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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Eid ul-Fitr (Eid) - Hari Raya

I have eaten a lot during Raya.
It was all delicious and for a surprise of my hosts I had no stomach problems.
In some way I actually think it is easier to eat food during Raya than what we serve during Christmas.
Here you travel from house to house during one day so it is enough you take a little bit of everything and everyone understands.
Christmas are like a food competition you sit done by the table and eat until you drop ;)

Holidays like Raya are fantastic. You meat friends, family and just relax and enjoy seeing people you love.
I always eat as much as I can and do not worry about belly getting bigger and bigger...
However, when the new days come I quickly go for a exhausting training to the gym!
You want to eat till you drop you need to train till you drop as well ;)

Chicken soup with fish cake. Delicious!
Layer cakes are very popular. My favorite from those I tried was a two layer cheese cake. Very creamy sweet chocolate part balanced with a bit sour plain part!

I ate almost all black and white pieces of cake!

Pulut Lepa.

Rendang is a typical Raya meat dish eaten with a pulut lepa - a glutinous rice flavored with coconut milk and barbecued in bamboo leaves.

In a jars with cookies one can find huge variety of cookies where most traditional ones are: kuih bahulu - mini sponge cakes, and kuih loyang - honeycomb cookies.

In a jars are cookies, next to them rendang and on a right side pulut cut in cubes.

During Raya kids and those unmarried get small envelopes with money. In every house host will distribute them. I was lucky to get one too :)

My Raya present.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Lizards

My room has no air condition, I cannot really close the window and there is a big gap between floor and door... 

so it is very hot in my room, and any lizard can come in whenever it wants... 

Good that lizards that I came across until now are not dangerous at all, and because they eat insects they can actually be considered useful. 

I think they look cute and as long as they are not noisy I do not mind them, especially that they deadly afraid of me.

My little fly-eating roommate.

Cute!

Here is one cute lizard at university... they just everywhere.
Lizard from motel I stayed in Langkawi.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Night Market

Just before Aidilfitri (the Malaysian name for holiday after fasting - Ramadan) I went with a friend for a night market in Ipoh. There is a lot of scarves and traditional Malaysian clothes for reasonable and negotiable price. One can get there also foot massage, shoes, accessories and more.

I've got in my opinion very beautiful scarf for just 15 MYR (5 USD).


It was the last day of Ramadan so me and my friend went also to mamak stall (The Malaysian Mamak are Tamil Muslims of malaysian nationality, the word 'Mamak' is from Tamil term for maternal uncle, but in malaysia is also used for auntie). I got a cup of teh (tea) and roti tissue - crispy pancake with melted sugar inside and poured with condensed milk - MNIAM!


Saturday, August 10, 2013

hair style fitting Baju Kurung

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri :)

One of my good Malay friends has lent me Baju Kurung (traditional Malaysian outfit). 
I didn't want to cover my hair with beautiful scarf since I haven't been doing it any other days.
However, I really wanted to look special during Eid ul-Fitr (or Malaysian Aidilfitri).

I was visiting my friend's whole family house by house and I wanted to pay my respect as much as I could.

I have decided on some special hairstyle and here are some photos how my wish was becoming true in a hairdresser salon - since I am not the best in styling my hair.

Seems like this shade of yellow makes my eyes appear to be blue, but they're not.

Lets get started.




Getting two buns.

Refreshing curls and I am ready.
I've never thought that yellow will fit me so well. I am now on a quest to get something in this sunshine color, because it makes my eyes look blue.
At least people were all the time commenting on my blue eyes.
Well, my eyes are weird color not really blue, not really green, and not really gray...
But apparently yellow dress makes them pretty, and that is all I need to justify another shopping trip ;)

On a road.
I think they should always test make-up in Malaysia or countries with similar climate. 
If you really do not get shiny skin, and your make-up do not decay after few hours in conditions of that sort then it is really worth your money. 
I mean anything works with always cool Denmark ;)
Anyway, my cheap Maybelline foundation didn't embarrassed me but my nose was quite shiny all the time ;)

Mango-Apple Tree.

A traditional Malaysian house.

It was a fun-filled day.
After family time, I changed and went to see a movie "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters". It is ok movie, but not even near to get onto a "must see list".

When I got to bed I slept like a baby... it was a great day!

Eid Mubarak!

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Happy Raya Days (EID MUBARAK)

... I am driving from house to house... 
I have a pleasure to attend a Raya Family Marathon with my Malay friend. 
A lot of nice people, great food, just FuN fUn fuN :) 
 Wish you All happy Raya! Eid Mubarak!

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Haze

The first time I heard sirens at my dormitory in Malaysia, I thought its a fire. I went out and it was really a lot of smoke and it smelled like a fire but I couldn't tell where it comes from... I went back to my room and pack all my documents, some snacks and electronic equippment.

I was ready to evacuate myself, but I asked a totally not alarmed girl on her way out from our building, what is really happening?

"It is haze, go to your room it is not good for you to be out, especially until sirens are on."

...

Well haze comes to Malaysia quite often.
It is not always so bad, and not as toxic as in some other parts of Asia, but it demands having on a mask.
Mask will decrease side effects like feeling very tired and sleepy.
Haze also can affect lungs in a long run, so a mask is a must.

Haze in Malaysia is due to burning palm plantations in Malaysia or in Indonesia.

Anyone with asthma is in trouble during haze days. I would recommend to be double careful if you have any respiratory problems.

Also doing sport outside is a very bad idea, or long walk to work.

Generally, if one can then the best idea is to stay inside the buildings with a good ventilation system preferably equipped with air filters and litmit time outside to neccessary minimum.

At University Teknologi Petronas. (top - express, cardigan - top secret, cap - forever 21)

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur.

Brooch

Brooches are not as popular in Europe (for sure in Poland or Denmark) or in US as they are in Malaysia. 
Here women cover their hair with beautiful scarves and fix them with brooches.

I really like them and I got a set of them from my Malay friend.


  I use those brooches to decorate my cardigans or as an extra button to my shirts that have too deep cut.

When there is 35 degrees Celsius and 80% of humidity tight clothes on stressful day may bring only extra worry, so I picked natural fabrics and loose fit for an official presentation of my project at the university.