May
8
2009

Proud to be a Baba Nyonya

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Happy Mother’s Day mommy! I was back in Malacca last week and as we chatted the topic came to our origin. My mother is a Baba Nyonya Melaka. Ask any true Nyonya what is their prized possession and I can guarantee you their answer will easily be their Kebaya and their beaded sandals! (Not forgetting their ‘turun–temurun‘ family recipes)

So this post is a tribute to my Mom, featuring her precious! (Yes, yes, we ~ her family ~ are her precious, but it will be such a bore to post about US! LOL)

Let me start with her beaded sandals….

Each and every one of these sandals are painstakingly hand-made, bead by bead right up to the structure of the sandals. But of course, it is tailored. And at present, it ain’t cheap to get a pair. Prices ranges from RM200 a pair and can reach four digits at any one time.

This is HER most precious as this is now considered antique. They just don’t make it using such tiny beads anymore. Just look at how delicate this is….

The more common sandals nowadays, using bigger and shinier beads. This is the modern version-lah.

Another one using shiny beads.

Can you see the difference now between the ‘antique’ and the ‘modern’ version? I love the ‘antique’ version. So delicate, so sweet…

Now, let’s take a look at her Kebaya. She has countless Kebayas but I am only going to feature one here as this is the Kebaya I present her for MY wedding day and she wore this during MY wedding dinner. :D

Each and every detail on the Kebaya is handmade. Right from the tiny holes to the beautiful peacocks. The patterns has to be sewn onto the cloth before it is sewn into a Kebaya. This doesn’t come cheap too. A Kebaya like this can easily costs RM700 up! (That explains why I DON’T own a Kebaya!)

Can you see how fine this is? There are a total of five peacocks all around my Mom’s Kebaya.

The back view of her Kebaya.

Suddenly I realised, I don’t have a proper photo of her in her Kebaya. The ones I had was taken during my wedding but I don’t have a copy of it with me now. :(

Anyways…

I Love You Mummy and Happy Mother’s Day. Thank you for ALWAYS being there for us…

About the Author: Merryn Tan

27 Comments + Add Comment

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Merryn May 8, 2009 at 10:05 pm

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Merryn May 8, 2009 at 10:30 pm

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Mei Teng May 8, 2009 at 11:40 pm

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Mummy Gwen May 8, 2009 at 11:41 pm

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Mummy Gwen May 8, 2009 at 11:44 pm

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Adrine May 8, 2009 at 11:50 pm

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Ayie May 9, 2009 at 1:30 am

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J.H May 9, 2009 at 1:55 am

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Charming May 9, 2009 at 3:30 am

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HN May 9, 2009 at 4:36 am

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mommy to chumsy May 9, 2009 at 5:03 am

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Merryn May 9, 2009 at 5:56 am

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Serene May 9, 2009 at 5:58 am

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LittleLamb May 9, 2009 at 6:05 am

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Rose May 9, 2009 at 10:48 am

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Sasha May 9, 2009 at 11:35 am

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Carolynn KZY May 9, 2009 at 4:33 pm

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Julie May 9, 2009 at 4:43 pm

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Merryn May 10, 2009 at 12:14 am

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Anney May 10, 2009 at 2:17 am

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JO-N May 10, 2009 at 9:57 pm

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reanaclaire May 11, 2009 at 10:35 am

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Sarah's Daddy and Mommy May 12, 2009 at 12:30 am

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Mummy and daddy: Angie and Ben May 12, 2009 at 5:10 pm

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Cherylene August 11, 2009 at 6:12 pm

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Cherylene August 12, 2009 at 2:12 am

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Felicia January 9, 2014 at 6:01 pm

Hi, May I know where did you get that beautiful kebaya from?

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About Me

Home is where MY heart is.
I am a mother to two boys; Ethan and Ayden and a wife to Darling William. I'm a stay at home mum who blogs to break the monotony of life and to avoid feeling jaded. Would love to get to know all the Super Mommies and Daddies and Babies or Singles out there with the hope that we can learn more from each other. Most of all, I am a happy person, and I hope YOU are too.