies Empire Style architectural style: https://www.hisour.com/indies-empire-style-29154/
Guess in Indonesia with so much rainfall there is always a mosquito problem and especially near bodies of water.
Can't recall for ever having eaten dishes made of lotus root. My Vietnamese friend mentioned it so it seems quite common in Asia. Our only lotus flower we ever ordered and had blooming on our pond, got eaten by a snapping turtle resident...
Hugs,
Mariette
A stunning post / chapter in your lives. The contrast between your size and the tree is such a visual treat! Have a lovely weekend, Mariette & Pieter.
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
DeleteThank you and yes, for me it was the very beginning of our life in Indonesia. Pieter had been there already several times before and his two brothers during their service time.
Oh that size of the tree is mind boggling and we wonder if it got planted in the 1700s or if it happened to be there?
Wishing you a Happy Easter and lovely weekend too.
Hugs,
Mariette
Those trees are really impressive!!! Thanks for sharing pictures of those beautiful places you had the chance to visit.
ReplyDeleteI wish you and Pieter a blessed and happy Easter, dearest Mariette!
In Greece, this year we have to wait until 2nd May for the Greek Orthodox Easter!
Many hugs,
Marie-Anne
Dearest Marie-Anne,
DeleteThose trees were quite impressive and they kind of darkened their surroundings.
Our life in Indonesia showed us some spectacular sites and we are grateful for that.
Hugs,
Mariette
El árbol de la primera foto se ve descomunal. Debe de tener bastantes años de existencia cunado ha alcanzado un tamaño así.
ReplyDeleteSon preciosas la flor de loto y de gran belleza. Adornan muy bien y dá gusto contemparlas.
Besos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteOjalá supiéramos más sobre la edad del árbol, pero tenga en cuenta que en los trópicos los árboles crecen mucho más rápido! A los dos nos encantan las flores de loto y los lirios de agua, una vista tan bonita.
Abrazos,
Mariette
A dream trip. I would love to go to Indonesia, I think there are areas that look like an authentic paradise. Maybe someday ...
ReplyDeletexoxo
Coisas de Feltro
Dearest Christina,
DeleteYes, Indonesia is a beautiful country in many ways and also with delicious food.
Hugs,
Mariette
What great photos
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteThank you and the experience was indeed great!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hallo Mariette,
ReplyDeleteIndrukwekkend zulke grote bomen. Leuke foto's van jullie. Prachtige waterlelies. Fijne dagen. Lieve groet Willy
Beste Willy,
DeleteJa, dat waren ze zéker. Blij met deze gedigitaliseerde dia's, mooie herinneringen.
Liefs,
Mariette
Ogromne drzewa. Piękne zdjęcia. Pozdrawiam serdecznie.
ReplyDeleteNajdroższa Małgorzata,
DeleteDziękuję i tak, były humongous. Wesołych Świąt!
Uściski,
Mariette
Wow, the foot of those trees! Magnificent! You traveled quite a bit in Indonesia. Also like the heart shaped leaf your hubby is holding. Thank you for sharing this, Marriette! Jesh
ReplyDeleteDearest Jesh,
DeleteThat indeed was quite a buttress compared to our bodies against it. This was my very first trip to Indonesia and 22 would follow once working and living there for two months at a time with one month in-between.
Don’t you just love those Bauhinea Blakeana leaves?!
Hugs,
Mariette