My love of getting to know the cultures of the places I’ve been to, and immersing myself directly into it, threw me in the middle of a funeral in Thailand, and then put me in the middle of a wedding in Indonesia, in the middle of a local wedding.
The institution where I will work as a volunteer in Bali When I arrived, I noticed that Chakra and his family, who I will be working with and being guests at his home, are dressed in local and stylish clothing.. After a warm welcome, I was flabbergasted when they told me that they were going to a friend’s wedding and that I could attend if I wished.. I was invited to a local wedding in Bali on my first day. How can I not accept? When I asked what I should wear, I got the answer, wear whatever you feel comfortable with.
During the conversation about the bride and groom along the way, I learned that the groom is French and the bride is Indonesian, so the wedding will not be exactly like a local wedding.. Anyway, it’s not that important.. I didn’t go to a French wedding either..
The wedding venue was held in a small bar between 5-6 bungalows built in the middle of rice fields.. The guests of the wedding, in the mood for a small European cocktail, were European friends of the French groom and friends of the Indonesian bride.. me too. The bride wore a local red wedding dress and wore a crown as big as her gold leaf head.. Although I was looking for a white wedding dress at first glance, I couldn’t find anyone who looked more magnificent than her, so I thought it was a bride.. Although he did not know me at all, he welcomed my request to take a photo very warmly.. The groom and his friends wore shorts, white shirts and the local Indonesian udengi (a symbol of formality like a tie) on their heads.. I had a hard time distinguishing the groom because of the costumes, which were all the same.. Right after we met the groom, we had a deep conversation about women’s rights in Turkey, we couldn’t get out.
When I was leaving the wedding, they handed me a kilo of tangerines.. It is customary to give and send fruit to the guest.. Local rituals or dances did not take place as I expected at the wedding. Disappointment..
Though when I think about it, there isn’t much traditional in weddings in Turkey, except for the jewelry ceremony.. Even if it happens, we squint, then when we go to someone else’s country, we talk about it as degenerated..
