Twist to Ship Journey

[Featured photo: Ship approaching Hobokan port New Jersey] By Johannes Adriaansen, Oregon, USA The Decision I was ten years old sitting at the dinner table when Dad came “outa the blue”and brought up the idea of going to “Amerika” and asked us for a vote!   Unanimously we voted for Amerika !! The next thing…

The Tiger

By Robert Vanderwaall, Texas, USA Indo Robert Vanderwaall recounts his father’s childhood story about hunting a tiger in the Dutch East Indies. This is just one of many stories my father told me of his childhood, growing up in the Dutch East Indies. He and his brother, my uncle “Oom” Piet, were trying to make…

Diaspora Old Map

By Jan Krancher The word “diaspora” has been used throughout the web site of The Indo Project.  Most readers are undoubtedly acquainted with this Greek term referring to the dispersion or scattering of Jews outside of Palastine after the Babylonian exile or, to put it another way, the area outside of Palastine settled by the Jews.  In that ancient…

Jeff Keasberry.

By Bianca Dias-Halpert How can you not love food if you were born above a restaurant ?   So it was for Jeff Keasberry. His oma’s restaurant in Amsterdam, which opened in 1954, was called “Djokja” after the name of the town she was from in the former Dutch East Indies.  Jeff said that the restaurant…

Grocery Stores

By Bianca Dias-Halpert, Washington, USA The Power of a Grocery Store A new environment, new food, new customs and everything familiar left behind.  We usually do not think of a grocery store as being significant in our daily routine.  But when you find one that has the ingredients of the country you left behind it’s…

The Band.

As told by Robin Kalhorn, Texas, USA Date: Circa 1938.  Place: Java (most likely Surabaya, perhaps Malang).  Event:  John Kiliaan and His Band promotional appearance at a Studebaker dealership.  Band leader Kiliaan is the man with the saxophone, resting his foot on the base drum. Editor’s Note:  Robin Kalhorn has done extensive research of his…

Young Family.

As told by Carol Ann Von Kristeinberg, Mallorca, Spain This photo was taken in Djakarta at the Jl. Gunung Sahari, our home, around 1951. I was 3 years old and my sister was 4. I was born in Djatinegara, my sister in Djakarta, my mother in Makassar and my Dad in Djokjakarta. At the photo…