On December 28 of 1986 we arrived from Jakarta, Indonesia in Singapore and took a taxi to our Century Park Sheraton Hotel.
On Monday, December 29, we got picked up by Dr. K.K. Tan to visit his Shiitake business.
Pieter knew him for many years as he had visited the Practical Mushroom Training College in Horst.
Actually he used to be an eye doctor and he noticed Pieter's eye problem and recommended he have surgery soon. At that time in 1981, there were only 3 eye doctors performing the lens implant surgery.
One in Singapore, that was Dr. K.K. Tan and one in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and one in Los Angeles, USA.
He wrote a letter of recommendation to his colleague in Rotterdam and Pieter had his surgery there.
It was quite an experience being able to see for 92% with his right eye—instead of only 8%.
Well, it was about that time when Pieter fully noticed me and in 1983 I became his wife and started a long and blissful relationship.
Inside the shed, harvesting.
Husband Pieter next to Dr Tan Kok Kheng, at his then Everbloom Fresh Mushrooms in Singapore
Dr Tan Kok Kheng in front of the row with sheds and me standing next to him...
We had lunch together before we went on to go shopping.
Shopping at South Bridge Centre Jewellery Mart (Dr. Tan's tip!) where I got my string of pearls with bracelet. We never saw that many jewelry stores together!
We walked also through China Town where we purchased one kilogram of fresh mangosteen and then by taxi to Orchard Road Shopping Centre... prices were duty free!
Both of us fell in love with the beauty of Orchard Road... we enjoyed a cup of coffee and ate somewhere.
We also loved all the tiny white Christmas lights in the tropical trees; so beautiful and atmospheric.
This is from a card we sent to Mom, she collected them..
We were so lucky that our Century Park Sheraton Hotel, Nassim Road in Singapore was near Orchard Road!
December 30, we left our hotel by taxi to go to the airport and leave beautiful Singapore with its 2.5 million citizens on 617 km². A long wait as we could only check in at 19:00.
We found a nice 14k Venetian necklace with charm for my brother Harry's wife.
By 21:30 takeoff for Kuwait and on to Amsterdam...
Brother Harry picked us up and that was our ONLY time that we were at Dad's Birthday!
Another epic post .......
ReplyDeleteDearest Helen,
DeleteThank you and yes, we owe this person Pieter's improved eye sight!
A very special friendship and memory...
Hugs,
Mariette
Wow! I'm so impressed that this doctor was able to diagnose Pieter's eye problems and make recommendations for him for the better. We never know how God is working in our lives to place the folks we most need right smack dab in our presence. What a blessing, Mariette!
ReplyDeleteDearest Martha Jane,
DeleteOh, we have so many instances that nobody can explain the 'why', but no doubt we do meet people on our path of life for a REASON! True blessings indeed.
Hugs,
Mariette
How serendipitous that Dr. Tan was knowledgeable in cultivating mushrooms and diagnosing eye problems. Glad he was able to get Pieter the treatment he needed. Love that picture of you in the middle of the street. I think candid shots like that are really special.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteWe have known another medical doctor that left his field for being active in mushroom growing. Pieter really was glad he pointed him to his colleague and for making contact on behalf of him!
Yes, that is a true snapshot of life as seen from the middle of the road in Singapore.
Hugs,
Mariette
God always puts us and others in the best place where we can do His work.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeleteThat no doubt is so very true!
Hugs,
Mariette
I have always wanted to travel to Singapore.
ReplyDeleteDearest Janey,
DeleteWe have been to Singapore several times and always made a stop there on our way to Indonesia, to work...
Hugs,
Mariette
I echo the comments about Pieter's eye diagnosis. Life/the Universe/Spirit/God/Whatever you call it can work in amazing ways. ♥
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I often really don't know what to write in the comments, Mariette. Your life experience has been so far beyond my own small world that I'm usually fumbling for a response. Of course, whatever our life path, we have challenges to overcome, times of grief, times of happiness....we're all united in a common human experience, however it looks on the surface.
Anyway, that's far too serious for this Mother's Day. I wish you a happy day, as being a pet "parent" definitely counts, IMO!
Take care.
Dearest Kim,
DeleteYes, we all have been guided through life for a purpose. Meeting with and working with other people and touching others' lives. Nobody can deny that there is no Creator and at times you get some clear signals. We both have been very fortunate in having met with thousands of others, all over the world. Learning from them and teaching and training others, it has been rewarding. Not in the form of money but we will feel very rich on the inside, forever and that, we can take with us to the grave and beyond.
We also have been blessed in far less having been 'drawn' into the brain-washing culture of the West where love, religion and service to others has been pushed away. Nothing came back in its place however; only more commercials about how to be happier, more perfect and on and on. Being content with ones own life and family, two or four-legged, is the only ingredient for true happiness! It cannot be bought or altered as they often suggest. That is all driven by greed and power. It has caused numerous depressions and even suicides. We always came home with the knowledge that in the poorest countries we saw often the most SMILES! That taught us to look more inward. You are an excellent writer and I've found it a pleasure over the years to visit you and others and read about a personal day to day life. Keep doing what you are doing and never forget that being content and looking for the daily little miracles around us make for true happiness!
Big hugs to you,
Mariette a foster Mom, Stepmom and kitty mom...
bei ricordi e belle foto!
ReplyDeleteCara Olga,
DeleteSì, sicuramente grandi ricordi come Pieter ha avuto la vista a causa del contatto di questo medico e la nostra visita a lui è stata memorabile.
Abbracci,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, How fortunate that Pieter's eye problem was diagnosed and fixed in time--one never knows how one's chain of connections will step in to help us. I know that you and Pieter have spread so much karma around the globe that it therefore makes sense that Singapore's largest mushroom grower was also a distinguished eye surgeon!
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteYes, Pieter was very fortunate with the visit of this former eye surgeon at his Dutch Training Center! Our visit to his place was also memorable and he was the best cook as he fried Shiitake mushrooms with some garlic and they tasted heavenly!
Fond memories...
Hugs,
Mariette
Fortunately they got the solution. Vision is the most important thing we have.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Coisas de Feltro
Dearest Christina,
DeleteThank you and yes, we're very grateful to his assessment and help in finding a knowledgable eye surgeon for that time. Can you imagine, one out of only three; worldwide. How the world has changed and improved in many ways!
Vision is a gift from God, not to be taken for granted.
Hugs,
Mariette
So interesting - you are certainly very detailed in all your travels Mariette - and must have a lot of filing cabinets to hold so much memorabilia from those wonderful trips!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Singapore other than the heat and humidity - overwhelmed me. Only had a day and overnight there though as we were boarding the Queen Elizabeth on part of her world cruise in 2012.
Oh how I'm missing travel to exciting places - you too?
Dearest Mary,
DeleteYou, like many other readers, make the mistake that you think we were a tourist.
NO, we just worked and feel very privileged for having been able to interact with the people by working with them and also for getting a real taste of the culture.
No, I have zero filing cabinets! The ones we had, in oak, contain my purses with their cover bags.
Hugs,
Mariette
Again WOW
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteWow, indeed for the help and guidance Pieter received by dr. Tan Kok Kheng for having his eyesight restored in one eye!
Hugs,
Mariette