While looking around Sogo (got a new Lamborghini wallet, 'coz why buy the car when this will do) I spotted a cool bowler hat I thought Lola would like, but the ridiculous HK$1990 sticker price -- with a comma after the 1 instead of a decimal between the 9s-- made my eyes water. And I would've preferred a top hat but apparently those were only for the display mannequins. And they had so many on them on display, all piled up and linked together by plastic rope. Add some snow,leaves and Hugh Jackman w/ a goatee it would've looked like the opening scene to The Prestige.
All that shopping made us late for the wedding, which was held in one of their national parks (I'm guessing it was public since we didn't have to pay to enter) where the families reserved one of the courtyards.
Cousin Danny's sister's son Eric and bride Nicole had just finished the formal kowtowing and giving thanks to the Heavens, their parents and relatives. Then it was on to the kissing, as guests who came from as far as The US, Thailand and Manila watched. The snack buffet tent was a nice touch, as well.But wait! They're not done. There was no priest to officiate (duh, we weren't at a church), just a Man In Black to handle the contract signing and formalize the newlywed's union while their fathers sat nearby. As my Cantonese is so rusty to the point of being toxic I can just sum up the whole ceremony to literal pomp and circumstance. And lots of picture-taking, w/c took a novel (imo) approach of starting w/ the huge group shots (all relatives and friends) before moving down to just the couple. All this and we still had 5 hours to kill before the wedding banquet.
Next thing I knew we Chinoys were in not-so-familiar Mody Road, checking out the shopping boutiques across the overpass from the Kowloon Shangri La Hotel (seems the common feature of SL hotels in Asia are large marble centerpieces in the lobby). Giordano's was having a sale, so I got several sets for boxers (personal use and Xmas gifts), as well as a couple of belts. The ladies ended up spending much more to reach/pass the $1000 minimum needed to avail of the free bags. At the shoe store next door they spent even more, and I got a pair of Hush Puppies.It was at our last stop at G2000 where we went for broke (not literally) and yours truly a suit and tie for the occasion. Modesty aside, I know I can carry a suit, but I just don't like wearing them, as they are occasional clothes for me, as in worn only on formal occasions, of w/c I don't attend many. That said, the wedding banquet was a formal occasion, and frankly the clothes I wore that afternoon (see the first pic, where I wasn't even wearing my brown winter jacket that, along w/ my camera and tripod, made me look like the hired wedding photographer) was an embarrassment. Backhanded comments I received after my "makeover" were more of implying how badly I looked before. ("Wow, you really looked better now than this afternoon.")
Several shopping bags and one cab ride later we were at Harbour Plaza Metropolis Hotel. (I'm able to specify the venue only because I took home their complimentary wet-wipe) At Harbour View Chinese Cuisine the newlyweds were onstage in the ballroom, now wearing their formal Western wedding outfits and having their pictures taken with guests lined up waiting in front of them. Cocktail food and drinks were prepared just outside the ballroom for other guests before the actual banquet started. Beats peanuts and 7-Up, definitely.
Dinner started past 9PM and by frustrating coincidence for my palette, the food selection was 95% similar to what we had last night at the birthday party, w/ the small distinction of the roast pig having blinking lights in its cherry-tomato eyes. The newlyweds also didn't have a presidential table and instead just sat at the first table w/ their parents and immediate family. By their third outfit change (the Going Away Evening Wear) we were treated to a song number w/ Eric on vocals and Nicole on piano. Let's just say it's a good thing Eric was surrounded by friends and family.
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