The Best Raya Haji EVER.

I think I'd have to say that today would have to be the best-est day I've ever had. Too many, just TOO many things I learnt today.

I came back from cyber for just one day to spend Raya Haji with my family. Before that, I was undecided since I felt that I had a lot of work to complete, that it was just for one day, that assessment was on Friday, that 6 topics of anatomy needs to be covered by Thursday. It turned out to be the best decision I had ever made.

This morning, we went to the surau for solat raya and for lunch we went to eat the daging qurban. This was near to our house and it was the first time the feast was held in collaboration with other surau; so we ended up standing while eating hot steaming meat with rice and soup and it started to drizzle which turned into a downpour. We got drenched. But Safi said, "It's such a blessed day, Allah has even decided to bless us with the rain." Allahuakbar.

My dad had already planned that we go to an old folk's home in Semenyih to visit. I was, again, undecided. Besides, I had yet to cover about basal nuclei, diencephalon and all other anat topics, I had a speech to refine, I was tired, I was having a sore throat and runny nose, I had a million excuses in my mind, and we're probably just going to sit there for a while and then drive back home. And of course, my dad being so understanding would excuse us if we're "busy".

But Hari Raya only came once a year and what was the point of coming back home if it was just the same as me being back in cyber? So my parents, my younger brothers and I went to Semenyih. Small side story here: Everyone was really tired for some reason and fell asleep. I ended up being my dad's co-pilot, using googlemap on the iPad. I gave the wrong directions TWICE and we ended up in the heart of Kajang and making a huge U-turn. But Ayah said, "Alia, the hikmah is that we allow them to sleep a little longer." Allahuakbar.

When we finally arrived, we saw the huge signboard which read, "Saudara Mualaf (for converts); Rumah Siti Noraini" planted next to the terrace house. There were 4-5 elderly men who sat up on the beds on the porch when we entered the gates and my dad and brothers all shook hands with them. One was lying down, unable to move. The others gazed at us curiously. There was a chinese man lingering there too. When we entered the house, we saw a teenager who was fast asleep on the sofa. Apart from the sofa, I saw several hospital beds lined in the living room. My dad called up the number and a few minutes later, the owner, Abdullah Noel, came down the stairs smiling with his wife and a little girl (which we found out was their youngest daughter).


The teenager who was previously asleep, woke up, and we later found out that he was the son. We were all then seated on the sofa and my dad immediately jumped into a conversation with Mr Abdullah about how exactly did he start this home for the elderly. From the very minute he began, we were all hooked.

To be continued in the next post.