Raya

Raya this year was a surprising bliss...Had so much to eat, so much to drink, made a few new friends, and had lotsa fun throughout the first week of the month of forgiveness and joy to us all...We tried starting out early this time, vowed to ourselves that this year would see us starting the day with the Raya prayers in the mosque...Usually we end up praying at home, as we also did this year...Too much to do in the morning...

I remember the days when Ayah was around, when he would set out really early in the morning, and brought home fresh lemang he bought on the way back home from the mosque...He'd then wake up his spoilt queen and princesses, to a beautifully layed out breakfast, comprising of my Mom's delish rendang we cooked the night earlier, heated up kuah kacang, and of course the lemang...After breakfast, we would then dress up for the day (in our baju raya, kasut raya, selendang raya and handbag raya of course), while he would be sitting at the dining, preparing the flowers for our visit to Mak's grandparents' and mom's burial chambers, our ritual first visit every year...Its always the same each year...After we've paid our solemn visit to the elders, our first chomping attack would be at Wan Chik's house...Next is Wan Long's, Wan Mah's and lastly Tok Joyah's...At night, we'd be busy preparing for the next day, for our annual Open House...

All the same till today, except that we have replaced Ayah's tasks (minus the prayers :p)...Raya this year was great, considering that a major tooth ache had attacked during the eve, and had taken away a bit of my raya mood...Thank God on the actual day itself, all was well...Too well in fact, that eating this year took on the next level of humanity...5 houses during the first day, and whole lot of gorging during our own Open House and a few more occasions during the week...My fave as always would be ketupat, with a dash of kuah kacang and lotsa rendang...Mak's Pakistani Beriani was excellent as always...We also tried out Nona's Ketupat Palas (instant ketupat palas), and I should say that it is not bad at all, but with a little recommendation though...Cook it with 1/3 lesser water than the label shows...Makes a whole lot of difference...

My idea of my fav baju raya for this year goes well with the season's 'in' colour, as Miss Nelly puts it (black, grey or red, rite?)...Its a traditional Hot Red Thai silk baju kurung (silk bought at its origin, Bangkok, during a trip with my girlfriends last year), accesorised with large beaded brown necklace I bought at the Mont Kiara Bazaar (bloody cheap and gorgeous) and bronze slippers from Vincci...Not bad aye...The other baju kurungs (another 2) are both ready-mades...One is pink (!!!), another yellow...

This year, sis and I are planning for an Open House for friends only, somewhere in the middle of the month...Still in planning of what to serve, but so far, Beriani is in the list...Wonder how the turnup will be like...This would be my second time hosting such event, last year being the first...Last year's Nasi Lemak and Roast Chicken was a success...Turnup was just OK, but the ones that actually made it were happy with the food...Cooks are happiest when their guests devour to the last drop...This year, my guests consist of my bestfriends (of UTP and St. Mary) and selected few from office ...My dream is to invite so many more people to come, but that notion has to wait till I get a house of my own though...

Though everything seems nice and rosy, I know that I really miss the people and times that has always made my Raya more meaningful with their presence...

I miss Ayah...
I miss Tok...
I miss Nik...
I miss Norleen...
I miss the Kak Dudi I grew up with and playing dorky with her like we used to...
I miss the simple times I had with my friends during the puasa months in UTP...
I miss my first time Raya hopping through Melaka, Port Dickson and Johor with Norleen and the guys from UTP...
I miss getting Ang Pow from everyone...

I'm blabbering...Ciao

reminder to self: 1. get Mak's recipe for the Beriani! 2.invite my friends to my open house