At least he stood by me in sickness and in health, literally
I eluded once before that we spent our honeymoon in the jungles of the tropics, with his sister and his friend. I promised to talk about that and haven’t fulfilled that promise. Since I’m usually good with keeping promises, here’s the recap of what happened 7+ years ago.
Our wedding took place in Malaysia, where Hubby was born and grew up. As with most destination weddings, not many people showed up (on my side). This was also the first time I meet my in-laws and where parents from both sides met for the first time as well.
Malaysia is right on the equator. In fact, the town that Hubby’s from sits 1 degree from the equator and has a humidity of 95% every single day. It’s ~90F everyday of the year. Did I mention there are LOTS AND LOTS of mosquitoes?! And no screened windows??? Not fun, especially when you’re super allergic to mosquitoes and swell up like a balloon when bitten.
There were exactly 170 people in our wedding, and I could count the number of guests I knew with all the fingers on exactly one hand. I don’t blame my friends; I wouldn’t be traveling 32+ hours by flight for a wedding unless (1) you’re one of my kidneys (2) I could afford to pay the hefty air ticket (3) I want to travel to that part of the world anyways and what would be cooler than to kill two birds with one stone.
The wedding ceremony was at 8 a.m. which meant I had to get up at 5 a.m. to get ready. The makeup lady came to the hotel to do my hair and makeup. I sat half asleep while she poked and prodded my hair and got me dressed. (The church was all booked up and the only time slot available was 8 a.m. 09-09 is a very popular date.)
After the ceremony, we had the Chinese-Malaysian reception with extended family members at his parents’ house. At 7p.m. the real wedding reception started and where I knew basically no one in my own wedding. After the glorious 8-course meal is over and almost everyone leaves, except for one of Hubby’s friend who he hadn’t seen for many years. He came up to our penthouse wedding suite in the hotel and chatted for hours. He finally left after I literally kicked him out. By then I had been up for 20+ hours and you know what I did on my wedding night? I fell on the bed and conked out.
What a great start to a marriage.
After all that wonderfulness, we flew to Mulu for a few days. Without blaming him again and mentioning how unhappy I was with this arrangement again, Hubby’s sister and one of his friends came along with us. Since the friend and his sister aren’t a couple, and sister felt odd sharing a room with a strange man, she stayed in our room. I’m not making this up. This sort of thing simply cannot be made up.
So over the course of the next few days, we did a lot of activities together with them. Together. We hiked trails, we swam in the pool, we had yummy meals, we went to amazing caves, we went kayaking, we watched cultural shows. Together.
It was a really fun place, honestly it was. I mean JUST LOOK AT this cave. Yes that’s a freaking ROAD in the middle there, a ROAD that can accommodate at least 3 people walking side by side. Here’s another shot of the same cave. The cavity of this cave supposedly can hold up to FOUR 747 wingless planes side by side (I think it’s 4). Wow. And this was not the only cave… The place was beyond beautiful. Aside from the breathtaking natural beauty of this place, there were NO MOSQUITOES here because of the bats living in these caves. See bat exodus images here, here, and here. Millions and millions of bats live here.
But I think it would have been way more fun if we didn’t have 2 tag-a-longs.
He’s lucky I didn’t leave, or leave him.
If you feel bad for me, and are inclined to, please email me to find out how to contribute to my Real Honeymoon Fund. Or at least give him a swift whack on the head.
Vien Said,
January 11, 2008 @ 1:58 am
You only have 2…we had over 30-ppl entourage on our trip to Shanghai. After our wedding at Shanghai..everyone went to Suzhou and Hangzhou with us. Oh, it was fun..and I guess we were luckier..we didn’t have to share a room with a 3 person.
Vien’s last blog post..Another pregnancy update
Andie Summerkiss Said,
January 11, 2008 @ 2:50 am
I think honeymoon is way over-rated. You did alright. The room-sharing incident is a bit too much, of course.
I didn’t know that he was originally from Malaysia.
I totally agree with the title. Other things are just small hiccups.
Andie Summerkiss’s last blog post..Fainting Pooper is …
Jenni Said,
January 11, 2008 @ 8:39 am
I think everyone just sleeps on her wedding night. We had a tagalong for the first 3 months of marriage; a Marine Corps buddy who was homesick and made me surrogate mom. Bizarre.
You are a gracious woman.
Jenni’s last blog post..Haiku Family
mama's got moxie Said,
January 11, 2008 @ 9:32 am
hey ms sweetisu, i think you should demand a redo honeymoon!! why, i’ve never heard of tag-alongs on your honeymoon before. what an interesting concept! haha… and wow, having a wedding ceremony with hardly anyone that you knew must’ve been a bit odd for you. but hey, it’s about the marriage and not the wedding, right? but i still think hubby owes you another honeymoon!!
mama’s got moxie’s last blog post..the pink skirted boy…
chanpheng Said,
January 11, 2008 @ 10:41 am
Sounds like a typical Asian wedding. I don’t know how anyone does anything other than sleep on their wedding nights. The other name for an Asian wedding is endurance test.
But definitely insist on a re-do honeymoon. You’re not in the old country anymore.
chanpheng’s last blog post..Resorting to cat pictures
Amie Said,
January 11, 2008 @ 11:47 am
Okay, I had to chuckle
Maybe for your 10th anniversary you could go on a second honeymoon.
Heck, I’ve been married over 10 years and I haven’t been on my first honeymoon yet!
Amie’s last blog post..Philisophical Sam
clickmom Said,
January 11, 2008 @ 2:53 pm
On my wedding night we spent an hour or so trying to get all the bobby pins out of my embarrasing 90’s asymetrical updo.
We didn’t have any tag-alongs on our honeymoon, instead my husband left me alone- twice- to go and play golf at a different hotel.
clickmom’s last blog post..curious
Lisa's Chaos Said,
January 11, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
We just slept on our wedding night too, been married almost 5 years and we met on the Internet.
We did have a camping honeymoon at Big Bend ST Park. 
Lisa’s Chaos’s last blog post..I’m being stalked
Kat Said,
January 11, 2008 @ 6:24 pm
REDO!!!
Thanks for posting the full story, I was definitely curious!
None of it sounds like it was any fun - except for the caves and stuff, but I think I would have been so fed up with the company that I wouldn’t have enjoyed it. And I would have started yelling. You are a better person than I am. I think I’m going to link to this post tonight.
Angela Said,
January 11, 2008 @ 9:37 pm
Hilarious! You had me cracking up!
The pictures of the place are absolutely amazing and beautiful!
Angela’s last blog post..Fridge Friday
happysurfer Said,
January 11, 2008 @ 10:43 pm
Hi Sweetisu, first time here - came from Andie’s. Enjoyed your post. Will definitely come back for more.
Chinese weddings are like that - from morning right up to late at night and sometimes dinner doesn’t start until 9pm, the result of people coming late. There’s something called Malaysian time. Wedding dinners don’t usually start on time as guests as a (bad) habit arrive later that what’s stipulated on the invite.
Love the images on the links. Thanks for sharing them.
happysurfer’s last blog post..Friday Frolics: What Are The Keys To Your Heart?
Christine Said,
January 12, 2008 @ 9:24 am
Oh-my-goodness! A third person in the room? I suppose she couldn’t get her own room? You deserve a re-do. My husband hiked me miles and miles to see the twin ink ponds at Johnson’s Canyon in Banff Alberta. I was wearing skimpy sandals (still trying to look good to impress him) He kept telling me we were almost there. What an obsessive and obstinate man. One smack upside his head. I could hardly walk for the rest of the trip! LOL
Christine’s last blog post..Fridge Friday….Umm…Saturday!
Dawn Said,
January 12, 2008 @ 10:29 am
We intentionally waited to have a baby till after we went on ours - good move on our part since we’ve been away from him about 6 hours in the last 8 months. Sigh.
Dawn’s last blog post..Showin’ off on Saturday
MarysMom Said,
January 14, 2008 @ 7:47 am
Men can be just so clueless, sometimes. We had our wedding in Vegas and I thought, after the reception, we can explore more of Las Vegas on our own. No, my new husband though it his duty to spend more time with his friends that flew in and entertain them. I just sort of tagged along…
He still owes me a real honeymoon, too.
MarysMom’s last blog post..Reaching Out Across The Ether