Wedding Preparation

It's getting nearer & tension is starting to pick up. The biggest day in my life is coming !! Stay tuned for more updates !!!

4 Wedding Occasions & A Couple

The title is clearly stated. 4 wedding occasions held over 3 weeks, solely for a couple, namely Ray & SL. Not whining, but just unusual arrangement. Add in several colourful characters into the scene such as the Akurians (& their partners in crime) and u have 3 eventful weekends, which I can safely say memorable enough for the couple to remember for a generation at least.

The album with CD intact, proudly displayed at the champagne corner

It's all started with the gathering during Raya eve (1 week before the 1st week) for a project. See, if people like Theva can be the first person to arrive, u know it's a damn important project to come up with gift of sorts for the soon-to-be-wed couple. We produced this MTV style video presentation featuring ourselves (Too obscene to be shown here) plus photo album for the couple. 1 week later, there's the wedding dinner held first in restaurant near Bukit Bintang. Beautiful setting in a cosy (although small) area. No prize for guessing which table is the noisiest & has the loudest cheers during the "yam seng" drink session.

Our breaking point: When glasses broke

Move on to the next week, we have this pre-wedding buffet in the groom's house. Hell broke loose as the night went along. With consent from his parents, the plan is a surprise attack for Ray with flour & water. Witnessed by all his relatives, groom was left to fight for his survival with attacks from all corners with water & packets of tosai flour. With those Akurian peeps, u can expect "conspiracy within a conspriracy" whereby even Maj, Nei & myself also got attacked without any of us knowing it. I'm still trying to figure out who was the first to throw flour on me. Poor Ray with the 3rd surprise attack on him. We can't be blamed though, u always "create" the perfect setting & occasion for the peeps.

Here we go....

It's war....

The next day, we braced ourselves for another potentially dangerous occasion, the bride pick-up at SL's house at Ampang. Arrived at the doorstep of SL's house, we were faced with several challenges thrown by the bride's friends. There's food & drinks of all 4 tastes (sweet, sour, bitter & salty), waxing of leg hair (Hail the great Phil), calligraphy writing by groom, rap+beat box session by groom & mates and tens of packets of ang pows given away. Negotiation finally completed after 45 minutes. Thankfully, we're given challenges relatively modest by KL standard.

Gang preparing for toast, drinking whatever that's given....

We drove up north to Ipoh on the next weekend where the groom held another session of dinner for his Ipoh relatives. Rather, this is an excuse for us to have another fun trip together. Stayed in this Ritz Garden hotel presidential suite where it has an adjacent private pool, sauna, steam room & jacuzzi. A heavenly resting place & perfect area to leave our marks. Honestly, everybody mind is already in the pool, even during our dinner in restaurant. Spent 5 hours in the pool for camwhoring sessions to find the perfect shots. Had the best Ipoh "hor fun" in Ipoh Old Town for breakie the next day. We then proceed for another camwhoring session in Gua Tempurung before calling the end of 3 freakily mad weeks.

The gang with the sauna. jacuzzi & steam room behind

One of many camwhore shots taken in the pool

To Ray & SL, do enjoy the ride together. It won't be easy but faith & care for one another will make the journey worthwhile enough to last u a lifetime. Just a piece of an Uncle's mind..:)

Celebration of Union

Putting food aside, the actual reason for our recent Melaka was to witness an important event for our family. Bro & his gf, Janice moved a level up in their 8 years relationship (I think) by exchanging their vows on so-called auspicious date 090909. Total of 99 couples participated in a mass registration event on that day. Personally, I think the obsession of those auspicious marriage dates are all gimmick & has nothing to do with superstitions or customs whatsoever.

Anyhow, it was a beautiful celebration of unions on that day. Mom & Dad did not show it, but I knew they're really anxious & nervous about the day & anything else related prior to the day. Hard to explain it but it's like awaiting the birth of new baby in the family. Both families met for the first time but all talked as if everyone already knew of each other.

Congrats to the couple

99 balloons up in the air

Welcome to the family, Janice !!

Food Gastronomic Trip - Melaka

Making a foodie's trip can be frustrating at times, especially if the places are popular haunts with long queues. One of the way to avoid this is to do it during weekdays. Recent weekday trip to Melaka provided us the satisfaction of having good food with minimal queue. Actually, our family was there for a bigger occasion, witnessing the marriage registration for my bro, which shall be blogged later. As it's only 1.5 hours drive from KL, worth a second trip for "makan makan "next time.

Satay Celup (Restoran Ban Lee Siang, Jalan Ong Tee Kui)

Handmade Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball (Restoran Chung Woh, Jonker Street)

Hainanese Chicken Rice (Restoran Chung Woh)

Nyonya Cendol

Nyonya Rojak

Fresh Prawn Wonton (Note the 2 prawns in one wonton piece)

Durian Cendol

December Round-Up

Been a busy month here & tat's why the non-updates of blog posts. Now it's reaching the end of the year. There's the Bangkok airport closure at beginning of the month, creating much needed business for our KLIA airfreight business, Mahikari Tai Jamboree held last weekend, Thiru's beautiful wedding in Cyberview Lodge Cyverjaya and upcoming Langkawi trip with the Akurians tomorrow...Can't sleep well now....

More posts will be coming soon after I'm back and...

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!

Kawe pergi Kelate...

What did u do when ur struggling to cope with stress in a fast paced city? De-stress urself in a slow-paced city with a laidback style, or better still celebrating a happy occasion with bunch of cheerful ppl there...that's what practically happened last month.

Went with several Mahikari Youths to be part of a beautiful wedding of Hock Shai & Li Lian back in Shai's hometown Kuala Krai, Kelantan. Geographically, it's 64 km south of Kota Bahru about 1.5 hours drive by road from the state capital. With wide choices of tranportation modes available, all of us went like in 3 different routes thru Air Asia (that's my group) & Malaysia Airlines by air and another group by car. Upon arrival, Shai arranged for his relatives to pick us up & drive down to Kuala Krai. Our car went to Pasir Mas first for "ayam percik" (a nationwide famous grilled chicken with specially marinated sauce) as someone was craving for it & need it fast. How to know more of a newly found place & its people? Learn of its local dialect from the local people of cos. Took a crash course Kelantanese Malay during the journey to Kuala Krai, thanks to tutoring from Shai's brother. It is well known that the Malay spoken in Kelantan is "kao kao pekat". "Kawe dah lapor, nak make ayam percik. Demo nak make??" (I'm hungry, wanna have ayam percik. U wanna have some?)

Heavenly "ayam percik". Still tastes delicious even when it's cold

Arrived 1.5 hours later to find the M'sia Airlines gang waiting at the pre wedding gathering at Shai's house. By 6pm, everyone has arrived & enjoying the tradional Thai dish, "kaojam". The guys hang out with the groom till late nite. The gals went back to a rented house with the bride. Woke up little early & found time to chat with Shai's uncles while waiting for others to wake up. U see, everythin seems to be so foreign in Kelantan even if ur speaking the native Hokkien with the locals there. The local Hokkien seems to have the mixture of some Siamese & Kelantanese Malay influences in it & difficult to understand at first, but the message is still understood in the end..:)

Finally arrived at groom's longhouse style home in Kuala Krai

Having a try of Thai-made Tiger & Chang beers

By 9 am, everyone was ready & moved to pick up the bride. Guys have prepared for any circumstances, posed by the gals at the house. CY even bought his "kachang" (Japanese sword used in kendo martial sports), just in case the "negotiation" turn violent. For this time around, challenges posed are much lighter, compared to other weddings before this. Thank you gals..:) We are made to eat pancakes & drink Milo. All of them added with chillies or certain spicy spices I think. Groom was then made to drink bowl of supersour lemon juice before allowed entry into bride's room.

Am I ready? I Think I am!! Do I?? Probably I do..

The compulsory tea ceremony was held before we went back to groom's home for another tea ceremony & prayer etc. Had nasi dagang & other local dishes, catered for lunch. Hang out for a while in the house before some of us went back to KL. My group went back to the rented home to take a short nap as our flight back home was at night. Had tomyam + Chinese dinner in Kota Bahru before flying back to KL.

Lunch - Nasi dagang & local dishes

Group photo with some of the remaining peeps after wedding

With Mr & Mrs Teo...

Kelate...

Been looking for reasons to visit Kelantan for years & finally got one when Shai & Li Lian is getting married back in his hometown, Kuala Krai this month. Congratulations to both Mr & Mrs Teo !!! Tried hard to look for the place in the map but to no avail. Upon checking in the Net, tis place is located 64km south of the state capital, Kota Bahru. And yes, got to know the famous designer Zang Toi hailed from this sleepy town as well...


Got myself to fly to Kota Bahru by Air Asia at bargain price at RM 159.00 for return trip. I love u, Tony Fernandes & I still thinks ur the best candidate for Transport Minister post in the soon-to-formed new government ehehee. Can somebody suggests non-politician civilians to be allowed to vie for Minister post as well?? Anyway, shall blog bout tis trip soon when the time comes...

Vincenzo - Ristorante Italiano

Wanna blog bout tis for a while but nv seems to complete it. Well, went to tis function recently(that's way back to months ago !!) in Vincenzo's in Bangsar, organised by a beloved fren, Emma in celebration for her wedding. Now, back to time of her invitation to me to tis function 2 months back. Wedding & function in restaurant...that gave a vision of me wearing splendid baju Melayu "menyiram air mawar" to her & hubby laps' & then proceed for grand dinner..fair enuff.

One month into the event & received tis facebook invitation from that cat. The word Vincenzo popped out in the invitation page & I was like "Wahh..Malay wedding function in an Italian restaurant huh?? Cool cool.." And then there's a theme for tis function: Gals shud be in white & the germs (that wat she called us guys) in black. Headgear(or anythin on the head) is a must for all (anythin on the head will do) Doesn't bother much until the day where I searched high & low for that headgear & managed to find one, in the form of an artist cap, which I barely remember having it in my wardrobe.

Monsieur me seeking to explain the meaning of a life...

The event was to start at 6.30pm. Rushed to pick up few fellas & drove like a mad dog, thinking we're late. Of cos in line with the classic M'sian punctuality culture, we turned out to be the earliest birds & not even one soul can be seen. Went to have a walk instead, to kill time. Settled into tis stall, specially selling apam balik in nearby Lucky Garden. Went back to the place & saw the groom greeting us upstairs. One question popped out: Where the heck is the bride?

Being a gracious host, the groom politely said bride is on the way, traffic jam bla bla bla and "why don't u enjoy the food first while it's hot?" Got myself few cups of spaghetti as appetizers..yes, spaghetti served in cups & they were delicious !! Simply prepared but tasty when it's in your mouth...!!! Talked cock while waiting for the rest of the Fifth Formers peeps to arrive. When the bride finally showed up, dressed up in a She-Devil suit + the horns (as headgear), Emma immediately became the centre of attention. Party ended at bout 10.00 pm, just in time for us to catch the biggest match of the season (Arsenal vs MU) at the nearest mamak restaurant in Bangsar.

The gang with She-Devil

The gang with She-Devil + Hubby

U like Italiano food? Come here !! Come here!!

Missed the first half but 2nd half was a thriller & both sides gotta be satisfied with 2-2 draw. Fair result...Continue to talk cock after the match till wee hours with rest of the bunch. Talked bout planning the reunion trip on an island & honestly, we were never tis serious before...finally, we managed to get tis moving after many donkey years...talk bout tis soon...

Reliving the Old Days

Attended an old classmate's wedding recently. It was a grand Telugu wedding ceremony held in Shah Alam club. Food served is good too, especially the curry chicken. CONGRATULATIONS, Siva & wife !! Been to quite a number of wedding functions tis year. Being in tis age-group, which the old people call them the "ripe" age, the big M is a norm in our vocabulary here.

Also met up with other Form 5 classmates & went for drinks in Q-Bar after the wedding to catch up the old times. Obviously, the first question posed to start up a conversation is "One down, wonder who's next ahh??" Naturally, old skool stories been raised up & discussed. One interesting thing I must say about old skool stories is even though all these stories (mostly dumb incidents, crazy antics etc) are "recycled" over & over again over times, they're always funny & felt great to talk about it.

I dunno bout the others but I'm quite sentimental when talking about being together with old mates during those old skool days. VJ mentioned of him being eager to go to skool everyday to check out wat's up for the day. Everyday seems to be a new day with new things to be discovered together with the gang. I felt that too, VJ...& I'm sure same goes to most of us too.

Tell me for being emo but whenever reflecting those days & comparing against the students these days, I can't help but feeling touched about the camaraderie between all of us. We were ONE & not classifying each other as Chinese, Malay or Indian. We were Akurians (that's our class name)

Those old mates represented part of our own life history. Knowing or unknowingly, memories of them are already permanently etched in our mind. So, keep in touch always with the old skool mates to ensure your mind keep working...:)

Posted: 15/7/2007