Match-making: Would you go for that?

About two or three weeks ago, there was this zany conversation on the Red FM's breakfast show. Shazmin, Audrey and Will were discussing match-made weddings and Audrey was mentioning in jest how the groom would be bubble-wrapped and his bride would unwrap him on the wedding day.

At the spur of the moment - I don't believe Shazmin had meant it that way - Shazmin asked Audrey: "Would you then have to blow him up to animate him?" There was a pregnant pause on air. I guess everyone in the studio was too shocked to say anything. Next, a stifled gurgle from Will. Cut to the next song. But, oops! A big clanger had been dropped on national radio.

I would've forgotten all about the episode but for this shoplot that I saw along Church Street in Penang yesterday. Even the name of the agency says a lot about their line of work. Here's how the dictionary defines Sweet Manna:

1. Spiritual nourishment of divine origin;
2. Something of value that a person receives unexpectedly.

Boy...seems like this agency has something good going for it. Match-making looks like a thriving business here in Malaysia!


UPDATE: I was telling my wife about this service on our way to work and our conversation turned to foreign wives. Why on earth, she wondered, would local men go all the way to bring in foreign wives? It's not as if the men went overseas for work or holiday and then were attracted to the foreign ladies whom they'd next marry and bring home. No, these men would actually go to an agency and choose their brides from there. Mail-order brides. In our opinion, this is actually nothing more than importing slaves to work in their homes.