When It Comes To The End

On our last day in Kedah, we decided to have a breakfast our favourite roti boom at Mee Abu nearby my house. As expected there were so many people n some of them who were waiting for take away had to queue till outside of the restaurant.

We managed to get a table but had to wait for almost 30 minutes for the food to come. When the food arrived, Hakeem was the one who most excited. This is his favourite. The roti is so soft n fluffy. Again memang berbaloi tunggu…

At 2.00pm we departed from Alor Setar for our long journey back to our home in Shah Alam. There were so many cars n when reached Juru, Penang the traffic had getting slower. It continued even after toll.

I couldn’t recall anymore the name of the place but it was totally massive jam thru out our journey. It started from Penang, Changkat Jering, Gua Tempurung n a few other places. There were no accidents seen but the cars were crawling veryyyyyy slowwwwww. It sometimes even stop for 30 seconds then moved a bit then stopped n moved…

I was doing the driving for the first half of the journey as hubby was not feeling very well. I can feel that my butt dah nipis n my back n feet macam nak tercabut. We finally reached home at 12.30 midnight. Just imagine… we were stuck on the road for 10 ½ drive which normally it takes only 5 hours journey! Luckily all my children were doing fine in the car n tak meragam.

On top of that, the saddest part is my hubby is leaving us again. We sent him off to the airport today afternoon. I don’t know why but this time I was really emotional n sad to see him going. I even cried! sob sob sob..

I pray that my hubby will have a safe journey. We really enjoy our raya this time. Our first raya in Malaysia after sooo long.. n this is my best raya.

Still in Raya Mood

My activities in Kedah will always be the makan-makan session. We just love to gather around with our close family n having the eating session. Be it either at home or outside. It’s always turn out to be the greatest n jolly occasion.

In the afternoon my cousin Kak Yan had her open house. She cooked nasi tomato, lontong, ketupat n all kind of cookies. The foods were super yummy. Hakeem who’s quite close to my cousin really got special attention from her. He got a special massage from his Mak Yan after his lunch. My cousin really spoilt him while she was taking care of Hakeem when I was away for the recent Umrah. So he’s the centre of attraction today!

At the night time, my Uncle treated us for a seafood dinner at Kuala Perlis. It’s about an 1 hour drive from Alor Setar. Though it’s quite far but it was really worth as the food memang sedap. My hubby at that time was not really feeling very well pun makan sakan.

I really enjoy the company of my family here. The jokes, laugh, chatting n get together that made us closer. These are the only bunch of relatives that always has a special place in my heart. One thing for sure, I will miss them a lot.

Nasi Mamak Maniac

Nasi mamak? Nasi kandar? Or anything related to it, will definitely be my favourite. Since I was small, I n my brothers had been introduced n brought up with the surrounding n environment of Mamak’s food. I still remember when I was small, my parents always bring us to eat Nasi Ali every week.

Then when I had to go for a tuition class, everyday my father will drop me at Kedai Mee Abu at Teluk Wanjah n had my lunch nasi mamak there while waiting for my tuition to start. When I started working n moved to KL, I still love to eat Nasi mamak but I couldn’t find the best like here in Alor Setar.

When I was pregnant with my last two children – Nabila & Hakeem, I was staying in Miri. I always craved for nasi mamak n bugging my hubby to get it. Unfortunately the two Mamak restaurants there didn’t taste the originality of it n totally spoilt my appetite.

Every year when we came back for holiday in Kedah, eating at mamak’s restaurant was always top on the lists. My favourite during night time is Nasi Royale at Hijau Kuning n for the breakfast is Nasi Zam Zam. Maybe some of u wonder having nasi mamak for breakfast? Well.. orang Kedah memang makan nasi mamak pagi2!

Even my hubby who is from Malacca dah terpengaruh n fell in love with nasi mamak ni. My daughter Nabila is the star. She can eat rice with fish curry in the morning n chicken curry for lunch. As for Hakeem he is so crazy over roti canai or he calls it ‘poratha’. He will cut the roti into small pieces, then folded it some more into round shape n deep it into the curry. No curry no roti for him. Tak main ah cicah gula-gula ni.. They are truly anak Mommy!

So after so long not going back to Kedah, one of my agenda Raya is makan nasi mamak. Last night I dragged my hubby, brother n dad to eat at Nasi Royale. We reached there at 10.15pm n the queue was so long. But because of the ‘high desire’ n dah terasa sampai ke tekak nak makan, I don’t mind to join the queue. When it came to my turn, I was the last one to get the rice as the rice had finished.

So the rest in the long queue have to wait for the additional rice to come. Surprisingly until I had finished eating mine, those same people still were standing there loyally, devotedly n patiently waiting for the rice to come. Huh… memang power tul penangan mamak royale ni!

And this morning as planned, we went to have breakfast at Zam Zam restaurant – nasi mamak again! This is my hubby’s favourite. We reached there at 8.00am n we saw the long queue as well. I just wonder orang Alor Setar ni memang duk makan nasi mamak ke raya2 ni? (which include me lah.. hehehe).

But truly it was really worth for all the sweat n effort to wait n queue up as the food was actually totally yummy n finger licking good. Susah nak cita lah.. dah cuba sekali sure nak lagi!

Eid in Alor Setar

We departed from Malacca at 4.30am. We had a few stops n reached Alor Setar at 11.30am. I am so happy n glad to see my father. My second brother was about to depart to Kelantan n I managed to catch him before he leaved. Later on my youngest brother came to join us. It’s good to have your family around especially during Raya.

In the afternoon we went to my youngest brother’s house. Rumah orang bujang but indeed berbesar hati jamu kami kuih raya n kek. Later on in the evening I went to my Aunty’s house. We stayed n chit-chatting till night. There seem lots of things to catch up. When we came back home, my hubby’s schoolmate came. They stayed up till midnight.

I am very happy. Very happy to be back to my hometown. To be back to my mom’s house (rumah pusaka). To be able to see all my brothers n relatives. And the happiest part is to see the smile n happiness in my father’s eyes n face.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

I would like to wish Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri to all my family, friends n all Muslims in the world. This morning after solat aidil fitri we gathered around our family to have our Raya breakfast. Mak cooked lontong, rendang itik (which the first time I tried n not bad), sambal tumis udang n sate goreng.

Later on was the photo session which we loved most. Everybody like posing maut showing off the baju raya. Our family color theme this year is purple. Later on everybody started to salam raya with Atok & Wan. The feeling-feeling session. The part that the kids looking forward was ‘duit raya’.

Nabila n Hakeem were very excited getting their Raya pack. They didn’t really care the amount of money inside but they were thrilled to get many Raya packs. They kept counting how many packs they got.

After that all of us went around to our relatives’ house nearby. I hardly meet n know them n this Raya is actually the opportunity for me to get to know them. We went back for a short break n later on continued to another relative’s house which is further that we had to drive.

I was totally flat when reached home. I kept eating non-stop from house to house. But apart of that I really enjoyed my Eid here. Be around with my family, in laws n relatives. This is also the first time for Nabila n Hakeem experienced their Raya here. They were very happy n excited especially the time putting on their baju melayu, baju kurung n duit raya!

Tomorrow early in the morning, we will be driving back to Alor Setar. It’s a long journey but I am sure all of us are so eager to meet the family in Kedah.

Wishing again Selamat Hari Raya dan Maaf Dzahir Batin.

Raya Eve

Esuk Hari Raya! Yes.. today is the last day of Ramadhan n we will be celebrating Eid tomorrow. At last after 7 years not being able to celebrate Raya here in my hometown, I finally have the chance. This year I will be celebrating Eid in Malacca. On the second day we will be driving back to Alor Setar.

Those days during this Raya eve when my Mom was still around, I was the busiest person in the house. Being the only daughter in the family I was like orang kanan to my Mom. I still remember helping her made ketupat. My mom was very good in making ketupat from the coconut leaves. I then helped her to fill up the ketupat with rice.

My mom loved to bake cookies. She sometimes got ordered from her friends. Her specialty was pineapple jam tart. As for me, I was in charged in making cakes. I used to make orange cake, marble n chocolate cake. Oh.. I really miss those days. The moments when I was busying helping my mom in the kitchen preparing for Raya dishes.

Tonight here in Malacca it’s a tradition that people coming around from house to house to perform takbir. Our house here is not as busy coz only my family, Nazri n Kak Ngah who are celebrating Raya here. Mak said it’s a normal yearly cooking that she’s going to prepare for tomorrow.

Both of my two little kids – Nabila & Hakeem now seem to understand what Raya is all about. They really are looking forward for tomorrow n so excited to put on their baju melayu n baju kurung.

This year I didn’t make any cookies n didn’t have to prepare any dish for Raya. I am just helping my mother in-law preparing all the cooking. Certainly I am also missing the time celebrating Raya abroad. As for me, no matter where you celebrate the festival either in Malaysia or abroad, the most important thing is as long as your family are with u.

Family Gathering

Today we had everybody gathered around at Mak’s house for Iftar, except the big sis Along – sorry ye.. We were so delighted to see Nazri as he came back for his Raya holiday. I had not seen him since we left Oman. There were many things to catch up especially news from Oman. The hot n sizzling updated stories!

Mak made Nasi lemak n we ordered a must family’s favourite – pizza. Beside that me n hubby who always couldn’t resist not going to Pasar Ramadhan bought a few kuih n drinks. I bought the big karipap which seems to be famous in Malacca. I’ve never seen one as big as this before. It’s RM1 each!

The food was good with the family get together n the kids running around, the eagerness, excitement of eating that made it more happening. After having quite scrumptious heavy dinner we lepak2 outside drinking coffee. Chit chatting with jokes n laughs.

Later on it’s the children’s entertainment – main bunga api. I brought some leftover that we bought in KL. We don’t have many left but still the kids were having fun. Nazri – Pak Teh was showing off the skill to all his nieces n nephews. He promised to buy some which are more exciting n adventurous than tonight. Of course not meriam buluh!

Later on late at night all of us ‘bujang-bujang’ had our teh tarik session at kedai mamak. Dalam kenyang2 pun still we ordered roti canai n tose! So I guess no sahur for me tonight.

Tonight was such an enjoyable Iftar for me. I love the crowd n the company of the family. Looking at my children especially Hakeem who at last got his sparring partner - Nazri’s son. Hakeem was really showing off his true colour of himself – anak jantan. He was jumping n playing fighting with no limits.

Insyaalah we have another two more days for fasting. And all of us are looking forward for the next event!