I love weddings!

It has been ages since I last directly got involved in a wedding. Last week however, I managed to attend and assist my sister, Noorsyafinaz, and it was so much fun!

It started off with the akad nikah ceremony on the same day I got back to city center and I directly went to her place to witness the beautiful occasion.

AKAD NIKAH

It was a simple one yet exciting. The hall was filled with laughter and jokes and people talking. It was eventful. Everywhere you turn, people are excited for the ceremony to begin. Before the occasion took place I met my sister and express my excitement to her and had a glimpse of what she's going to look like - and take my words: SHE WAS SO PRETTY.

The ceremony began at about 5.15pm. It was raining heavily outside - and the TOK KADI was stuck in the car; he couldn't get out and braved the rain. So, my sister's father instructed me to go and fetch him and he gave me two umbrellas. I went down located the car, and gave TOK KADI one of the umbrellas and he told me to take his coat and bag at the passenger seat behind. I did just that, showed him the way and soon enough we were out of the rain.

The ceremony started immediately and I sat there, patiently thinking of why I really love weddings. It brings people together. It does. I am now a lot closer to my (older) neighboors and they are aware of my presence too.











MARHABAN

I was looking forward for the marhaban. This is the time where usually I would love. Sometimes new borns are being carried around the circle of marhaban too for their Cukur Jambul. It is filled with tradition and beliefs. The unison reading of the marhaban really impresses me - especially the nasyid bit at the end of the marhaban.

At the end of it, one of the elders sing a song that really made me laughed (not only me, though, some pak ciks were laughing to the song too)

Enjit Enjit Semut Siapa Sakit Naik Atas. And she repeated this three times. Everyone was laughing!





THE WEDDING RECEPTION

There was no words to express my feeling on that day. I helped my mom (she is the wedding planner of some sort) by mingled around to see people I know and entertain them. This is my way of reconnecting with those who I have lost contacted with for a long time. I really enjoy weddings!

Memo Paper

Mrs. N: Hey, can u write down these things, call Yen and ask the questions I am going to tell you and get back to me ASAP.

MM: Yes, boss.

Mrs. N: Okay, there are four questions all together...

MM: Uh huh....

Mrs. N: The first one, when can I see the finish product of what Yen is doing?

MM: Second q?

Mrs. N: Covers. The client needed two options for the cover.

MM: Next q?

Mrs. N: If we change the measurement last minutes how much will additional fees be charge to us?

MM: Okay....

Mrs. N: Should it be black or contrasting colour?

MM: Is that it?

Mrs. N: Nope... Check on our pending clients when will they approve the programmes.

MM: OUCH!

Mrs. N: You okay babe? What happened?

MM: Im fine, I poked my eyes with the sharp corner of the memo paper.

Mrs. N: Idiot!

D bay(The great weekend final part)

Well, it took us, 30 minutes to Reach D bay. The last place in the list in an abrupt meeting last night at Aliff's. pulling off my helmet from my head, I was conscious about my locks. I thought it wont look good after being compressed by the heavy helmet - and guess what, I quit to care about my looks. As long as I think I look good, that is fine with me. The consciousness of what people think of you as you dressed and appeared is really killing me. I just wanna be what I wanna be and wear what I feel like wearing. I don't want to think about looks anymore. At the end of the day, it will all fade. The things you leave behind will be the things you do for others out of your pure heart and great intention. Other than that, it wont matter anymore to me. (krik... krik... krik.. AWKWARD!!)

So, reached the final location. My cousin gave me a tour of what to happen to D bay as it is listed in the new development of ISKANDAR. You can see reconstructions are taking place here and there and new cleared land are being established to accommodate more development of the shore opposite the land of Lion! (Take that!! and that!! and that!!) After taking in the breeze of the strait, a bit of emotional moments (where I actually cried thinking of my childhood memories where Baba always took me here during the evening and when we participated with the joyous crowds on our independence day march) and my cousin was out of idea to what to do to stop me from crying - all I could think off was MAN, they don't know how to spoil us with enough words, and so we decided to go back and that my cousin needed to see the gf.

We walked to the bike. He handed me his hoody and told me that it would be extremely cold - the sea breeze and the cloudy night, I let you do the thinking. We rode off and soon enough, we maneuvered to a junction from a four-lane (one direction) highway only to realize that the back tyre were punctured! I was panicky. Even if my car's wheel was punctured I was extremely panic - so you can IMAGINE how panic I was when we have to get off the bike, on a SUPER busy highway and we had to go ACROSS the highway to find a bike workshop that opens at 10 to 10 at night. It was interesting though. Keeping my adrenaline rushing high and low as I was deciding to run across the road. I could say that I tempted my fate but I survived. With relieved heart, my cousin said his apology and concern and we walked to the nearest workshop not far from our spot - according to him. I looked at him sceptically but keep on walking. He eroded the tension by talking about the incident in a funny way - some ways that is hard to be forgotten. And soon enough I found myself laughing my heart out over the incident.

I was bleaming with joy as we saw a workshop was still operating. He pushed his bike towards the direction and we reached the workshop with much sweat (at least I was, under the hoody) and he was looking at his watch and I instantly knew that he was anxious to get this over and done with. That was when my hubby texted and I called him right away. I told him, excitedly, about what happened and heard that he wasn't that happy. I know he is tired of the current situation and I know how he wishes that everything will be easier for him soon. But god knows best - and he keeps that a mystery to those he chooses (that includes me I guess). So, I changed the topic and let my excitement died there - but sustained the cuteness I always do.

The Indian foreman said it was all done and he received the asked amount - I promised myself to pay some amount of money to him once I get my pay. We rode away from the place and soon enough, I was standing in front of the gate to my grandpa's house and we said our goodbye and he said: Just keep the hoody, I'll collect it soon. And I went into the house, looked out of the window and saw a shooting star. I said to myself: I had the rest I needed I just wish that my love is here with me so I wont miss him that much and went to the bathroom (to take my bath after an extremely long and eventful day) feeling very happy but excited as I am going back to the City Centre tomorrow!

Sand of Warehouse (The great weekend part 4)

After of about 25 minutes riding on a bike with my cousin, we finally reach his house. The mother went out so I directly aimed the computer (with internet connection that is). I brought my lappie and so you can imagine how heavy my back pack was, riding on a bike, for 25 minutes. Not the best mean of transportation (this is due to my motophobic where I encountered an unpleasant experience with bikes). But I braved it all to get my work done - and of course to go around Sand of warehouse, a district in southern region that I have never professionally explore.

Imagine me on a bike, with my clothing and my wild curls... You figure that I was kinda regreting it at first. What an experience it was though. One that made me braved up my old fear and turned it around into something that almost pleases me - and I said almost.

Done with my work, retrieving and sending emails, my cousin decided that we go for Cendol, a delicasy that combines greenish tofu, coconut milk, glutinous rice and dark syrup. I enjoyed eating it especially when it involvedtalking about things that interest you when you are reconciled with some one you long lost (not so long though). Soon, my cousin brought me, yes on his bike, (can you imagine me with a helmet?) to go around Sand of Wearhouse. He showed me places like the Kite Museum, Kite field, and then He suggested that we checked out a beach in which a new attraction to Sand of Wearhouse is being built - Sarang Buaya.

We went to the beach but it was closed. So, we decided to check out Sarang Buaya. It was soft-launched not long ago and the place is still underconstruction. But I could imagine the scenary once it was fully built. Next to the sea, with mangrove trees shooting the sky and crocodiles in captivities - I kept thinking what if the crocodiles escape!!

We went back home and stopped by a Nasi Lemak stop - and it was already near dusk, so we decided to grab ourself some food for dinner, and courtesy of my cousin he bought me dinner too! what a great guy he is. Back at home, his mother - my auntie was at home and we talked for awhile and soon enough I was ready to get on the bike again. And after sometimes, I think it wasn't that bad riding a bike, as long as I am not the one who is handling it.

CIMB Visit (The great weekend part 3)

I thought that the visit to CIMB would take ages - but it turned out to be quite fast. Pak Long parked his car, we walked to the Bank and soon enough we were talking to the bank representative and puff... everything was done! I was impressed. Pak Long was smiling from ear to ear. I felt a bit disappointed as I put an effort to look good today. I wore my Pink JOY and JOKE body hugging T-shirt and my jeans along with my radioactive sneakers.

As we were walking back to the car, I texted my cousin to pick me up sumtimes at two. I was excited to be granted the early weekend and hoping that my cousin will surprise me with his tour around the town. As I was preparing myself to set the mood for this exciting trip, Mrs. N called.

Mrs. N: Hey, you ok there?

MM: Im good.

Mrs. N: I e-mailed sumthing for you and wanted to hear your idea. Have you completed the proposal.

MM: I did.

Mrs. N: Could you e-mail it to me? I need to send the proposal ASAP.

MM: I try my best.

Mrs. N: Before 3. Bye.

I hang up the phone and soon enough my rusty brain was planning a new scheme.

Aliff's Latte (The great weekend part 2)

My eldest uncle picked us up at the Mega Bus Center not far from my grandpa's house. We told him that we were actually settling our insurance matter. Before we reached home, we stopped at Aliff to have dinner. I was thinking that this will be the usual laid back and doing nothing kind of hometown retreat. So I decided to agree to eat out (since I didn't know when will be the last chance to go out and about town).

We got out of the car and soon enough, the waiter was taking our orders and the drinks came first. As usual I ordered my latte, the same with my mom. Adrian was with his Ice Choc and Pak Long sipped his Ice Lychee and started to ask my mom questions to plan out tomorrow. That was when he decided to just take away some dishes and eat it at home.

I was happily sipping my hot latte when I saw someone familiar. I saw my cousin - Angah, Mak andak's son! He was with his friends and caught me looking at him. That resulted him to greet us and making small talk and soon enough we were planning of tomorrow as he was having his off week. I told him that I might need to use the internet connection to excess my works that Mrs. N sent me via email. Since I didn't know what time would the insurance matter end, I decided to tell him to pick me up at around two tomorrow. That was the first time that I felt easy and happy seing him. Usually we only chatted through smses and Yms. This was different.

I sipped my latte again, and thought that this is not going to be just any weekend. This could be a great weekend - one that I needed for quite sometimes.

Adrian and I in the bus (The great weekend part 1)

It has been ages since I last had a real weekend. My usual weekend will be spent as a therapy session in an art school not far from City Center. Anna, sometimes, picks me up and takes me or us (Frank is included) back home all the time. Most of the time I will arrive to the school late due to the stupid feeder bus which is scheduled every 30 minutes or so - I spend hours counting the weeds that infested the bricks of the pedestrian walk on the left and right sides of the bus station instead. This time around, I had a chance to breakaway and chill and relax a bit far away from the metropolitan city - I went back to my hometown.

My mother, Adrian and I left the Bus Mega Center at about 5pm to the southern region of the country. Along the way, I occupied most of the time looking out of the window and listen to my list of songs in my black Z555i. I took in the scenery as the City Center faded quickly and it was being replaced by a stretch of endless pattern of palm oil and rubber trees plantation one after the other as we moved further away from the hectic life of the city. It was bright sunny day. The evening was nothing but spectacular as if it welcomed me into my own version of a great 'weekend' - Owh, I forgot to tell you that it was Tuesday when I left.

The sky turned darker and darker and soon, Adrian and I saw the first glimpse of a star. He was so excited looking and kept counting the stars. He stopped when the stars were too many to be counted using fingers and he counted 23 twice and started again and lost count again - He finally just stared at the stars. We approached our destination around 9.30 pm and once we reached the city Adrian asked me a question, "Abang, mana bintang banyak - banyak tadik?"

I answered him with a slight doubt that he would understand the scientific explanation that i would soon blurt, "Langit tu macam cermin yang besar. Lagi terang lampu kat atas tanah lagi sikit kiter nampak bintang,"

He replied me with an unexpected answer that awed me, "Ooo, tadik kat jalan gelap. macam banyak bintang nie,"

I talked to myself quietly: He's a genius after all.

camel T**

This is 18 SX content Entry... Leave if u r not 18 yet... (What the...)

Last Saturday was a Camel T** day. This happened due to the fact that I found out what it means on that day. I'd never been told about it before. But I learned a new vocabulary while watching Akademi Fantasia with my sis's family, in her living room.

I felt kinda embarrassed as I don't know what it is in a group of people who were actually arguing about it. I felt funnily stupid but at the same time lost and naive.

I dreamed of a poet

I dreamed of a poet. Not old but wise. He told me about a lot of things; things that I have never thought I'd face. The uncertainty of living. The beliefs that I have never jeopardized. The way the world go around from other perspectives. Is this another task? I asked, but silence filled the air as I lay in bed thinking.

I dreamed of a poet. Faceless as he might be but his voice sang through the ears of mine. He told me of promises and trusts - the other side of them that I have never thought of questioning. He told me that we trust others but reserve questions of the opposite. He told me that we make promises, we keep some of them but we have to break most of them. He told me that we do what we do as our heart skips and speaks.

I dreamed of a poet. A poet of love and relationship. He told me that we can never lie our heart and how we feel but we know what is right and what is not. He told me that we are human - and that we are special when we are exactly the same as others. We love the ones we love and we love more as we move on. And to stay with the same person will be a true virtue of sacrifice and truthfulness. We strive and strive and we know what we want.

I dreamed of a poet. A poet of wisdom and faith. He told me that we are who we are and we can never go wrong as we believe in what we do. We guide our feelings with wisdom that we gathered in the journey called life. With wisdom comes faith. And with faith we fulfill the destiny that we are destined. Yes, the future is something that we can't predict but today is what we are dealing with. We make the best out of what we have. Although we have everything we want, but there are somethings we always need. Something ordinary that differs from the things we want but we realize the importance of their presence in our life.

I dreamed of a POET and I am utterly glad that I met the POET - who showed the reality of the other side that I have never ventured in thinking both silently and articulately. I hope, now, I really can think about it without fear of any sort.

My Father and His Small Little Things

Don't get me wrong reading the title people, but that's the truth.

Me and hub had an argument yesterday - I would say a good one. It makes me understand him more and him, lets put it that he understands me better now. People say that, if there are too many differences in the partners in the relationship, they can't last that long. But, I beg to differ. Today, however, I am not going to tell you about our differences; let that be to another day. Today, I am going to reminisce the way my parents love each other and how they love their children - all three; Martha, Edmund and Adrian.

1) Find a reason to CELEBRATE!!

My father, whom I called Baba, celebrated everything that can be celebrated. There was one time when I got 3rd place in my secular education school, and I got the highest marks for my Arabic Language. He didn't throw me a huge party with Celine Dion singing in my hall - though I still keep my fingers crossed, but he printed me a cute card saying congratulation and how he loved me so. In another event, we celebrated Christmast with real oven-roasted turkey drumsticks - and we spent 2 days finishing the drumsticks and up till now we still laugh at the memories.

2) Celebrate DATES!!

Baba is particular when it comes to dates. He remembers dates, important ones especially. A major occasion for that would be Birthdays, Anniversaries, New Borns and even Dates of Death of our relatives. When I say birthdays it does not only cover family, it reaches out to neighbors and friends. To celebrate this, my dad would buy cards and asked us to put down our wishes and signature. Sometimes, he would buy ingredients and my mom and I would cook together in the kitchen. I have to say that is so rare to do these days as I am extremely busy. One event that I wouldn't want to forget is Edmund's birthday where he brought us all to Victoria Station to have an expensive dinner. Next was my mothers' 18th of July, middle of the month, what he did really touched me. After Edmund's birthday which was on the twelve of July, each morning, Baba would put a long stalk of rose, untreated, at places my mom would definitely go every morning. He put one in the washing machine, the next day in the fridge, another one at the front door, another one on the vacume cleaner, and the last one on the dining table with a complete set of English Breakfast - scrambled eggs, chicken ham, sausages, mushroom soup and buns - we (Edmund, Baba and I) were partners in crime!! All of this was just to celebrate dates. And I kinda miss that. Hehehe...

3) The love of Baba to My mom.

They don't go off to honeymoon, instead they celebrates little things that surprised their days and nights as husband and wife. Baba would call my mom to brew up coffee or tea so that they could have a cute tea time together at 5 or 530 pm everyday without fail without the kids (as we were very busy with co-curriculum and extra evening activities). He would buy some banana fritters and kuihs, sat on the dining table, over looking the balcony with wildly blooming flowers that Baba planted - It is one of his passion to plant beautiful shrubs and flowers (among his favs is the Jasmine and Santhalia). They would talk about their days and what they did and interesting events. They also shared sad moments there, at the dining table facing the balcony with wildly blooming-scented flowers. Whenever they have problems, they would discuss there, of course putting us to sleep first and talk and talk throughout the night at the same spot, looking at the stars and the moon. Baba loves to surprise my mom - which what we (my mom, Edmund and I) inherit up till now. we love to surprise others and sometimes one of us expected surprises but we planned it out to make it not the usual type of surprise. I really miss those moments.

Baba is no longer with us now. But the little things he did will always be remembered as we move on. They are somethings we treasure everyday and we carry with us every where we go...