Christmas 2013 in Kuching, Sarawak

Every alternate year, we will celebrate Christmas with my in-laws in Kuching. This time we spent 6 days in Kuching. We experienced a wet Christmas with on-off showers of rain. It seemed that it rains in Kuching every year-end, unlike Penang which was reported to be perfectly sunny.

There were several ‘makan’ gatherings (Malay word for eat, and in this context it refers to feast); one with the relatives from hubby’s mom’s side (23^rd Dec) and two with his dad’s side (24^th Dec and 25^th Dec). Two of the three ‘makans’ were held in the kampong (Malay word for village) while one was held in BDC.

The pre-Christmas gathering at Kpg. Semeba (his mom’s village) was partly intended to celebrate nenek’s (hubby’s grandmother) birthday and the gathering of all her children, grandchildren and great great grandchildren. We had BBQ and karaoke session. The rain did not deter us from singing our hearts out that night.

 There were lots of food, but the one everyone was eyeing was the Bihun Belacan made by Abah (MIL’s eldest brother, hubby’s uncle). This is actually bihun (rice vermicelli) topped with a nutty gravy made of belacan and other spices, with boiled cuttlefish and topped with cucumber. This dish is quite famous in Sarawak.

We had a smaller scale dinner with the relatives from hubby’s dad’s side on the 24^th. I cooked Tau-Eu-Bak (pork in soya sauce) and mixed vegetables while hubby prepared curry. The rest of the dishes were prepared by mom-in-law. I think we had too much food that night. I was practically stuffed to the brim.

Christmas was celebrated at Kg. Serasot (father in law’s village). We attended the morning church service and then came home for lunch prepared by Aunt Margaret and another relative. I think by now you realize that hubby’s parents come from a huge family with many brothers and sisters.

The 2 days right up to Christmas were happening and tiring as well. The days that followed were more relaxed, and we managed to meet up with some friends, and coincidentally all of them worked in KL. Will talk about that later.