Ramdhan 2009 in Yemen - Part 3 (Lifestyle)

Salam.

In my previous posts I had posted about I had shared about my experience of having Iftar and Terawih prayers here in Yemen. Today I will share with you about the lifestyle in Yemen during the fasting month, Ramadhan.

In Malaysia, our lifestyle doesn't change except for some:

1. We would rush home in order to be able to have Iftar with our family or have iftar together at a diner.
2. There would be tons of food bazaar that has an "infinite" amount of food, desserts and drinks which we will usually stop by on the way home and most of the time over-buy.
3. After having our dinner, we would go to the mosque for Isya' and Terawih prayers, have Moreh and return home. That would be around 10.00pm the earliest if you prayer only 8 rakaats of Terawih then go and enjoy whatever that is served for moreh.
   

But in Yemen, it's a totally different story!

1. Even if you go out at around at 12pm (which is almost time for Zuhr prayers), you can hardly see anyone or any vehicle on the street - really troubling especially if you need to get a bus to go somewhere. And Fridays certainly doesn't feel like a Friday. Waking up late and then you still see everyone sleeping, no one on the road walking to the mosque, making me doubt myself whether "Is this the right day? Is it really almost time for prayers??", wondering about it until I reach the mosque.
2. Night turns into day and day turns into night, example:

• Shops will be closed from after Subh prayers until Zuhr prayers and then again about 10 minutes from time of Iftar till Isya' prayers.

• Roads are empty in the morning. You can hardly find a bus or cab if you want to go anywhere in the mornings.
  

• Working hours are changed - starting at around 11am or after Zuhr and ends at around 5pm and will continue at 9.30pm until 1.30am. *depends on the companies though*

I guess that's it.. Bye bye.

Lastly, I WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OF YOU:
HAVE A NICE AND JOYFUL EID MUBARAK.