"Malimalihom!!!" This is a phrase that sounds real familiar to me - it's a phrase where magician in real life or cartoon would utter before performing the magic trick during my childhood. Well, it's serendipitous that I got to shoot a wedding at a place called Malihom which actually existed several years already in Penang itself! I bet 90% of you who read this don't know either.
I'd wish my command on English would do it justice but check out the photos and website, it's a very nice place on top of Balik Pulau area with nice scenery and environment. From the person in charge, the wedding of Kim & Erik is the first public wedding held over there. I love how peaceful and beautiful this place is and one gem of the location is the staff. Typically, being a photographer in the wedding don't get any attention by the staffs of the venue but I'm amazed by how friendly they were by asking me whether I had my meals, whether I want some drinks and they even reserved some food for me since I'm busy shooting. I never received this kind of treatment from the venue staffs before, it's always the couple/family/friends but not the staff. Anyhow, I can feel that they are genuine. This makes me wanted to go back for a personal trip one day.
Now, back to Erik & Kim who first met in Skype between KL & US because Erik needed to talk to Kim regarding on coaching a school's tennis team at KL. Kim's hometown was Penang and she picked Malihom because both of them are huge nature lover who hearts outdoor activities. Malihom fits perfectly into their mind as they also wanted to do a very intimate scale of wedding reception hosting the closest family members together. Kim is a unique kind of bride I've yet to met I think, some of her dates/holidays with Erik throughout the years are something like 30 hikes in 10 different countries, sometimes scuba diving, trekking, rafting, yoga retreats, tennis, squash, and fitness regime etc. They enjoy sweating.
From Erik's speech, I get to know that Kim has some 'favorite words' that she likes to say to Erik in Hokkien language which are "Kah Meh!"(quick!) and "Tua Bui Tu"(big fat pig) which cracks up lots of the family members especially those who speak Hokkien(and me). Erik has quite an accomplished vocabulary and practicing hard on the languages like Hokkien and Malay, he even has a 'little blue book' which he brought along with him every time for this purpose. He is fluent in speaking Malay too, he said to me:"I've tried speaking Malay to my colleagues but they replied in English most of the time... I guess no one wants to speak Malay with a Mat Salleh." Mat Salleh is a noun in Malay language for Westerner/Caucasian.
Last but not least, an important family member in the wedding is Roxie. Kim's Boston Terrier that she brought her back from the US to Malaysia. You'll know how important this family member is when Kim told me that she spent about USD1500 for the process of transferring Roxie to Malaysia with a stop at Frankfurt along the way via Lufthansa Air. It was not an easy decision as some said a Boston Terrier might not have survived with Malaysia weather but after a lot of extensive research, Kim decided to bring Roxie with her back to Malaysia and gladly Roxie is able to adapt well. Roxie is very very responsive to the basic command like "sit" as she attended obedience school in the US when she's 5 months old, I've never seen such reaction speed in my life! She eats well too, like homemade cheese cookies by Kim and bacon. Kim's makeover is done by Joan, enjoy the series!
Well, Roxie farted, it must be a 'cheese bom', she took cheese before the ceremony.
&.b.t.w. - Tell you a secret. I realized that ever since I'm a wedding photographer, I became a lot more sentimental compared to the time I was a musician. I don't know why.. I teared easily sometimes in wedding and movies but it feels good. I believe tears cleanses the soul.
&.&.b.t.w. - I'll be going Taiwan mid of August for a soul searching trip where I'll be going to shoot some random street photos there... Am thinking if I could get some random people to pose for me too. Any couple would like to do a portrait session there too I wonder?
&.&.&.b.t.w. - A little dream was playing in my mind lately. I wanted to shoot a professional classical musician's wedding one day. How good if I get to enjoy live orchestra music in the wedding! (would be even awesome if I get to play flute together)