Something I ran into:

One of the great Balinese love stories of this century is that of Dr. Anak Agung Made Djelantik, son of the last King of Karangasem, and his dutch-born wife Astrid. Married in 1948 they fought huge prejudices both from within his staunchly royalist, staunchly anti-Dutch-colonial family and from within the dutch culture where "marrying a native" was often cause for social ostracism.

Due to his urbane charm, her fiercely independent spirit and their international life together - they worked and lived together in Somalia, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Iraq and Europe - the marriage survived fifty odd years - their children are now modern leaders in Balinese society.

Late last year Astrid Djelantik passed away after a long illness: to the end she remained unanchored to her husband's very extensive family. In one way they were the Wallis and Edward of their generation.

I stood close to Dr. Djelantik on Sanur Beach as he carried his beloved Astrid's ashes to the sea: because of the love we all feel for this supremely unselfish man it was agony to watch the bewilderment on his face turn to despair as, in the Balinese way, he bade his wife farewell on her final journey.

http://www.strangerinparadise.com/Next_ ... longas.htm