Marriage in Probolinggo, East Java

 

Anggi's ex coworker got married, and so we were invited to the marriage. It has a different format to what we are used to in Europe. People far and wide are all invited. Relatives, friends, ex coworkers... And since so many people come, there is a sort of a conveyor belt of marriage experience:

Everyone that comes shakes hands of bride and groom parents, stands on the center stage and has a professional photo taken by a photographer standing there being ready at all times. Apperances matter to Javanese.

Bride and Groom did not leave the stage at our relativbely short visit. They were on center stage exhibit  all the time, shaking hands, taking photos. Once you are done with obligatory hand shake, you get to eat the food.

A buffet with food. This is early hours, so not many people are here. I have no idea how long the party lasts? But it is not too late, and let's not forget: there is no alcohol here.

The singer was singing in tune, the speakers are a good quality, but room acoustic is total crap. The result is unfortunately huge ear pain. They should treat the room or put music outside.

I look tired because I am being slowely cooked in the tropical heat.

Anggi & the Bride

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Anggi and I married in Denmark a few months ago. This is extremely non typical. For obvious reasons, we did not invite relatives and friends far and wide to attend. But: something still had to be done. It would be impolite not to.

So we ordered food, lots of food.

55 packages to be exact.

It included full lunch

And something, they call "bread", though it should not be called that at any stretch. It is a suggary extra soft bakery with a sweet filler. We would call this a desert.

The cost of all this was 80 euros! not per person, for all 55 packages. I got off cheap. A friend I know from Germany paid ten thousand euros or was it Deutch marks. A fortune in any case. He married years ago in Jakarta.

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unrelated to marriages... 

Arga practicing Tennis. There are more than usual amount of overweight children here. The reason is because being chubby is considered a status symbol here. They do not view it as bad, but as a sign of good food and health. And the price for this fancy training? 14 euro a month! twice a week for two hours... In case you missed it: not for one hour, for a month!

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On our way home we stoped in a Buddhist temple. One of few in predominantely muslim Java.

It is newly rebuild, because it cought fire.

It burned because candles caught fire.

Tempel is actually dedicated to three: Buddhists, Konfucionists and Tao-ists (upper center symbols)

Indonesian govrnment works very hard on religion tolerance.