Ramadan

Ramadan started July 21 and will last a month until August 20.  For those of you who don't know Ramadan is a sacred holiday for Muslims and is marked by many unique traditions and behaviors.  Fasting is common and encouraged during Ramadan because it is said to purify the body and allow Muslims to focus on their faith and remove earthly distractions.  Ramadan is a time of intense devotion to the Muslin god, Allah.  Muslims are encouraged to pray frequently throughout the day so that they can emerge from Ramadan with positive change in their lives.  Self discipline is encouraged during Ramadan and Muslims typically refrain from sex and other vices during this sacred month. 

Tommy and Martha Hamrick who are living here now use to live in Saudi. They said Ramadan is completely different here then in Saudi.  In Saudi no eating or drinking was allowed from sun up to sun down. There were no restaurants open during the day and if you were caught eating or drinking you were arrested.  But once the sun went down the parties started.  Martha said they would basically eat all night.  Here in KL it is not that way. All the restaurants are open and life goes on the same as if there was no Ramadan.  David has three Muslims in his office and he did say they were observing Ramadan. They can eat or drink in their office but not in front of the person that is Muslin.  It is very hard to get into a restaurant in the evenings as you can imagine because all the Muslims are there.