Most of my friends doesn't know where I was born. All they knew was I studied and lived in Perlis all my life. Partially right.

Well, I was born in USM Kubang Kerian but my family moved out of Kelantan when I was around 2 years old. After we moved, we still go back to Kelantan once a year to celebrate the Lunar festival because I still had an uncle (R.I.P) at that time. Until he moved to KL to be his kids, we stopped visiting Kota Bharu.

So this year, I made a point to visit my hometown again. We had a 1 night stay before headed over to Kuala Terengganu the next day. The one thing I hate most is the jam. Driving into Kota Bharu means playing around your accelerator and break ALL the time.

I love the food. Although I lived far where I was the born, the culture has always been a part of me. Every year, I've never miss the chance of having my favorite nasi dagang or nasi minyak.

'Eh, tak kahwin lagi ke?

'Ada suami best tau'

That's the typical sentences you'll receive from a married person. Marriage is not all bed of roses. It comes with thorns too. Being single and not married is not a reason for you to sulk although your friends are mostly are off the market. There are so many things that you can do while you're single.

1. You can go wherever you want

2. You can flirt with anyone including the pakcik selling nasi lemak

3. You don't have to 'clock in' or 'clock out' to anyone

4. You can call or talk over the phone with anyone

5. You can leave your job and travel for a year without worrying about anything

I've been single for 29 years and got married at the age of 30. So what? Age is just a number right? What I meant is,for as long as you're 'single' (having a boyfriend also consider as single) you're not obligated to anyone.

Sadly, I see some of my friends who felt they're obligated to that person they're dating because they've been together for many years. As a partner, you should support your partner's dreams and hopes not bringing them down or go crushing their dreams. You should be someone who would share you dreams together because if you end up marrying that person, it's gonna be a whole lot of different. He/She can't be there before you got married, what's the guarantee he/she will when both are married?

Single girls, don't go wasting your time finding for the right guy. It's all in the hands of God. For as long as you're happy, so be it. The time will come for you to be happy with the 'One'.

Happy Single Day

 Wearing Poplook chiffon halfmoon shawl, Brands Outlet top, H&M skirts.

As Malaysians, we know how is it like to celebrate Aidilfitri in our own motherland but do you know how does it feel on other side of the world?

Being an experience amateur traveler,*cause I still can't leave my lotion behind*, celebrating Syawal in a foreign land could mean, celebrating only with your spouse or family members. The number of Malaysians who stay abroad can be counted by fingers *although the numbers are increasing*, so expect less guest coming over to your place.

Countries like Australia, Europe don't celebrate Aidilfitri except the minority, therefore you rarely see people clad in their baju kurung or baju melayu walking around the town after visiting their relatives. It's odd and mat saleh may find it interesting. There are no public holiday for Syawal, it's either you go to work or you take your leave day.

One thing for sure, when celebrating Syawal in oversea is you make new friends. People with the same nationality as you whom you have not met. Places like Malaysia Hall will host Aidilfitri celebration every year and all Malaysians within that particular area will come together.

However, as for myself, having a mum as a Singaporean could be slightly different. Celebrating Syawal in Singapore is merrier compared to Malaysia. We start the day in the afternoon and visit relatives until the wee morning. I was a rich kid back then and with the currency exchange, I could buy the whole Trump Tower *ok kidding*. 

Aidilfitri is celebrated for a month in Singapore. You can still see people in their traditional wear even after the holidays are over. They still go for house visit after working hours. That semangat, I tell you.

When I was small, I had an uncle who worked as a trailer driver. He would pick us up in his 16 wheel trailer (if i'm not mistaken) and we'll go to relative houses until the next Subuh. Imagine that. By the time we got home, we were flat out but we still continue again that evening.

Things were a bit different in the old days but as time goes by, Syawal is celebrated according to trend but the spirit still remain the same. But, one thing for sure, no matter what, I'm still #proudtobemalaysian

(Wearing semi instant shawl Sara from By Alexa Blue)

Syawal is in a few days time and I'm very sure that some of you are busy making and preparing kuih, or rushing to buy your Aidilfitri outfit too.  Well, I have settled mine months ago except Juan have not found his baju Melayu yet. 

For this year, I have prepared myself a maxi dress and as usual from Poplook. It's never easy to find clothes with my size, petite. Let alone shoes *I wear size 3*. For shoes, I shop at the kid section *kid you not*. To avoid embarrassment, I normally asked Juan to ask the shopkeeper what's their smallest shoe size. It's easier if I were to shop in Vincci, I'll just get the staff to hand me any size 3 shoes or sandal, lay them in a line in front of me, then from there I choose the ones that I like most *fefeeling chauffeur gitu kan* I think because of my petite size, people hardly take me seriously *sigh*

Syawal preparation are as usual *not that I started baking*. The first Raya morning will be at the in-laws, then we'll be leaving to my hometown the same afternoon. Traffic will not be as bad as the night before *you'll cling to your steering wheel and cry*. I bet that happen all over Malaysia as everyone are rushing back to their hometown.

That WAS the initially plan. But changes has to be made. Working with others is not the same like having your own company. It's not that flexible. A colleague of mine had asked me to cover the 1st Raya as she and her husband with their kid will be spending the Raya holiday in KL. She's a non-Muslim and I will not reveal her race *don't want this to be a controversial thing*.

Ok, I'm trying to keep my cool here. I'm not trying to rant but I was REALLY looking forward to spend the holiday with my parents. I rarely have 4 days of holiday and I rarely take the time off from work. So I'd thought that I could take the Raya holiday as opportunity to spend my time with both parents. So when I knew I had to come back to the office on first day of raya, what do you think?

I keep my mind on the positive side. Taking my father's word 'You do good, you get good things'. So that was the first news I receive pre-Aidilfitri :-(

Wearing Kipling sling bag, By Alexa Blue printed cotton shawl (coming soon)