Akad Nikah/Solemnisation Ceremony

Another week, another wedding. That's how busy my weekends are getting these past few weeks and more weeks to come, haha.. Well yesterday, my family and I attended another wedding. This time, it was my second cousin from my mother's side, Noramimah's wedding at her family residence in Kg. Perpindahan Lambak.

The bride after the Akad Nikah/Solemnisation ceremony

My sister and another of our second cousin, Ili while the solemnisation was taking place

My cousin, Jirah and my sister

Bu Hjh and Babu Munah

Dr Elham & Dr Silmi Niza's Wedding

Last Sunday, my family and I attended Ka Niza's wedding at her family residence at Kg. Rimba. The Groom and the Bride were dressed in a Powder Blue traditional "Bersanding" attire.

The lovely couple :)

The newlyweds at the throne or "pelamin" during the "Ambil-ambilan" ceremony

During the "Makan Beradap" of the "Ambil-ambilan" ceremony

With Husma, who I met again at the wedding

Happy Birthday Mom & Dad! :)

Last Friday, 27th February was my Dad's 50th Birthday. Since it was my cousin's wedding, we did not have enough time to celebrate his birthday that day. My Mom's 49th Birthday was on Sunday, 1st March, and so, we had a mini celebration for both their birthdays at home. Since my days in Brisbane, I have missed a lot of birthdays of my loved ones. Usually greetings were made through phone calls. Now that I'm back in Brunei, it feels good to be back celebrating their birthdays in person.

To mom and dad, Selamat Ulang Tahun! Semoga sentiasa bahagia hingga ke akhir hayat, dipanjangkan umur, sihat walafiat, dimurahkan rezeki dan dirahmati Allah selalu. Thank you for everything that you have done for us. We both love you very much! :)

The birthday cake :) Chocolate and Strawberry Ice cream cake

Mom and dad, cutting the cake :)

My cousins and uncle

Dinner Outing

Saturday night, we had a dinner gathering for some x-Brisbane students and current Brisbanians at a new restaurant in Gadong. Tiyah fetched me from my house and we joined the others at the restaurant after going through the crazy traffic at Gadong, hehe.. Thankfully we managed to find a parking spot near the restaurant. Dim Sum was quite good though I wouldn't recommend the prawn laksa that I had, hehe. Dinner was spent catching up on each others lives. Overall, it was a great night. :)

Husma, Azim and Kolo

Rahmat and Val

Me and Tiyah

Standing L-R: Azim, Kolo, Val, Rahmat. Sitting L-R: Shariman, me, Husma and Tiyah :)

Surayani & Zulkarnain's wedding

Friday was my cousin's wedding at Kg. Masin. The weather was muggy but thankfully there was no rain despite the signs of dark clouds. My sister and I became one of the 'penyambut tetamu', welcoming the guests into the day ceremony, along with mom and dad.

With my cousin's sister in law, Kaka Surayati, my sister and me

Zulkarnain during the Akad Nikah/Solemnisation ceremony

Surayani during the Akad Nikah/Solemnisation

The newly weds :)

My family :)

Congratulations on your wedding. Semoga bahagia hingga ke anak cucu! Amin.. :)

Malam Berbedak ceremony

Thursday night, my cousin, Surayani from my dad's side had a Berdikir and Berbedak ceremony held in her family residence at Kg. Masin. Malam Berbedak or the "Night of Powdering" is a part of the many ceremonies involved in a traditional Brunei Malay wedding. Family members and friends are invited to "bless" the bride by anointing the bride with several coloured rice flour and scented oils. The Bride is dressed with the traditional heavy brass headgear that has either a symbol or statuette of a chicken (called Ayam-ayam) or dragon (Naga) which is wrapped around with scented flowers. The Bride is adorned with brass/gold plated arm bands, wrist bands, ankle bands and necklace. Also wrapped around her waist is the "kain songket" (usually red) that was given by the groom which is a part of her dowry or "hantaran".

Surayani in her Berbedak attire

All smiles :) During the anointing process.

Coloured rice flours and scented oils used in the ceremony

With some of my female cousins on the wedding throne or "pelamin" :)

At the outside balcony

My parents :)

P.S. Some info obtained from wiki :)

Berdikir and Berbedak ceremony

On Wednesday night, my family and I attended a Berdikir and Berbedak ceremony of Kaka Niza, in Kg Rimba. Congrats on your wedding to Abg Elham. May you live happily ever after, Amin! :)

Sincerely from me and my family :)

Proud to be a Bruneian

From www.world-flags-symbol.com

Today is the 25th National Day of Brunei Darussalam. You can say that it is the silver jubilee celebration here in Brunei. The theme of this year's national day is "Kedewasaan Bernegara". The morning gathering was held at the national stadium in Berakas.

I was up sometime mid morning today to watch the live broadcast of the ceremony, just in time to watch the parade or 'perarakan'. I was quite impressed with the performance which can be considered as the highlight of the show. Somewhere in the crowd were some of my cousins watching or performing.

We did not do much today. On the way to my cousin's house today, there was an accident along Jalan Bunut, which caused us to be held up in traffic for about 15 minutes or so. We had to move our cars towards the side of the two lane road, to allow an incoming police car to reach the accident site.

The weather today has been bad. It started to rain heavily in the afternoon, which then ceased sometime in the evening. Now as I am blogging here on my desk, the rain is again pouring heavily outside. I hope that the consequences would not be as bad as a few weeks ago.

On the way home, we could see the colourful "cucul" near the Beribi round about and the surrounding areas. Too bad that I did not have my camera with me at the time to capture the moment.

With that said, I would just like to say how proud I am to be a Bruneian. I hope that we will continue to live in harmony and happiness. No matter where we are, I would like to wish every Bruneian, a Happy National Day! :)