Mintak mak kuih sepotong, saya mahu makan kerna perut kosong!

It's an event we have once in a year, right after a holy and beautiful month and the time when we don't have to stay ravenous all day and eat without having any guilty throughout the whole week(the guilt comes afterwards). It's where you can see families gather around, wives in the kitchen 'anyam ketupat' and cook rendang, daughters prepare drinks and stack all the kuih muih into lovely-decorated jars, sons help to put up the rainbow lights on the front porch, kids help the daughters by stealing some kuih and the daughters have to stack again and again(true story) and fireworks are the nights' music. It's also where you will see kids running around with colorful envelopes on their tiny hands and then probably jumping cheerfully after counting the amount inside. Where you might see the teenagers and young adults clapping happily with a broad smile on their faces since they still receive the envelopes and since the elders still acknowlege their young ages. Where open houses are everywhere and where we can wear gorgeous outfits, sparkling shoes and fresh-from-the-shop handbags. It's importantly known as wonderful 30 days to all Muslims in the world and plus, it's one of the best celebration anyone could ever have celebrated. It's Eid al-Fitr everyone!

For this Eid, i went back to Sabah. Which is my dad's hometown. After almost 3 years of celebrating Eid here on my mum's side, it was the most right and accurate time to finally spend a week there. We can't have that every year. Firstly, the flight's fares are quite costly during Eid and secondly, it's apparently not a norm for my family. Despite the noise and demerits created by the kids, the schorching weather, the filthy environment, the perverts, the unfamiliar cultures/lifestyles and the fault in their hygienes, well I have to admit that I pretty much like it there. Of course, it was awkward and peculiar when we first arrived. I somehow locked myself in the room and decided not to mingle, my my the relatives must have thought if i'd suffered from enigma. Or a recluse who didn't have friendly as a trait. It took me a massive willpower and strength to get out of the room and to eventually manage to let go of my mobile(they have wifi there, thank God!) It wasn't that I was unfriendly, i thought it was going to be tedious and boring. Fortunately, it turned out to be quite fun! Had many relatives over, cute babies and cousins with good sense of humor! Most of my uncles there are the men with the blue blood, which means a huge amout of raya money in my pocket(they almost got away with it by pointing out about my height, but oh well my teenage face won it all). My granny's house is a half wooden and a half brick. Hard to explain, but the wooden floor is significant. For example, it makes sound whenever we step on it. Real jinx for someone heavy. The heavier, the louder the sound will be. And to the reason of the aforementioned, it tells how heavy people are. Which blatantly told me that I really need to put off some weight!! Eid's foods are irresistible, but like I said, the guilt comes afterwards. 

Pictures incoming!!

Favorite baby ❤ 

Can you see the shape of the rocks? They are not rocks actually, they only look like it. It is a far island, no one dares to go there. And it is called Pulau Mayat because of the shape. This is a magnificent view from Semporna, Sabah. Seems familiar? Like maybe, a scene in the movie Life of Pi?

 As you can see in the two pictures, those are the highlights if you go to Sabah besides the islands. First good things are their keropok-kerepek especially the famous one, keropok Amplang. The white and rounded shape ones, you can see it clearly in the top picture. And of course, kuih cincin. The ones in the packets and have kind of flowery shapes. For me, those two are the best and you couldn't get it here in Semenanjung. As for the second picture, you could see salted fishes, collagens, types of ikan bilis and dried prawns and well, a lot. Yes yes there are also ikan bilis here, but trust me, those in Sabah are better quality ones. The salted fishes that are hung up and widely opened, they are the best of the best. And let me remind you, they are quite expensive. But that's what makes em different isn't it? Since my granny lives in Tawau, you could get all of these at Pasar Tanjung, Tawau which is located in the middle of the town. (Infront of the fish market) 

They have the heavenly delicious, tasty, hot and sexy chicken wings ever. You could buy this at the central market. Having these chicken wings, along with ABC Milo under the baking sun. Yurp, life's good. We call the central market as 'Pasar Gantung'. It is a place where they also sell clothes, goodies and stuffs. Batik, Pelikat, Anyaman, pearls jewelleries, antique furnitures and many more. A precise place to do the 'holiday shopping.'

Last but no least, the smallest roundabout in Tawau (mindfucked?)

Till then, Happy Eid al-Fitr everyone, maaf zahir dan batin!