SAHUR DIARY: 18th RAMADHAN 1446H

18TH RAMADHAN 1446H:

MY SAHUR

• Chicken Porridge
• Fried Cempedak and Fried Durian
• Hot Tea

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

SAHUR DIARY: 17th RAMADHAN 1446H

17TH RAMADHAN 1446H:

MY SAHUR

• Bubur Lambuk [Rice Porridge]
• Salted Eggs
• Serunding Daging [Meat Floss]
• Cendol and Cincau Pudding
• Cold Soya Bean Drinks

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

 

SAHUR DIARY: 16TH RAMADHAN 1446H

16TH RAMADHAN 1446H:

MY SAHUR

• [Garenia] Wholemeal Bread
• [Adabi] Beef Curry
• Caramel Pudding
• Cold Soya Bean Drinks

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

 

SAHUR DIARY: 15TH OF RAMADHAN 1446H

15TH RAMADHAN 1446H:

MY SAHUR

• Instant Noodles Bakso Flavour [Sedap Brand]
• Jemput-jemput [Flour Mixed with Onion and Anchovies and fried]
• Icing Cakes
• Hot Nescafe

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

FOOTNOTE: 50% of Ramadhan is completed.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

 

SAHUR DIARY: 14TH DAY OF RAMADHAN 1446H

14TH RAMADHAN 1446H:

MY SAHUR

• [Gardenia] White Bread
• Sup Tulang Merah [Bone Stew]
• Taufu Fa [Sweet Soft Soya Bean Cake]
• Cold Soya Bean Drinks

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

 

SAHUR DIARY: 13TH RAMADHAN 1446H

13TH RAMADHAN 1446H:

MY SAHUR

• Steamed coconut buns
• Badak Berendam [LITERAL TRANSLATION: submerged hippopotamus] a Malay traditional dessert, steamed flour with coconut filling, with coconut milk.
• Hot Tea

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

 

SAHUR DIARY: 12TH RAMADHAN 1446H

12TH RAMADHAN 1446H:

MY SAHUR

• [Maggi] Instant Noodles curry flavour, with eggs, mixed vegetables and beef strips
• Cempedak Goreng [Flour covered Fried jackfruit-like fruit] [leftover from breaking fast]
• Hot Nescafe

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

FOOTNOTE: The 11th day Sahur is not documented as I woke up late but still managed to eat something a few minutes before time was up.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

MY SAHUR DIARY: 10TH RAMADHAN 1446H

10TH RAMADHAN 1446H:

MY SAHUR

• Bubur Lambuk
• Bunda [Indian cuisine: fried spicy mashed  potato]
• Pengat Pisang [Banana cooked in coconut milk and palm sugar]
• Hot Nescafe

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

FOOTNOTE: 1/3 of the fasting activity in month of Ramadhan done. 20 more days to go.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

SAHUR DIARY: 9TH RAMADHAN 1446H

9TH RAMADHAN 1446H:

MY SAHUR

• [Gardenia] White Bread
• Bone Stew
• Curry Puffs [left over from break fast]
• Cold Soya Bean Drink

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

 

SAHUR DIARY: 8TH RAMADHAN 1446H

8TH RAMADHAN 1446:

MY SAHUR

• Chicken Porridge
• 2 hard-boiled eggs
• Curry Puffs [left over from break fast]
• Hot Nescafe

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

SAHUR DIARY: 7TH RAMADHAN 1446H

7TH RAMADHAN 1446:

MY SAHUR

• Sup Tulang Merah [Bone Stew]
• Baguette
• 2 pieces of Spring Rolls [left over from break fast]
• Dates
• Coconut Sugar Jelly
• Hot Nescafe

How does documenting my Sahur routine affect my daily activities during Ramadhan?
I get more serious in thinking of what to eat before fasting of the day starts. So far I manage to prepare some varieties of food to consume, rather than just eat whatever I can get hold of.

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

SAHUR DIARY: 6TH RAMADAN 1446H

6TH RAMADHAN 1446:

MY SAHUR

• Murtabak Mangkasar [all the way from Kuantan]
• Dates
• Pandan Jelly
• Hot Nescafe

Murtabak: Flat Bread with filling, mine was beef.

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

 

SAHUR DIARY: 5th RAMADHAN 1446H

 

5TH RAMADHAN 1446:

MY SAHUR

• Bubur Lambuk
• 2 hard-boiled eggs
• Serunding [Meat Floss]
• Dates
• Pandan Jelly
• Hot Nescafe

Bubur Lambuk: Rice Porridge with added spices and other food items like meat and peanuts.

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

SAHUR DIARY: 4TH RAMADHAN 1446H

4TH RAMADHAN 1446:

MY SAHUR

• [Instant] Mac & Cheese
• Giant Egg Curry Puffs [leftover from break fast]
• Dates
• Watermelon
• Hot Nescafe

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

SAHUR DIARY: 3RD RAMADHAN 1446H

3RD RAMADHAN 1446:

MY SAHUR

• [Gardenia] White bread
• [Canned] Beef Curry ADABI brand
• Kuih Tako [leftover from break fast]
• Dates
• Hot Nescafe

footnote: I did not wake up for sahur for the second day 😀

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

[SAHUR DIARY MAIN PAGE]

SAHUR DIARY: 1ST RAMADHAN 1446H

1ST RAMADHAN 1446:

MY SAHUR

• [Instant] Roti Canai [flat bread]
• [Canned] Beef Curry ADABI brand
• Fried eggs
• Hot Milo

SAHUR: The early meal before fasting starts.

FASTING PERIOD: When the sky turns red before sunrise until sunset.

[DAY 03][DAY 04][DAY05][DAY 06][DAY 07][DAY 08]

[DAY 09][DAY 10][DAY 12][DAY 13][DAY 14][DAY 15]

 

THE DIARY OF A MALAYSIAN TRAVELLING HOME FROM ABROAD DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC - PART SIX

[CONTINUATION OF PART FIVE]

15th MAY 2020 [Quarantine Day 8]

At about 1.00 p.m., the medical staff on duty knocked on my door and instructed us to fill in a form for the second swab test where another sample would be taken. They came back an hour later for the procedure and this time only the sample from the back of the throat was taken, It was not painful at all. I just had to open my mouth really wide, say "Aaaah..." and it was done in no time.

The food for sahur on day 8 of my quarantine was my favourite Nasi Lemak. As for the break fast meal, it came with a surprise this time: a Sudoku book. How thoughtful of them to provide us with some kind of activity to fill our free time. Sudoku was not my cup of tea though so the book remained untouched, like forever.

17th MAY 2020 [Quarantine Day 10]

The same mundane things had been repeated in the quarantine room - day in, day out. I just tried to make the best out of it and keep telling myself: this would soon be over, soon. In fact, there is nothing interesting to share from behins this locked door but I am thankful, up until now, my two daughters who are in the other two separate rooms, are still doing well and free from the evil COVID-19 virus. Still I pray hard for our test results to be negative. Four more days to go - FOUR! to our long awaited freedom.

19th MAY 2020 [Quarantine Day 12]

We actually had this Whatsapp Group created by the Ministry of Health specifically for our group which was quarantined in this hotel. Today, at 3.45 p.m. the happy news was posted in the group. based on the test done on the second sampling, everyone from this group was found to be NEGATIVE. Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah for keeping us safe and prostration of gratitude [Sujud Syukur] was spontaneously performed just for that. We were all so happy not only we could now go back home, but also we were all free from COVID-19.

And I would already be a free woman on Friday, 22nd of May.

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART SEVEN

THE DIARY OF A MALAYSIAN TRAVELLING HOME FROM ABROAD DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC - PART TWO

[CONTINUATION OF PART ONE]

7th MAY 2020: Along the way to the airport, my heart was beating real fast. We were actually on the road during the curfew hours imposed by the state during the month of Ramadhan which was from 5.00 p.m. until 9 a.m. What would happen if we were stopped by the police and not let pass the checkpoint? Would I reach the airport on time if we were stopped for too long. Regardless of the facts that we had all the necessary documents, all sorts of questions were playing on mind and I was extremely anxious of any possible mishaps that could happen. And expected, a police stopped our car, interrogated and my husband explained and produced the travel document. and Alhamdulllah, praise be to Allah, we were given the clearance to the airport.

Anyway, my worries had not yet ceased. We finally reached Dammam Airport at 4:15 a.m., but we were already 15 minutes late. I could not see a single soul inside the building. To make it worse, according to the directive given, only passengers were allowed to enter the terminal which meant my husband would leave me and my daughters on our own. (Yes, he would still be working in Saudi and not following us home, yet.) He was only supposed to drop us and the luggage at the designated area. Out of the blue, we saw a Malaysian friend from Jubail who was there to send his mother off. He told my husband just to leave the car at the site as there was no policeman or security officer around, and that was actually a big relief. He also told us that the check in counter was not opened yet and people were all sitting far away from each other so as to observe social distancing, hence the place looked deserted.

After getting inside the terminal, there was someone in army uniform holding a paper which looked like a name list of the passengers so we concluded he should be Lt. Cmdr. Azli, My husband registered our names and only after that we went to perform our Subuh [dawn] prayer. Then it was the time for the girls to bid goodbye to their father, and me to my husband and hopefully he would not be fined for parking the car illegally. We were instructed to go through the usual procedure: queuing up at the check-in and immigration counters, and we managed to get through without any hitch.

We had to wait for boarding at Gate 25. Wearing masks was mandatory and we sat far away from other people just to ensure social distancing took place.The airplane from Jeddah had not docked in yet - it was still early actually. I could see all the duty shops were all closed. The atmosphere at the airport was somewhat sombre, not what it used to be like and people seemed to look more cautious and eye everybody else suspiciously.

Eventually, the passengers were called for boarding. Before we got to our seats, the stewardess handed over a little bag containing a mask, a small bottle of hand sanitizer and a packet of anti-bacterial wipe. I was expecting there would be a strict social distancing too in the cabin the way it should be done during this pandemic, but it was just like any other ordinary day. I could chose to sit together with two daughters in the same row and it was a blessing in a way as were not separated.

If you think the stewardesses wore special uniform in the cabin during this COVID-19 scare period, something like the Personal Protective Equipment worn by the medical staff, that did not happen. It was the same attire, plus the face mask.

At 8:15 a.m. the plane left Dammam Airport and the cabin crew distributed a food packet consisted of a bottle of mineral water and orange juice, and a cold sandwich. As we were all fasting, we just kept the food for break fast later. The journey took about 7 hours and I tried to sleep a bit. When we were about to approach the destination, another food packet was given which had similar content to the one given earlier. The captain announced it was time for Muslims to break their fast. Nevertheless, I just forced myself to eat half of the sandwich considering the fact I did not take my sahur earlier that day. Most probably I was already exhausted or I was anxious to see what else I had to go through once we landed in KLIA. The whole journey was definitely not the same experience I used to have before this - too much anxiety of uncertain things ahead.

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART THREE ...

THE ANNUAL GATHERING FOR "SAHUR" OUTSIDE

With about two more days remaining before Eid, we finally met for the annual "sahur" [early morning meal before fasting starts] event. The participants were three SMKTUN ex-students from SPM batch 2006. We have been doing this for quite some time as I am quite reluctant to break fast outside. However, this is something we enjoy doing once a year.

Thanks Mr. Aminuddin, Mr. Suhaizie and Mr. Mohd. Solleh for the company. I guess we have to wait for another year to do this again.

SINGGAH, SINGGAH... SINGGAH SAHUR

I should be arriving in JB by 2:30 a.m. and someone texted me asking to go out for "sahur" (early morning meal before fasting) outside so the timing was just right. I just waited for them to pick me up at Larkin Bus Terminal and then off we went to our "favourite" 24-hour eating place near my house. Except this time, the session had to be done a bit earlier (used to be at 4:00 a.m.) to accommodate my schedule.

That was the first and the last "sahur" session outside for this year. May we have the same session again next year, "InsyaAllah" (with God's willing).