Ramadhan is here...

Salaam and Good Blessing...
Its no secret that I have not blogged in ages. Excuse for that? Busy...yes seriously I was!

I couldn't fit a moment to write, especially with a long list of TTD (things to do).

Anyway...today is first day of Ramadhan and as it is every year, MUSLIMS around the world will fast from dawn till dusk ....(and stuff themselves again within nightfall and before dawn breaks.)

Among the main purpose of fasting is to experience the hunger sufferings of the poor and fakirs and to appreciate their struggles while we reflect upon the many blessings we enjoy and being blessed with things we often take for granted.

A sad note though, I feel the puasa ritual has just turned into another religious ritual for most MUSLIM (well at least in KL that i observe). Most will abstain from eating and drinking only, and that's just it....when in fact there is more to it than that. Idle talk and idle activity remains unchanged during this holy month and in fact has increased even more because to fill the vacuum of time left from the NO eating and NO drinking activity during the day.

Do you ever wonder if one family actually spends less ($) during RAMADHAN or spend more? One would expect a decrease in spending yes?..because one does not need the regular morning tosai, roti canai and teh tarik for breakfast and there is no lunch budget too. Its only that one meal a day during break fast! Theoretically yes...you should spend less!

For most of us the reality is not quite so...especially if you are the 'buka kat luar" type of a person then you can appreciate my point that eating at restaurants or hotels (especially) is so mahal gila!!!!...not less then RM44 per head...then there is that ++ lak lagi!

Even at gerai too they will charge the all-you-can-eat price and it's not less than RM25...Thats just for buka...sahur lagi tak kira!

During normal non fasting month, I don't think many people spend more than RM25 ringgit for a decent whole days meal, yes?

And then there is the BAZAAR RAMADHAN which offers a lavish spread of kuih muih and lauk pauk to feast the eyes and tempt the hungry stomach and crack the wallet. The tendency is often to buy what we see and what looks nice. But the thing is, just a couple of hours before breakfast, every thing in front of you will look sumptuous and delicious! Its common that most would end up, stopping at every stall they past and buy a little of this and that.

The problem is, not only will this eye-candy spending will cause you to spend more than you need as the amount easily adds up but when you get home and upon the first hearing of ALLLAAAHU AKBAR!.....you take the first bite...then ...Alamak...tawar nye! or masin nye! or keras nye!..ini cucur badak ke...kuku badak?!?

Okay, I agree not everything at the bazaar is that bad...surely you must concur with me that often, just one bite of anything you eat during break fast will be sufficient!...after that the margin of utility drops very fast and soon your stomach just can't take much more. Before you know it, you will seat in your chair wondering...sape lak nak makan yang lebih ni!

IF you wish to avoid wasteful spending during RAMADHAN, remember these points:

• Dont go to find your food less than 2 hours before buka, this is when you are most vulnerable...it the same as "Dont buy groceries on an empty stomach."
• Buy the items you need for buka way ahead of time, best if you have a schedule
  
• Plan your buka meals a day before.
• Home cook meal
• lagi best, buka je kat surau..lepas tu tapau yang mana tak habis for sahur!
  

Selamat berbuka!