Kamil sent us off to Telok Intan, Wednesday 18th. December, to officially ask this girl called "Girl" from Sibu, Sarawak, for her hand in marriage. The whole journey from Seremban by road, to and fro, took 13 hours, and three quarters of Dekna's Carnival's tank of Euro 5 diesel, over more than 500 km. Telok Intan is where Girl's father is from. Sibu is where Girl's mother is from. The Sibu journey would take 2 hours of flying alone, not counting how many hours by road on Sarawak's unknown roads!
Bal had requested us to do this, and we were only too happy to oblige, for the late Pak Ijoi, who left us all too soon. We'd gladly go to Sibu,too, when the time comes, maybe in a year's time. If we know the exact date, we could even get a cheap flight with an early booking. Place of stay should be no problem. Girl should be able to handle that !
I've driven to Telok Intan, to the leaning tower in town, before, but that was a long time ago.
Wednesday, Bal's brother was supposed to be the guide. We assembled at the Rawang R & R around 10a.m., then took off. We took the Sungkai exit, and followed the Federal road all the way to the housing estate just before Telok Intan town. We were at Girl's father's house by 11.50. They were waiting, and upon seeing our convoy, came out to the road to receive us.
I said "supposed" to be the guide, because Bal's younger brother drove like no guide. My speedometer said 140 and he was still ahead of me and his car ahead was growing smaller.
The "ceremony" was short and simple. Ari did the talking, which I like, instead of the expected Bang Piei. Bang Piei tends to overdo it, especially with his "jokes" which he always thinks are funny. He laughs at them more than us, when we're usually laughing more at him than his stupid jokes. Details are to be set by the couple, and the dates are to be fixed later, but probably in a year's time.
They served a buffet lunch, which everybody seemed to enjoy, because it was lunch time anyway.
The return journey was via Kuala Selangor. First we had a short stop at Bang Piei's old police mate's 7-month old restaurant nearby. Then Olin took us for mee udang at the picnic area close to the training college that Olin used to come to. Bang Piei paid the rm 80 bill.
The route was through Telok Intan, Simpang Empat and Hutan Melintang, all still Perak, then through Air Tawar, Sabak, Sg. Besar, Sekinchan, Tg. Karang, Kuala Selangor, Kelang, Subang Jaya and Bangi, Selangor, then in NS through Nilai to Seremban.
We had left Seremban at 8 a.m. We were back in Seremban at 9 p.m.
My smart tag had rm 90 when we left. It showed rm 30 in the end.
I drove all the way, but surprisingly, didn't feel any worse for it, and Thursday morning woke up at the usual 4.30 for my golf fixture that day.
Bal still has to pay for the 3-piece "hantaran" Idah prepared. Girl's people gave nothing in return. (sigh) Maybe it's Sarawak custom.
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