Halo Cuny Schuurmans! The Dutch lady from The Hague that can occupy all your travel needs.
How long have you lived in Indonesia?
15 years now. We came in 1987 for vacation and loved it so much that we decided, also because of family ties, to move here permanently.
How long has Mentari Travel was running?
as 15 years. We recently moved to Jl Sudirman. Benda because traffic became too Sudirman. I spent three hours a day in the car and now I spend about an hour and a half , which makes a huge difference.
What is your travel agency to offer?
We offer everything from ticket and hotel visits around Indonesia, Myanmar, Indochina and even Australia. We have suppliers around the world seriously so we can book tours for you to anywhere you want.
Where are your customers primarily?
Our customers are mostly foreigners, expatriates, individuals and businesses. We also receive many embassies booking through us.
Have you been influenced by the market for online reservation?
I would say a little, but not much. Very often, people come and ask us to do all of them because they do not want the hassle of booking things themselves. Also foreigners have a problem to make transactions online credit card, so we solve for them. I still see a bright future in this business for sure.
What is the most popular travel destination?
There is still Bali, although nowadays, more people go to Lombok and even further eastward Flores, which is still intact and beautiful.
Living in Indonesia for 15 years, you must have done a fair bit of travel?
Myself and my husband did a lot of traveling, but has not yet visited Kalimantan. Once we took a 7 day trip by boat to Irian Jaya and spent a week there was a great experience. You spend the first few days is used to how little dressed everyone!
I bet! What were the people like there?
Very friendly and curious. When we went there in the 80s, people had never seen a white person so they were intrigued by us. Everyone asks for tobacco, no money. Women smoke and work, and men do not seem to do much!
And you speak the language now?
I think it is necessary. We have learned through friends, through practice and make mistakes. When my husband tried to say, "I want to hang something" and instead said, "I want to hang myself" It's easy to make mistakes and the melody of the language is difficult to learn
what changes have you noticed over time that you lived here?
the traffic got progressively worse but you get used to it. Back in Holland nothing seems to change, but here there is always something new. it changes very quickly.
will you ever come back to Holland?
We do not know, though we do not feel we really at home in Holland more. We lost touch. We really think the house is here.
to contact Cuny or seek travel advice by email at Schuurmans@centrin.net.id