the eve of the Raya in Brunei experienced an extremely heavy downpour. Long queues of cars packed the almost impassable and rainflooded roads as we snaked through the roads waiting for a chance to fill our gas tank.....We were on the road from KB from six until 9;30 ....some trees had fallen and one ambulance passed by...the rain continued to pour as we reached our front porch...
We had salty biscuits and blue cheese as we could not get ourselves to have a late meal in any of the fully packed eateries which started to be very excited (after the announcement that hari Raya would be on Friday!!)...and a bit of whisky as we tried to warm ourselves from the outside cold. That was almost 11 o'clock. It was nice to be warm....and dry...and out of the wet and cold....
A festival is a time to celebrate the deep meanings of our life be it religious or cultural. Raya is a celebration in Sibu shared by Muslims with their friends who are from all walks of life and faiths. Sharing of food and visiting each other has been the unchallenged ways of tolerance in our hometown. But what is warmest is the sharing of memories of the past - how peaceful we have been living together with mutual respect and peaceful co-existence! I continue to treasure the memories of my father chatting with our Muslim neighbours about local politics. I continue to remember our Muslim neighbours who were called Kak and Abang Koh and Abang Moh. And my family members continue to be in touch with two generations of Malay friends who used to live along Kampong Nyabour Road...
We the people are the salt of the earth. We must use the light given by God to lead others down the right pathways.
Let there be no darkness.
Photo by Steve Ling Leh Tiong (President of the Sibu Photographic Society). As I did not have any chance to take photos last night...I hope this beautiful photo would suffice...Cheers to Steve Ling...thanks....
Boy playing with fireworks in Sibu.
10 comments:
Is firework allowed now? It has been banned ever since for Chinese new year
blue cheesee...... that so not nice to eat...
hello madam ..hehehe, link me pls ..thank you.
Mouth watering la tengok all the food pictures here.
Btw, how to join the Sibu Photographic Society? I am very very new to dlsr
kids love to play with fireworks.
I talked to my Somailian student, he tells me they call it AID festival.
When I was young, it was simple, we went to our Malay immideiate neighbour. Lots of sweets and cakes. Do you remember some years, our CNY coincided with them? Loooong holidays and flooding in the Race Course road.
http://annsnowchin.blogspot.com/2010/09/fund-raiser.html
This post, I remember telling you about selling tickets for The Gipsy Baron. I was like that kid.
Who is this Mamora who commented, if he/she related to our Miss Ida Mamora?
Hi Anonymous...fireworks and firecrackers seem to be "played" this Raya...every where...but not exploding for long hours like during CNY...I am not sure whether a little is ok...and allowaable...the law is still against firecrackers...
Ghosty N@na
Blue cheese is nice to some people . I don't mind eating it when there is nothing else in the fridge!! Kekeke....mind you almost all shops were closed the next day...so could not find any Roti Canai...luckily we had some vegetables and one piece of tenggiri...should have gone to pay respects to theHis Majesty the Sultan...(friends queued up from 10 until 2...and had the honour of shaking hands with him..) Next year you must visit the Palace in Brunei ..and I may go along...promise?
Ati...the President's email is stevelinglt@gmail.com or you can click Going Places (his blog) and you can find the blog belonging to the Sibu Photographic Society...Steve is a journalist with United Daily News of Sibu and the Society has many activities...do sign up...cheers...
Hi Wenn
How is Raya in Ipoh?
Kids here love fireworks....We can see such joy on their faces. cheers.
Yes Ann I remember very often new year and Hari Raya seemed to coincide with flooding in Sibu...when CNY and HR coincide it is called Kongsi Raya....
Ati Mamora is the daughter of Miss Ida's eldest brother...she is a fantastic musician and English Teacher in Sibu...
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