OFW Chronicles: Ramadhan

Ngayong taon na ito, nagsimula akong manirahan sa isang bansa kung saan ang nakararaming bahagdan ng populasyon ay Muslim. Ang realidad na ito ay tumimo sa aking isipan sa unang araw ko pa lamang dito nang magising ako bandang ika 4:30 ng umaga sa tunog ng pagdarasal ng Imam mula sa Moske na ilang dipa lamang ang layo sa aking tinitirahan.

Nagising ako sa katotohanan na wala na nga pala ako sa Pilipinas bagkus ay nasa Indonesia na ako!
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Last Saturday marked the start of Islam's holiest month called Ramadhan.

It was my first time to witness how Muslims practice their faith during this holy month. For someone who is Christian, it was interesting to note the changes that undergo in society during this month.

Here are a few of my observations:

1. On the eve of Ramadhan, traffic was terrible. Some where saying it's because some were doing some last minute shopping of food for the holy month. (Malls in Jakarta are open til 10pm)

2. On the first day and til the end of the fasting month, no food stores are open, not even the warungs or the small food stands. They will remain closed til about 4pm.

(Non-Muslims will have to realize that during Ramadhan, Muslims do eat but they do it before sunrise and after sunset)

3. In every corner of Jakarta, you will see a variety of desserts being sold. This is like a thirst or hunger quencher for those who are fasting. These are usually available as early as 4pm.

4. Muslims follow a certain schedule for their fasting. It is not fixed since it depends on what time the sun would shine and set during the day.

4. There is less traffic in the streets of Jakarta during Ramadhan. (THIS IS SO FUN!)

5. The only people who eat during the day are non-Muslims.

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An interesting thing happened to my baby and I, yesterday. We went to an area of Jakarta that I haven't been to and we were looking for a place to eat. Since it was Ramadhan, almost all food establishments were closed.

We saw a restaurant that sold Nasi Padang and decided to go there. When we were about to order, we were told that they only sell if it's for take away. No dine-in allowed until sunset! Argh!

My baby got upset since he thought that the establishment did not even consider that there are also non-Muslims in Indonesia. "Why can't they be so considerate?" according to him. (by the way, my baby is Buddhist). I knew then that he was very hungry.

I was hungry as well but what can we do? It's Ramadhan and that's the practice here. So we had to walk and walk and walk until we found a place where we were able to take our late lunch.

Lunch never tasted that good. Good thing, I was with my baby so it wasn't that tiring.