We've been busy last Friday and Saturday, trying to finish whatever work that need to be done at the other house that we're supposed to move into. Been dropping in at the house on and off whenever time permits (having Friday as an only off day) for the past 4 months and still there are quite a few things left that need to be fixed as the contractor did a really terrible job. Anyway, we managed to attend Auntie Nyta's engagement ceremony on Saturday afternoon, though we missed the most important part, the discussion of the wedding between both families, from the future bride to be and the groom's. But here are some pictures.







This is a complete set of 'sireh' chewing accessories, the whole set is called a 'tepak sireh' or betel leave container. In general, tepak sirih contains six uniquely selected items: betel nut (areca palm nuts) that has been husked and split up in smalled pieces, limestone paste (kapur), extract from the leaves of gambier plant (gambir), betel leaves, and nutcracker (kacip). All of the items except kacip are kept in different smaller containers known as cembul (see pic).
To eat it, the betel leave is placed on palm, and just take each of the ingredients in the cembul, place them on the leave, fold the leave neatly and put it inside the mouth and start to chew vigorously. The whole is chewed up to form a thick deep red paste between gums and cheeks where it stays for hours sometimes. Word of advice, do brush your teeth after that to avoid prolong stain. I only tried it once, and it was just the leave and the nut, without the other condiments and hmmm...it wasn't really a pleasant experience so I can't really explain why some people find it addictive even. I just know that it can create that 'high' feeling for a few minutes and to some degree, it appeases hunger and pain. Maybe we should ask Uncle Dan since he tried it a couple of time when he was in New Guinea.
There are precise sections of the tepak sirih that hold the ingredients. A complete set of tepak sirih reflects Malay life as a whole and the value placed by the Malay community upon traditional customs (adab) and codes of behaviors. To some, the folded leaves symbolize unity.
The tepak sirih with its elaborately carved is unique icon in Malay cultural history. The degree of elaborate designs and material used dictated the status in old Malay hierarchy.
In Malay tradition, the act of offering and receiving of tepak sirih complete with its ingredients has a substantial significance for both the giver as well as the receiver. Yet this is not all, for each of the elements that go into the making of the tepak sirih has its own symbolic value. The sirih leaf due to its characteristic behavior in its natural environment has been used as a symbol of respect for others. The lime (kapur) in its whiteness reflects the purity of the heart, a whiteness that conveys nobility and pure but which when disturbed or interfered can turn bitter like the tang of the kapur itself. The gambir symbolizes stoutness of heart while the betel nut, which comes from a tall and slender palm tree and whose flowers blossom in bunches represents noble descent or heritage as well as honesty and integrity. Ok I'm done. Next..



