Malaysia

Penang Wedding

Last month, we attended the wedding of our host daughter, Syahila, in her hometown, Penang, Malaysia. Eight years ago, Syahila lived with us as a high school exchange student. She came under the auspices of the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (KL-YES) Program which facilitates scholarships for high school students from countries with significant Muslim populations to study in the United States. The objective of the program is to foster mutual understanding and cultural exchange.

We loved having Syahila as part of our family and have kept in touch over the years. I was even able to watch her university graduation in Kuala Lumpur via live stream a couple of years ago! We were thrilled when she called to tell us she was getting married. We were even happier when she invited us to come to Penang for the wedding. We had visited Penang many years ago and loved it so we were happy to go back to celebrate the big day with Syahila and her family.❤️

Erik and I with Syahila and the groom, Aizat.

Before the wedding, we had time to explore Penang and meet up with an old neighbor from Hong Kong, who is from Penang. The capital of Penang State is George Town, the oldest English settlement in Southeast Asia dating from 1786. George Town is VERY charming and we had a good time returning to favorite places and exploring new ones. I arrived a couple of days before Erik and my first stop was the stunning Cheong Fatt Tse Mansion (now a hotel), also known as "The Blue Mansion," renowned for its beauty and perfect Fung Sheu. It was featured in Crazy Rich Asians (Mah Jong scene), Indochine and other films over the years.

The Cheong Fatt TSe Mansion

Next Stop: Clan houses in Penang, known as "kongsi," were and continue to be places that welcome Chinese people of that particular name and village to a new place. The most striking in Penang is the Khoo clan house. These structures often function as temples, meeting halls, and symbols of wealth, showcasing intricate architecture and communal ties among clan members. Penang also still has clan jetties where again people with similar names from the same village still live. Below are photos of the Khoo Clam temple and a couple of the clan jetties.

Penang has wonderful street art!

Eating in Penang...

Every meal in Penang was delicious but a favorite was when Syahila and Aizat took me out for a yummy Malay meal at Makan Pagi

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Random Penang photos

Penang is the only state in Malaysia that is majority Chinese so of course we had a foot massage

Durian (you either love it or hate it) is not allowed on public transporation

Umbrella Street

I was so happy to spend time with my friend, Sheryn, a former neighbor from Hong Kong. Our girls went to preschool together there.

Finally, the weekend of the wedding arrived! Friday evening (day one of three) we went to Syahila's family's home where all the girls, young and old, received henna tatoos on their hands.

A niece

Syahila's were the most intricate and took the longest

Mother of the bride

my hands

Syahila's father had given Erik a lesson on how to wear the wrap on Friday night, but he still needed help the next day at the mosque.

Cutie Pies

On Saturday, (day 2 of 3 for festivities) we went to the Mosque. The ceremony was very informal, bride and parents gathered on a carpet with an iman, witness and government representative with 50 or so family members in attendance. The bride and groom's families wore color coordinated clothing; Syahila's family wore a gray blue and the groom's family wore light green. Afterward, we headed to a beautiful hall with yummy Malay food.

Erik and I are on either side of the bride's parents

Syahila and her mother sat on the round cushion while the men met at the table.

Syahila was a stunning bride, pictured here with her mother

Aizat was very proud he got his recitations right the first time around

On Sunday, one thousand people were invited to a reception. Again, TONS of yummy Malay food and lots of really nice and friendly people! And more photos for Syahila and Aizat (they posed for thousands over the course of the weekend). Syahila's family looked gorgeous in pale green on Sunday. Overall, Erik and I had a fabulous time. We were treated like family and very much enjoyed meeting Syahila's parents, sisters (and their families) and friends. And did I mention the food? For Syahila and Aizat, this - the bride's reception - was just the beginning. They have the groom's reception this month where another 700 guests and loved ones will gather to celebrate their marriage with them. We can't wait to see the photos.

The adorable nieces were the flower girls

Practicing before the bride and groom arrive

The couple with Syahila's bridesmaids. Malay bridesmaids work much harder than their American counterparts. They really ran the show. Very impressive!

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