Eid 2011/1432

Children are taking over the decision-making process this year. They decided to celebrate raya in Bali. Unfortunately they got mixed up with the date for raya. We were supposed to go on second Raya but instead we are leaving on 3rd Raya. Poor Maz has to take extra day leave from work. Izrin and Haidi are not able to join us but will be spending raya with my side of the family this year on the first day of raya. Now they have to learn to take turn celebrating Raya between Izrin's family and Haidi's family. I am happy that they have this understanding. Haidi's father is not well suffering from kidney failure. I hope he is well enough to celebrate raya with his family.
I am quite overjoyed over the news that I am going to be a grandmother for the second time. Haidi is expecting and my youngest son is going to be a father. He is quite excited at the prospect. I guess he will learn what fatherhood is all about when the baby is born. Glad that Rania is going to get a cousin (but she needs a sister or a brother).
Jin Kim and I made a prompt decision when we had berbuka puasa at One Utama one evening. She is talking about visiting her sister in UK and invited me to come along so that we can travel together. I jumped at the idea and asked her to book cheap Matta flight to London after Raya. I want to go to Scotland and she hasn't been there too. The next day, she booked a ticket by Gulf Air to London at RM 2930 return. But she is coming back later than me so that she can spend more time with her sister. Looks like my traveling budget this year is over blown bursting to the seams but I don't care. This is my hobby and it makes me happy.
In the excitement of planning the trip to Scotland, I overlooked the date of my return to Malaysia. Looking at the itinerary, I understood that I am coming back to Malaysia on 10 October, but arrive KLIA at 9.40 am on 11 Oct. Suddenly I realised that I have to fly to Kota Kinabalu on the same day with 3.55pm. flight. That means I go home just to take another overnight bag and off again to KLIA. That's crazy. After much discussion with UMS, they are changing my flight to 10 pm and immediately after my paper presentation on 12 Oct, I'm flying back to KLIA and home for a much needed rest. I just hope I don't have jet-leg when I deliver my paper.
I hope we have good raya in Bali with Rania.
Selamat hari raya to all Muslims.

Berbuka puasa

My humble hidangan berbuka puasa. 120811

Still in PD, fasting in peace alone and very relaxed but miss Rania a lot. Water supply is back but the newspaper warned it may be stopped temporarily anytime, while the watercatchment in Linggi is being repaired due to the freak storm previous Saturday. I stored water and ready to drive back to PJ if water trickles out.

Felt so sorry to hear a family was stricken with food poisoning when they buy food at a Bazaar Ramadhan. That's the problem with Malaysians, very low awareness on cleanliness and health. I remember last year, when I bought food at a bazaar Ramadhan in PD, I told the stall owner to cover her food. Instead of saying thank you, she scolded me and said 'susah orang nak beli'. I felt so disgusted and left and bought food at a stall where they covered their food.

I bet even today, so many of them disregard cleanliness. So, I don't go to Bazaar Ramadhan.

In PD, since I was alone, I cook my own berbuka puasa food- simple and healthy.

I cooked one day to last me for 2 days. I hardly have sahur, taking only drinking water and some fruit if I have it in the fridge. My favourite dish is curry salmon with brinjals or ladies fingers accompanied with salad, tomatoes and Japanese cucumber.

Yesterday I broke my fast with roasted marinated chicken, mushroom soup, salad and half papaya. I was happy. This is the advantage of living alone. I do thing as I please. I cook what I like without bothering whether the other person/s like it or not.

Pasar Ramadhan is exciting. This is where you can get food which you can't find in ordinary days and food is plentiful. There is a lot of wastage too. Just imagine the Somalians, Ethiopians and Kenyans who are starving. It's so heart-wrenching to see their photos and here we are wasting and eating excessively. This is not what Ramadhan teaches us. Maybe Malaysian Muslims should look back at themseleves and the way they practise Islam. Islam is not what you show outside but through your daily practice and your internal understanding of the teaching.

I am goig back to PJ this Saturday. Izrin and Haidi invited me, Ika, Justin, Maz and Rania for berbuka puasa at their apartment. This is going to be my first visit to my son's house since he got married and moved to his apartment last year. I don't even know how to go to his house. Waited for him and wife to invite me and family over but it took almost a year for him to do it. Anyway, I am pleased that finally they take the trouble to have a family berbuka puasa.

May we be good Muslims, insyaallah.

Puasa

PD is still without water. Thank God I decided to come back to PJ. Puasa doesn't really change much in my daily activities. The only difference is I don't eat and drink from dawn to dusk, otherwise life is the same. The weather is scorching hot. Many of my plants are wilting inspite Ika watering them everyday. I know I got to get rid of some of them which sadden me. I took care of my plants like taking care of babies.

Rania has a new style of greeting and saying 'Nenek'. She will move her body forward and backward with big smile and says 'NENEK" My heart stops for a moment with so much love that I can't help from hugging her tight. She really makes me feel sooo good.

I plan to do my gym during puasa just before berbuka puasa but by the look of it, I don't think I want to do it. I felt tired and lethargic by the time berbuka puasa time is coming. I got to make up my exercise after raya, insyaallah.

First day of berbuka puasa, Maz came to join us. We discussed a bit on our trip to Bali on second Hari Raya. She makes all the arrangement. Justin, Ika, Rania Maz and I are staying at Seminyak in a villa. Two days later Maz and I are moving to another hotel in Ubud whereas Justin, Ika and Rania remain in Seminyak as they love the sea. This is my second holiday in Bali. 10 years ago I went there with Ika.

Selamat Berpuasa to all Muslims.