Journal 1-5-2013

Posted on May 2, 2013 by janstu

The last week we had some unusually heavy downpours, sometimes with strong winds. On my daily walks in Bukit Kiara I encountered several uprooted trees. I also noticed these uncommon flowers, stemming directly from the tree trunk. Beautiful.

When I had my breakfast in IKEA, there was this big group of Malay ladies, probably on an outing, having a jolly good time. I asked permission to take their picture, no problem, and after that of course I had to be in the picture too.

Sunday May 5, the 13th General Election will be held in Malaysia. It will be a battle between Barisan Nasional, in power since the Independence of Malaysia and tainted with cronyism and corruption, and Pakatan Rakyat, a loose coalition of opposition parties. BN has spent a lot of (taxpayers?) money on flags and banners, many streets are colored blue. In Bangsar and also my neighbourhood the last few days, many small flags have appeared in bright colors, symbolising the “Malaysian Spring” which will hopefully begin this weekend.

In my native country on the 30st of April, the coronation took place of the new Dutch king, Willem Alexander, the first male Dutch monarch in more than 100 years. The Dutch population in Malaysia had received an invitation from the ambassador for a Coronation Party at his residence. Although basically more of a Republican than a Royalist I decided to attend the event. It was actually quite a nice happening, there was a large crowd, more than 400 people. Large TV screens with streaming video, so we could follow the ceremony live. After the speech by the ambassador, I even joined in the singing of the National Anthem! Good that the staff had distributed the text, because to be honest, I only know the first lines of the first verse….:-)

There was Heineken beer, herring, “bitterballen”, probably not only for me an important reason to attend the event…:-)

Here is the official photo taken after the coronation, with some of the royal guests. It is a tradition that ruling monarchs will not attend the coronation ceremony, only crown princes, so that after the coronation the new king is automatically the highest in rank! And an interesting detail: for Charles, the Prince of Wales, this is the second time that he attends a Dutch coronation ceremony, as he was already the crown prince when Beatrix became queen, 33 years ago..:-)

New Year’s Eve 2013

Posted on January 4, 2013 by janstu

My plan to celebrate New Year’ Eve (Oud en Nieuw, as we call it in Dutch) with my sister Lous and her husband Arend in Valkkoog, almost failed because I did not feel very well. A running nose, a bad cough and a sore throat, apparently I can no longer handle the Dutch climate…:-(

But I was looking forward to meet my only sister, and she had promised that she would prepare oliebollen ! These oliebollen (oily balls) are a very Dutch delicacy, I had not tasted them for years. So I decided to brave the weather.

Of course there was still a Christmas tree in the house. Often Christmas trees are thrown away after New Year, but last year Lous and Arend had placed the old one (still with roots in a pot) in their garden. Preparing to buy a new one, she had inspected the old one and found it still in good shape. So in the picture you see the second life of a real Christmas tree. Many birds in their garden, like this Great Tit.

After we had lunch, Lous and Arend started the preparations for the oliebollen. The dough is simple to make with lots of raisins and currants. It has to rise for at least one hour. In the meantime a pan with oil is heated. Then comes the moment to fry the balls, using two spoons. The dough has to be neither too thin nor too thick, the temperature of the oil has to be just right, etc, so it is always exciting to see how they come out. Is the shape round, are the balls not too dry or moist inside, etc.

Well, in this case they were perfect. You cover them with powdered sugar before eating. Another variety is the appelflap, a slice of apple, dipped in batter, then fried in oil. Also very tasty.

: Preparing the dough

: Let it rise for one hour

: Preparing the apple slices

: The first batch

: Looks good

: Lous checking

: The cap used by our mother

: My turn

: Powdering with sugar

: Yummie!

: The appelflappen

: A job well done

: Dinner time

: Sjoelen

: Happy New Year

: A friendship drink with my sister

Later we had dinner, watched some TV and played a few games of sjoelen .This is another typical Dutch specialty. At midnight we wished each other a Happy New Year and we toasted with a glass of champagne. Far way in the villages you could hear and see the fireworks, but around their bungalow it was peaceful and quiet.

On New Year Day I flew back in the evening to Malaysia. Lous had given me a few oliebollen, for Aric. As you can see, he enjoyed them.

Still not feeling well, even went to see a doctor. My lungs are ok, will just have to keep quiet for some time.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

Christmas 2012

Posted on December 28, 2012 by janstu

For the first time in decades I have celebrated Christmas in the Netherlands! The day before Christmas I traveled by train to Franeker to celebrate Christmas Eve with Pim and Nanda. Of course with a nice dinner!

The next day the three of us drove to Groningen, where Ruud and Jur had invited us for Christmas. The weather was mild, no snow. On our way we passed the picturesque town of Balk. Here a picture of the town hall (1615)

In Groningen another nice dinner. Did I say already that after I am back in Malaysia, I will go on a diet?

The day after Christmas, Boxing Day, is called the Second Day of Christmas in the Netherlands. It is a day for family visits. The weather was nice, there was even a bit of sun. Good weather for a walk.

Ruud and Jur had organised a family brunch. It was nice to meet my two favourite nephews (both of them have visited me in Malaysia). And you can see how happy my brother is with his granddaughter..:-)

It was a nice and pleasant Christmas celebration. To end this post, here is a picture of the two Christmas trees, in Franeker and in Groningen. One is an artificial one, the other is real. Can you see the difference?

Food for Body and Soul

Posted on December 24, 2012 by janstu

Last week started with a concert on Sunday in the Grote Kerk of Edam. I went to a performance of the Christmas Oratory by Bach, sung by Inez and her choir. Beautiful music.The ambiance of a church is perfect for this kind of music. But you must wear warm clothes, as it was cold!

The Christmas Oratorio consists of six Cantatas. Here is the first Cantata, directed by Nikolas Harnoncourt, an unusual performance as all the vocal parts are sung by males. Beautiful!

After the concert I had dinner with my friend Lambert in a nice restaurant in Edam. I had Duck Satay as a starter, followed by a Beef Entrecote. Coffee came with sweets and a small glass of liquor.

The next day I flew to Dublin, where Pat and Roger were waiting for me at the airport. They drove me back to Bailieborough, where their daughter Angela is living with husband John and kids Ciara and Roan. We had dinner (with my first Guinness) and then went to church again! For another kind of Christmas Oratorio…:-) Ciara and Roan were taking part in a Christmas musical, organised by their school, called “Nativity Rocks”. And rock it did!

For a detailed report of my trip to Ireland, click here. The weather was rather dismal, although it enhanced the atmosphere of the Irish landscape.

But the company was very pleasant and we had nice food.

When I came back to Amsterdam on Thursday, the weather was not much better. Here is a view from my living room the next morning. It was actually 21-12, the day of the predicted Mayan Apocalypse!

I visited Inez to have a drink and admire her Christmas tree.

Yesterday I was invited for dinner by Nico, Paul’s brother. Interesting conversation, food for body and soul…:-)

The weather remained awful. I came back home during a downpour. Here is picture of me in the elevator. Look at my trousers. This is really not my favourite season.

A week full of variety.

Journal 14-12-2012

Posted on December 15, 2012 by janstu

As usual I am suffering from jet lag, waking up in the middle of the night, feeling sleepy in broad daylight. Sniffy too, and coughing a lot. Cold! But no snow.
On Tuesday I was invited for dinner by Inez. I found a fleece and an old winter jacket in a cupboard, gloves, and a head cap. I went on my bike to Inez, where I arrived half-frozen.

But the company of Inez and the nice, typical Dutch dinner (and a few glasses of wine) brought me back to life soon…:-)

The next morning it was raining, and I seriously considered to stay in bed the whole day…:-) Here is the view from my bedroom window.

But in the afternoon the rain stopped, fortunately, because I had planned to go to the University, where an ex-colleague of me was giving a farewell/retirement party. It was nice to meet many people I had been working with, ten years ago.

I could not stay long because I had invited Yolanda, Paul’s sister for dinner.

And the next day my brother Pim came to my place, also for dinner. As I wrote in an earlier post, I will gain weight during these few weeks…:-)

Today I have visited the recently re-opened Stedelijk (Municipal) Museum of Amsterdam, my favourite Modern Art Museum. It was closed for renovation for about nine years. What a pleasure to see again many of the famous paintings of this museum, for example this Mondriaan. Click here for a detailed report

I will end this post with a bit of Malaysian news. Just before I came back to Amsterdam, I realised that my road tax and car insurance were about to expire. So I asked Aric to renew it for me. He came back to me with a shocking discovery!

Do you know that you have not renewed it December last year? So for one full year you have been driving without insurance and without road tax. Quite a miracle that you have not been caught by the police!

Here is the old sticker, expiry date December 2011!

Back in Amsterdam

Posted on December 9, 2012 by janstu

Today I flew back from Kuala Lumpur to Amsterdam. It is a 12 hour direct flight by KLM, usually leaving KL around midnight and arriving at Schiphol airport early next morning (time difference is 6-7 hours). Always a long tiring night for me, because I am unable to sleep in a plane.

Recently KLM started another option, leaving KL around 10am and arriving in Amsterdam the same day at 4 pm. I tried it and my first impression is positive.

This morning Aric sent me to the airport where we had our breakfast at McDonald’s.

The last few days the weather conditions in the Netherlands had been bad with lots of snow, causing delays and cancellations of quite a few flights, so I was relieved to see that my flight had only a 45 minutes delay.

During the flight I watched three movies, played many games of Tetris, and had a short afternoon nap. At Schiphol two of my brothers were waiting for me, the temperature was 8 ºC, hardly any snow left.

When I arrived at my condo, a surprise was waiting for me…:-). Yolanda, Paul’s sister, who had visited Malaysia a few months earlier had come to my place and left some Christmas presents for me. And switched on the central heating. So sweet…;-)

After a cup of coffee, I went out to the supermarket for my traditional first-day shopping. Herring, cheese, strawberries, bacon, bread. Delicious Dutch food…:-)

The last few weeks I have gained weight, a few kg, and I am afraid that these three weeks in Holland will add another 1-2 kg. When I am back in Malaysia I will have to start dieting!

Journal 8-12-2012

Posted on December 8, 2012 by janstu

A few months ago, in August, when the health of Aric’s father was still quite good, we have been thinking about celebrating Christmas and New Year in Holland. It’s not my favourite season, but it might be interesting for Aric. Maybe even a White Christmas?

When the condition of his father became worse, we cancelled that plan of course and now that his father has passed away, Aric is quite busy with sorting out his fathers papers etc, staying often in Sabak Bernam. Why don’t you go to Holland to visit your family, he suggested, last weekend. At first I was reluctant to go alone, but a few days later, chatting with my brother, I changed my mind.

So, tomorrow 9-12 I will fly to Holland, where I will stay until 1-12013! And where it is winter at the moment. Here is a picture, sent by my sister, a view from her living room of her garden. Quite unusual, as officially winter starts only on 21-12 and generally January and February are the winter months.

The weather here in Malaysia is also unusual with lots of heavy rain, landslides etc. Global climate change! As a contrast here a picture taken from our living room of the hill opposite our condo. When we moved in it was a beautiful forested slope, now it is a noisy construction site..:-(

To end this post, a few food pictures, as this is Malaysia. Last weekend we were invited by friends for a “real” Chinese dinner. And a delicious dinner it was!

And here I have lunch with IKEA friends. Location: Jalan Bellamy near the old Palace. A simple Malay shop, famous for its Mee Rebus.

It is durian season and these days they are very cheap. Even supermarket Tesco sells them, and for the first time in my life I decided to buy two, although I have no idea how to pick the good ones..:-). Later Aric’s cousin brought more, so we had a durian feast today.

Election results

Posted on September 15, 2012 by janstu

The preliminary results of the Dutch elections were known already the same evening of Wednesday, September 12, but the final results (including postal votes) took a few days longer.

The good news is that the populist party PVV of islamophobic and anti-Europe Geert Wilders lost dramatically. The leftist and anti-Europe SP also lost.Big winners are the conservative-liberal VVD and the socialist PvdA. Together they have now 79 seats in the House of Representatives (150 seats), a majority.

However, their programs are quite different, so it will not be easy to form a coalition between the two.

Here is a map of the Netherlands with the 2012 election results.

The map shows the biggest party in each town/village, just to give an impression about the local support for a party. We don’t have a district system, but proportional representation, so votes for other parties are not lost.

For comparison, here is the map for the 2010 elections

Quite a big change! The grey color is the Wilders party. The most dramatic change is the almost complete secularisation of the country. The Christian parties have been decimated in this last election. That’s another piece of good news for a secular humanist like me…:-)

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Category Archives: Netherlands

Journal 1-5-2013

Christmas 2012

Back in Amsterdam

Election results