Day 2: Last Minute Wedding Preparations

9.11.2007, Friday...Yum yum. As promised by Asther, we finally got to satisfy our palates with Sarawak's famous noodles called, (what else?),... Sarawak Laksa, a preparation of noodles in spicy, pepper laden curry soup, complimented by chicken strips and shrimps. The last time I had it so good was at Asther's place, compliments of Aunty Jenny (Asther's mum)....

Mike and I were again up to our usual antics... there's Mike and I posing with our Sarawak Laksa; of course, Mike's flavour was "reduced-hotness" and below, Mike holding out a "pong pyang", a burger-like Hokkien or Fook Chow pastry stuffed with minced pork or chicken. Pretty good appetizer...

After breakfast, it was a visit to the St. Joseph Cathedral Church in Kuching where Asther and Francis were to be wed... We took our positions as if we were there during the intended conjugation ceremony. Bjarte (picture below) was panning around with the video-cam, Mike was practicing his driving (the remote control car-ring-bearer), Claudia (Asther's cousin) was going about coaching Asther how to 'slide' down the aisle, I was practicing how to stand like a best man should and Francis of course, was practicing sweating it out....*grin*.



Outside the church, was the Marriage Banns notice board and of course, Francis and Asther's nuptial notice was on it. Should take a look at Uncle...like z Sarawakian 'samseng' only and Asther looks like samseng's underaged-girlfriend....


Slowly but surely, one-by-one, the West Malaysia divers' en tourage came...First there was Lim Eng Hoo (a.k.a. Barracuda), Raymond Leong, Alex Lam and Grace Tan and last but not least, Mike Dolan and Kim Choong. Later, we proceeded to a restaurant near Tabuan Stutong for dinner. Mike and Kim were the last to arrive that nite.

After dinner, we congregated at Tabuan Stutong to receive our last minute briefing and final 'okay'. Whilst doing that, Mike Tjoa (a.k.a. "Michelle") defected to help the girls tie ribbons and decorate the mini wedding car...tsk tsk tsk...I gotta have a word with my friend to regain his dignity...


Vivian (being "head chi mui") (in the picture above) and me (being the"head heng tai") was engaged in a verbal spar. It was time for war!!!! For those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about, it's a chinese tradition for the bridesmaid (chi muis) to play devious, humiliating, degrading and sometimes, inhumane games on the groom's entourage (including the groom) and to settle a price ($$) before the groom is allowed to pick-up the bride on the wedding day. You see, the trick is that this war can never be won by the guys, but it's all about winning the battle...and negotiating the price...but before that, I thought of exerting some psychological pressure on Vivian...a futile attempt since she has a fear quotion of a John Deere back hoe...damn....

I will still be posting whilst I'm still in Kuching. Am on the 2nd last day now...will be coming home tomorrow. Next posting, the WEDDING and after that, OUR VACATION!!!!