Real fact #107 from a Snapple bottle cap: You burn more calories sleeping than you do watching TV.
Perhaps, if you attempt both at the same time, you’ll burn even more! Who says you need to hit the gym to burn those calories, eh.
February 12, 2009
Guess…
Category: Thaism
Exactly what do you think is wrong with this picture? Look really, really hard. Or take a wild guess.
The picture from this angle seems to suggest that the old guy is just being a chee ko pek*, staring at her ass. But that was not the point I was trying to make – he just happened to be in the way when this picture was taken. What’s really wrong in the above picture is this:
Why the hell would she join a queue meant for foreign passport holders at the airport? This had me completely baffled for the following reasons:
- Unless she can’t read the signs, one would think that it is blindingly obvious that these 10-15 counters were meant only for foreign passport holders
- There were at least 4 other counters specifically for Thai passport holders
- There were less than 2 or 3 people queuing at the Thai passport counters at any one time. Some of the counters for Thai passports had no other people queuing up and were practically EMPTY. (give those officers some work, will you!)
- The queue at the foreign line was horrendously long. Each and every counter opened had people queuing up to the brim, with each wait lasting at least half an hour before they stamp you through
- As a local at your own airport, wouldn’t you be beaming at all those “express” priviledges which allow you to clear immigration within the shortest time possible? Hell, I know I would!
This is not the first time I’ve seen this. If they are with some friends, they usually tend to dress really fashionably and even speak some English (to each other) while in queue. Each time I searched my thoughts on a logical and plausible explanation for such illogical behaviour. I do have a few theories:
- Herd mentality – just follow the crowd, don’t ask any questions and obliviously blur
- Illiterate or deaf or mute or blind or a combo of these.
- A high need to be seen and establish herself as non-Thai (this is sad, if true)
Still, one can speculate the theories but I simply can’t fathom this strange Thai antics. I mean, who in the right mind would want to spend hours queuing up at the immigration if you can avoid it, especially if you know there’s always a special lane for you?
Although, I had to laugh witnessing the fact that she was turned away as she got to her turn. The officer had refuse her entry at that point and she was promptly told to go to the Thai counter. (snigger)
* chee ko pek: Singlish for dirty old man
February 11, 2009
OnePerang’s Engagement
Category: Family life
My little brother is all grown up! He is now engaged to be married following his engagement ceremony which came to its fruition on 7th February last weekend.
Never in my life have I ever attended a traditional Malay engagement ceremony before. Not once! Hence, I was pretty much the clueless one around and don’t really know what to expect. Being the non-conformist me, I did away with such things amongst other expected traditional things I can get out of; and get on to what’s only necessary – and that’s the rites of the nikah. Ok, ok, this is not about me, but that’s my opinion, so deal with it.
The Malay community generally places high regard in the Adat Pertunangan (betrothal), aka Engagement Ceremony. The Malay traditional engagement ceremony actually crystallizes the verbal agreement made during the previous visit from the groom’s side in asking for the bride’s hand in marriage.
On the day itself, we had a busload of relatives as representatives from my side of the family as well as OnePerang’s close friends, going over to the Bride-To-Be’s (BTB) place bearing trays of gifts. While the engagement ring and dowry are deemed compulsory as per agreed by both sides of the family, the rest were really just gifts from the relatives to the BTB. Upon reaching the BTB’s place, everyone was seated on the floor of the house in a circle with all the gifts displayed in the middle of the room. There’s the welcome and introduction as both sides address each other about the coming union where references are made to the gifts to reaffirm what was agreed upon earlier. A small prayer session was held first prior to the highlight of putting the engagement ring on the BTB’s finger. Meanwhile, the BTB is seated in her room all dressed up in her finest traditional dress awaiting in anticipation for the ring to be slipped on her finger. Then it’s photos, photos and more photo sessions, after which we were treated to sumptuous servings of food.
At the end of the engagement ceremony, the exchange of gifts was carried out before the Groom-To-Be (GTB) delegation leaves for home. It is also part of the Malay custom that the GTB does not attend the ceremony and stayed behind to receive guests back home.
Back home an hour later, another small prayer session was held to officiate the closing of the engagement ceremony. This was promptly followed by putting the engagement ring from the BTB to the GTB by Mom before another round of feasting. I then got busy making sure that everyone is served, fed and entertained till the last guest leave for the night.
That, my friends, was an eye-witness account of the series of events I managed to capture in my caboodled mind of a traditional Malay engagement ceremony. It all seemed ritualistic and almost grand. Indeed, it was quite an eye opener for me and to be involved in the entire thing is quite an honour.
I’m sure that the Groom and Bride-To-Be are both gonna be busy planning for their forthcoming wedding day. Congrats Younglings!
Gifts from GTB to BTB
BTB adorned with Engagement Ring
Gifts from BTB to GTB
Mom putting on ring from BTB on her son and the union celebrated by friends
Mom & Silver Bullet sharing a gossip session
(Silver Bullet was as sick as a dog when this pic was taken, btw)
