First – Selamat Hari Raya (Eid Mubarak) to everybody!!! Maaf Zahir Batin!!!

This is the second day of Hari Raya and I just woke up. As soon as I started this laptop, the electrical power in the house went off, something that very rarely happen. However, my laptop battery indicated that I have about 50 minutes left to use this portable device. I know, I said I want to update the recent post, but time is moving fast that I strongly want to update briefly the events for Raya Day 1 and 2. I will try to update that entry and this one soon. For now, I can blog until the laptop battery is fully consumed…

Day 1 – Hari Raya

Yesterday (the night before Raya) was indeed a rainy festive hari raya in Kuantan. I’m not sure about other places in Malaysia. The night before, a mini storm attack Kuantan, but I don’t think there was much damage. The same night, we arrived home very late after many last minute raya preparation and Haji preparation of my in law’s. We reached home at 2 am. I continued eating the balance Nasi Kerabu and after that hit the bed, nearly 3 am. The kids, together with the other of their same age cousins are still playing…Oh my… For God sakes, it was already nearly 3am and they are still making noise.

Raya Prayer

On raya morning, we immediately woke up, bathed and prayed at the Surau in front of my in law’s house. I think there were not many people coming to pray. Maybe the surrounding people here pray at other surau or mosque. The surau was not as packed as Surau Taman Gembira, the one we prayed at my parents home in Johor Bahru. If we prayed in Surau Taman Gembira, we can clearly see the congregation will fully fill the road in front of the surau and no vehicles can pass through.

Always, at this time, I meant the first day of Raya, I will remember my parents (when I spend raya at other place). I kept thinking what they are doing, what they are eating and what they are feeling. When I remember them, I feel a little bit sad. That’s why, as soon as the Solat Raya prayer was completed, I called my parents. I chatted with my mom and dad, asked their condition and wish them A wonderful Hari Raya Aidilfitri. I also seek for forgiveness in everything that I have done before. I really need to call them. If not, I’ll keep thinking about them.

Ikhwan very sleepy during the Raya prayer as a result of staying up so late playing with his cousins.

Already asleep

Finally, landed safely on me and sweet dreams…

Activities in the morning

Before I had Nasi Dagang for breakfast and the main awaited meal of the day, I invited my wife and kids to begin the Salam-Bersalaman (apologizing) session. As usual, it was a sensitive and emotional experience…hehe…I also snapped many photos to capture the amazing moments. It’s not usual to see many people crying at one time.

The Nasi Dagang was simply marvelous. Nasi Dagang and Nasi Kerabu are the meals that I’m looking forward to eat in Kuantan. I have never liked Nasi Dagang and Nasi Kerabu before, but the recent two years, those two meals have been my favourites.

For kids, we have prepared Duit Raya!!! The kids were so excited getting their packet of Duit Raya regardless who it was from. This year, me and my wife agreed to double the amount of Duit Raya given to the more than dozens of nieces. Haha… I’m not going to reveal how much we gave… But we believe, they will be happy to see different colour of bank note inside the sampul duit raya.

After that, the whole lot (all the siblings) watch a movie, The Expendables. I have wanted to watch this movie before this but not just me, but my wife was simply too busy. Luckily my brother in law bought the DVD and we enjoyed watching this action packed movie. It was nice…

Friday Prayer

Since the Eid Mubarak falls on Friday, so together we went to Masjid Permatang Badak to perform our weekly Friday prayer. Well, nothing really special about that.

A scene from the Friday prayer khutbah

Afternoon

After the Friday prayer, the main activity began. The whole lot visited the uncles family nearby the house. However the problem is I ate too much of everything in each and every houses we visited. As a result, I started to feel not fit slightly before dawn. Why? Because my stomach has become a mixing reactor of many types of reactant feeds!!! This happen every year on Hari Raya. I took a short nap and drank lots of plain filtered water. I need to neutralize and stabilize the reaction inside my stomach. Otherwise, I will get fever!!! Luckily I was OK 1-2 hours after that.

At night

At night, the kids played some of those…

Day 2 – Hari Raya

Day 2 has just started and I will update it soon…. So, stay tune…hehe

More Related Posts:

• MITM Travel Fair at Sutera Mall, Johor Bahru
• Our Kota Kinabalu Expenses

MITM Travel Fair
When: March 5 – 7, 2010
Where: Sutera Mall, Johor Bahru
Organizer: MCTA
Phone: 07-224 7568

More Related Posts:

• Motorcross and Cubcross in Johor Bahru
• Wet Hari Raya This Year
• Our Kota Kinabalu Expenses

1) AirAsia flight tickets: RM530 – this is for 5 people (early booking and fly from LCCT Terminal).

2) Cost from JB-KL-JB : RM340 (Fuel and PLUS highway tol)

3) Hotel Novotel Kota Kinabalu (5 nights): RM1035

4) Other expanses in Kota Kinabalu which include taxi, food, tickets, car rental, fuel, souvenirs etc: RM1650++

Total expenses in Kota Kinabalu trip: RM3,555

So, that’s it. The overall estimation cost is shown above there. Well, it’s OK. At least we’ve explored some areas in Malaysia and this world.

As I mentioned in earlier post, the next trip to Sabah, I’m targeting to conquer Mount Kinabalu and spend 2 nights at Mabul Island near Sipadan Island.

Mabul Island nearby Sipadan… Nice view…huh… very expansive place to stay as well, but it’s worth it.

For other of my recent Kota Kinabalu trip report, please read:

>Kota Kinabalu trip photos
>Kota Kinabalu, We’re on our way…
>Life mini report from Kota Kinabalu
>JB home sweet home

More Related Posts:

• Our Shanghai Trip
• Novotel Hotel Kota Kinabalu
• Wet Hari Raya This Year
• MITM Travel Fair at Sutera Mall, Johor Bahru
• AirAsia Issue Settled