Holy Month of Ramadan ~ what non-Muslim should know, observe, and follow

Hugayet Tower

Dammam - Khobar Hi-way

Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Different kinds of nuts in an ethnic setting serve in the entrance of the dining hall.

Today is Tuesday, July 09, 2013. Poor Enan (yup, that's me ~ ahahaha!) because I thought today is the start of the Holy Month of Ramadan which will take place tomorrow July 10, 2013. I arrived 2 hours late in the office as confusion really got me bigtime! (ahahaha!). I was shocked when I arrived in the office because most of my colleague were already busy doing their specific jobs (sigh ~ hehehe!). It’s the first time ever that I arrived late to work (ammmmpp!!!!). One of the reason why I was late is because yesterday (July 8, 2013), I received a forwarded internal memo from a coworker with regards to the new working hours during Ramadan and thought that the next day would be the start of it (ahahaha!). Unfortunately, damage has been done and the least I can do is get in and heads up (hehehe!).

Iftar refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast.

I greeted most of my colleagues but they tease with a smile saying that ‘Enan, it’s not Ramadan yet, you know?’ or ‘wishful thinking, huh?” (say whatttt???? ~ ahahaha!). I don’t know what to feel really but I replied with a blush saying ‘now I know that’ (hehehe!). We’ll, I’ve been here in Saudi Arabia for quite a few years and supposed to know about it already but this time, I honestly missed it. If ever I didn’t deactivated my FB pretty sure I have the news straight (ahahaha!). In addition to that, it is strange because I usually open the news channel every night when I arrive home but last night, I didn’t even glance the remote control because I was busy arranging the blog (hayssssss!!!).

Company Iftar that i attended to usually serve different types of Mediterranean cuisine.

Well, that’s life, it’s one honest mistake (hehehe!). Thanks because of that scene it gave me an idea to post an entry with regards to Ramadan. What is mean by it and what to be aware of as a non-Muslim. Most of my colleague solely in our department is composed of 95% Muslim and only 2 of us were Christian’s expats. Because of our size, we are always invited to any Muslim celebration in and out of the office either a wedding or community get together. 

For sweet tooth lovers, assorted cakes and pastries are serve for your eyes delight.

Everytime I received an invitation I always asked my colleague what is the etiquette to follow in certain occasion, and mainly the feedback I received from the locals is just the word ‘respect’ and that is always retain in my head.  

The dining hall of Sheraton Hotel in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

Before we go further, better if we have to explain first what is the word Ramadan means. Me as a Christian were asking many times about it too when I first stepped here in Saudi Arabia. Please be reminded that what I have to say here is as per my own understanding and as per experiences for the past few years of living here.

Before Iftar, arabic coffee (gawa), water, dates and nuts usually offered to the guest.

Ok here we go. First and foremost, let's define what is meant by the word Ramadan? Ramadan basically is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is not a Gregorian calendar like what we Christian are using. The word Ramadan comes from the Arabic root ramida or ar-ramad meaning scorching heat or dryness. This is regarded as the holy month were all Muslims worldwide observe this as a month of fasting. Fasting is compulsory for adult Muslims except those who are ill, traveling, pregnant, diabetic or going through menstrual bleeding. 

As an expatriate, it's the best time to indulge to different local dishes (hehehe!).

Iftar is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and usually the time of fellowship with families, friends, and surrounding communities.

Since I worked in an office where most of my colleagues are Muslim, thus I always partake in the celebration of Ramadan. We are always invited for Iftar, refers to the evening meal when Muslims break their fast. It is one of the religious observances of Ramadan and usually the time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities. I see some closed selected streets near my apartment devoted solely for Iftar. In those cases, everybody is invited to join, it is a free meal usually offered to the public. Many Muslims believe that feeding someone in Iftar, as a form of charity is very rewarding and that it was practiced by Prophet Mohammed.

It’s quite hard to describe a typical Iftar meals, because there are so many cuisine to choose from.

While fasting from dawn until sunset, expect that after office hours, let us say around 4:30 to 6:00pm expect build up of traffic as hundreds of cars lining up in the streets. Mostly what they do is go home directly but sometimes companies do have festival banquets. Considering the high diversity of the global Muslim population, it’s quite hard to describe a typical iftar meals. However, since we were invited mostly to huge gatherings, there are always plenty of food to choose from in a buffet setting.

I invited Tope (blue) and Lloyd (brown shirt) to join me in the affair. They arre my bestfriends actually.

As a non-Muslim expatriate, living and working in an Islamic country, I enlisted below some of the rules and regulations to follow in respect to the local culture. Please be aware that it should be observe for the rest of 30 days until the end of Ramadan. 

                   1) Ramadan is a month of peace and piety, so please abstain from swearing and using offensive languages or gestures in public places because it is considered disrespectful. Whatever will happen keep calm as always and observe proper decorum. I am always on the phone all day long and I do receive hundreds of calls from our respective clients, locally and internationally. Sometimes because of urgency people tend to get angry because of the services that is not served properly. What I usually do if they keep on swearing? Listen, say something, search for solution then act. Chill and relax with a huge SMILE that is the key (hehehe!). 

                   2) I absolutely love music and who isn’t, ayt? (hehehe!) I do have wide collection of albums in my apartment and I love playing it especially when I am reading something or doing some exercise. However, during Ramadan, please note that live music is banned in public places. If you really wanted to, play the music in which you alone can hear or use a headphone so that you’ll not be able to disturb others. In the car, I usually play loud music but I refrain doing that as it is consider impolite too.

                    3) Something decent to wear is a must! In Saudi Arabia women are not allowed to wear casual dress in public but only with their ‘abayas’. Abaya or a ‘cloak’ is a loose over-black garment, essentially a robe-like dress that usually covers the whole body except the face, feet, and hands.  It can be worn with the nijab, a face viel covering but the eyes. When I went to Dubai during Ramadan last year, most women may not wear in their abayas but they are advised to cover up by not wearing shorts, sleeveless or mini skirt which is consider rude.

                     4) In Dubai and Bahrain, usually bars remain open at night; however, most of the night clubs are closed. Please note that in Saudi Arabia, Ramadan or not, drinking liquor is STRICTLY PROHIBITED and once you are caught doing it, expect the consequences of either you go to jail or sent home with lots of lashes. So please refrain from doing so.

                     5) Non-Muslim are not expected to fast; however, to show some consideration or courtesy for those who do is expected. What I do since I am not fasting, I usually have a lunchbox filled with light snack and I usually go to the pantry and locked myself. Respect is the key and we non-Muslims should not show to them that we are eating. When I was in Dubai, there are some hotel restaurants and food courts that remains open and serves discreetly and they even accept food delivery straight to your doorstep. However, here in Saudi Arabia, all restaurants are closed for the rest of the day and start opening around 4:30pm before Iftar.

                    6.) Any public display of affection are considered disrespectful too, a BIG ‘NO NO’. In Saudi Arabia, if you do that you’ll be in court for questioning, as ladies and gentlemen are not allowed to mingle each other as long as you’re part of the family. In Dubai maybe you’re allowed to do that but since it’s Ramadan then please do abstain from any means of sexual contact.

                   7.) Since eating is strictly prohibited, thus, smoking should be avoided too. I saw one man smoking in the alley of  MRT station in Dubai last year and caught by police. He was questioned and given a ticket as they imposed strict fines in there. I don't know how much is the fine but the least i guess is AED 2,000. I hate smoking anyway, thus, for those smoker out there, please control your urge to smoke. However, once fasting is over after sunset then you can do so.

                    8.) If you want to learn more about the locals and the customs and traditions that embodies Ramadan then gladly accept if you receive any invitation about Iftar. I do have 5 invitations so far and will try to squeeze things out. The invitation is usually rendered by card invitation, personal email or just by any usual conversation. If you accept the invitation, please do come as they will expect you in that matter. However, if you will not be able to attend, then please give a call as a sign of respect 2 to 3 hours before the gathering.

                   9.) Every company Iftar I’ve been to, they usually give some gifts as souvenirs. I have plenty of collections in the apartment and mostly it reminds me of my colleague and Saudi Arabia as a whole. I did receive a perfume ‘oud’, a brick with carvings of old houses, a set of incense burner, and a lot lot more. Its way different from Christmas but Ramadan is also the time of sharing your blessings to the less fortunate. Everytime I ran over the overpass in Al Issa Souk to Al Rama in AlKhobar, I’ve seen few beggars in there. If ever I have few bucks left in my wallet then I usually gave it to them. Hope there is no more poverty in the world (sigh!). I guess instead of giving them money better give them foods or fruits for them to eat.

               10) Learning a few Ramadan greetings can show your respect for the Islamic culture. It is customary to say Ramadan Kareem or Ramadan Mubarak to anyone which translates ‘May you have generous/blessed Ramadan’. Just this morning, I received an email from an old colleague saying that:

"May the Ramadan bring you peace and prosperity,
good health and wealth,
and brighten your life forever.

Make a sacrifice this Ramadan, and god will listen to your prayers
with utmost attention!

May the spirit of Ramadan illuminate the world and show us
the way to peace and harmony"

So there you go, listed above are the do’s and don’ts during the holy month of Ramadan. If there are still some rules that I haven’t mentioned then my sincere apology. You can email me directly and I’ll add it here right away. What I wrote is just what I observed and followed in respect to my colleague and all the people that surrounds me.

Ramadan Kareem everyone!

Cheerrrrrrrrrrioos!!

Enan signing off.

SMILE.

.

Starbucks Café ~ one fine night with friends.

Starbucks Coffee

AlKhobar Corniche,

AlKhobar, Saudi Arabia

Facade of Starbucks Cafe in Al Khobar Corniche.

Our get together is not complete if Starbucks is not in our itinerary as always. Every time that the four of us meet (Jay, Tope, Lloyd and myself) we make sure that at the end of ‘gala mode’ we pass-by in here to have a cup of frap usually. It is a norm because this is the only moment that we can have some time having some ‘senseless’ conversation, you know (ahahaha). 

There is a drive thru just in case you wanted to have some 'coffee to go'.

Actually, we met a night before as we took our dinner at home, I may not be a chef but I am always proud of my cooking skills though (yabang!! ~ ahahaha!). As usual, Tope, Jay and Jeff arrived late (if i say late, around 12:30 midnight) and we took our dinner right away. We finished around 2:00am (yes dawn!) and they all left except Lloyd because it’s already late to go home to Dammam. 

My compaignon as always, From left, Fluppy, Andrea, Sophie, Alliyah, Cedric, Brent and Teddy Liit.

The next day, Lloyd and I wake up late in the afternoon and watched two movies entitled ‘Bloodrayne’ and ‘In My Life’. I was all stress out watching ‘All My Life’ coz of the mother and son scene plus the gay relationship that exist between Luis and John Lloyd wherein I can relate myself. It was a feel-good-drama movie that makes you realize how short our life is and how lucky we are to have family and friends. Right after our movie marathon, we headed straight to Ramaniyah before going to Gazzaz where Jay is working. 

Hmmmm... this is just a product of B & W that i am fond of doing (ahahaha!)

On our way to Gazzaz, we received an unexpected call around 9:00pm from Tope who supposed to have a store inventory in Claire’s, Rashid Mall. He informed us that he just arrived home because he left early from work. Usually, his inventory ends around 4:00am and we wonder what had happened. He said to wait for him in Kadiwa Supermarket which is just around 3 blocks away from Ramaniya. 

Each mugs of freshly squeeze orange juice cost SR 8.00.

After few minutes of waiting, Tope arrived and we took our dinner right away at Fawas Broasted. We ordered 2 chicken chili and 3 mugs of freshly squeeze orange juice. 

Chili Chicken cost SR 16.00 per serving.

The Chicken Chili is good I may say but it’s too dry. It’s like you’re eating a dehydrated chicken breast cut into cubes (hehehe!). In fairness, the chicken is well seasoned and the amount per serving is good enough for one person. Please don’t get confused with the ‘chili’ word because it is not that hot really because Tope advised the cook to put just fair enough to hit our tongue. Unfortunately, we were a bit full that night, thus Lloyd and I shared the same plate while Tope has his. 

Waiting for our order to arrived.

After dinner, we left to Gazzaz right away and saw Jay assisting his customers. We asked him what do they have to offer and he said they have many discounted items (perfumes). As a result, we ended up ordering many products as ‘pasalubong’ for our families in the Philippines. Tope bought few pieces too while Lloyd decided to buy after he received his salary. Our main purpose supposed to be is to buy 3 pieces of neck tie and cuff-lings only for my suit but since they offered ‘sale’ products then we divert our plans (hehehe!). 

List of coffee concoction of your choice, either hot or cold.

We asked Jay if he wanted to join us for a cup of coffee in Starbucks but they have plenty of customer that night and he expressed his excuse. We left the shop and headed to Khobar corniche just in front of the 24 hour supermarket of Tamimi. We do have heavy baggage with us going to the coffeeshop but that doesn’t stop us on our way in. 

The friendly and accomodating man in the counter.

Starbucks Corniche is the closest we can get into once the four of us meet. There are so many coffeeshops around but it just so happen that Lloyd always murmur ‘Starbucks’ then Starbucks it is (ahahaha!). Well, I can’t blame Lloyd because the place is very cozy, customer friendly and the service is too fast that you just have to wait for a few minutes and your order is done. 

Tope 'en-queue' for our order.

We arrived at the shop around 10:30pm and queued. There are few customers who waited in line and we did as well for around 5 minutes. The shop is an open, see through façade that everybody in the outside can see who is within. There are around 15 other tables outside if you prefer to stay outdoors in which you’re allowed to have a smoke. As usual, if you have a family along with you, there is a separate exclusive section at the back portion of the building.

Starbucks Cafe Interior.

The interior is immense, good enough for around 30 to 50 people, filled sitting capacity. There are so many coaches and sofa’s surrounding the area which is good for group chit chat. We transferred several times because coaches were already filled when we arrived and we waited for a few minutes to have an opportunity to get one.

Area exclusive for table napkins, straw, stir stick, brochures and sugar powder of your choice either brown or white. The aluminum hole in the center serves as the trash area.

The ambiance here is too relax which is too common to any Starbucks branches. The place is filled with beautiful paintings/abstracts that adds sophistication to the place. I am too shallow with regards to arts, seeing pictures or paintings which is pleasing to my eyes then it’s a beauty. Besides, beauty is how you perceive it, ayt? (ahahaha!).

Paintings like the one above can be seen everywhere.

Distinct ceiling feature.

There are so many attractive hanging lamps surrounding the interiors too and what I love the most is the interesting ceiling they have like an open exhaust outlet. They made the ‘ceiling’ like a warehouse with a touch of complexity.

Beautiful hanging lamp lined up just on the wall.

As usual, I brought my 6 kids with me, Sophie, Alliyah, Cedric, Brent, Andrea and Fluppy while Lloyd brought Teddy Liit with him. That is the norm as always, every time I left home, I always make sure that they go along with me.

Less napkins. More plants. More planet.

After few minutes of waiting, we place our orders, 1 Chocolate Chip Frappucino for me that cost around SR 15, Lloyd has his Mocha Frappucino that cost him around SR 17 and Tope ordered Mocha Chip Frappucino for SR 15. We ordered all in ‘Tall’ sizes as ‘Grande’ is too much for each one of us. Since Tope always has a discount, we only paid around SR 30+ I guess.

Assorted Coffee Beans for sale that cost SR 30 per pouch.

There are plenty of coffee mixes to choose from, it’s just that if I wanted to sleep right away, I avoid myself with high caffeine drinks like espresso. I always have a hard time getting sleep, thus I content myself with Chocolate Chip with small amount of coffee. I loved Double Macchiatto but again high caffeine content so I gave it a pass (sigh!).

You wanted something strong to drink? Then have an espresso!

Should you like to make your own coffee combination they do sell freshly roasted coffee beans. They have wide array of brands all around the world that cost SR 30 per pouch depending on the quality and where the coffee came from. I was searching for beans that came from the Philippines but wasn’t able to find any.

If you want to smoke then you can do it outside.

There are so many cakes and pastries to choose from too and I love Tiramisu, however we gave it a pass since we already took our dinner earlier.

Wide variety of sweets and cakes to choose from.

Should you like to buy some souvenir items then there are lots of mugs and jugs to indulged with. Prices that ranges from SR 25 to SR 50 depending on the size of the items. I love the mug with ‘Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’ logo, I was searching for specific place like ‘AlKhobar’ but they aren’t available.

Souvenir items just in case you want to have one at home. I will buy one for Lemwuel.

The services here is fast, they were too accommodating and friendly. I was searching for any Filipino working in but seems that most of them were locals. Since it’s already late, right after our drinks we headed our way home and separate our destination. We still have work tomorrow and getting late to the office is a BIG NO! NO! for me (ahahaha!). Lloyd took a cab to Dammam, while me and Tope separates near my apartment.

The three of us sans Jay.

It was one fine night filled with chit chat and  laughter, unfortunately, Jay, Mark, Jeff and Balong were not around  but soon hopefully we all be together.

That’s it for now guys, have a great day and night.

  
Have a great day/ night everyone.


Cheerrrrrrrrrrrriiosssssssssssssss

Enan signing off.




SMILE


:)