Surabaya, part 2
We came back from Surabaya last Monday evening, but not without drama. The trip itself has been one of the most tiring (mentally) yet boring (because we were stuck in our hotel rooms) ever. I came back with a long lasting souvenir - I have the 'Surabaya belly' - persistent bouts of diarrhea. I am still suffering from the effects of it. :(
To continue, the wedding went off as (un)planned and with so many highlights, I'm not entirely certain where to start. The very camp hairdresser/singer performing at the wedding, the overly loud band, the kitschy so-called dancers (they pranced more than danced), the samurai sword/cake cutting ceremony, the cloying dry ice, the many hours of photo taking, the shaving of eyebrows and mountains of fake eyelashes, the bad speeches... I think you might get an idea. In any case, I'm more than grateful it's over. I have never been to an Indonesian Chinese wedding, and if this is any indication, this may well be the last I attend.
And I didn't even mention the food. :(
I think now much of it can be relegated to memory and I am indeed much happier to be back in a country where people obey traffic rules (they are there for a reason!), you can walk the streets safely any time of the day, you can make yourself understood 99% of the time and there is a functioning public transport system. I admit that I have been incredibly spoilt by living in a country where I can easily make myself understood and I have freedom of movement. Come to think of it, it is not the absence of language ability that frustrates me, but the inability to simply traverse where I wish. I have been to Japan where language is a difficulty but have yet enjoyed myself greatly and hope to go back again some day.
Anyway, I am back in Singapore and lapping up the sense of freedom I feel. Not to mention the very good food which is much more to my taste. Tonight is a family dinner, so that should be fun.
To continue, the wedding went off as (un)planned and with so many highlights, I'm not entirely certain where to start. The very camp hairdresser/singer performing at the wedding, the overly loud band, the kitschy so-called dancers (they pranced more than danced), the samurai sword/cake cutting ceremony, the cloying dry ice, the many hours of photo taking, the shaving of eyebrows and mountains of fake eyelashes, the bad speeches... I think you might get an idea. In any case, I'm more than grateful it's over. I have never been to an Indonesian Chinese wedding, and if this is any indication, this may well be the last I attend.
And I didn't even mention the food. :(
I think now much of it can be relegated to memory and I am indeed much happier to be back in a country where people obey traffic rules (they are there for a reason!), you can walk the streets safely any time of the day, you can make yourself understood 99% of the time and there is a functioning public transport system. I admit that I have been incredibly spoilt by living in a country where I can easily make myself understood and I have freedom of movement. Come to think of it, it is not the absence of language ability that frustrates me, but the inability to simply traverse where I wish. I have been to Japan where language is a difficulty but have yet enjoyed myself greatly and hope to go back again some day.
Anyway, I am back in Singapore and lapping up the sense of freedom I feel. Not to mention the very good food which is much more to my taste. Tonight is a family dinner, so that should be fun.