Friday - Saturday 16-17 Feb. 2018.
While taking advantage of the Chinese New Year holidays, not everyone came for this year's Ujang-Banun Family reunion. Still, about 140 were counted present this time around, the third one, at Lonek. Mostly, we stayed at the many home-stays around Lonek and Batu Kikir, with Kemar and Nazir in hotels in Bahau. Mak Di and Ai took advantage of free sleeping in Bal's house, although I suggested that she bills them.
The banner said "since 2006." That makes this event a good 12 years old. I can't remember who first mooted the idea, but it's a good one. There's another one I was invited to, the Tanjong Jati Clan, but I only attended one gathering many, many years ago, at the Police Depot, KL. My connection is through my grandfather on my mother's side. The Ujang-Banun group has had more gatherings, obviously.
It's the second-generation who's managing this. But the third and fourth generations contibute the biggest membership. And members are pretty far-flung - from Seremban, KL, Kota Bharu, Kedah, Kuantan, Segamat, Keluang, Terengganu, Singapore and even Sabah. And of course Bal & family from right here, Lonek. The biggest contributor of numbers was Anjang's group. Pin alone accounted for 9, with 1 AWOL. Azza is catching up.
The Singapore contigent was muted this time around. Sabah came full force, including one still unborn. Ikhwan's group was also missing. But there was enough noise, and the 140 made the now-standard 2-day event no less fun.
The committee hatched well-thought out activities last time, as also this time. The key word is participation, and there's always plenty of it. There was a good mixture of the physical as well as the spiritual. While fun and games were enjoyed, prayers for the dear departed, and supplications for continued well-being for all were offered. Two versions of the azan were heard. Farhan's was weak and clearly untested, but Anjang's grandson was good. Two imams also ably led, separately, Magrib and later Isyak. Nazir threw in a surprise birth-day lunch for his 63 years, complete with a brief, tearful speech.
The food was much improved from the last gathering, both in quantity and taste, although I think it's the same supplier.
The mc for the 2 days was fluent and appeared experienced and obviously pregnant. But that didn't seem to affect her movement. In fact she was jumping around with mike in one hand and baby in the other. She even managed to make Kak Long Izan speak more than one sentence when asked about her recent Bandung trip.
The next gathering is planned for 2020. Meanwhile, there will be qurban for Aidil Adha. But Ai not-so-politely reminded everyone to keep his or her membership account up-to-date.
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