New Delhi Sight Seeing and Bahai Lotus Temple

 Bonus of sight seeing, courtesy of Pond's India Ltd...

On our final day in Delhi, we had a meeting with the General Manager of Pond's India at the Taj Palace Hotel, on August 9, 1994. Then we got picked up by the wife of one of their staff members, whom we met several times over the years. She was pleased for finally meeting us in person, as her husband always had brought home the little gifts we gave him upon meeting with us. Very pleasant to chat with her!Pieter shows on the video, the lobby of the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi, also outside with the Indian man in official dress. Next we walk onto the compound towards the Bahai Lotus Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.If viewing this short video on YouTube and on your PC, you can follow the clickable markings below the video.Musician with Cobra we captured.Next we walk towards India Gate, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.The weather was not clear, a heavily pregnant sky and almost fog did not let us capture the President's Palace with left and right the Parliament buildings.~By 20:30 we got dropped off at the airport and we were supposed to fly back via Amsterdam to Atlanta shortly after midnight. But we had some engine problems with one out of four... So that meant parking on an apron and it took that long that they started serving the hot meal. Around 8:00 in the morning, next day! we had to go back to the terminal and all business class passengers had to step aside. We were lucky for having gotten an upgrade on our KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' Royal Wing card, so we were chosen.That meant we were being carried by Air Canada to London, from there to Amsterdam, one night at the Barbizon Palace Hotel and next day to Atlanta, Georgia/USA...Travel at times can be fun!

Related link to previous post by me:

My 5th Consulting Trip to India & Visit of Taj Mahal | More info about this trip

Taj Mahal short Video

Red Fort of Agra short Video

Lalitha Mahal and Maharaja Palace Mysore  2 minute video

Sister Diny's Rabbit LOVED my Saddlebag from The Bridge Italy 

Short Suit with Slouch Socks

 Coming back from my consulting work in Germany, on Wednesday, June 3, 1987, I did guide a Dutch gentleman and friend, Jan Thielen. He had picked me up at my Parents' and we enjoyed the privilege of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' business class 'Van Gogh' room to relax. A great luxury, due to my courtesy card.

While Pieter was in Australia and New Zealand, I'd also gone the day before, to the cremation of Pieter's former boss, in The Netherlands and met with lots of friends.

Now we landed in Atlanta, and it happened to RAIN so heavily, due to a tropical thunder storm!

Luckily I had stuffed my leather travel bag, with an extra coat, just to fill it up.

Now we each had a coat, for hanging over our head... I used my Burberry trench coat.

We hung the wet coats in the back of the car, over the luggage and drove home.

Jan, politely had asked me to press his business suit as his pants still had gotten the full load from the rain, below the coat...

He was one of our many house guests and he used our guest bedroom.

Next day we all three had breakfast on the patio, and Pieter went with Jan to the Campbell mushroom plant.

Nicely cuffed... The 'Short Suit' click for link

Pieter called me from the Mall in the late afternoon, and asked if I joined them, as Jan wanted to buy a tennis racket for son Ruud.

 At said store, I found myself white slouch socks! As I was wearing in previous post...

Then, I held a pack of black slouch socks up to Jan and said: You ought to buy these, for wearing with your business suit! 

Like this, dress shoes with black slouch socks, as husband Pieter is showing off here.

To Jan I continued: Well... I better tell you the truth now. Those knees were so saggy, I had not succeeded in pressing the middle pleat neatly back again. 

SO, I had to cut them off instead and changed them into some neat short suit pants, again WITH cuff, just like before.

I will NEVER forget Jan's face as he looked at me. He did NOT buy those black slouch socks and he hastily went to have the racket rung up and we went home.

He then did scoot straight from the garage, through our kitchen into the hallway, to his guest bedroom.

I could hear him yell out: HERE IT HANGS, NEATLY PRESSED!

He told me that he believed me, as I told him I'd altered it as it was not possible to modify it.

We all three had a good laugh!

But frankly, I would have loved to pull off this prank, videotaping it, of course.

Next day, I drove with Jan again to the airport in Atlanta and did change his flight from Texas to Florida and brought him to the gate for his departure to Texas.

Went shopping for Pieter at Muses in Lenox Square, Atlanta where I found 3 Burberry polo shirts for Pieter for Father's Day and some Lagerfeld cologne. 

Related link:

{The Short Suit for Men - Now and Back Then} | previous post by me showing husband Pieter and my Dad wearing them!

Mom & Dad's FIRST Flight EVER - Part in KLM's Business Class | previous post by me 

{Part XVI of Husband Pieter's Trip to East Asia - Taipei, Taiwan} | previous post telling about the 9 weeks of Pieter and I on the go, and also having Mom & Dad for 4 weeks in-between!

Visiting A.G. Linfield Mushroom Compost Facility in England | previous post by me

More about Mauzie our Dachshund that Immigrated to the USA

Mauzie with me at Pieter's office after I'd hung my hand crocheted mushroom window decoration.

On my very first Birthday, February 6, happy in Georgia!

Yes, I was having braces...

We enjoyed our mild winter in Georgia!
Wearing my woolen Burberry skirt.

May 18, 1984 Mauzie girl on the new 8 PK John Deere...

Pieter had gotten home by noon with this new 8 PK John Deere

Pieter is mowing together with Mauzie on May 23, using a somewhat more powerful John Deere here!

We had traded the other one in.

Taking his sunglasses down...

Mauzie in her sports back, ready to fly with us to Amsterdam, the Netherlands on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Mauzie peed 7 x outside on the pavement and after drinking some water, she did an 8th time and she made me use the plastic bag for something else!
She fully understood we were flying for a long time and there are no doggy bathrooms...

Mauzie was a smart and cute girl!
She stayed with best friend Ellie and the kids, as both of us drove to Hungary for the Conference.
Sure I was knitting while waiting, needed to have always something on hand!

Related link:
August 29, 1983 We Immigrated to the USA | previous post by me

Floriade 1992 on a Cold and Windy Day after Earthquake in Limburg

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.

This is husband Pieter posing in front of the tulips at my Parents' place.
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..

Related links:

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

From Singapore to Jakarta and SURPRISE upon arrival at our Villa

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!

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.

Ideally, you would love to turn around and fly home to the USA...
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!

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.

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.

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

Pieter Took Incredible Aerial Photos of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome

In 1972, while en route to Jakarta, Indonesia with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, they first landed in Rome, Italy.
The captain called his passengers to the attention of this view...

While descending, the weather was perfect and allowing Pieter to make two incredible aerial photos from the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

Seen to the left with the Tiber River flowing to the right...

As the plane turned, now St. Peter's Basilica is more to the right.

St. Peter's Basilica as seen from Google Maps

Sometimes one can get lucky when flying over a certain area!

Bye-bye Spanish Moss and dear Friends...

On December 6 of 1990, it was our final day at home in Dublin and for Dad it was bye-bye Spanish Moss and dear Friends where he'd stayed with us the first days before we moved into our new home.

Dad loved this section of Akerman St. in Dublin, GA where the Spanish Moss hung so lavishly.

Can you imagine this was on December 6?!
Blue sky and Dad walks in his shirt...
Uncle Bo Whaley stopped by to say his goodbye...

Dear friend Somai stopped by to drop off a gift for Mom, for Dad to take home next day...
We all 3 did stay with her and husband Bob for five nights till we could make our own beds here in the new home, after finding everything inside those 110 boxes...

Always tough to leave friends, home and everything behind when flying across the Oceans, back to work in Indonesia...

Bye-Bye Dublin, Georgia...
Next day we flew with Dad on KLM Royal Airlines to Amsterdam, The Netherlands where all of us would gather at the Meeting Point.
Mom with my brother Piet and Rianne and sister Gerd were there!
Dad treated us all on a coffee and they drove home, back to the South in Limburg.
This time they managed to get into the car with 5 adults, contrary to November 11, when brother Harry had his little 3-year old son Johnny with him and thus no space for Mom in his Citroen BX...???

Dad had a nice America adventure and we had great help from him by moving into our new home.

Now it's back to work, next flight to Delhi and then Singapore and finally arriving in Jakarta, Indonesia... Next day flying to final destination, driving up into the mountains where we lived and worked.

Thanks for your visit and comment!

Related links:
With Dad to Atlanta, Georgia | previous post by me
Uncle Bo Whaley gave Dinner in Honor of Dad | previous post by me
Dad in Savannah, Georgia | previous post by me
Dad Sang The First Noel and Thank You Lord at Presbyterian Church | previous post by me
With Dad to Okefenokee on the Georgia/Florida State Line | previous post by me
Blessing of our New Home with Dad being Present | previous post by me
Visiting Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia with Dad | previous post by me
Dad Visiting Chappell Grist Mill Dublin Georgia | previous post by me
Dad did tag along on November 11, 1990 for helping us move into our new home | previous post by me

Dad did tag along on November 11, 1990 for helping us move into our new home

On Saturday evening, November 3 of 1990, we flew from Jakarta, Indonesia on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight 838 to Amsterdam, The Netherlands via Singapore and Delhi. Our month off from consulting work and our life in Indonesia.

This time it was very special, as we would move into our new HOME.

Dad had offered to tag along, for helping us!

So when we were in Amsterdam at Schiphol airport on November 4, we got the tickets for Dad at fl 1.739.00 cash, before Dad and our sister-in-law Bets met us at the airport.
Seeing our friend on his birthday that very day...
On Tuesday, November 6, we got up at 4:00 and by 5:30 we started our drive towards the Brenner Pass to Italy... From The Netherlands, through Germany, Austria into Italy with Dad's Ford Fiesta.
We even did meet on Thursday, November 8, Pieter's dear friend Harry Hollander at the very same hotel we were staying, with his wife and business associates!
Friday, November 9, we drive in 13 hours (taking turns!) back to The Netherlands...
What a schedule we lived by then!

Photo taken by Uncle Bo Whaley for his 3-weekly column about our return to Dublin, Georgia.

My brother Harry in his new Citroen BX had brought us to the airport on November 11, without Mom... she could not join us, as Harry had his little 3-year old son Johnny with him. Mom was sad!
Via Bergen op Zoom and Vlissingen, Harry's 'scenic' route to Schiphol airport we arrived there.
Flying once more on a KLM Royal Airlines Boeing 747 and we got all seated together in economy class. This was Dad's 2nd flight to Atlanta, USA, from The Netherlands.
We arrived in Dublin, Georgia by 9:00 PM and first we all went to see our NEW HOME!
Then we went to dear friends Somai (born in Thailand) and Bob where we would stay for 5 nights, till we unpacked ALL 110 boxes and transferred our container load of furniture.
Billy Brown had our goods transported on his truck and with the help of three extremely strong black guys it got delivered.
We ALL worked hard.

Photo by Uncle Bo Whaley...

Uncle Bo Whaley's 1st column... Monday, December 3, 1990

Uncle Bo Whaley's 2nd column, Wednesday, December 5, 1990

Uncle Bo Whaley's 3rd column, Friday, December 7, 1990


After 22 nights at our NEW HOME we all flew on Friday evening, December 7 of 1990, back across the Atlantic, Dad back home to The Netherlands and we continued to Jakarta, Indonesia, back to work...

Related link:

Mom & Dad's FIRST Flight EVER - Part in KLM's Business Class | previous post by me