THE NIGHT MARKET IS BACK AFTER MORE THAN 3 MONTHS

Happiness was when I saw there were stalls lining up on both sides of the road at the night market site in Kampung Melayu. After more than three months, the night market is now back in operation again - but with the new normal kind of thing.

First, there were two entrance and exit points. Second, visitors had to scan the QR code and fill in their details, and the body temperature would be taken after that. My body temperature this afternoon was 42⁰C and was let off by the officer on duty after a few failed attempts to get the right reading. 😀

There was this white and red stripes tape that divided the road into two sections - indicating that there should be only a one way flow on each lane. This in a way should make the night market not too crowded but I was there very early so there were still not many people.

However, one could easily jump over the tape if he/she decides to get to other side.

Unfortunately a few people just could not grasp the concept of a one way street.

It is a blessing to get the night market back in business as it is a place where some food items especially the Malay "kuihs" - sweet delicacies which should be eaten as dessert, as well as other food, could be bought easily. Just hope people would be more in practising social distancing and other SOP during the RMCO at the night market.

A RENDEZVOUS WITH AN OLD FRIEND ON THE 20th DAY OF EID

The initial plan was to meet Mr. Ridwan Wahid, a friend of UPM TESL Class 1993, and his family at JPO for coffee. JPO seems to be their favourite short getaway from Shah Alam once in a while. However, it was then changed at the last minute and I just suggested Almizan Satay House at Bandar Baru Uda. It is quite difficult to think of eating places in town during this MCO period as we are not sure of its operation hours.

It is not a good idea to socialize while eating at the restaurant these days if you come in a group of four. Your two other friends will be separated metres away. And if you gossip, you will share it with everyone else in the restaurant. I don't like the new normal. The new normal is NOT normal.

I have to thank Mr. Ridhwan again for asking me to come and meet him, the wife and daughter, when he was in town. We still exchanged Eid's greetings on the 20th day of Syawal. It was a very short gathering but I guess there will be other similar meetings like this in the future, especially after we are free from the COVID-19 pandemic.

MY FIRST EATING OUT SESSION SINCE MCO WAS IMPOSED

Finally I had my first eating out session since Movement Control Order [MCO] was imposed back in mid March. I was in school for a short while and it was just the right time for lunch. I chose "Pelangi Beriani House" located in Taman Pelangi which is just near to my school.

The new normal everywhere: Body temperature was taken and recorded together with one's name and phone number.

It was mutton briyani for me. I had been here a few times before and the food was good every time. One place I would go for delicious briyani

I had a colleague, Mr. Syafiq, to accompany. I am looking forward to more socializing sessions with friends over food and drinks soon, once things get better from this COVID-19 pandemic. One thing I have missed the most is the gastronomic adventures I used to have with friends.

THE NEW NORMAL: PAYING ZAKAT AL-FITR ONLINE

click on the pic for MAIJ Zakat payment website

COVID-19, MCO, social distancing - how our life has drastically changed and things that we do not usually do or have never done before is the new normal now, as the phrase is now coined. For the first time ever, "Zakat Al-fitr" is paid online - without an "amil" ("Zakat" collector) guiding us throughout the whole process. Everything is just on screen step-by-step instruction until the end process when one has to read the prayer on his/her own and a receipt is finally issued.

Call me old school but I prefer the traditional way of paying the "Zakat Al-fitr" is done. Let's just pray this pandemic will be over soon so that we could go back doing things the way we love.
*FOOTNOTE: Zakat al-Fitr is charity given to the poor in conjunction with the holy month of Ramadan. It is also names as zakat Al-Abdan and Ar-Ru-us (zakat body and head) as it is compulsory for every Muslim without exception whether big or small, old or young, male or female, rich or poor, free or slaves.

RESOURCE: ASTRO Awani