My unforgettable raya memory will have to be the simple but sweet celebration back in the days when we used to go back to Penang for raya. Ok, macam la lama sangat, padahal just about two years ago je tak balik. When both my grandparents were still around, the whole family would go back – my aunts, uncles, cousins, everyone. When I was much younger and most of us couldn’t afford to stay in a hotel, we all stayed in my granny’s house. All crammed up like pendatang asing. Some even had to sleep in the kitchen! But of course, you know this already, that’s where the fun lies. My own family would make it a point to go back about a week before raya or at least 3-4 days prior to it. Somehow, we’ve always managed to berpuasa in Penang. So what we did with all those free time was to shop for raya clothes! I know, there weren’t that many choices but still, it was quite fun. The most exciting part would be buka puasa, of course! We ate on the floor je but the dishes…oh my, banyak gila! More than 10 maybe. Definitely spoilt for choice. I think I still have a picture of my brother and I break fasting in the same manner when we were kids. It’s like a tradition in that house -to put the supra on the floor and sit in a huge circle. Favourite routine. And after that, for those yang rajin, they would proceed with terawih and for the lazybums like myself and my young cousins, we would play with the bunga api! So much fun!
After sahur, don’t expect to sleep until about 7 a.m. because the aunties would be busy gossiping away! Yak yak yak, because we had to share the same ‘living room’, it was usually very difficult for me to go back to sleep listening to their high-pitched voices. Orang Penang cakap macam nak gaduh right? Hehe. On the first day of raya, there would be a massive jam outside the two available bathrooms. Yes, only two, to be shared by berapa puluh orang. Massive jam kalah Federal Highway. And just like what one would normally do to avoid traffic jams, wake up early and go go go! I was one of the usual early-birds, obviously, not to your surprise. Another highlight of the morning would be everyone going up down left right to get ready. The girls would be busy putting the make-up on. Ohh, and yes, time to take out all your gelang bling blings darlings! Haha. Raya je, have to wear something gold. It’s a must, even until today, even though I’m not much of a ‘pakai barang’ person, I still oblige just to keep the tradition alive. Thank God now the jewelleries are much nicer and modern. If not, rantai ‘pound’ lah jawabnya. We all have one. Do you have one too? Hehe. After all the chaos has died down and sembahyang raya dah habis, time to sit around in a circle again for raya breakfast! Somebody will recite the doa and then nyam nyam nyam off we go. Yes, eat first, salam later. Hehe. Oh I just loveee raya breakfast with nasi impit and ayam masak merah (my favourite!).
Once the plates have been cleared, my grandparents would sit on the sofa and we would all line up to salam-salam, cry and all the drama plus time to collect duit raya! I used to be able to rake in at least a thousand ringgit for raya alone! I miss those days. And then we would all go out to beraya – sometimes together, sometimes separately. My family used to go to Bukit Mertajam to beraya at my father’s side when his mother and grandmother were still around. On the first night of raya, we would be at home, entertaining guests. Same goes to the second day but usually on the second day, my grandmother’s Chinese siblings and their children and grandchildren would come to beraya at the house. It’s totally different from KL lah, no matter what people say. You cannot try to ‘recreate’ the kampong feel in KL. It’s just not the same. But we can try. Back in Penang, I had a reason to wear new clothes everyday because memang everyday busy. Here in KL, well, I can recycle my clothes, no problem. Woohoo.
Tonight we’re going to eat good foood (again!). Ohhh, how in the world am I going to maintain this weight? Oh my oh my. Yes, I mean it when I say ‘maintain’. Because previously, it was a little bit difficult for me to find the right size. With my current weight, I can fit into all the dresses I tried on at all the bridal shops! Really! Except for the length la, but otherwise, macam custom-made. Best gila. I’m so happy. :))) By the way this is definitely not going to be the last post on raya because once open house dah start in full swing, I'll update on that too. After all, raya sebulan!
After sahur, don’t expect to sleep until about 7 a.m. because the aunties would be busy gossiping away! Yak yak yak, because we had to share the same ‘living room’, it was usually very difficult for me to go back to sleep listening to their high-pitched voices. Orang Penang cakap macam nak gaduh right? Hehe. On the first day of raya, there would be a massive jam outside the two available bathrooms. Yes, only two, to be shared by berapa puluh orang. Massive jam kalah Federal Highway. And just like what one would normally do to avoid traffic jams, wake up early and go go go! I was one of the usual early-birds, obviously, not to your surprise. Another highlight of the morning would be everyone going up down left right to get ready. The girls would be busy putting the make-up on. Ohh, and yes, time to take out all your gelang bling blings darlings! Haha. Raya je, have to wear something gold. It’s a must, even until today, even though I’m not much of a ‘pakai barang’ person, I still oblige just to keep the tradition alive. Thank God now the jewelleries are much nicer and modern. If not, rantai ‘pound’ lah jawabnya. We all have one. Do you have one too? Hehe. After all the chaos has died down and sembahyang raya dah habis, time to sit around in a circle again for raya breakfast! Somebody will recite the doa and then nyam nyam nyam off we go. Yes, eat first, salam later. Hehe. Oh I just loveee raya breakfast with nasi impit and ayam masak merah (my favourite!).
Once the plates have been cleared, my grandparents would sit on the sofa and we would all line up to salam-salam, cry and all the drama plus time to collect duit raya! I used to be able to rake in at least a thousand ringgit for raya alone! I miss those days. And then we would all go out to beraya – sometimes together, sometimes separately. My family used to go to Bukit Mertajam to beraya at my father’s side when his mother and grandmother were still around. On the first night of raya, we would be at home, entertaining guests. Same goes to the second day but usually on the second day, my grandmother’s Chinese siblings and their children and grandchildren would come to beraya at the house. It’s totally different from KL lah, no matter what people say. You cannot try to ‘recreate’ the kampong feel in KL. It’s just not the same. But we can try. Back in Penang, I had a reason to wear new clothes everyday because memang everyday busy. Here in KL, well, I can recycle my clothes, no problem. Woohoo.
Tonight we’re going to eat good foood (again!). Ohhh, how in the world am I going to maintain this weight? Oh my oh my. Yes, I mean it when I say ‘maintain’. Because previously, it was a little bit difficult for me to find the right size. With my current weight, I can fit into all the dresses I tried on at all the bridal shops! Really! Except for the length la, but otherwise, macam custom-made. Best gila. I’m so happy. :))) By the way this is definitely not going to be the last post on raya because once open house dah start in full swing, I'll update on that too. After all, raya sebulan!
This was in 2007. Kak Tinie just got married to Cat and was expecting her first child. Meq was just about to get engaged. Kak Anis was not seriously involved with Nazrin yet. As for me…well, I can’t share it here but I remember this period. It was tough. But I pulled through. No wait, we pulled through. :)
