My First Trip Overseas, Part II

Sorry it took quite a while for me to write this sequel. I've been pretty busy...

Anyway, so we flew to Edinburgh on Saturday morning (24th April) from Bristol airport. Our flight was at 7am so we had to wake up early and be on the road by 4am! Uncle Keith drove to Bristol airport and left his car there. We arrived around 8-ish and Granny Glenda was already waiting for us!

We then went straight to Granny's house in Dalgety Bay where Pops Pete was waiting for us and there were a lot of toys, especially Thomas, for me to play with!
Of course I was so delighted to see them.



Later in the afternoon, after we had our lunch, Granny took us out for some grocery shopping at a nearby Tesco and then went straight to a park in Aberdour. We played for a while and then went back home to rest. When we arrived home, Aunty Jill was already there waiting for us with her sons, Torin and Arlo. We played, ate and watched Thomas and Friends together before getting ready to go to bed.




The next morning, we had breakfast and immediately got ready to go to Bathgate for Aunty Rachel and Uncle Steve's wedding. Aunty Rachel is Mommy's friend. They knew each other when Mommy went to school in James Gillespie's, Edinburgh, ages ago. So, this is the whole purpose of our trip to UK.
Needless to say, we really had fun at the wedding which lasted forever!

Uncle Keith drove us there at noon and came to pick us up later in the evening. The event lasted till the wee hours of the next morning but of course, we didn't stay that long.



Monday morning, Granny drove us (Dadda, Mommy, Uncle Keith and I) to a shopping mall in Edinburgh to have lunch with Aunty Jill and Nana Belle (my other Scottish granny). Everybody had a lot of catching up to do so I had to keep myself busy with whatever that was around me! Thankfully, that restaurant was real 'kids friendly' where it had toys and finger food to keep me entertained.



After lunch, we went to the Edinburgh castle with Uncle Keith (because Mommy had admitted shamefully to Dadda that in all the time she stayed in Edinburgh, she'd never been to the castle! What a shame, Mommy!) Dadda had been to the castle when he went to visit a friend years ago so he promised to take both of us there. It was so windy when were at the castle compound that I fell asleep most of the time.




I only woke up when we stopped to have tea at Queen Anne's cafe somewhere inside the caslte area. After that, we took a walk around town, went into a bookshop and several souvenir stores and then headed home by bus. Oppss, I forgot, we also had an early dinner at the famous Kebab Mahal!





The next day, we went back to Edinburgh town to meet up with the newly weds. We arrived at the bus station, took a tour bus and got off halfway through the tour and walked all the way to
Mommy's old school, James Gillespie's High School, where we met Mommy's headteacher, Mr. Wallace (he was the Assistant Headteacher then). We stayed for awhile and talked to him, took some photos and walked back. On the way, we stopped to take pictures at Pak Su's school, Sciennes Primary School and the apartment where Mommy and Pak Su used to stay with Tok Mama.








Our final stop was Aunty Anna's shop called The Covet. Aunty Anna's one of Mommy's school friends too. She owns a very 'posh' shop which sells leather goods such as bags, purse as well as jewelleries. We then had to bid farewell to Aunty Rachel and Uncle Steve Aunty Anna before taking the bus straight to the airport where Uncle Keith was waiting for us to fly back to Bristol.




Aunty Rachel and Uncle Steve will also be leaving for their honeymoon on Friday to Venice and board a cruise to go around Greece and later this year, they will probably migrate to New Zealand. Hopefully we will see them again, perhaps in New Zealand next time. Keeping my fingers crossed!

I really miss everyone in Edinburgh; Granny Glenda, Pops Pete, Nana Belle, Aunty Jill, Torin, Arlo, Aunty Rachel and Uncle Steve. I got a lot of presents from them, books from Granny, Pops and Aunty Jill and a lovely bracelet from Nana Belle. I didn't get to meet Aunty Jill's daughter, Rosa, though, because she was really busy preparing for her big exams.

Don't miss the next part!
I promise it'll be the last of the My First Trip Overseas Trilogy series.

It's going to be more interesting and more photos to look at too!

Weddings

So, I know that I haven't been writing for quite a while now. I've been quite busy actually, err... with attending weddings.

Anyway, as some of you might already know, Mommy, Dadda, Aunty Huda and Mak Lel went to Bali a few weeks ago (I was told that Bali is somewhere in a place called Indonesia. As if I know where that is!). As usual, I was left behind with Tok Abah, Tok Mama and Pak Su Ami. The weekend they went to Bali the 4 of us took a long trip to a place called Triang. It took us forever to get there! We went there to attend a wedding of Tok Abah's and Tok Mama's friend. Needless to say, I was well behaved and quite entertaining to Tok Abah, Tok Mama and Pak Su throughout the journey although I was sooo tired.

Mommy, Dadda, Aunty Huda and Mak Lel came back on Sunday, 31st May at around 10am. We picked them up at the airport and went straight to Malacca to attend another wedding. This time Mommy knew the groom and Tok Abah and Tok Mama knew the groom's parents. Apparently, they were neighbours from ages ago and Mommy and the groom grew up together. They met again when they worked together at ASTRO.


In Malacca, waiting for Tok Mama's friend at Kolej Yayasan Saad..

I didn't really feel tired during that journey to Malacca maybe because I was excited to see Mommy and Dadda back from Bali. Of course I missed them a lot but I tried not to show it too much. Anyway, we stopped by at Tok Mama's hometown in Rembau to see Nek Wan and Nek Tok on the way back from Malacca.


Hmmm, mam-mam! I love food.. eating with Mommy..


Our picture with the groom (Uncle Ayai) and his wife

On the 6th of June, Mommy, Dadda and I went to a wedding in Meru, Klang. It was not that far, about 45 minutes' drive from home. This time it was the wedding of Dadda's cousin, Uncle Mahmie and his fiancee, Aunty Zarina.


In my cute green dress, all ready for the convoy!

You see, in a Malay culture, there are always receptions at both the bride's side of the family and the groom's. Most of the time, though not always, the bride's side will hold the reception before the groom's side. Malay weddings always start with the religious ceremony, in this case, at a mosque.


At the mosque, hugging Papa!


Just me witnessing the akad nikah..


Look at all the 'hantaran'...


Playing with Cik Ah's camera, with Cuna, Mommy and Cekde looking..

After that we proceeded to the bride's house about 5 minutes' drive from the mosque where the reception was being held. I have to tell you that the food served was delicious!

A week after that, on the 13th, it was the groom's family's turn to hold a reception. I went to the groom's parents' house the night before the wedding to 'help' with the preparations. I helped quite a lot, actually, with the food, I mean. Anyway, the reception was held at a hall not far from the house. We met with a lot of relatives from Dadda's family who came from all over Malaysia just to attend the wedding.


Tok Mama, Tok Abah and Pak Su also tagged along with us!


All dressed in brilliant purple. Mama with her bling-bling dress! :)


My Subang family with the 'mempelai'.. I'm too busy looking at Auntie Zarina's flowers!


Enjoying some cooling moment near the fan with CuNa!


The MC for the day, AyahNgah -- Bujang Lapok (we're still waiting...)


Our small family with Uncle Mahmie & Auntie Zarina. Selamat Pengantin Baru!

So, those were more or less my account of the weddings I've attended for the past few weeks. Of course to me the best part of all the weddings are the Food! Glorious Food!


Not food, but flower. Yup, just me playing with the fresh orchids during the wedding reception.

Till we meet again...

Mak Lang Nur's wedding...

On the 13th and 14th of February I went to Seremban to attend Mommy's cousin, Mak Lang Nur's wedding to Uncle Wan Zul. Both Mommy and Dadda took leave on Friday the 13th so that we wouldn't have to rush to Seremban after work.


This was taken a week before the wedding during the preparation! I'm 'helping' out putting papers in the souvenir box!

After Friday prayer we took off to Seremban in 1 car and Tom Mama and PakSu Ami in another. Tok Abah couldn't go because he had his lecture. When we arrived in Seremban, everybody was busy preparing the house, room, living room and souvenirs. We headed to Atuk Ngah Man's house just next door to Atuk Long's house in Bukit Chedang to get ready. Tok Mama, PakSu Ami, Wan Teh and Wan Ki got ready there too.


With Mak Lang Nur before her akad nikah. Look at me all happy in white!

At around 9pm the ceremony started. It was the 'Bernikah' ceremony where they sort of get themselves 'registered'. The 'Tok Kadi' was quite funny, according to Mommy and Dadda. I just laughed whenever anyone or everyone laughed. Yes, I was quite noisy that night, hehe... was just trying to liven things up! Owh, I forgot to mention that Kak Alyssa was also there but she wasn't feeling very well. She was asleep by the time the ceremony took place.


Me, Dadda & Mommy with Mak Lang looking splendid in her akad nikah dress!


Listening to the Tok Kadi performing the akad.. Nice B&W pict by Dadda!


With Auntie Aishah (Uncle Imal's gf :).. Takleh dok diam!


The happy couple after the akad...

After that, all guests proceeded outside for dinner. By then I was already quite tired and sleepy so I took a short nap after showing a teeny weeny bit of tantrum.


Sleeping with cousin Alyssa..

When I woke up, most guests have already left. Mommy fed me with some fruits while we took photos with Mak Lang Nur and Uncle Wan Zul. We retired at Atuk Ngah's house not long after that, at around midnight.


All of us with the happy couple, Mak Lang Nureliza & Pak Lang Wan Zul..

The next morning I woke up later than others, around 10am. Mommy bathed me and Dadda took me next door to Atuk Long's house for breakfast while Mommy had her shower. We then sat and watch TV while I played with Pak Ngah Iwan. After Zohor prayers, Dadda, Mommy and I went to the hotel in Seremban town to check-in. The wedding reception was to be held there, in the ballroom of Royale Bintang Hotel.


Yeaaaayyy, I'm happy to be on my big bed in the hotel!

The room was quite nice. We got a room with a connecting door to Tok Mama and Tok Abah's room next to us. Tok Mama, Tok Abah and PakSu Ami arrived later in the afternoon because Tok Mama and PakSu went back to Subang after the nikah the night before. Originally, they were supposed to come back in the morning but apparently, one of Tok Mama's close friends passed away that morning so Tok Mama went for the funeral before coming back to Seremban.

While waiting for them to arrive, Mommy and Dadda had their lunch while I crawled around the two bedrooms, exploring! It had quite a nice view of the rest of the hotel so most of the time I spent sitting near the glass window, looking out into the garden of the hotel.


With Mak Lel who just arrived...

After awhile Aunty Huda and Mak Lel arrived and after everyone excluding me had performed their Asar prayer, Mommy, Aunty Huda, Mak Lel and I went down to check the ballroom out. Then, we went outside to the pool area where there were people swimming. Near the pool, next to the spa, there was a playground. I went on the see-saw and slide. Too bad there weren't any swings for I would've loved to go on it.


Playing on the sea-saw with my 2 Godmothers, Mak Lel & Auntie Ude!


I know I'm supposed to go down the slide, but for it's more challenging climbing up the slide!

Mommy didn't bring my swimsuit so I didn't get to swim in the pool but I did get to sit by the pool playing with the water with my feet, though. Dadda came down to join us later on for a wee while before going back up to the room to get ready. By the time we got back to the room, Tok Abah, Tok Mama and PakSu Ami have arrived.


Mommy, where's my bathing suit.. I wanna swim!

After Maghrib prayer, when all of us were ready, Mommy took me down in my stroller. By then, Papa, Mama and Ayah Ngah have also arrived and they came up to our room for Maghrib prayers too. Downstairs, guests have filled the ballroom before the VIPs including Yang Dipertua Negeri Sembilan and all the 'Undangs' arrived.


Look at me wearing a silver baju kurung with bling2x.. Us with Papa & Mama

Mommy fed me with a bottle of milk and I fell asleep. I was sure Mommy and Dadda were quite relieved that I was asleep almost throughout the ceremony. That gave them ample time to have dinner and mingle with the guests. In other words, I was very well behaved that night, hehe...


My wedding reception dinner..


Kenyang perut, tidur lagi.. Slept through the whole merenjis ceremony!

When I woke up, the event was almost over. Guests were already queueing up to say their well wishes to the bride and groom and their parents. We stayed back for a photo session with the huge family. I met a lot of friends and relatives during the farewells and photo shoots. They all thought I looked gorgeous in my silver 'baju kurung'. I'm sure Mommy and Dadda were very proud of me. Finally after the photo session that took about an hour to wrap up, we went up to the room around midnight and got ready for bed.


Awake now.. In front of the elegant pelamin!


3 single girls & 1 Mommy!


With Dadda, Uncle Ijai & cousin Alyssa!


With Tok Abah & Tok Mama..


With Pak Su Amie..


With AyahNgah Acat..


With Nek Wan & Nek Tok, also Tok Long, Wan Jah, Wan Teh & Tok Teh!


Group photo of Atok Kassim & Wan Ramlah family with the happy couple!


Climbing the steps to the pelamin during the photoshoot...

The next morning I had to be forced to wake up for breakfast by Mommy and Dadda. When we went down for breakfast, everyone was already finishing up with their food. I was only half awake. I think Mommy and Dadda were also tired because instead of hanging out around the pool like everyone else after breakfast, they took me up to the room where I managed to get more sleep while they pack. At noon, we checked out and went back home.


With Mama Rina & Alyssa during the gift opening at Tok Long's house in Bukit Chedang


Hey, I want this!...

All in all, it was an interesting weekend for me. We're still waiting for Mak Lang to show us photos from the professional photographer from those nights. I'll be attending more weddings this year. I'll keep you updated.

SELAMAT PENGANTIN BARU TO MAK LANG NUR & PAK LANG WAN ZUL!

Some of the wedding pictures featuring me can be accessed here!

A weekend filled with activities!

Hi everybody!

I don't really have much to say today, actually. Just thought I'd share a few photos and just update you on what I've been doing for these past few days...

Well, on Friday night I went to a wedding with Mommy and Dadda. They know both the bride and groom. It wasn't my first wedding so it's really nothing new to me. As usual, we sat and ate, Mommy brought along my porridge so I didn't have to just sit and look at the adults eat and drool..

Anyway, the usual happenings of a wedding went on as expected and after Mommy and Dadda finished off their meal we took some photos with the bride and groom and some other friends of theirs. We had to go off earlier than the rest of the guests, though because I, ehem... ehem... did a 'big business' while Mommy and Dadda were eating.

So, to avoid further injuries on other guests' noses, Mommy and Dadda decided to take off early.

I'm really, really sorry but I just couldn't hold it any longer... I didn't put on my apologetic look though, because I knew Mommy and Dadda would understand.

On Saturday, Mommy, Dadda and I went for lights and ceiling fans shopping for our new apartment. While they were busy choosing all the things needed, I had a quick nap in my buggy. We then headed straight to our apartment to drop off the things we bought and while doing that, dropped by at Aunty Alma and Uncle Farlie's apartment 2 blocks away from ours. They were there cleaning up their apartment. After a couple of hours there, we headed straight to Teapot Cafe in SS2 for a late lunch.

You see, Dadda has been craving for its cheese cake for days!

I had potato salad and Mommy had a couple of scones. (she had to help finish off my potaoes, hehe...) That night, as usual, we had 'tadabur' and right after, gathered together for a meeting about our holiday trip to Sommerset, Endau-Rompin (which I'm REALLY looking forward to!) on Christmas Day. Mama said each family has to come up with a game for us to play there and Mommy came up with a few interesting games that will be discussed and decided together with Dadda.

On Sunday, we woke up early because we had a breakfast date with Dadda's college mates from Warwick at Mcdonald's near Ikano Power Centre. Mommy and Dadda had Big Breakfast each while I had some hotcakes. Later that afternoon I came back with Mommy and joined Mak Lel and Aunty Huda at Ikea.

At around 8.30 that night, we went to the airport with Tok Abah and Pak Su Ami to send off Tok Mama. Tok Mama went to Japan for a research trip. (how nice!) She'll be back on Saturday, 20th.

Oh yes, at the airport we took some photos too...

So, today's Monday and usually Monday is swimming day but unfortunately it's the rainy season now so I'm crossing my fingers hoping that it's not going to rain tonight! I'll update you on my activities again, once I have something interesting to tell. Until then, take care everyone and have fun no matter what you do or where you are!

Cheerios!