Date : 9 July 2007 (Monday)
Place : Tanjong Balai (Karimun)
Time : 6.00 pm
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It was a red-letter day for Seng Luan Chew. His 7th and youngest son was finally tying the knots. Being a hospitable man, he was at the ferry terminal, despite his busy schedule, to receive his three guests from Singapore, Mr Seng Joo How, Mr Seng Guo Quan and his Grandma Mdm Ng Whee Keng.
The wedding dinner was held in a well-known restaurant in Balai. Guests started arriving at 6.00 pm in buses chartered for the occasion. All together, 60 tables were laid out for the wedding feast which began at 7.30 pm. As is the tradition in Balai, the groom made his rounds, accompanied by his buddies(but not his wife).
Then there were wedding toasts to the bride and groom and many yam-sengs pervaded the hall. It was a joyous celebrations and indeed the kampong spirit was very evident. When the dinner ended, guests were ferried back to their homes in the chartered buses.
For us we stayed overnight at the Gabion Hotel which was a stone throw from Luan Chew's house. The next day, Luan Chew brought us to see his houses, some sightseeing, shopping and durian feasting before we bid him farewell at the ferry terminal.
It was a short but nonetheless very memorable trip.
