Hmm.

Anyone here other than me thinks that the recent fasting month's the briefest of all? It felt like it's only for a week but hey, I'm not exactly complaining. Heh.

What I will miss most about Ramadhan is how magical the holy month can be and the wonders it did to yours truly. The hereafter rewards you ask? Sadly no. Although I am not proud of saying this, it's a fact that I am not God's most humble, abiding servant. I'm rather enthralled at how things take its paths. From my hightened concentration in sleep-inducing classes to my generally good daily mood, everything else in between seemed a walk in the park. No, scratch that. It's actually like enjoying an awesome serving of Mi Sedaap. Yes, it's that yummy.

Let's not dwell into food details ok?. But I can't help to talk about the loveliness of how 'cheerful' the gorgeously delicious foods are displayed at the Ramadhan Bazaar in Sri Iskandar and for it to be tasteful just adds a lot of sassy plus points to it. Seriously! Lan's short stint, part time foray as a Bubur Ayam vendor didn't go in vain as his homemade chicken porridge could very well give McDonald's a serious run for their money. Everyday is a sold out day. The quality of Achik's currypuffs have been on a constant high throughout the month, Abang Lebai dishes the best Roti Boom ever in years and where the hell can you get an awesome Carrot Juice for the price less than a Milo Ais other than the one served by Abang Askar? Now don't get me started on the oddball-yet-ball-busting Yong Tau Fu! It's a gift from heaven....

Oops. So much for not rambling on details.


On another note, Ramadan somehow fueled my composing drive and somewhat sharpens my lyrical instinct. Perhaps it's the food I consume. Yummm.

Regardless, I've been so driven that I decided to finally set up a revamped Anjakan Paradigma which now has 4 songs under its belt without the band having its 1st meet up. Telephony Delivery's getting its share of the pie as well as I've got a rough/clear idea of how the soundtrack job for Hafeez's short film would sound like. There's been 2 or 3 suggestive tracks but it is more likely that Mubarak (named as such as it was written over the course of 2 consecutive Ramadhans) will make the cut to be surgically dissected under our attentive care. Other new tracks are shaping up as well, giving us a chance to better use our studio time in the coming months.


All that happening in a single, unforgettable month? Could Syawal be any better?

So far, I'm still smiling.


It's extremely comfy to celebrate the first day of Syawal with my very own family here in USJ. The busy scent of the city is somehow my idea of spiritual bliss. You can take me out of the suburban, but you can't take the suburban out of me. Yes, I am a budak bandar and I'll admit to it again and again and again. Hell, even my mum's kampung's in Kg. Baru/Singapore which hardly qualifies as a common kampung. Arwah Ayah's side in Tapah? I shall not start on that. It's adding insult into lifelong scar.

So this year we decide to have it at Ki's place in Dungun. It is by far, the best Raya I've ever experienced. The only Raya that I actually feel how celebrating in kampung is actually like. Well, we set off on a very funny note actually. We only flew to Dungun on Raya eve, just after break fasting and we left for USJ on the 2nd day of Raya. Yes, we flew Air Asia. How 'balik kampung' was that?

The 2 nights I was there, I finally witnessed and understood the relations my cousins and aunts/uncs have established amongst themselves. One that made me envious. See, I never had that buddy-like rapport with my elderlies. Maybe I am to blame. Maybe I just don't know what went wrong. So that explains why I spent my days there examining the ties between them and it's downright wonderful. I'm amazed at how clockwork-like the whole thing can be. Everysingle day, without a whisper of words, each and everyone of them is somehow synced into the routine with military precision. Be it preparing breakfast/lunch/dinner right down to entertaining guests that came for beraya, it's like living a in a big ass, fancy diner. Everyday is a kenduri day.

I had fun observing the many antics of my cousins. The twins Kakak and Dedek has grown up so much that they look like a scarf-clad cucumber running around the house in their Raya garb. Others are very much their usual self but yet again, Siti grabbed my fancy. I caught her catching glimpses my way and noticed the smiles she made whenever I let out a funny remark or when I litely laughed at a joke while looking her way. Is that flirting? Entah. I can tell you this -potentially sounding cheesily dorkish here- in a nutshell, she's a bombshell in her own way and I find it hard to ignore the fact. Heh.


So as we got back from Terengganu last night, my head was swirling with afterthoughts and anticipation for the coming weeks. Finals are beckoning. My revision progress is still at a standstill. Damn. Blame the holidays. Actually all that excitement costs me a sudden high fever. Probably due to the dry wheather up in the East Coast. I think I'm recovering. Tomorrow will be a continuation of the occasional house visit for Hari Raya. My duit raya collection status is in good health. Whee.