Still Together and Stronger

Written as part of an 801 partner visa assignment entitled The Nature of Commitment. This statement will help prove that our relationship is genuine and sustainable. This part is to show that you are in a committed and ongoing relationship. Proof that you have intent to be in a long-term relationship with one another. To show that you have a good understanding of each others personal ‘beliefs‘ and circumstances, how you support each other emotionally etc. This can also be evidenced by any future plans you have together.

After getting to know each other and finally deciding to come to Melbourne on 26 August 2018 almost 6 years ago, we are still together today. Our love is getting stronger day by day. We are getting to know each other's characters and this has an impact on communication which is getting better. We rarely fight. Differences in opinions or thoughts are normal because we grew up in different environments and times.

Last winter 2023 we traveled to Indonesia and stayed there for a month. We registered our relationship at Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria, Melbourne in October 2022 and received a certificate not long after that. We planned to get married in Indonesia in 2023. Unfortunately, this plan had to be postponed. Sinyo's daughters couldn't come with us to Indonesia and my son had to immediately leave Indonesia to go to America to continue his study, so there wasn't enough time to be able to hold a wedding party. We expected our children to be with us on that beautiful day. This made us decide to postpone our wedding for a while. We still plan to get married someday. In the meantime, we are maintaining our relationship and just enjoying our time as a couple.

That photo was taken in Pantjoran Tea House in Jakarta. It is the Chinese Tea Shop in Chinatown that has been existing since 380 years ago. My sister-in-law and her kids - my niece and nephew, took us to the beautiful Pantjoran Tea House. that used to house the famous Chung Hwa pharmacy. The pharmacy operated from 1928 to 1957 and was left abandoned after it went out of business.

As soon as we step into the restaurant, the classy atmosphere radiates from its vintage pendant lamps, classic Thonet café chairs, as well as wooden partitions adorned with Chinese patterns. Every ornament here has a story – from the various posters to the classic Indonesian paintings adorning its walls – and each definitely worth perusing.

The history goes back to Kapitein der Chinezeen Gan Djie and his wife, who were famous for their good deeds. Having an office that was located in the strategic area of the Old Town, the Kapitein often hosted weary travellers and merchants who were looking for shade from the blazing sun at his office porch. Knowing that food and drink pedlars were hard to come by in that era, Kapitein Gan Djie provided complimentary tea for these visitors by placing eight teapots and cups at his porch that, as time goes by, had become an oasis in Batavia. The story persists and it becomes the inspiration for Pantjoran Tea House. 

We had Gong Fu Cha. Priced at Rp 75,000. The waiter served the tea which made it like a fine tea experience.

It was getting late and we decided to back to the hotel by bus.