Wedding Preparation

The idea of planning a wedding can be very hectic especially for Chinese wedding from creating a budget, draft your guest list to booking the appropriate caterers, vendors, venue etc. and last but not least making sure you look perfect for the wedding by getting an amazing dress and getting beauty treatments done ahead of time. 

This is some of the process that I have gone through to prepare for my wedding which will be held on year 2020 if you are following traditional Chinese wedding. Hope below checklist can provide some guide. 

6 -12 months before the wedding day (after the proposal)

1) Have a meeting session between both family parents to announce wedding and discuss details like wedding date, what type of ceremony, dowry etc.

2) Pick a right wedding date and time according to birth date

3) Decide on a wedding budget (a must)

4) Register your marriage (R.O.M)

5) Survey on wedding venue, caterer, event planner

6) Plan for pre-wedding photoshoot

7) Book your make up artist in advance for your ROM

4 - 5 months before the wedding

1) Finalized guest list 

2) Get ready your 'heng dai' and 'ji mui' 

3) Decide on theme of wedding

4) Select outfits for your bridesmaid and best man

5) Get your pre-wedding photoshoot done as it take about 2 - 3 months to ready 

6) Book your florist (wedding bouquet) 

7) Book event planner and entertainment band  

2 -3 months before the wedding date 

1) Plan your wedding itinerary and ceremony formalities

2) Both side family start preparing the Guo Da Li (过大礼) ceremony 

3) Book wedding photographer or videographer 

4) Book make up artist and hairstylist for wedding day

5) Hire caterer for the morning tea ceremony

6) Select your wedding playlist and pass to your event planner

7) Decide on your sang keh mu (大妗姐)

8) Send out wedding invitation

1 month before the wedding

1) Delegate task to your wedding party 

2) Final fitting for wedding dress or kuan kua (裙褂)

3) Decide on seating arrangement

4) Confirm with vendors that everything is in order

5) Confirm wedding day programme with event planner, emcee etc. 

6) Have the Guo Da Li (过大礼) ceremony  

2 - 1 week before the wedding 

1) Ensure all guest have RSVP their seat

2) Purchase small gift for guest as a token of thanks 

3) Confirm with sang keh mu (大妗姐) about itinerary for wedding day

4) Conduct An Chuang (安床) ceremony or best know as The Matrimonial Bedsetting Ceremony

5) Prepare cheques in advance to pay vendors 

1 day before the wedding 

1) Pack all your wedding day items and pass it to the person in charge

2) Check that you have everything (wedding dress, accessories, bouquet, etc)

3) Send wedding car for decoration

4) Ensure the ji mui is ready with their game plan 

5) Perform the Shang Tou (上头) or hair combing ceremony at night before sleep

With this wedding checklist, I hope it will help reduce some stress on you while planning and may your dream wedding come true. 

~ HAPPY WEDDING ~

Life After Grad

Since I submitted my dissertation, I been frantically searching for job. And at last, I was offered a position of Admin in an non-profit organisation.

The first two months working is mainly on housekeeping, filing and maintenance. It's not something new but it's the first time experience working in an NGO for me. Till one day, things start to change the next few months.

I have been having emotional stress and hard time whenever I'm in the office. I'm not sure why. On top of that, I was told that the organisation cannot further sustain me as all the employees salary is based on donation and fund.

Having heard this, it give me a sense of unsecured-ness in addition that I'm on contract basis. Due to this, the boss encouraged me to find other job while I still can continue to work here till I find other job that may make good use of my skills and knowledge.

Well, I quit the job not long after that as I no longer can stand working there. Summarily, working for 6 months is an experience that I won't forget as it's my first time working in an NGO. Furthermore, it also make me realised that I'm more better to be volunteer than staff.

Wished the best for the NGO!

Busy Bee

wow! it's been almost 3 month i last update my blog!
can't imagine myself been working that hard the past months!

Events happening around me~ ~ !

Mesra Malaysia - 26 & 27 Sept 2011
Event organised by the Ministry of Tourism at Paradise Sandy Beach Resort, Tanjung Bungah Penang

Hadyai, Thailand - 14, 15 & 16 Oct 2011
My 1st trip with this company

Fashionistas Night 2011 - 4 Nov 2011
Prom Night at Eastin Hotel

Kartigai Dheebam - 17 Dec 2011
Festival of Lights (Attempt to enter Malaysia Book of Records). That night, manage to light up 110,000 lamps

Blood Donation Campaign - 18 Dec 2011
Beneficiary: Penang Adventist Hospital

CNY 2010

Today is already the fourth day of CNY. Didn't go out much this year to celebrate. Most of the time just stay at home completing my assignment due this 21st Feb.

Though it do sound pathetic, i do have some great time taking pictures.

Sightseeing

A day of sightseeing around Georgetown area on 2nd Dec with Seetal after lunch.

Destination 1: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

Situated on one of Georgetown's oldest street, it was formerly the residence of Cheong Fatt Tze, a powerful Chinese trading and shipping tycoon in the late 19th century where success brought many accolades including the Vice Consul of China. After moving to Penang in 1880, he commissioned artisans and craftsmen from China to build a home befitting his social status. One of the largest heritage mansion in Malaysia, it was painstakingly restored by its present owners. With a built-up area of 3,000sqm, 38 rooms, five courtyards, seven staircases and 220 windows, its layout is based on feng-shui principles.

Note: did not enter the mansion as have to pay admission fee of RM12/person i think and that the guided tour will only start at 11am and 3pm which will last for an hour.

Destination 2: Cathedral of the Assumption

The whole view of the church.

The front view.

Cathedral of the Assumption was founded in 1786 at Church Street. It was so named because of the first group of Roman Catholic Eurasians from Kedah landed in Penang that year on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption. The church was later moved to Farquhar Street in 1857. The present building, erected by Father Manissol, openend in 1861. In 1955, the church was raised to the status of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Penang.

Destination 3: Penang State Museum

Located on Farquhar Street near Fort Cornwallis, the colonial-era building Penang State Museum was formerly the Penang Free School which was built in two separate stages, stage one in 1896, and when funds were adequate, stage two in 1906. The Penang State Museum is reputed to be one of the best state museum in Malaysia and exhibits paintings of Captain Robert Smith and the lovely engravings of William Daniell.

Other collections are former Penang Hill railway carriage, a handwritten Qur`an, old Malays weapons donated by the family of the late Dato’ Haji Fathil Basheer and etc. Divided into galleries dedicated to Penang’s historical communities, as well as particular historical events that took place in Penang, the museum houses a fine collection of old photographs, maps, historical documents, Chinese furniture, embroidery, costumes and other historical relics.

Note: admission fee is RM1 for an adult whereas secondary student is RM0.50. its worth the visit!

Seafood

its been quite awhile since the last time i have seafood for either lunch or dinner. today i finally get the chance to eat it when me, dad and mum with few aunties and uncles from the temple went to Bukit Tambun for lunch. ^_^

when reach, the aunties and uncles order quite a lot of seafoods just for the 12 of us! excluding rice, we have at least 7 seafoods dish starting with curry fish head, octopus, 2 styles dish of lobster, oyster, muscel, crab and a plate of vegetables. not only that, they also order 2 more plates of fried tanghoon and fried noodles! a lot rite? but we manage to finish it all in no time! =_="

while we were enjoying our delicious lunch, we get the chance to see the life of a fisherman and a few wild creatures that stay there - monitor lizards and monkeys! of course the creatures is wondering opposite island from where we sits!

oh yea, sorry folks, there is no pictures available for the dishes as the blogger, me forget to bring camera along. 0_o

Chap Goh Meh

Chap Goh Meh symbolises the last day of CNY for the chinese people. meaning you won't get to receive anymore angpows. instead me going to gurney drive like any other teenagers to throw mandarin oranges, i went to the batu ferringhi temple's for buffet dinner. p/s : why wanna waste time throwing mandarin oranges when i can take the time to slowly enjoy my dinner? hehehe....

manage to take some pictures with my camera and do eat a lot too...

~ the front of the temple ~

~ the firecrackers ~

~ the buffet decoration ~

~ laksa ~

hope you all did enjoy your CNY this year!!

Bubur Cha Cha

3 days ago my mum cooked a big pot of bubur cha cha for the family and also for prayers. i know i know... what should i say, chinese people especially taoist pray a lot... =p

~ yummy yummy ~

Thni Kong Seh (Jade Emperor's Birthday)

It began at the stroke of midnight on Thursday where all the Hokkien's people will set up an altar in front of their house for the big day. Of course, not forgetting my family been busy this few days just for today.

On this day, foods and fruits were laid out on long red tables with the offerings that we have bought. The roasted pig and the must haves such as ang koo (red tortoise buns), huat kuih (prosperous cakes), mee koo (red-coloured buns) and mee sua (longevity noodles) were decorated and are arrange nicely and accordingly. Not forgetting leng hneo (dragon joss sticks) were burnt during the celebration.

Here is the pictures that i took for the celebration.

The front of the altar

The back of the altar

The foods and fruits that are being offered

Oh yeah not forgetting the paper money for the Thni Kong that we burnt after the offering.

Were taken when my parents and maid were arranging the paper money

The burning

Feeling very tired now as it was nearly 2.30am. Nitez...

8th Day of CNY

Well, what should i say... instead of going out with friends today, i went out on a motorcycle ride with mum to buy some stuff for later prayers. really can't believe it that its already the 8th day of CNY!

Here is the schedule for the day ride... First, we went to the Chowrasta market to choose a roasted pig and we ended up choosing a big fat roasted pig weighing 29kgs. phew.. so fat! At the corner of the market, we stop over at a fruits stall to buy a pineapple before we ride on to Kuan Yin temple to buy flowers, also for the later offering. With a basket full of stuff, we made our journey back to the shop.

After several minutes of unloading the basket, we continue our journey to the second destination that is Kuantan Road where we buy a big fat juicy roasted chicken and duck worth RM48 before heading to the afternoon market located at Lebuh Cecil to continue buying stuff for the prayers. At the market, we bought a live crab, red plums, more pineapples before stopping having our lunch at the market itself. We headed back shop after lunch where we can finally rest for an hour as we have visitors coming.

At about 3pm, my parents accompany me to Olympia college to ask some courses that they are offering. After that, we headed back to Chowrasta market to pick up the roasted pig and to other market located at Perak Road to pick up the ang koo and other must haves offerings for the Thni Kong. We headed back shop again after all the completion of buying.

At around 9pm, we went to Thni Kong temple located at the Ayer Itam for prayers before the auspicious day. From the temple, we can see the statue of Kuan Yin from far which i took a picture of it which is not clear.

Alright need to go now. By the way Happy Valentine's Day!

CNY Day 2

Went to Snake Temple early in the morning for prayers. a family tradition that every second day of CNY we must go there to pray for better health, luck and etc. didn't manage to get a lot of pictures of the temple as its under renovation.

The front of the temple

The inside of the temple

A pic of myself with dad at the side =p

After prayers, of course its time to get some more angpows from relatives! we stop over at my grandma's house and served ourselves with koey teow soup. feel so full with the noodles and also a pocket full of angpows from the relatives. =)

After that, nothing much happen. just stay at home watching astro.

CNY Day 1

Sorry folks for not updating and also for back dating my post too.

First day of CNY is always in the tradition of my family to stay inside the house rather than under the hot weather outside. its just coincidentally that we have visitors for the day that we ended up staying inside the house. =)

The front of house

Mum's flowers blooming perfectly at the rite time

Oh yeah, not forgetting my family having steamboat for lunch.

Yummy

Later that night, my family went to my first uncle's house for visiting before we end our first day of CNY.

Winter Solstice Festival

Today is the Winter Solstice Festival which is also known as Dong Zhi where it is most celebrated by the Chinese a few days before Christmas. This is the time where tang yuen is served.

Starting yesterday night, been helping mum to prepare the glutinous rice balls comprises of red, white, green and yellow colours which mum cook this morning with syrup for prayers of ancestors and deities.

"Yuen" means round in mandarin signifying completeness and perfection. According to tradition belief, you will grow a year older after eating tang yuen as it symbolises the beginning of a year soon.

This is the photos that i took after making the glutinous rice balls.

yellow and green rice ball with difference size =p

red and white rice balls

the following is the cook glutinous rice balls

Need to go now as mum is calling. Till then enjoy your day!

Bayview Beach Resort

Wake up late today at around 12.15pm just in time for a buffet lunch with my parents together with some other families from the temple at the Bayview Beach Resort located at Batu Ferringhi. The food there was not bad eventhough it's my first time eating buffet there. All the aunties and uncles were busy talking among each other until it's time to go. Hehehe...

This is some of the photos that i take while i finish eating ... =D

And oh well, i cut my hair today also... really not used to the new style though...