A cousin's wedding - the preparation for our side's reception...

Excursion from the Brunei stories. Early this month I wrote a number of articles regarding a cousin's wedding :-

Attending the Nikah (solemnisation) ceremony of a cousin

The bride's home wedding reception on Saturday

My first taste of a Chinese tea ceremony for newly-weds...

The antics at the Shangri-La penthouse

The lavish night reception at Shangri-La

OK. I must say this. Referring to the lavish night reception... contrary to the impression that some parties might give to make others think they are the rich folks and well-connected ones, that reception was actually a join effort, not just the bride's. That means the cost were shared and both sides of the family have important luminaries as guests. In fact I'd dare say throughout the weekend's many functions, my side of the family footed most of the bill.

Now comes the next and last function, the groom's wedding reception held over the recent weekend fully funded by the groom's family with the help of our extended family (sorry if I have to mention this). With due respect to my cousin and his mother my beloved auntie, I must say there are certain aspects of the whole affair that bugs me. Just because our family love our kampung Malay roots does not mean we lack sophistication and thus could be dismissed aside by those who thinks they are more glamorous and of higher status. Mind you... if you have to define status and respect by wealth then I must stress that our family is OLD MONEY. The generation after our immediate grandfather might have to start all over again because of fortunes lost during the period of turmoils after World War I and World War II but we actually came from a line of nobles and royalty.

For those who couldn't understand the significance of this, therein lies the difference. There are those who became rich only after the DEB (New Economic Policy) begans to show its fruits in the 1980s and I've seen many of them trying to conceal their kampung roots for fear of losing their artificially acquired air of sophistication and taste. Well, for those who already have fortune and status for many many generations that is not the case. Having been really well-bred generation after generation (not well-bred as in the term created by the plastic new upper class of the 20th century as defined by capitalism of which snobbery is considered a part), they have certain qualities which become part of the blood, a certain confidence and dignity which does not need appearance of wealth, a character which makes them comfortable sitting among the lowest level of society without feeling diminished even a bit.

There I've said my mind. On the the subject at hand, the groom's wedding reception and here, the preparation...

The night before reception our extended family were busy helping out with the final touch...

We decided to do this at an auntie's place in Ampang as it was closest to Dewan (hall of) Merak Kayangan where the reception would be held.

Another auntie, the groom's mum (not in pix) then said, why don't someone take pictures for posterity. So I started snapping a few. I'm sorry auntie if I've lashed a few words at the start of this article. It's just I'm pissed off at certain things I saw, things which I consider as lack of respect for our family. Obviously a well-bred person should know how to respect others and not just expect others to give them respect. Then again I'm the vocal rebel who tends to kick out protocols (do I need to mention my father's full royal lineage to justify my actions? Now I'm being snobbish, but only in the face of others' snobbery). Sorry again...

In the wee hours of the morning we have to check out the hall...

While sure there were paid workers preparing for the reception, we as a family needed to do our part to make sure it was an affair to remember.

For one it has always been in our family spirit and tradition to dirty our hands and help out each other as much as we can. Just because some of us are bigshots doesn't mean to we have to pay workers to get everything done.

There. One more look before we call it a day.


Morning after we came in early to make some last minute checks.


Look's like the hall is already well-prepared to receive visitors...

One-year-old Al-Rasyid making inspection, hehe...

There. He agreed that we were ready to rock and roll...

Oh. Inside one of the rooms it seems the goodies were still being prepared.

Anyway before noon we were all ready for action. To be continued...

Views of Brunei's golden-domed mosque and its surroundings

Continuing the Brunei trip stories...

Monday 2nd August we went to Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddin (also spelt Saifuddien) famous for its golden dome, said to be actually built using solid gold!

Besides it lies a lake which provides interesting perspective to the surroundings.

There is some sort of barge permanently moored at one side.

Let's take a walk across the lake.

A look behind and you can already see the kind of angle provided from the lake.

The end of the walkway...

There lies a village called Kampung Kedayan along the lake's perimeters.

Walk a certain distance and you could see the barge with respect to the mosque.

For information most postcard pictures of this monumental landmark of Brunei were taken from around here. You can find such pictures using Google and make comparisons...

The Malay Islamic civilisation exhibition at Brunei's international convention centre

Continued from The flight to Brunei

The first thing we did after landing was to go to Brunei's international convention centre. Well, actually we did go to the place where we would put up first to drop our luggage but that doesn't count. I guess...

Anyway, the convention centre is situated somewhere between the airport and the place where we put up. Thus our host Hajah Sopiah felt it would be good if we made a visit.

There's an exhibition on Malay Islamic civilisation going on and she wanted us to have a look.

With some exhibits signifying the locals' loyalty to their ruler, the Sultan and the institution of monarchy, you could say it is also some sort of crash course on the Bruneian psyche.

For the Bruneians really love their rulers, a mindset that in South East Asia could only probably be matched by the Buddhist people of Thailand.

My wife with Hajah Sopiah.

The oath of loyalty made by titled officials to the Sultan.

The Brunei cabinet members...

Now on to the actual Malay Islamic civilisation exhibition. But where's the people? (We'll get on to that later)... :]

I'm not sure why the following pictures taken were mostly on money. Frankly I can't recall the total scope of exhibition. After all this trip was made over 2 months ago and there's so much activities done in my 8 days there. I'm just writing right off the hat... that is, I write whatever I can remember and what flows out upon seeing the pictures.

The idea here is to show that since at least half a millenium ago the Malay kingdoms already have a solid and stable monetary system which complies to Islamic economics ideals.

There's the thriving port of Melaka and Aceh to testify to the Malay's greatness in promoting the Islamic way...

Currencies using gold and silver were the way to go.

Tin mining was a major economic activity in some areas.

Oh. Kedah was a major entreport.

Here's a bit of history on the usage of Dinar gold coins in the Middle East, usage which was then emulated by the Malay kingdoms especially with the advent of Islam. Oh, in case you noticed the absence of crowd in the pictures, well, I was told the exhibition has been going for about a week and we came on the last day. So the number of visitors have dropped down. Furthermore we came as the hall was about to be closed. Still it was a good start before we stopped to rest for the day...

The flight to Brunei

Peace be upon you all. For over 2 months now I have promised to start a new series on my Malay blogspot CATATAN SI MERAH SILU about a trip made to Brunei 1-8 August 2010. Since then I have been busied with other things including a series based on the happenings around the recent Hari Raya (Muslim festive month of Syawal) celebrations. Now that part of writing has been completed let the promised Brunei series start. And as usual articles would be made in this blogspot and the bi-lingual SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART) to support the series starting with this. Come.

Sunday 1st August 2010, unexpectedly me, the wife and baby started a trip to Brunei.

I say unexpectedly because this is the first time we went to that country... unexpectedly also because it was never in our foreseeable plans. Here the plane was still somewhere above Peninsular Malaysia.

The plane above the South China sea. The last time I crossed this vast water was when I went to Sabah in either 1997 or 1998, can't exactly remember when. But I do remember climbing all the way to the top of Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain in South-East Asia. Anyway that was my first time anywhere on the island of Borneo. So I've definitely never ever been to Brunei before.



Land back in view. I'm not sure if we have reached Brunei but at least we were already in Borneo. Wait a minute. Didn't the name Borneo came from the word Brunei? Isn't in an Anglicised version referring to a time when the kingdom of Brunei practically controlled the whole of the Borneo, the biggest island in the Malay Archipleago? Back to the trip being unexpected. What happened was about a week before I suddenly received a call from a Bruneian whom I've only known through phone calls. Even then it's been 2 years since the Bruneian, an elderly lady called me up.




There, we were definitely in Brunei about to land. Among other things the lady said was why don't I made a trip to Brunei. I said I'd like to but don't have the means. The next day she called me up again and offered to sponsor the trip, flight tickets, lodging and all. And she liked me and family to come before the month of Ramadhan.




After discussing the matter with my wife, I decided to take up the offer. As the fasting month of Ramadhan was less than 2 weeks away we have to act fast. We'd like to be able to fully enjoy the trip without having to worry about going around with our stomachs empty during the day. That could limit our activities. So it is decided that we should make the trip 1-8 August. For information, the Ramadhan was scheduled to start on 11 August.




Anyway I'm a freelance writer. So basically I can take holidays whenever I want. My wife on the other hand has to apply for leave. Thank God despite the short notice her leave was fully approved.

We informed the plan to the Bruneian lady. Oh, we call her as Hajah Sopiah. Within a space of 2 days she managed to get the flight tickets including return on the said dates ready for us. So there, the Brunei trip was soon started. For the record this is the 585th article in this blogspot.