makassar

This is my log on my one day one night at Makassar. Hari and his soon-to-be-wife Rita was inviting me to come to their wedding last weekend. When the invitation came, it only took me like ten minutes to finally decide that I want to go there. But (not so) terrible thing happened, I caught a flu and it was quite difficult to concentrate by the time I got there. I leaved on Friday afternoon, arrived at Hasanuddin Airport at 16h00 local time, and go directly to the hotel. Nice hotel, big room for just one person. Maybe that was why they were strangely asking me whether to have a breakfast for two or just one to be delivered to the room on the next morning. The room was design for two I guess.

In the evening, Hari insisted that I should come to his "pacar" ceremony where all his immediate family put henna on his palm and bless him for the grand future ahead. It was quite an occasion. A tear-jerking moment. I saw all four of Hari’s big sisters repeatedly wipe their noses and eyes. I guess the whole event reminded them of their belated mom, and how she would long for this moment for quite sometimes. The family use their best china with all the sweets in hope that the marriage life of the new couple fill with sweetness. Kind of reminded me of Moonson Wedding. All dress nicely, colourful, blink-blink, and all happy. I felt a little bit uncomfortable for my plain clothes. I’m not in to accessories and stuff therefore I just wore my pearl earring and long traditional skirt. I guess that was one of the reasons why all the members of the family introduced me to others using the “from Jakarta” statement for my being underdressed. Sorry Hari, I didn’t fully aware of the dress code to attend Makassar’s congregation. But Hari’s big family are very warm. One of Hari’s mother in law said that “You are my new daughter”, a little bit scary but I guess she was just saying that.

I think it was for the first time after more than three years that I saw Hari in person again. It was nice to finally meet an old friend especially on his important day.

The next morning, after I couldn’t sleep soundly for the flu I had, I went out to see the city by becak. I think we should just see the pictures for they speak a thousand words.

I had to rush back to the hotel for Meta already waiting for me. Aaaa the beauty of SSEAYP. Where ever you are, you always have a friend and it seems like you have known the person for ages for the conversation just started and on and on and on. Just like any other girls we were gossiping, and Meta still as gorgeous as I remember her. A very strong-minded lady. From her I learned that if I want to give something to the couple in form of money, I should put them inside the envelope of the invitation card and put it on either the bride’s box or the groom’s box. In my case it was the groom’s box.

Hari held his wedding reception at the grandest mosque in Makassar. Al-Markaz Al Islami. And for the first time I saw his wife, Rita. A lovely lady and I always have a feeling whenever I “examine” a couple. I felt the chemistry and wish they have an everlasting marriage. Aren’t they lovely (tense but lovely!).

The last thing to do before I got stuck at the airport waiting for over three hours and got my foot massage was to buy souvenir for my dear colleagues. Sumba Opu is the shopping place to buy souvenir. Any kind of souvenir. But local said that the most wanted souvenir is gold. Well, that was just out of my limited budget, so, sorry friends, I only could bring Makassar’s snacks.