RAMADHAN 2011

Ramadhan is the month when Muslims fast to remember Allah (God) , to experience suffering and to learn selfcontrol. And its starts today, a time of repentance and prayer, of performing gud deeds and charity.

Early this morning as usual my alarm clock manager called me up for my Sahur. My first Sahur's meal for this ramadhan is yogurt & milk tat I bought it last Friday. Actually, very rare for me to wake up for Sahur since my young age. Not coz I'm too lazy to leave my bed and pillow, it is coz I can't eat so early in the morning then I will get a stomache in a few hours later. But I still manage preparing Sahur for others if they are around. Insyallah for this Ramadhan, I wish I can have my Sahur every morning.

Wats on newspapers during Ramadhan Season? Mostly they will promote hotel buffet for readers. They will highlights how many meals to be offered with sum value of money. But, honestly... U shud ask urself... how much u want to eat or can u finished up ur meals?

OMG.... I forget to buy dates. But I am so lucky coz our Division do some charity (he3) and sorting all dates to their staff... ALHAMDULLILAH. Eventhough not as same types of dates tat I wish to have, but still fine and ok.

To all muslim readers / bloggers, I really wish all of you may have a blessed Ramadhan for this year.

DURIAN De' MALAYSIA KING OF THE FRUITS

Durians are famous throughout Malaysia. If U guys plan to be here in Malaysia, please do try this kind of fruit. The prices is quite expensive but it depends on the quality of durian. Durian season is come back again in Malaysia. Eventhough its smell likes hell.... ha3... but it taste gud. Not all malaysian love durian. But U still can try our King oF The Fruits and enjoy it taste. Then U can give ur comment abt Durian. He3

Mostly, when we have a frenz who has a farm, they will bring some Durians from their farms and sharing with us. Small feast normally held at park or their house.

From Durians we can make dessert, cake, ice cream, Tempoyak (Durian paste), pancake or any other commercial product likes snacks or Jam. During Hari Raya (One of the festival that we celebrate for Muslim) we also make DODOL DURIAN to be served on the day of Hari Raya. This DODOL DURIAN is a combination ingredients between coconut milk, flour and Durian which takes almost 8 hours to cook it with slow heating fire.

For me, Durian taste great. I love Durian so much. Someone did promise me to find a DURIAN for me... Hmmm We will see....

MALAY WEDDING (Enthronement Ceremony)

This post is abt Malay Wedding culture. Normally, both families will held a pre-wedding meeting to determine the dowry (wang hantaran), gift and mas kawin (sum of money is to be given to the bride as well as the date of the solemnization (akad nikah).

Actually in our traditional Malay wedding ceremony, we have 2 sessions, the first session is the marriage contract (akad nikah) and the second session is the enthronement (bersanding). I would like to share about the a second session in our Malay wedding ceremony.

In Malaysia, most of the time the wedding is held on one convenient weekend so as to accommodate relatives n frenz who live far away. On this day the bride n groom will be treated like a Queen & King for the day.

The enthronement (bersanding) ceremony begins with the groom' procession with relatives, frenz and people waving palm blossom or umbrella to meet his bride.

The bride's face will be covered with hand fan before she meet up with her groom.

Bride & bridegroom will slowly walk towards the Pelamin (special decorated dias).

This is wat we called as PELAMIN.

The main part of the bersanding involves the seating of the bridal couple on a dais and sprinkling them with yellow rice and scented water by family members, relatives and guests as

a sign of blessing.

After the bersanding ceremony, the wedded couple and their guests attend a celebratory feast called the makan beradab (main table).

The feast is often a noisy, lively and informal affair.

Gifts of clothes, toiletries and even prayer mats (to signify their adherence to the religion) are presented in intricate boxes or forms known as gubahan.

Each guest will receive a bunga telur (egg flower), a decorated egg with a fabric flower, as a sign of fertility. Today, most gifts are commercially prepared and may take the form of chocolates, jelly or even a cake of soap.

The celebrations are concluded by posing for family photographs.