Scenes From A Wedding - Tea Offering Ceremony at Henley Point, Sydney

Scenes From A Wedding - Ballast Point Park, Sydney

Miss Ely Yap held a marriage commitment ceremony with Mr Ray Lin in Birchgrove on 18 September 2010, surrounded by panoramic Sydney views, a sparkling spring afternoon and more than a hundred of relatives, mates and well-wishers.

The bouquets held by the bridesmaids matched the adornments of the groomsmen. Yachts and ferries passed by lazily in the background. Finger food and drinks were served. The father of the bride, Mr Boo Ann Yap, beamed under the Australian sun, as he walked in with the radiant bride on hand.

Ceremony attendees came all over the globe, including Malaysia, California, New Zealand and more.

Scenes From A Wedding - Georgetown, Penang

Karen and Chet back in their hometown of Georgetown.

All image credits above to Ideal Wedding Studios, Penang, Malaysia

Scenes from a Wedding 2 - Penang Island

Karen and Chet pour the champagne fountain on the evening of 23 October at their wedding reception on Penang Island.

(Image credit - Mr Loke Yew Fai from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Above image credit - Miss Yong Tze Yin from Auckland, New Zealand.

Above image credit - Mr Loke Yew Fai from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Cousins Tze Yin and Su Lin outside the ballroom in the G Hotel after the reception.

(Image credit - Mr Yong Chung Shen from Penang, Malaysia)

(Image credit - Mr Loke Yew Fai from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Parents of the groom, Sian Kin and Kin On.

(Image credit - Mr Loke Yew Fai from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

The toast on stage at the G Hotel, joining two families and more.

(Image credit - Mr Yong Chung Shen from Penang, Malaysia)

Above image credit - Miss Yong Tze Yin from Auckland, New Zealand.

Scenes from A Wedding - Penang Island

Dr Yong Chern Chet and Miss Karen Yeoh celebrated their wedding in Penang on 23 October 2010.

Here they are assembled with several family members in front of the iconic Penang

Buddhist Association Building along Anson Road.

(Image Credit - Dr Tan Huck Hoe from the Australian National University , Canberra)

Karen and Chet cut the wedding cake at the Ballroom of the G Hotel along Gurney Drive.

(Image Credit - Mr Loke Yew Fai from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Mandarins, lollies and traditional carriers at home of the groom.

(Image credit - Miss Adelyn Yong from Auckland, New Zealand)

During the Straits Chinese styled tea offering ceremony, relatives gather

in front of the bridal couple. The tea is infused with longan slices and tastes sweeter than what would be otherwise served at yum cha brunches.

(Image Credit - Mr Loke Yew Fai from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Made of rice-based dough, coloured concoctions are rolled into even bite-sized balls for cooking in syrup

- the symbolic and meaningful eenh. This is consumed on the wedding morning to signify the roundness of a complete beginning to a married life.

(Image credit - Miss Adelyn Yong from Auckland, New Zealand)

Lavender coloured blooms on wedding day.

(Image credit - Mr Yong Chung Shen from Penang, Malaysia)

The blokes after the wedding dinner.

(Image credit - Miss Adelyn Yong from Auckland, New Zealand)

Scenes from a Wedding - Singapore

Chet and Karen celebrate their marriage against the backdrop of colonial Singapore.

All image credits in this section taken at the National Museum of Singapore by

More To Purple

A Wedding Day - 18 September 2010

It has been raining for three straight days in the Sydney area during this October long weekend for NSW, the last such one before Christmas. In contrast, my thoughts spontaneously remind me of a wedding day in the middle of the first month of a southern hemisphere spring. The bride, Ely, looked positively elegant and contentedly radiant.  Her groom, Ray, exuded calmness, confidence and assurance. The day had brilliant sunshine and blue skies, accentuated by the Sydney skyline and the calm river waters when viewed during the commitment ceremony held at the Ballast Point Park in Birchgrove.

Much had gone into planning and logistics for this special day. I am impressed with the Ann who led the team of friends to get the restaurant venue set and ready for the wedding dinner requirements - and she only had 90 minutes to do so before the evening reception on the very day itself. To an observer, the day's ceremonies had been a blend of the heritage and emphasis of today's Australia, Chiuchow customs, Fujian emphasis and Straits Chinese traditions. The bridal dance at the wedding reception was the culmination of a series of festive practices that began with the offering of tea by the bridal couple to elders in the morning.  There were eight in the bridal party, with the groomsmen and brides maids carrying gift baskets. East Asian tea offering procedures are laden with protocol, a specially concocted tea mix and offer a formal introduction to relatives in the extended families.  Against the backdrop of more relaxed Aussie thinking (where addressing someone of any age by the first name is more positive), the bridal couple are asked to address the tea cup recipients by the formal labels they are expected to call them from then onwards.

I have not seen cousin Andrew Chan from Brisbane for a few years now - and I am especially glad of the opportunity that day to see him arrive with his own version of the three generations.  Sebastian and Teegan are his grandkids, bright-eyed and close cousins. A daughter remained in Cape York that weekend, but I had the chance to say hello to his and Ann's other two children. Ann remains the quintessential Queenslander, resourceful in country living, having a dry sense of humour and creative in hobby pursuits.

Ballast Point Park was breezy at times in the late afternoon, but that could not subdue the mood of those gathered to witness Ely and Ray's signing of the book, very public bonding kiss and significant new stage of life. It could have been a Norman Rockwell painting moment, updated and removed from this  iconic American term. Ray's mother wore a gold embroidered blouse front while Ely's mother, my cousin Susan, stood out in her streamlined Mandarin-inspired sleek dark outfit. Aunty Pat Yap was a bit busy introducing her grandchild Ben Butcher to the congregation. Ely's brother Ming was manning the finger food and drinks table, which had some particularly delectable items that soon ran out. Ray's brother Brian looked slim and dashing with his dark shades and tanned looks.

The setting for the wedding reception was highlighted by the diversity of guests, the band in attendance and the love underlying the speeches. At the end of a happy and meaningful day, amongst other things, the chair covers and accompanying ribbons had all been taken out by restaurant staff members in about ten minutes; the bridal couple, accompanied by their parents, had gone around toasting and taking photographs with guests of around 25 tables; the e fu noodles served was particularly appetising, apart from the compulsory seafood in a ten course southern Chinese styled banquet; and waiters had forgotten to open the champagne bottles on time, despite requests.

The wedding cake was presented in two round shaped levels and had exquisite coloured paintings of love birds on a canvas of white.  Michael Buble was there, in cover version, as belted out by an impressive performer, Liam Burrows, from the Chatswood High School Jazz Combo.  To the combo, it was a special evening as well, one Ben leaving the combo for university and another Ben having his very first public performance with the group at the same time.

Ely's godparents, Nancee and Vinu, had travelled all the way from San Jose, California to grace the occasion.  Vinu gave a short, simple but loving message.  The best man, Richard, utilised a Powerpoint slide show.  The parents of the groom spoke in dialect to engage specific members of their wide spread Sydney community.  A holder of the Order of Australia, Frank Chau, graced the dinner with his presence and address.  The father of the bride, Boo Ann, had a grateful inner glow as he articulated his words of congratulations, joy and contentment to his only daughter and her well chosen soul mate.

Two days before the enjoyable Saturday, I accompanied cousin Kheng Chye to the Australian Bahai Temple in Terry Hills, on the northern outskirts of the Sydney area. We looked intensely at the weaved and complex designs adorning the walls of the worship hall, topped by a high domed ceiling that reminds one of Greek Orthodox, and containing well laid out chairs like in an Anglican church. Outside, its gardens were landscaped and manicured like in a Buddhist inspired plan. This beacon of calmness sited at a high vantage point overlooking Sydney's Northern Beaches made me reflect on the main purpose and message of Ely and Ray's wedding day - the love in their hearts as they embark on this significant affirmation of their journey together. 

Saturday Evening at Ad Lib, Pymble

Chris immediately reflected on his recent visit to the Vue de Monde located along Melbourne's Little Collins Street..

"Definitely different, in terms of the food and the ambiance." We were chatting in a place called the Ad Lib.

French inspired in cuisine and with a Sydney corporate table feel, the restaurant was busy on the last Saturday evening for September. I could feel the whiff and dash of fellow diners pass me by, together with the purposeful movement of the staff in attending to the clients. There was no occasion to even contemplate about Provence or have any such lavender-like thoughts. At times, I felt I was in the central business district rather than in a upper northern suburb about half an hour by car from the Harbour Bridge. It became noisy as the evening progressed. The Pacific Highway just outside this venue did still have a stream of vehicular traffic.

My group of diners appreciated the friendly customary check of how our food was after the mains were consumed. It had taken persistence and patience by Cindy and Charmaine to even get a booking in the preceding months. Were my expectations raised, even if I had asked opinions from friends in the neighbouring suburb of St. Ives.

I was fascinated with the croquette of pig's trotter, ear and tail. The description on the brown-papered menu had not spared us the truth of what went to fill up the otherwise delectable bite. I had chosen this over my initial preference for starters of the sweet green pea risotto, accompanied by pea shoot salad and crisp pancetta. There was no regret on my part, especially after I found the croquette melting in my mouth. Charmaine had tried the onion soup gratinee, which was equally rewarding.

The pleasant staff member attending to our table had double-checked with me on whether I had preferred my roast duck breast to be served medium-rare. I had then found it was too pink tender for my taste, and then inevitably I compared it (albeit unfairly) with the Austrian-German duck confit I had at Kaiser Stu'ben in Terry Hills. Cindy's selection of the steak tartare looked more to my preferred cooking intensity. I was however more than satisfied with the sides of gratin dauphinoise potato and a separate dish of green beans.

My best choice for this particular visit to the Ad Lib was the raspberry soufle, providing me with the right touch of sweetness and perhaps making up for my gap in expectations from the main course. At this juncture, I must admit that I am a dessert person. For a possible next visit, I have already eyed the Pear Tarte Tarin with white chocolate ice cream.

Oh ya, Chris also mentioned about the unique restaurants in Orange NSW that made much use of their local produce and prepared it with a French-inspired flair and tradition.

Post Note:

A few days later, at Lee and Me's in Wollongong CBD, with Shibani and Kristin, I was fully satisfied with my lunch selection of fritters made with golden corn, topped by a poached egg and garnished by all the right trappings. It was just right for lunch, appetising and not over the top. Highly recommended.

Sweet September Days

The rains were so heavy just before dawn. I felt - and heard - the rush of this passing overhead sensation just outside my bedroom window, just as September wound down from a busy but rewarding series of encounters, celebrations and meet ups.

A return to weet bix squares came foremost to my mind.  For several days, Vinu from California was having them very breakfast morning. I realised how I took this unique Aussie product for granted over on this side of the Pacific. Then I thought of Rosie, the ultra friendly doggy who came to greet the group of us who came from various corners of the globe to stay at a Henley townhouse in Sydney. Rosie lifted her paws in such a benign and captivating manner to you, locked her persona inside your heart and that could not be easily forgotten.

I always in the past had a bunch of keys for which I did not know what they were mostly for. Now I can reckon where all of these keys lead to in my sphere of things. The trick was in paying attention to the things that matter - and getting organised. Just like cousin Nancee taking leadership and effort to gently but effectively coordinate all of us residing at Henley like in a fraternity house.  We were there, gathered for a wedding.

A recent computer virus experience made me miss the thrill of downloading images on to my internet records.  I had hitherto had the pleasure of organising, collating and downloading such images as soon as they were captured. It had been a sudden empty feeling when this technical matter prevented me from doing so - but then the time subsequently freed me up for other things, like simple reading, taking up the advice of a dear lady colleague at work on how to get glass sparkling clean windows and watching how fat the sucking cat fish had grown in my home aquarium tanks.  Delight in other forms of detail.

A couple from the Nowra area had a stall full of potted rubberball plants at my workplace one weekday - they were leafy specimens in pots of flashy colours and terracotta.  What caught my eye was the attentive way they engaged with their customers, potential and actual. They easily highlighted the advantages these versatile plants offered, but also reminded us of the still necessary care and things these plants deserved. They sat there quiet otherwise, but I did realise that they had a strategy in approaching - and convincing customers - in a rather still pleasant manner.

On another occasion, outside my office building, a cheery Indian young man from Kenya drew a drum for me, added my first name and then gave a final touch of an outline of his nation's official flag. I acknowledged that he is an international student, bat the same time I realised that he is not of African origin. Nevertheless,  he displayed his commitment to the country of his birth - and did it indirectly, in a humorous way and through the expression of drawing.

Il Nido's Adrian was back from Canada, and I was heartened to see him again. Adrian was beaming with his usual friendliness and attention, a trait perhaps infused over from the natural engagement of his parents with customers. Uncle Yeow Tat, another cousin Kheng Chye, together with Nancee and her husband Vinu, had joined me for dinner in my village, nestled below the Illawarra Escarpment, on a spring evening.  I could not resist the pasta with seafood, the light sauced gravy being the key to this delightful dish from a family run experience.

Batemans Bay showed signs of money from the nation's capital just over two and a half hours drive away.
When we arrived in town, both the sky and surrounding waters had the same intensity of spring blue. I particularly liked Batehaven, with its varying character in sand and shore. We had caught a fish and chips lunch a bit north in Ulladulla, beside the river wharf. The meal was especially graced by friendly staff at the cafe at the end of the boardwalk.  The high level of water seen at the bridge crossing at nearby Burrill Lakes never fail to fascinate me, although I have never crossed that spot on a rainy day.

Jervis Bay National Park seemed to lack the required level of signage. My entourage ended up in different corners of the reserve, but not what we had hoped and anticipated. Its wind swept slopes leading to different bays ensured native vegetation that were levelled by the open ocean winds. We did reach an indigenous post with cottages and an air of community.

The excursion to Batemans had begun with a leisurely breakfast and stroll in Gerringong Village. I found the banana bread there moist inside a crispy bite, reminding me of the childhood waffle pancake known as ban chien kueh in South-east Asia. (Refer to The Making of Ban Chien Kueh in an earlier blog write-up). This day trip had then taken us along the coastal drive to stunning Mollymook Beach via Nowra and Milton. We were just skirting down half-way along the NSW South Coast, on the winding but scenic route to Bega and ultimately, Victoria State.

What a remarkable few days, for the few of us, who normally do not get to see each other, to share a trip. Back in my Balgownie house, we chatted about family connections, the past and the future.  It reminded me of being able to walk together on another Sunday with young Caitlin in campus recently, as she observed the ducks and native Australian birds - while at the same time wondering about the promised rabbits that I suggested. We enjoyed that moment, with her parents and sister Ash in tow, but I also sensed the hope of the future for her whilst reflecting in the solidity of past efforts of her family to raise her.

On yet another September day, Scott the plumber came to my house on time, unlike some other tradepersons, in his standard symbol cap and with smiling eyes. The main kitchen sink had its catridge broken after several years of use. The broken part could be viewed as a potential significant vulnerable spot, considering its high usage before and after cooking sessions. Some white goods are not made as solidly as years before, yet others tick on without much fuss and demand. Mechanical interfaces are on a predictable repair or replacement schedule, so when they ask for attention, our sub-conscious accepts their happening.  This brings to mind the motor that powers the opening of the double garage door twice a day. Oh yes, the attention to detail - and getting organised.