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Shopping with Mother


Destinations > Asia > Malaysia > Penang > Travel Blog: Ceremonial Tea in two cou ... > Shopping with Mother



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Ceremonial Tea in two countries

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Nearly Psychotic - Previous Entry
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Shopping with Mother

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Friday, Jan 18, 2008

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How did it all happen I wondered as S kindly chauffered Mum and I around Penang looking for THE dress. I'm not the marrying kind. I'm about as lapsed a Christian as it gets so Godly sanction of the union doesn't figure in my list of priorities. No don't confuse me with a commitment phobe. It's just that a ceremony doesn't mean all that much to me. I'd much rather the hubby didn't play hooky and no ritual or signed piece of paper is going to guarantee that.

We arrived at Bridal House No 1. A white colonial house with a luminiscent interior. Two prospective brides floated around. One in a full skirted fondant yellow  confection, the other an oriental
Eliza Doolittle in layers of lace and corsetry. Gorgeous dresses but their venues had better be well air conditioned or the underarm sweat stains weren't going to wash. Anyway we were ushered upstairs and shown the Kwa. Mum was a bundle of excitement. I thought it was a little too big. S agreed with me. The saleslady showed us a few other modern takes on traditional wedding dresses. No way was I wearing a backless Cheongsam with side slits up to the thigh to serve tea to my 80 year old rellies. The prospect of dirty old uncles letching just doesn't bear thinking about.

Anyway we were onto Bridal House No 2. This time I had to change and parade on stage. A better fit this time. It dawned on me that whichever Kwa mum decided to acquire it was going to be heavy and hot.

They say third time lucky. At Bridal House No 3 Mum found THE Kwa of her dreams. Elaborately embroidered with beads and pearls it sparkled
as I twirled around, a living marionette for mum's wedding fantasy. It was one of the oldest bridal houses in Penang. I wondered how many brides had served tea to their families in the dress I was wearing and how many were still married. The Kwa was not for sale. Hire yes but sale no. Ah well this is Malaysia and nothing is set in stone. Mum set about negotiating, aided and abetted by S. The two made a formidable pair.

Saleslady "But its the only one I have"
Mum "Ah but you can get another one. Just Google for it. We don't have much time or we would buy it over the internet ourselves"
Saleslady "But its difficult to find such good beading and these traditional patterns"
Mum "It's not difficult lah.There are many in China and Hong Kong who sell these cheap. I tell you I will give u a good price."
S "You have already made good renting it out there's no reason not to sell it on"
Saleslady "We don't rent it out so often nowadays"
Mum & S "Neh so why don't you sell it to us!"

My money was always on Mum. But then again in Malaysia Mum is my money. S was a little disappointed that she didn't have further opportunity to bargain more and tried hard to negotiate a free outfit for M. We borrowed a couple for him to try.


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Nearly Psychotic
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Hokkien Weddings - Notes

 
Table of Contents
1 - 20 | 21 - 22
Previous | Tsujiki Marketshow all entries

1.Nearly Psychotic - Penang, Malaysia Jan 17, 2008
2.Shopping with Mother - Penang, Malaysia Jan 18, 2008
3.Hokkien Weddings - Notes - Penang, Malaysia Jan 19, 2008
4.The day after the night before - Notes - Penang, Malaysia Jan 20, 2008
5.Tokyo Lights - Tokyo, Japan Jan 22, 2008
6.Trains, Biplanes and Cat Buses - Tokyo, Japan Jan 23, 2008 ( Comments 2 )
7.Sumo and the problem with trains - Tokyo, Japan Jan 24, 2008 ( This entry has 2 photos 2 )
8.Welcome Inn Ginza - Tokyo, Japan Jan 25, 2008
9.Ueno Park & Crazy Electric Town - Tokyo, Japan Jan 26, 2008
10.Kyoto Notes - Kyoto, Japan Jan 27, 2008
11.Cooking with Emi - Kyoto, Japan Jan 28, 2008
12.Hiro -Notes - Kyoto, Japan Jan 29, 2008
13.Better air and Castles - notes - Kyoto, Japan Jan 30, 2008
14.Castles in the air-notes - Himeji, Japan Jan 31, 2008
15.Nara - notes - Nara - Notes, Japan Feb 01, 2008
16.Hiroshima Discomforts - Hiroshima, Japan Feb 02, 2008
17.Another Rainy Day in Kyoto - notes - Kyoto, Japan Feb 03, 2008
18.Flying North - Sapporo, Japan Feb 04, 2008
19.Cold Comforts - Sapporo, Japan Feb 05, 2008
20.Farewell Frosty - Sapporo, Japan Feb 07, 2008

Previous | Tsujiki Marketshow all entries
1 - 20 | 21 - 22

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