As promised I will give an update on the Hari Raya weekend in Penang.
It all started with a bus ride from KL early Saturday morning and I had expected a very bad traffic but the loud Indian bus driver took the old road with less jam so the trip took about 6 hours +, instead of 4 (which was not too bad since I had feared for 10 hours). We arrived in the late afternoon to Mun’s family house where we entered a cooking marathon. The whole family was sitting on the floor in the kitchen rolling sticky rice in bamboo leaves. We spent the evening preparing for the next day and I was admiring the nearly 20 different kinds of homemade cookies..
It all started with a bus ride from KL early Saturday morning and I had expected a very bad traffic but the loud Indian bus driver took the old road with less jam so the trip took about 6 hours +, instead of 4 (which was not too bad since I had feared for 10 hours). We arrived in the late afternoon to Mun’s family house where we entered a cooking marathon. The whole family was sitting on the floor in the kitchen rolling sticky rice in bamboo leaves. We spent the evening preparing for the next day and I was admiring the nearly 20 different kinds of homemade cookies..
The
next morning we woke up early for the traditional prayer at the Mosque.
I followed and watched from outside. The prayer was over within an
hour, I was enjoying my time in the shade doing some serious people
watching. I had borrowed one of Mun’s sisters Baju Kurung, which is the
traditional Malay dress. Its a knee long loose fitting blouse worn
over a long shirt. They can be very beautiful and usually for Hari Raya
women in the family match the colour or the pattern with each other. I did not match the sisters however, mine was very light green, compared to their red and blue. I wore it to the Mosque and for the rest of the day but
not to worry.., I also wore the “modern and sexy” one (which is just a top, not a Baju Kurung) but not until the
day after when visiting relatives. For the record, there was no one in
the family who gave me a high eyebrow look, for this time I got by
smoothly and passed the test =)
After
coming back from the Mosque we went for a little road trip with the
mother, grandmother and the sisters up to Perlis where grandmother has a
house. Perlis is a state up north and we were as close as about 30 km
from the Thailand border. The Malay Raya tradition is to visit one
another and eat. We had visitors coming over to the house and we also
went to see other relatives close by.
Despite the heat and the sun we got some outdoor exercise while helping mother do some cleaning and
gardening at a small house she has inherited not far from grandmothers house. The garden (or I should
rather say the land) is very big. The house is for now unlivable, the
plan is to renovate and rent it. Mun acted farmer boy and sprayed the
whole land with weed-killer and I was taken care of all the leaves next
to the house. My heart stopped for a second when I saw a large snake
curl out of my pile of leaves, clearly I was not wanted as I most have
woken him up from his sleep. Luckily he was still in a good mood and
made his way away from me and the house.. After that Mun changed his
flip flops into proper rubber boots and I could carry on feeling a
little bit better..
Back at the house I met Mun’s aunt with family. Turns out that aunt's American husband has Swedish roots. His great grandfather is from Gotland! Once again the world has proven to be very small!
I had a nice time and I am still enjoying the homemade cookies I got back with me home =)
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