A Malay Wedding In A Museum

It was a lovely mild Saturday afternoon when we found Sultan Alam Shah Museum, in the heart of Shah Alam, capital city of Selangor, Malaysia. The crowd moved towards the entrance porch of massive wide steep steps that somehow would be in violation of building codes of a more advance countries.

 

Then there were the protrusive tabular stainless steel handrails jutting out in rows just like guiderails to stadium ticketing entrances leading to a somber museum entrance - the architect did a good job of unwelcoming anyone to the premise.

 

No wonder we never knew of it's existence before. As common to most of our public buildings, it's only grand looking from the outside or from passing traffic, but never ever friendly from the users' point of view. Forget about first time or physically challenged visitors.

 

One of the family members greeted us at the lobby, ushering us inside the dimly lighted hall as we followed the guests ahead to the wedding venue at Dewan Raja Lumu - or King Lumu Hall - at the side. I went detour instead inside the museum for a while to check out the exhibits with my boys - fooling around with the huge traditional Malay drum - without realizing that two ladies behind tracked us as well to the museum hall - much to their amusement...!

 

The bride's father warmly greeted us in the barren Ante Room as the bride's mother gave a slight hesitation as to who we were - maybe due to her post-accident visual impairment or she could not figure out Madam's social standing among her circle of friends ...!

 

Nonetheless we made it to the long and narrow hall with barely 3-round tables across. The air-conditioning was added-on afterthought with bulky floor-mounted blowers  on one side while the low plain plaster ceiling did not help to space out the room. We could see the nice dais at the opposite end of the hall.

 

The guests were building up as we settled in with our friends at the end of our short stay. It's a pity we did not get a chance to mingle with the guests of adjoining tables as most of them were looking very, very familiar...! A few of them even smiled and extended acknowledging glances across the tables. Very nice people these friends of the host.

 

On the way out the young couple & maybe the groom's entourage had just arrived pacing their grand entrance in style. Charming couple indeed...!

 

Sultan Alam Shah Museum

 

Entrance Car Porch

 

Covered Walkway to Reception Hall

 

Hall Entrance .....!

 

Charming couple making an entrance

 

Splitting the Pinang fruit...!

 

Unsplitting friendship..!

 

 Charming guests.

Subang Skypark & Senai Airport

Yesterday was two firsts for me - traveling via Subang Skypark and flying Malindo Air turboprop ATR 72-600 i.e.. 72-seater propeller plane in a very miniature interior cabin with two-lanky stewardess in tow.
 
The short ride to Subang airport from home was blissful and reassuring as Madam would be able to avoid early morning KL-bound traffic congesting all the roads leading to the center of our muddy estuary.
 
The 15K-feet ride was smooth and we were served with a wrapped fruit-cake and a cute mini-bottle mineral water. Somehow my over-weight co-passenger would not be too pleased with the seating arrangement for sure as I am not exaggerating this - his butt had to be squeezed snugly tight in between the armrests.
 
His fold-tray rested nicely at an incline on his belly as the leg-room between the seats was kept to minimum.
 
The captain's announcement was pretty disappointing - more like a very bad Mexican's English monotone that's ungraspable at times! Making speedy-Gonzales a much better speaker in comparison.

In-flight snacks

Arrival Hall

University Technology Malaysia - Faces?

Senai International Airport, Johor

Air-conditioning outlets

Circular skylight atrium

Airy & self-directing terminal

Exit doors

Ramadhan Bazaar Taman Tun Dr. Ismail Revisited

Bazaar Ramadhan Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, Kuala Lumpur on 3 & 5 August 2013 - another 2 more days to Eid al-Fitr.

Almost a month of fasting and continuous afternoon street selling, the tension can be felt from the traders' drained and tired faces. About 10 percent of the trading bays were empty as they joined the city dwellers returning early to their respective hometowns.

Most likely less than half will continue on tomorrow afternoon to capitalize on a sure sell-out last trading day as the TTDI residents will clamor whatever available on display - aptly as the saying beggars can't be choosers..!

Hardcore selling yet to begin...!

 

Secondary school uniform in blue.

 

 This popiah stall has the most patient customers!

Here comes the ladies.

Kebab all round....

For those outside the country, here's my video link on YouTube to hear out the bazaar. If only we can transpire over to you guys on the marvelous aroma all around!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5cflSWp7BU