Ramazan in Pakistan
Well, Eid is around the corner for Muslims around the world and celebrating it away from family for the first time is tough. Talked to my mum yesterday and she described all the hari raya (Eid) cookies she's baked and little did she realise my mouth watering with every word she uttered :(So the fasting month of Ramadhan here is really different. For one, people feast more than back in Singapore, with a double meal. The break of fast known as "iftar" is with fried samosa's, pakora's, potatoes, and sweet drinks. And an hour after that, DINNER with briyani or tikka or whatever big meal that Pakistanis fancy. Which really is tooo much coming from South East Asia where iftar = dinner.
Secondly, work days are halved!, Start work at 8 am and ends at 2 pm! That was on of the easiest things to get used to, coming back, take an afternoon snooze... wake up just in time for iftar....
In the apartment we have the MC mansion, where MC members stay on the upper floor and interns on the lower floors. And iftar is always a happening affair. All 14 of us will gather on the open air roof, with a wonderful view of sunset and the cityscape, chowing down on food and enjoying great company! Especially now where it's cooler as winter is coming. Now if only my mum would courier those cookies, life would be perfect!
And in the late evenings, shisha on the roof with coffee or tea. I tried shisha once last night, it was good while it lasted, but the aftermath was NOT pleasant. Hence, I've sworn off shisha forever.
Then in the mornings those fasting in the mansion take turns preparing the morning meal sehri, eggs being the easiest and the only thing that the the boys could cook. Except Sohaib (MCVPICX/aspiring chef) who can cook eggs AND potatoes. I always get stressed out when it's my turn, cos I'm a heavy sleeper and have on occassion slept through 3 alarms blaring away. To each his own challenges I suppose.
Ramazan shopping: Fun! Crowded, just like shopping in Geylang with the bright lights in the streets, people up and about till 2 am. Sometimes right upto sehri I hear. And bargaining is fun, although being foreigner we get ripped off quite often. To get better bargains, I learnt the Urdu words for 1 to 10, and 20, 30 to 100, 100, 200, 300 etc Rupees. Then I get ripped off in Urdu.
So now Ramadhan is coming to an end, Eid will come, and I will feast :)
posted by Zafirah @ PM 01:46
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