31st August 2009 marks Malaysia’s 52th year of Independence. National Day is celebrated in the form of the National Day Parade in Kota Kinabalu city. This year’s National Day falls during the month of Ramadan, the Muslim’s fasting month. The National Day parade must be hard on its participants, it being a very hot and dry day.
Everybody above 52 years old is older than Malaysia. I wonder how that feels like. Independence in Malay is Merdeka, hence National Day is also called Hari Merdeka (Independence Day).
The Malaysian flag is called Jalur Gemilang. Jalur (pronounced jah-loor) is the Malay word meaning a band or stripe of color. Gemilang (pronounced gur-me-lung) is the Malay word for brilliant, resplendent or excellent. Jalur Gemilang symbolizes a nation and people who are prepared to excel in every field, at national and international level.
- The Jalur Gemilang
It’s Ramadan, the fasting month
The month of Ramadan is a very busy month, especially if you are in the retail industry. That’s the reason for the lack of photos for this post. Back to fasting, we work side by side with our Malay friends, and often share their food. Especially during the Hari Raya celebrations. It seems to me that everyone is testing their recipes, and we enjoy being the testers.
It is also a great time for food lovers because there are plenty of food stalls around that open before the breaking of fast. Plenty of snacks and desserts, desserts being my favorite food. The food is inexpensive, and it’s fun to try out the various stalls. Some of my Chinese friends love the various curry and spicy food available during this time. I’m more interested in the pastries.
The MV Duolous
The MV Duolous is back in Kota Kinabalu for the 6th time. This visit will last until 20th September 2009. The MV Doulous is the world’s oldest ocean-going passenger ship. It is 95 years old, and serves as a floating book fair that travels the world. Their aim is to bring knowledge and to help the local community through its activities and books. In the hope that they can help the world achieve better understanding of one another and contribute to world peace.
In this spirit, the crew is made up of more than 300 multi-nationals, including 5 Malaysians. All of the crew are volunteers and have found the experience unique, many enjoyed the experience so much they extended their service for up to 2 years.
The opening hours for the Book Fair on-board MV Doulous is from 10am to 10pm, Tuesdays to Saturdays. On Sundays and Mondays, the hours are from 2pm to 10pm. Admission is free.
Wishing all Malaysians, Peace and Love.
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