Ally and the petronas towers!
I'm drinking from a bag!!!
Ramadhan Bazaar!!! So much food!!
Jinn-Eric, Arthur, Alex, Simon...and the towers (again)
Hello, hello! A few things I’ve noticed the last few weeks…
Everybody here is scared of H1N1. They take it very seriously. They’re making a huge kafuffle about it all! There are plenty of people around wearing masks. We are temperature tested when entering uni, clubs and other crowded areas. They cancelled much of the festivities for Independence Day for the 1st time in 52 years!!! I couldn’t believe that. Imagine cancelling Australia Day celebs!?! We had a lovely evening last night. Went to a Ramadhan bazaar with plenty of food. Went to KLCC gardens to enjoy the feast and waited around until midnight for the “Merdeka” fireworks…only to find that when the clock struck 12 the only fireworks were the ones of outrage at having waited 4 hours for nothing!!! All in the name of swine flu. There was still a massive crowd celebrating and we got a free train ride so I’m not actually complaining!
Went out with Arthur last week to an Indie club, Zouk, in KL. It was great. He has HEAPS of friends and they are all SO nice, it’s crazy. It makes us feel bad for the Malaysians who come to Australia. I am quite sure we are not as welcoming. They are very strict with closing times here when it comes to clubs and pubs. At 3am everything shuts. Except food, which is where we went next :) Malaysian food is quite delicious. The funny thing was seeing families out and eating at 4am, although maybe it was due to Ramadhan.
Ramadhan month. Doesn’t mean much for us apart from a few public holidays. I did learn however (pardon my ignorance) that there are 2 laws in Malaysia. Your “normal” average law and Muslim law. It means that if you are Muslim you will be charged under Muslim regulations. For example, recently a Muslim girl was whipped for drinking beer. I’m not sure exactly how they enforce this stuff but it is apparently so.
Another thing I learnt. I have a class mate from Yemen who grew up in Saudi Arabia. It turns out, in Saudi, you can’t do anything. They don’t even have cinemas apparently. If you want to go to the shopping mall you have to go with your family. I asked him what they did and it seemed like they would just hang out on the streets with friends, although I think there may be limits on the size of the group you can be in. It seemed so strange and quite the paradox because back home I feel that people need bars and movies and things to keep them occupied so that they stay out of trouble. But apparently in Saudi, it’s the opposite and it works! Who would’ve guessed?!
Well, back to studying on a public holiday!
(Don’t worry Dad, I’ve been very good this weekend, was at the uni library ALL day both Saturday and Sunday!!! Although I could be making up for the upcoming trip to Cameron Highlands next weekend :P )
Love to all
Ola xoxo
5 comments:
another thing that may surprise you!! We don't have TV for almost 12 years. All my family against it. The good thing is that we spend more quality time with family :)
Faisal ...
I just checked online about cinema in saudi !!!
First Saudi Cinema to Screen Cartoons only for Women and Children, yay
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4356892.stm
but that was said 5 years ago, and still no progress !!!
so we don't count on it
wow!!! 12 years...it's another world! probably true though, there is so much terrible stuff on TV (except underbelly...i'm addicted)
why can you hire videos and watch movies on TV but not in cinemas? I don't really understand it. It'd make sense if they sensored particular movies but all cinemas? Amazing!
Muslim law = Sharia law (thanks marz!)
Post a Comment