During Ramadan we helped our neighbors, the Panorama Hotel, with their dinner for the orphans of Langkawi. A group of the cutest and best behaved girls and boys came over to have some prayers, and then food, followed by prayers and food.
We all got traditional Malaysian clothes from the hotel, and it was a fun and humbling experience to be part of this. This is what Ramadan (and Islam) is really about, remembering the poor and less fortunate, and giving something back. During Ramadan you are only allowed to eat before sunrise and after sunset. At the end of the day you break the fast with something sweet, traditionally dates. After that the feast can start. (All photos are from Nate, a volunteer of the Panorama Hotel - the guy in the 4th photo).
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On the 10th of July Ramadan started this year, which is the fasting month for the muslims. Since most people here in Langkawi are muslims, that means that most of them are fasting now for a month from sunrise to sunset. This time should raise awareness for the poor, and originally the fasting should be broken with a very light meal like dates after sunset.
Well, in reality it seems that Ramadan is used to actually CELEBRATE food. Already before the sun sets, the people go to the special Ramadan market to buy their food. And then after sunset the big feast starts. Everywhere in the streets you see the special food stands with food food FOOD! Funny. But we enjoy the night markets in general. Usually every evening there is one in one part of the island. At the night markets you find lots of stalls with typically Malaysian foods, it is like little snacks or meals everywhere. The famous Laksa Soup (my favorite), lots of fried stuff, chicken sate, tofu, sweets like pancakes, cakes, and rice and noodle dishes... We enjoy it regularly because it is a nice way of eating out in the evening, and trying new things. Unfortunately the amount of plastic used in these markets is horrendous :( |
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