Selamat Hari Raya Adilfitri to my Muslim readers!
Hari Raya marked the culmination of Ramadhan, which signifies a personal triumph, a victory of self-restraint and abstinence, symbolising purification and renewal.
The Muslim community ushers in the first day of Aidilfitri by congregating at mosques for morning prayers. Everyone is usually decked out in their traditional best to mark the special occasion. Men are usually dressed in Baju Melayu, while women in Baju Kurung.
This is also a time to forgive and forget past quarrels. Asking for pardon is done in order of seniority. The younger members of a family approach their elders (parents, grandparents etc) to seek forgiveness, to salam (Muslim equivalent of a handshake), then kiss the hands of the older person as a sign of respect.
Children and old folks are given duit raya or gifts of money, in small green envelopes.
Traditional Hari Raya fare often have ketupat served with beef rendang (beef cooked with spices and coconut milk) and/or satay (grilled meat on a skewer). Other festive delicacies include lemang (glutinous rice cooked in bamboo tubes), serunding (dessicated coconut fried with chilli) and curry chicken.
I miss my secondary school's muslim food stall suddenly, Especially the wicked ayam goreng (fried chicken) with sambal.
I've lived in Sydney officially for 3 months now. I still speak the English that I speak back home. I wonder if there is such a thing as a Singaporean accent. Ruby Pan shone like a star in this Talking Cock session. She is so funny!
Will people look and treat me differently because I have stayed and worked overseas for a while?
I notice the newscasters on Australian tv speak funny too, unlike the people you meet everyday on the street. It was like a hybrid of Aussie and English tongues.
Singaporeans are not the only one kicking a big fuss about foreigners. Australia is made up of foreigners.
There is big debate going on about outsourcing over here. Major banking corporations are outsourcing their customer service arms from Asia.
I'm using HSBC now, and when I call their 1300 308008, I was pleasantly greeted by someone from Malaysia. I was using Commonwealth Bank before, and I did telephone baking with someone from India.
The Aussies are crying foul, saying that we are snatching away their job, similar to our cries back in Singapore.
It's so hard to please everyone.
Made my first attempt a to cook this herbal chicken soup. This concoction was slowly simmered for 4 hours to perfection. The broth is thick with flavour, with hints of the chinese herbs in it. The chicken was so tender and the meat just melt in your mouth.
Also prepared some lightly salted Japanese style garlic fried rice to accompany the rich soup. Yum!
Fancy living with a view like this from your place? Nicole Kidman beat you to it to get that house.
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