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)

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If you were to look into my Instagram account, you would say that I'm much in love with my home town. It is true.

I never really appreciate what I had back then, When people asked me, where's my origin, I was little embarrassed to say that I come from this little town called Perlis. But now that I'm away from the place that I grew up for more than a little 10 years, I started to realized how this little kampung of mine had impacted me in a way where humble is a very important element in our life. A characteristic that you find very less in city people.

Living in the city is about spending your time on the road traveling to your office, having take-outs, hanging out at your favorite cafe and becoming a hipster is part of the norm when living in the city. People changed in order to blend in but some still maintain their originality. You won't realize what the metropolitan can do to you.

As you travel along the North-South highway, you'll notice that your left and right side are covered with paddy field. So green and lush. It brings you back to your old days, isn't it. Driving back from a big city and it's like you're being teleport back to another dimension. 

Things are done differently in a small town. Everyone knows each other and news spread like wildfire. Today you gave birth to a baby girl, the next day, the whole town will know about it. People in a smaller town often have that soft spot in them. Being far away from our relatives, all we have are our neighbors, me, Juan, my dad and my mum, Dianah is always on the go so she's rarely around *she inherit my dad's traits*

Never feel ashamed on admitting where you come from. For me, every places that we come from has its uniqueness. It all depends on how you see it. The place that we come from basically shape us into becoming into who we are today. So never forget your roots :-)

(Wearing Poplook Tabitha Slinky Maxi Dress)

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)

We have so many myths that we Malaysians know are untrue.

For example, if you were to sing and cook in the kitchen at the same time, you will end up marrying late or marry off with an old man. Correct me if I'm wrong.

But....

It's not applicable when it comes to changing your telco. Moving from one telco to another is not hard as how it was last time. Now it's only 1,2,3,4. #confirmsure can punya. Easy right. Plus, U Mobile also provide free call to all U Mobile numbers. The starter pack starts at only RM8. Call rate is only 10 sen flat.

As for the internet plan, U Mobile is offering rate for as low as RM40 per month! *faint*.

Visit U Mobile to find our more on their latest news and promotions.

Being at home full time with the kids means you gotta divide your time between cooking, feeding the kids, laundry, planning for tomorrow's menu and whatever that needs to be done. I'd say that SAHM is all in one job. From planning the parts, to marketing to accounting to buyer and planner, to manager, to makcik cleaner, to baby sitter to driver to chef. The end product is a squeaky clean house, food on the table. Pheeww. I have a full time job 8 to 5, but when I get home, the 'housewife' mode is switch on. I get the laundry done, it's either me or Juan does the cooking and washing the dishes, get the toilet clean, sweep and mop the floor. During the weekend, I do spring cleaning. But now I do the laundry twice a week, unlike previously, I do it on a daily basis because I can't stand having laundries pile up. There is no way I can be a perfect housewife where I can get everything done perfectly at the same time, having to manage my workload from the office.

All this is done without any children or baby with me. Imagine adding a baby into my daily chores. Me.cannot.imagine.

*On another side, I broke my mop wood into 2 like 3 times within 7 months span* My mum said it's either I chew on the wood or I had superwoman power. I rather take the 2nd one:-)