Still in Raya mood (bear with me.. ;P)
Selamat Hari Raya!
I'm still in Raya mood although it's already the 4th day of Syawal.
Earlier today I went to Alor Gajah with Mak and Abah, to visit Puan. She's Mak's stepmother, and Mak has a few half-brothers and half-sisters back in Malacca.
It's like a routine - every year on the 3rd Raya, Abah and Mak would drive down to Alor Gajah for Raya visit. For a few years it was only the two of them; recent years have seen myself, and a few times Kai and Ya, joining Mak and Abah.
After I came back from Newcastle, I was more interested to join my parents for these Alor Gajah Raya visits - compared to before Newcastle years. The main reason would be my renewed 'keakraban' with my cousin Duan (OK, so I used the word 'keakraban' coz I can't think of an appropriate word in English :P LOLs..). He was in South Sheilds for a few years, and a couple of those years coincide with my life in Newcastle.
Cousin Duan would, once in a while, call me to tell: "Yam, ada rumah tak esok? Duan nak datang ni. Dengan member sorang." More often than not, I would say "OK, datang lah" and so I would start thinking about what to cook for them.
Biasalah, anak Malaya. Mesti nak makan nasi. Hehehhe.. So, the menu would normally be Nasi Ayam. And the chicken would be the wings, marinated with crushed garlic + ginger and soya sauce, and grilled. Or deep fried. Yummy..! Sheils would be very happy whenever Duan and Adly visited, coz she would be able to enjoy the chicken wings as well! Yes, of course I always made extra. Enough for everyone, times two :P
After graduation, I promised myself that I would continue to keep in touch with Duan. And of course, with that, it spilled to my having good relationships with his sisters, his brother, his parents (his mom is Mak's half-sister), and the many aunties and uncles, whom I previously did not take the time to get acquainted with. I admit I'm still adjusting to having a big extended family.
It's definitely a new experience for me - suddenly I have a Pak Ngah, Pak Andak, Mak Teh, Acik and Pak Usu. And their spouse. And their children. Which I assure you, is definitely more than a handful!
*Phew* Imagine that.
When I was younger, I only thought I had Mak Ton (Mak's younger sister of the same mother - hmm, I guess she's a half sister too then?), and Uncle Sam (Abah's younger brother).
I do have a lot of cousins, it seems. Eventhough I'm a bit late getting to know them, I suppose now would be a good time to start.
I'm still in Raya mood although it's already the 4th day of Syawal.
Earlier today I went to Alor Gajah with Mak and Abah, to visit Puan. She's Mak's stepmother, and Mak has a few half-brothers and half-sisters back in Malacca.
It's like a routine - every year on the 3rd Raya, Abah and Mak would drive down to Alor Gajah for Raya visit. For a few years it was only the two of them; recent years have seen myself, and a few times Kai and Ya, joining Mak and Abah.
After I came back from Newcastle, I was more interested to join my parents for these Alor Gajah Raya visits - compared to before Newcastle years. The main reason would be my renewed 'keakraban' with my cousin Duan (OK, so I used the word 'keakraban' coz I can't think of an appropriate word in English :P LOLs..). He was in South Sheilds for a few years, and a couple of those years coincide with my life in Newcastle.
Cousin Duan would, once in a while, call me to tell: "Yam, ada rumah tak esok? Duan nak datang ni. Dengan member sorang." More often than not, I would say "OK, datang lah" and so I would start thinking about what to cook for them.
Biasalah, anak Malaya. Mesti nak makan nasi. Hehehhe.. So, the menu would normally be Nasi Ayam. And the chicken would be the wings, marinated with crushed garlic + ginger and soya sauce, and grilled. Or deep fried. Yummy..! Sheils would be very happy whenever Duan and Adly visited, coz she would be able to enjoy the chicken wings as well! Yes, of course I always made extra. Enough for everyone, times two :P
After graduation, I promised myself that I would continue to keep in touch with Duan. And of course, with that, it spilled to my having good relationships with his sisters, his brother, his parents (his mom is Mak's half-sister), and the many aunties and uncles, whom I previously did not take the time to get acquainted with. I admit I'm still adjusting to having a big extended family.
It's definitely a new experience for me - suddenly I have a Pak Ngah, Pak Andak, Mak Teh, Acik and Pak Usu. And their spouse. And their children. Which I assure you, is definitely more than a handful!
*Phew* Imagine that.
When I was younger, I only thought I had Mak Ton (Mak's younger sister of the same mother - hmm, I guess she's a half sister too then?), and Uncle Sam (Abah's younger brother).
I do have a lot of cousins, it seems. Eventhough I'm a bit late getting to know them, I suppose now would be a good time to start.
posted by Yam @ 11:06 pm
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