Selamat Hari Raya

Berlalu lah sudah Ramdhan

Sebulan berpuasa

Tiba syawal kita rayakan

Dengan rasa gembira

anak muda di rantauan

semuanya pulang ke desa

ibu dan ayah keriangan

bersyukur tak terhingga

Well, selamat hari raya peeps. Eid Mubarak! For the first time in my whole life, i did not celebrate Eid with my beloved family. On Eid eve, Mon and I decided to host Iftar and Takbir at our place. We invited few close friends, Mon cooked all the food, I tried to help and I think I am a hell of a good assistant. And I cooked rendang for the very very very first time !!!

Syahdu? absolutely!! But one got to do what one got to do. Even if that means being millions miles away from home. From the love of your family. From all the good foods your mom prepared for you. For all the fun fighting for bathrooms on Eid morning. I received a text message from Omak on Eid eve telling me that as the sound of takbir from the nearby mosque fills up the atmosphere, the thought of only 2 of her daughters kissing her hands on eid morning, makes her a little bit sad.

Well, I  told her, that it’s the thought that counts. There is no point of feeling sad and cry, because she knows I need to do what I need to do. I’ll be back in no time!!

With omak no longer  sad, I started my day on Eid morning excitedly. Kissed Mon early in the morning, got my duit raya (lalalalla) and we went straight to the Mission, for sembahyang raya. Then came the feast. It was supposed to be a pot luck thing, but we managed to put together some good foods and the crowd was overwhelming.

This raya, Eid falls when UNGA was about to start. So almost everybody decided to host their ‘open house’ on the first day. hey.. I am not complaining, but even with my stomach and Mon’s put together, too much food means tooooooo much! We went to Farina’s place from Mission ( because her place is right NEXT to the office!!!). After another round of good food at Farina’s place, Mon and I  together with few friends decided to go JALAn RAYA to…………….. TIMES SQUARE!!!! muahahahhahaha

I don’t know how to justify that. But we had hell of a great fun! In our Baju Melayu and Baju Kurung, in the midle of hustle and bustle of Times Square, we pull quite an attention. I think two men asked where we were from and there’s a guy who asked “Are you Budhist?” ha ha ha ha. It was quite an experience :).

Mon and I spent the rest of the day sleeping - still tired from all the preparations the previous day, woke up at 7 and went straight to kak Lini’s crib fro another round of good foods.

I thank god, for all HIS blessings, and although I am millions miles away from home, I am always surrounded by love, great friends and good food!

Selamat Hari Raya people,

Maaf Zahir dan Batin!