Posted 3:35 PM

Woke up at noon. So tired. And throat a little sore. Once again I can only account it to fatigue and a weak body that's so vulnerable to sickness everytime I play too much. I shouted YAM SENG 3 times but I don't see that's why. Anyway drinking lots of bitter water. Again.
A review:

One married, one more to go.

Wedding day was helluva day. The timing stipulated in the programme was followed accordingly. We didn't have to rush, everything was real smooth. In the morning the cars were decorated with ribbons and the 'brothers' (groom with his guy gang) left in a 3car convoy to the bride's place.

Defend the Fort
The gate was locked with the 姐妹s (sister gang of the bride) protecting the house. The bride, upholding traditional chinese customs, is kept in a room and not being able to be seen by the groom. The challenge thus starts, whereby the sisters come out with ways to test the groom of his sincerity and ability to win the bride over.

The brothers are all smart people. Mostly scholars. Their wit and intelligence really caught out the sisters who thought they had it going strong. Besides being to escape ourselves from doing push ups (in long sleeve shirt and tie!), we were also tasked to come up with the tastes of 'sour sweet bitter spicy' from the neighbours. This is to symbolise the elements the couple will go through in the future (I'm not sure I'm just guessing this one.). The groom was also asked to answer many questions concerning the relatives of the bride, with consumption of hot chilli as punishment for wrong answers. And a 4 line poem in 8 steps from the gate to the bride's room when he finally passed the gate. Oh and before that we had to do an mtv shoot singing William Hung's she bangs. Dumb!! Together with his dance moves! DUMB!!

Tea ceremonies
And then the rest of the day proceeded with the traditional tea ceremonies, where the couple offers tea to peers and those of higher status, while I myself offered tea to my brother and present sister-in-law. And this carried on for both sides of the couple in different familes and houses. One particularly interesting event that happened was the small little dog Blackie actually poo-ed just beside the groom while he was sitting down. And literally it was a HUGE pile of shit!! Everyone said it was supposed to be good luck. Hmm. Some guys shouted for the photographer (another of the groom's friends) to take a photo. The photographer furiously refused!! He commented,"Don't you all think is a bit weird?? The album will show 'nice picture nice picture nice picture, then a picture of shit, then nice picture nice picture nice picture'..."
True. True.

Pan Pacific hotel
After a delicious catered lunch buffet at the bride's mum's place, we then headed down into town (cool nice rhyme eh) and checked in. While the rest did last minute set ups with the wedding night's powerpoints and music accompanyments, I took a shower and chilled out on the bed in the other room. Brother said he didn't need me anyway. Great feeling. Great hotel. View of the swimming pool too.

The day has just begun
So I'm tucked inside a jacket and was assigned to welcome guests. I didn't know anyone so I got bored and left the table. Coincidentally I met my upper secondary class form teacher, when I was the assistant monitor (class secretary they call it). He remembers me and we and a short time catching up. From a maths teacher he had gone on to become a HOD (head of department) in another school and now he's the vice principal of another school, the superior (not colleague right?) of the bride. He's really capable. As I've always known him to be. And he's showed it. I hope I can accomplish something myself in the future. So I went back to the reception and my seat's taken. Oh well. I decide to loiter. Funny how someone can wear cargo pants with a tshirt to a wedding. But the rest were appropriately dressed of course.

I do
The JP (justice of peace) solemnised the couple and I was on stage with the bride's sister to sign as witnesses. The JP then hastily left before the groom could give him a red packet in appreciation! We later realised we were missing a pen from the ceremony, and we jokingly concluded that the JP must have taken it in anger since he waited on stage for quite some time before the couple came in late. So it's the case of the missing pen. I'm sure my brother will find him and send in a token soon.

Dinner, toasts and photos
The eight course dinner was ok. I didn't eat much because I wasn't at my table much. I walked around the reception in the early stages because they were still anticipating late comers, and I was really bored at my table too. My table consisted of me, my two cousins, and 6 more of the bride's friends. I introduced myself to them and told them to enjoy the evening. Of them we only talked to 2 of them closest beside me. They are foreigners (based on looks, not on citizenships) teaching english and literature. And speak the most they awesomemest fluentest grammar I has ever hearing. Really impressive. And real friendly and funny too.

We also did the traditional Yam Sengs as spoken. And we took photos with every single table there. I didn't know I had to be following my brother around till he told me. Heh. Embarassing.

The night is still young
Everyone left after shaking hands with us (we were lining up in perfect file), congratulating us and thanking us for the evening, and we thanked them for coming too of course.

The night is still young, for the couple and their close friends that is.
I grabbed my stuff and took a ride on my uncle's car back home. Reached home just before midnight.

triggering Mr Ng HS |