ATTENDING A WEDDING RECEPTION WITH THE GROOM'S FAMILY FROM KUANTAN

   22ND JUNE 2024    ~ I was again invited by Puan Suriana Ali [a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993] to join her family from Kuantan for a wedding reception. I was also with them during the engagement ceremony last year in November [READ HERE]. Puan Suriana's son was the groom of the day and the reception was held by the bride's side.

The event was held at Amansari Hotel located in Bandar Seri Alam, Pasir Gudang.

First of all, the parents of the groom and the relatives gathered outside the hotel lobby. They chose lilac as the theme colour for the group.

the proud parents of the groom

Then, at 12:30 p.m., the floor manager of the event came to brief us of the programme that was about to be executed in the hall.

the kompang boys

The was a small procession into the hall, accompanied by the Kompang, the traditional hand-held drums like the tambourine without the metal pieces.

At the gate, the groom was stopped by the "toll gate girl", asking for money packets from the groom so as to let them enter the hall. There was some sort of bargaining process happening here of how many packets were necessary to let him in. This was a custom that was practised in Johor, to tease the groom, just for the fun of it.

As usual, we had a prayer recitation and followed by a speech delivered by the bride's youngest brother.

There was also a slot for "Tepung Tawar". The parents and relatives of the groom were invited on stage to give their blessings by sprinkling "Air Mawar" [TRANSLATE: rose water] on the couple's palms.

Then it was time to enjoy the food that was specially served on the VIP table. Not only that, we still went to get other food on the buffet tables.

The [literally] one and only wedding violinist of Johor Bahru, Mr. Aqmal Daniel, was also invited to entertain the guests.

 

It was a grand event and I had to thank Puan Suriana Ali for inviting me to join her family for the reception. By 2:00 p.m., most of the group members had to excuse themselves as they had to travel back to Kuantan right after.

However, this was not the end. I am yet to attend the reception of the groom's side in Kuantan this Saturday and I am so looking forward to it.

THE 9TH DAY OF EID 1443H

After going back to her hometown in Kuala Kangsar in 1998, we never met and finally after 24 years, it was the opportunity to see her again. Puan Hajah Paridah Hashim was one of the pioneer teachers of SMK Taman Universiti back in 1994 when the school was first opened. She was also the second Senior Assistants of the Administration before she left us. She was here at her son's house in Bandar Seri Alam and this should be the opportunity to get reunited with an ex-colleague. Hopefully she would contact me again when she is here in Johor Bahru so that we could organize a mini reunion with our other friends/ex-colleagues.

Since I was already in Pasir Gudang area, I decided to visit a childhood friend of mine who was my next door neighbour in Taman Rinting even though it was already 9:30 p.m. I asked the host whether it was still okay to drop by at such an hour but I was most welcomed to visit for Eid. Guess it was all worth the time and distance driving in the evening - visiting two houses in one shot. I had to leave as I had to attend school the next day or else I could stay and chit chat longer.