.: ramadan notes 4: random pictures

Random pictures from several occasions.

The quietest road traffic is ON FRIDAY MORNING, DURING RAMADAN, IN SUMMER. Photo taken on Al Shamal Road around 6.30 in the morning

 

Al Gharrafa Street on Friday Morning. Ramadan. Summer

 

Souq Waqif is boisterous during Ramadan at night, even after past midnight

 

Group iftar along with temporary bachelors 🙂 at Bandar Aden – Yemeni Restaurant, Souq Waqif

 

Iftar with Yemen cuisine at Bandar Aden

 

Group iftar at the Indonesian Embassy Doha, coinciding with Nuzulul (the descend of the) Qur’an celebration.

 

 

 

 

 

.: ramadan notes 3: nocturnal sauna

Completing Taraweh Prayer, I was in Souq Waqif, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaves, sipping iced mocca latte along with other local bachelors. Fortunately one table inside air conditioned shop was available. Cool enough to beat sauna-like weather outside. We went only outside to accommodate smokers within our group and then sauna comes. It’s probably around 34 deg C but humidity has already risen to maximum 84% that we’re dewy. Phew! It’s come now a period of hot and humid. Hot may be bearable especially for long time residents like me (5 years huh!), but hot and humid? Suffocating, sweaty. On positive side at least we can reduce our weight, said my friend.

It was around 10pm and people started flocking the souq. Until we left at midnight, the area were still boisterous. Even on the roads!

During Ramadan, life in Qatar is really upside down. The city turns to nocturnal. It is buzzing at night (some stores close at 1 am!) and hibernating during the day (don’t expect stores to open before 4pm)

.: ramadan notes 2: iftar-brotherhood

Yesterday I attended a mass iftar sponsored by RAF and organized with Indonesian Muslim Society in Qatar, Indonesian Embassy and other prominent Indonesian organizations in Qatar. This is probably the n-th consecutive year for mass iftar. The Sheikh bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) also holds separate iftar feasts for other expatriate community such as Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Srilanka, Pakistan and Philipine. Held in Tariq bin Ziad School near Indonesian Embassy, the mass iftar was attended by approximately 600 Indonesians. Few Malaysians also joined.

Unlike last year, this mass iftar was served with Indonesian iftar package, managed by three Indonesian restaurants in Qatar: Restaurant Jakarta, Central Restaurant and Griyo Solo.

Before breaking the fast, in collaboration with Ministry of Interior, the committee held traffic safety awareness presentation. Ustadz Dr. Agus Setiawan, MA from Indonesia also presented a short religious sermon focusing on the values of working and five potentials of Muslim world.

It was a nice experience for mass iftar including opportunity to socialize with other Indonesian fellows.

Thank you RAF and all committee members.

Indonesian mass iftar by RAF

 

Representative from Malaysian Embassy, Indonesian Embassy and RAF

 

Posed with Indonesian Ambassador to Qatar near 2014 Election stand

 

 

 

 

.: ramadan notes 1 : mysterious iftar package

“Whoever gives food to a fasting person with which to break his fast, he will have the reward equal to his (the fasting person), without it detracting in the slightest from the reward of the fasting person.”

In Ramadan, Moslems try to reap as much rewards as they can, including rewards from giving iftar for breaking the fast. I was going home from a non-work related meeting when I saw a plastic bag hanging at the door knob. Alhamdulillah, an iftar package for this lonely fasting man – (a local bachelor,  husband who stays in town due to work circumstances while his family is away/has been sent back home). The package is so generous that its leftover can still be consumed for my suhoor.

I don’t know who sent this, for sure one of my complete neighbor. It is not uncommon for me during any ramdan local bachelor time yet this attention and good deeds flattered me.  May Allah give you the equal reward of fasting person. Jazzakallah.

I just hope I don’t forget

I wake up to fresh cold air that engulfed this city throughout the year, to a mountain view, to a morning buzz of rover streethawker selling breakfast.

I ride an automatic motorcycle to break the traffic jam that is getting worse everytime I come home. Motorcycle rider is the road owner, sadly.

I calibrate my taste buds, almost in every occasion, from this city of culinary heaven.

I shop at factory outlet or distro, part of creative industry-driven city elements.

I run through the rain that does not recognize any season.

I am served by customer-oriented services.

I am surrounded by soft-speaking, friendly  people.

I just hope that I don’t forget coming back to Doha.

I am now in Bandung, Parijs van Java.