Boy's Wedding - Day 3

The reception at my sister's house was on 2nd June, one week after the reception at the bride's family. My sister has asked us to come back earlier to help her. Unfortunately, I didn't go back earlier as I planned as I was stuck with some urgent matters that I need to attend to.

On Friday evening, we headed back to Seremban. My husband sent us back first, My husband and Syafiq joined us on Saturday morning. Before hitting the highway to Seremban, we made few stops at the shop selling "baju melayu" looking for silver color baju melayu for Zaki. He was the "bunga manggar"'s boy, and since the color theme is silver, we need to get a pair for him.

Unfortunately, none of the shops have silver baju melayu that fit him. My hubby then decided to go back to the house to get the baju melayu from the last raya. By the time, we reached Seremban it was almost maghrib and I called my mom to make sure that the house was not locked.

After the prayer, we went to my sister's house. Everything was ready, There was nothing much left for us to do except chit chatting. My sister cooked a simple meal for dinner, but it was so good that it was not enough. She has to get the maid to cook some more. Oh ya! Two doors away from my sister's house, a special prayer was held. Her neighbor passed away during the day.

After dinner, we went back to my mom house, and all the kids decided to sleep at my mom house. So you can imagine how noisy is the house. They played all kind of games in my mom's small abode. I tried to get Zara and Zaki to go to bed earlier, but they pretended not to hear or see me. At 11pm only, Zara came and said she's sleepy whereas Zaki cut his thigh. After cleaned up the wound, all three of us called it a night, Amir was still going strong watching TV with his aunties and uncles.
The next morning, everybody woke up earlier than usual. Breakfast was ready by the time I went to the kitchen, and it was fantastic. It was a home cooked breakfast, but some were purchased from restaurants and stalls. By 10am, most of us were already heading to our sister's house except for mom, Arda and Zali who were waiting for the bride's side. The newlyweds were using my mom's place for them to rest and to get ready for the reception.

At 1pm, the newlyweds arrived. They stopped 7 houses away from my sister's house. The flower girls and the bunga manggar boys and the photographers quickly join the newlywed. Little Mariam, the youngest and cutest flower girl, was still sleepy when her mom dragged her out to be with other girls.

The short walked was enough to make Mariam opened up her eyes and joined the other flower girls. She was happy holding her basket of flowers. There was no "silat pencak" at my sister house. So when they reached the house, they were directed to the dias ("pelamin") inside the house.

After they had settled on the "pelamin", the "merenjis" (blessing) events started. This time I got to do the blessing too. In returns, I was given the "telur bunga paha".

The bride's side and the newlyweds were then invited to have their lunch after the blessing. My sister Zura was in-charge at the high table. She was busy coordinating and ensuring everything in place.

The wedding ceremony came to the end when the newlyweds cut the cake. After the cake cutting session, it was the photography session. But before the photography session, the four parents sat together. It was the moment when the bride's parent requesting my sister and my brother in law to treat their daughter as their own, and to guide her. Heh! Will I get to do that for my little girl? Insya Allah.

During the photography session, everyone wanted to capture the happy moment. To Boy and Ain, congratulations! Selamat Pengantin Baru.

Boy's Wedding Day 2 - Part 2

After the akad nikah, the bride’s family invited us back to their place for some refreshments. Well, it was past the lunch time, and everyone was hungry. So we were happy to get the invitation.

The bride’s house is not far from the  surau. It was about five minutes drives. When we reached there, the place was packed with guests having their lunch. Since it was a hot day, everybody was trying to find shaded place to park the car. I was lucky to get to park my car under the rambutan trees, but the red ants army was on the trees. I told my kids to be careful.

Across the road, there are many durian trees with fruits hanging on it. The young kids, my kids especially, were excited because they never seen durian trees before, and the adults were excited hoping that we could get to eat durian too. But, unfortunately, the durian fruits decided to stay up on the tree.

There were also a little stream next to the road, and guess what? Little Mika rushed to the stream, but before he reached there, his maid managed to grab him. Otherwise, he would be swimming in that little stream.

Before we walked to the tent, we were told that we would be served twice. “Twice?” I said. I happily walked to the food and helped my little girl first before I filled up my plate. The food was good especially the desserts. I love the bubur pulut hitam, the cakes, cookies and all other sweet things that they served.

After we had our  lunch, we regrouped at the house where we parked our cars. Actually it was just next door to the bride’s house. My nephew got ready for the bersanding. He only needed to change his headgear and samping. When he was ready, we again stands under the hot sun behind the groom who has the best man holding an umbrella for him.

Together with us was the kompang boys who were playing kompang, and standing fifty feet away was the bride, waiting for the groom. We walked towards the bride, and when my nephew reached his wife, they stood next to each other and walked to the bride’s house for the bersanding.

I thought they would walk straight into the house, but before we reached the door, there was two chairs put side by side facing the guests. The bride and the groom were seated there for the guests to see them and also for the bersilat event, which the guy who performed silat welcomes the newlyweds.

After the bersilat, they went inside the house, but I decided to sit outside as my back was slowly giving me some pain. The bersanding is the event where the bride and the groom sits on the dais and the relatives members and friends will pay respects and wish them congratulations. Those who pay the respects will be given bunga telor as a thank you from the newlyweds.

Once the bersanding over, we were invited again to have our lunch. We were placed at the special tents where specially prepared food for the newlyweds was served. I didn’t eat the rice, but I did enjoy the fish, the kerabu mangga and the vegetables. Again, they have nice desserts. We were given a telur pindang. The telur pindang was packed in the nice container.

At 3pm, we made our way back to the neighbor's house, ready to go back to Seremban, but for me, I have to rush backed to Bangi as I wanted to see Syafiq who came back from his one week stays in UNITEN.

The drive back was smooth except when we reached the Senawang – Seremban stretched. It was jam. I made a quick exit at Port Dickson tol and took LEKAS to head back to Bangi.

On the way to LEKAS highway, we passed by my old school King George V, and I proudly pointed to my kids that the school was an old school and also the only school during my time to have a swimming pool. They didn’t believe me.

By the time, I reached Bang I was very tired and sleepy but happy that (a) I made it home safely, (b) saw my son, (c) bought some clothes (d) enjoyed the trip to Tangkak.

Boy's Wedding - Day 2 Part 1

Day 2 Part 1- At Tangkak

Everyone woke up early. My kids were very excited to see their cousin getting married. My niece knocked on my door and asked us out for breakfast. Everyone was ready except for of the teenagers who decided that the pillows were better than breakfast.

My brother in laws and my sisters have scouted the place for breakfast earlier. It was about a kilometer from the D'Anjung Inn. As we passed by, we were impressed with the big bungalow houses at the area.

My sisters have chosen a roadside stall for us to have breakfast. The place, which was previously empty, was full of us. All the tables were occupied except for one table, which we left for other people. The curry puff, popiah, roti canai were the favorites among us. Oh! The breakfast was also free. Thanks to my niece, Fara and her friends, who decided to treat us for breakfast.

Fara, Terima kasih daun keladi. Lain kali boleh lagi, ya.

Since we have to check out by 12, I spent my morning packing my things and also showed my mother in law the clothes that I bought the previous night. Luckily, there was not many things to pack. While I was busy packing, my Along came and wanted to discuss something with me.

My mom in law was in the room, so I left and joined her in her room. When I went there, my brother in law was eating 'durian', and I joined him.

In our discussion, we also decided to keep two rooms for late checked out. After my discussion, I went back to finish up my packing, and got ready for the akad nikah event.

By 11.40am, everybody was ready to go. My bags were already in the car. Amir, suddenly becomes a big brother. He helped to carry the bag to the car, and took charged of his younger sibling.

Before we headed to the surau, my nephew came down to his mom room looking for help. Yeah! No matter how old you are, you will always look for mom for advised or help.

He came down with his songket samping and asked my sister why the threads are not even and smooth. My sister looked at it and turned the samping inside out. Heh! He got it wrong. Nervous maybe! We just smiled and left him to get ready.

Since the akad nikah is scheduled to be at 12pm, we left the Inn just before 12pm, and all the cars convoyed to the surau. When we reached there, there was no one greeting us. After waiting for a few minutes, finally someone from the area came and invited us in. We laid all the seven gifts and waited for the bride.

My nephew looked nervous and anxious. Nervous, as he has to go through the akad nikah, and nervous because the bride's side was still not at the surau We took the opportunity to take pictures with the groom. After about ten minutes, then the bride's family came, and then the imam.

For the akad nikah, they have prepared a special cushion for the bride and groom to sit. It was placed next to the imam in front of everyone. The imam called my nephew to sit next to him. Joining him were witnesses to the akad nikah and also the best man and my Bang Ngah and Zali.

The imam opened up his laptop and crossed checked some of the data on the forms. When I saw that, I just went, "Whoa!". Everything is now all linked up via technology. By this time, the bride has still not come. After waiting for few more minutes, the bride appeared, and I can see my nephew was relieved.

Before the akad nikah started my mother cried. I didn't ask her why she was crying, but the only conclusion that I can make is that she is happy to see her favorite grandson getting married, and at the same time feel sad that my father was not with us to see my nephew getting married.

When everybody had settled down, the Imam started by greeting us with”Assalamualaikum’ and proceeded to recite few verses from the Quran and later translated and explained to us the meaning.

Once he has finished the tazkirah, the bride's father got up and walked to the groom and sat in front of him. The bride's father was going to marry off his daughter to my nephew. For the benefits of everyone, both wore microphones so that everyone can listen to the wedding vow.

At this stage, my sister cried. Two days earlier, she shared with me that when she her daughter married, she was very happy to receive a son in law, but when she going to get a daughter in law she felt a little bit sadness.

As part of the akad nikah ritual, my nephew holds his father in law hand in a handshake manner. When all ready, everybody was quite. Then the father in law recited the akad and my nephew answered the akad in one single breath. Once done, the Imam then asked the witness whether the vow was accepted. All the witnesses agreed.

My nephew was relieved as he only needs to go through single vow. There is an occasion where some of the nervous groom will have to repeat the akad multiple times until the witnesses accept the vow.

The Imam then asked my nephew whether he wanted to perform ‘sujud syukur’ before he continued with the rest of the ceremony. My nephew nodded, and proceeds to do that. After my nephew had finished with the sujud syukur, the imam called him and his wife to sit facing each other.

Then, the imam passed him a taqliq for my nephew to read. Taqliq is a declaration from the man to the wife. It said that if he goes missing for four consecutive months without leaving any news of his whereabouts and doesn't give anything to the wife, money and other things, the marriage will be dissolved. This declaration was read in front of the wife so that the wife will know her rights.

My nephew and his wife then signed all the papers, and he proceeded to hand over the mas kahwin or dowry of RM1000 to his wife before putting the wedding ring on her finger. His wife then kissed his hand.

To be continued.

Izwan aka Boy's Wedding - Day 1

My nephew got married to a Tangkak girl on 27th May, 2012. Like any other Malay wedding, it was held over two weekends, but the preparation and involvement from other family members started way before that.

When the wedding date was finalized, a month before the actual date, my brother in law called us for a family meeting. He wanted to involve all of us in this wedding, which we were happy to be involved. The meeting is more on planning for the logistics, transports and other matters that need our attention.

Bang Ngah was officially elected to be the spokesman during the ceremony, and my youngest sister and brother in law was tasked to look for the place for us to stay. Along also informed us that the theme for the wedding is dark gray.

It was also decided in the meeting that the Bunga Manggar boys were my son, Zaki and Emil, my grandnephew while the flowers girls were Zara, my little girl, Naimah and Mariam, both are my grandniece. My sister also informed us that there will be 'doa selamat' to be held on 25th May, 2012 after the Isyak prayer..

After the family meeting, everybody carried out their small little tasks for the event. My sister, Arda and Zali, went to Tangkak to scout for a place for us to stay. Initially they wanted to rent the Homestay, but my mom over ruled that. After checking out few other places, they found the right place for all of us to stay. It was a nice, small motel called D'Anjung Inn. It was clean and spacious and cheap. She quickly booked about eleven rooms for us.

When Friday came, I looked forward to the ‘majlis doa selamat’, but I missed it. I reached Seremban late because I was stuck in MM until almost 7pm, and when I left KLCC, the traffic was already bad. I reached home after 8pm, and quickly get my kids to get ready to go back to Seremban.

At 9pm, we left Bangi, me and my three small kids plus my mother in law, thought of taking KL-Seremban Highway but changed my plan before I reached Kajang Exit. Thanks to twitter, I found out that there’s a traffic jam from Nilai – Seremban. I quickly made a turn to SILK Highway and took LEKAS to go back to Seremban.

Thanks to LEKAS, it only took us about less than 45 minutes to reach Seremban, but by then the kenduri was already over. Heh! No problem as long as there was food, I’m happy. After having my dinner, I joined my other family members discussion on the trip to Tangkak.

At first we wanted to go in the morning, but since the journey is only less than 2 hours, we decided to travel after the Zohor prayer. My two boys decided to sleep at my sister house, whereas my little girl followed me back to my mom house. The next morning, my sister invited us to have breakfast at her place. We had fried rice, some kuih muih and tea for breakfast.

Saturday morning 26th May 2010

At 10am, my sister wanted to get daun sirih and wire for the ‘hantaran’ (gifts). I volunteer to drive her as I need to go to bank too. We were joined by my two younger sisters, Ami and Zura. Instead of a short trip, we spent two hours shopping, and I bought few blouses for me.

After the Zohor prayer, everybody gather at my sister place, and we waited and waited for everyone to be around. My niece, who went back to KL to fetch her husband, was stuck in KL due to very bad traffic jam on the highway.  

Finally at 3.30pm, we decided to make the move first. My car was full of kids, including the cute little 2years old Mariam who wanted to join the big kids. The trip to Tangkak was fun for the kids, noisy and a lot of shouting and playing. They kept us, me and my sister, awake.

Alhamdulillah, nothing happened throughout our trip to Tangkak. We reached there at 5pm, and after a short stop over at Tangkak tol, we headed to the motel. Along Kasbi, who waited for us at the toll, lead the way to the motel.

When we reached the motel, I saw Arda busy handling out the key and answering the questions and demands from us She gave me the room on the ground floor it was one big room. After settling down, we went out for a drink at the nearby stall. After few debates, we finally decided to have our dinner there too.

The food was good, and I like the Ikan Tiga Rasa’. My kids love the omelettes. I didn’t linger after the dinner as I need to catch the Magrib prayer. We also made arrangement to go shopping and to meet at the parking lot.

At 8.30pm, I left my room and joined the group at the parking lot. I thought everyone wanted to go shopping, but it was not. They were looking for durian. Since I’m not that crazy about durian, I decided to join my mom and aunty to go shopping. So the five of us, my sisters, my mom and aunty headed to Tangkak town to shop.

It didn’t take us long to reach the town, but, unfortunately, the shops in Tangkak closed early. By 9pm, most of the shops were getting ready to close except one shop. We hurried to the shops and the owner must be laughing his way to bank the next day. We bought a lot. I alone bought eight pieces of cloths, but not all are for me.

By the time, we reached back to hotel it was almost 10pm, and I found out my kids and their cousins were playing at the parking lot. I have to shoo them back to the room, and everybody was knocked out within 20 minutes.


You can view more pictures here  - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150937276689936&set=a.10150937268064936.434196.551479935&type=3&theater
To be continued.

Starting new life...

My son is now starting a new phase in his life, as a college student. He is now in Uniten, staying in the hostel as required by the university. Well, Uniten is not that far from my house. It is about 15-20 minutes drives depending on the traffic.

Well, I believe Allah has answered their prayers. I remembered few months ago, before heading to the lala land, my husband was saying that he hoped that Syafiq would get into the nearby university. "Hmm, why?" I asked curiously. "Easier to go and see him."

Well for Syafiq, he always wanted to be independent and to stay in the hostel. "Why," I asked. "I wanted to be independent." So both of their prayers were answered.

So, on Saturday 19th May, dressed smartly in black pants, white shirt and blue stripe tie, he went to UNITEN to register himself as a new student. Well he didn't go on his own. He was accompanied by his dad, mom and his favorite sister, Zara.

We reached there at 10.30am, and the place were already full of people. It looks like carnival at the admission hall. Parents, grandparents, who are proud of their grandchildren entering university, brothers, sisters and maybe cousins or friends.

We had to wait for two hours before he came out from the hall, smiling, carrying a UNITEN back pack, his student's id and his apartment key. We then left the admission hall and headed to his apartment, which was quite a distance. We have to drive further in  to reach his apartment, and I was surprised to see that the campus was beautiful. I told my hubby maybe I would come again to take some photo.

There were many signboards to direct us to the apartment, and when we reached the apartment, we were directed by the committee members on where to park the car. When I looked at his key, he was assigned to Block D, third floor. Since the apartment is a walk up apartment, there was no lift.

"O oh! Can ibu gets to the third floor?" I asked Zara," who helped to carry his big brother pillow.

"Boleh," she said and waited for me at he first floor.

Alhamdulillah, I made it to his room. Slow and steady, and my back was okay. When he opened the door, my husband first remark was, "Dusty. Need to clean and mop the floor first." We went in to his room. It is a small room, and he is sharing with another guy. He didn't look so happy when he saw the room. He was disappointed that the apartment facilities were really basic, bed, table, chair, cupboard and sofa to sit and rest at the living room.

The kitchen was not bad as it has kitchen cabinet and an island for them to eat. Unfortunately, no chairs there. I guessed if they want to eat, they can eat on the floor, cross-legged.

My hubby disappeared for a short while and returned with a feather duster, mop and a sweep. Haha, Syafiq first task at his new place was sweeping the floor. He was lucky. No mopping as his  roommates started to come.

Since he has no activities in the afternoon, we took him home first. We thought of  sending him back on Sunday morning and help to clean his room, but somehow at 5pm, he said there's a briefing for all residence, and he wanted to attend. Quickly, my husband sent him back to Uniten, but hubby didn't get to help him clean the room.  Zara also cried when Syafiq left. She and Syafiq are close, and Syafiq likes to kiss her. He always gives Zara kisses before she went to bed, and before she left for school. Not only Zara going to miss the kiss, me too...

Well, frankly speaking, I miss him too. Every morning before I left for work, he would play his  guitar,  updates me on his activities, and help me to keep the house in order. Allhamdulillah, he is not that far. I will be seeing him regularly as the plan is he will come back on the weekend. I bet he will bring back his dirty laundry.

Okay before, I go, here is from Syafiq Safe and Sound, his favorite singer Taylor Swift.
Safe and Sound by Syafiq 

I was scared.

I always perform my prayer first before I go home, and normally it would be late evening. The female surau or the praying room is located at level One. The room is at the end on the first turn. The whole floor house the meeting rooms, and normally by late evening, it will be very quiet. The surau is also a little bit secluded.

Occasionally, I would meet few people who were also rushing to pray before catching the bus or train or driving their car homes, but most of the time, I would be there alone. 

Since the floor is kind of almost empty, I would be a little bit cautious of my surrounding. I would look at the male surau, which is not far from the female surau. If I saw someone praying, I would be happy as there was still someone around.

When I reached the surau, I pushed the door slowly, and checked who else is there with me. If I saw someone in there, I would feel relief, else I would brave myself to enter. I would then put my things on the bench and slowly took my time to remove my shoes, my badge, and my tudung before I proceed to enter the praying hall.

Once I have put down my things, I would lay the praying mat, took my telekong and also my special chair. Hmmm... if you wonder why I have chair, it is because I cannot pray like normal due to my knee and back problem. I then proceed to take my ablutions and get ready to pray.

There were few occasion while I was praying I smelled something like man's hair cream. I just ignored it, but lately, it was quite frequent and normally, after I finished my prayer. Every time, I smelled that, I would look around, looking for the source of the smell, but the room is empty except for me.

"Ahh.. this is not good," I said, and I quickly folded my telekong, put on my tudung and within five minutes, I would be out from the room.

Yesterday, it happened again. I was alone in the surau and was putting away my telekong in the cabinet. I was adjusting my tudung, looking at the mirror when suddenly, I smelled it again. I looked around. No one. I continued to adjust my tudung, and when I looked up to the ceiling, I saw the source of the smell. Perched high on the wall is the air freshener.

Damn! All this while, the air freshener has been scaring me. I thought it was a ghost. I laughed loudly, happy and relief that I found the source that scared me for months. Every time I think about it, I smiled, I can't believe that the air freshener has been playing a trick on me, and I don't know who else experience the same thing like me.

Salam

It's my birthday!

My doctor's waiting room

 It's my birthday today and look at the date 12-4-12. Isn't it a special date? On this special day, I shared it with my eight year old son who happened to be born on my birthday. There's no major celebration or special dinner for us. It's another normal day in Zai's house.

But we celebrated my birthday one day earlier. Since yesterday was a holiday, my hubby went all the way to Kajang town to buy the cake, and I was surprised when I saw him coming home with the cake.

Normally I would work on my birthday, but not this time. I went shopping. I took a day off. Before that, I went to see my doctor. A new doctor that was referred to by an Orthopedic Surgeon. When I entered his clinic, I was surprised. The interior was so beautiful made that I don't mind staying longer. Unfortunately, not many patient today, so I have no chance of parking myself there longer.


After my doctor's appointment, I met up with my sister, her daughter and her husband. We went for lunch at KLCC, and after that, I went to Kinokuniya. I don't know when was the last time I was at Kinokuniya, maybe it was more than a year.

As usual, I would head up to the fiction section. I stopped and browsed through, but nothing interest me so I moved to the IT shelves. Whoa... I stopped there for almost an hour. There was so many books that I had not seen before, and after going from sub-section to another sub-section, I zoomed in between two books.

It was between getting the Photoshop book and game development for iPad. After going back and forth between these two shelves, I finally decided to buy the second book. Heh. I don't know whether I will develop anything or not, but I just wanted to know how it was done and how to do it. The knowledge might come handy later on. Who knows?

From the technology section, I went to kids section. Again I was lost in the world of books. After circling few times, I finally grabbed 2 books for Zaki, for his birthday presents and a book each for the other three. But when Zara saw one of Zaki's book, which has full of colors and pictures, she wanted that book and didn't want hers. Luckily, Zaki was in a good mood. He gave the book to Zara, but he made me promised to get him another book.

By the time I finished my shopping in Kinokuniya, my back had started to give me pain. I slowly made my way to my car. I have to abandon my plan to get Zaki his favorite K-POP CD.

I have to thanks my back for giving me some pain today, or else I would be shopping for others things too, and caused major damages to my purse. But it's my birthday, and I can do anything I want, right? Anyway, Happy Birthday to Zaki and me!