Haya Raya in Labu

In 2008 I lived in the guest house at USM - I was the only person there for most of Ramadan and hayi raya. By end of Ramadan the campus was deserted so no invitations for raya. Consequently I was delighted when Lina invited us to her family home in Labu (translation - Pumpkin) for raya.

I regretted that I didn't get something new to wear for the day. At the train station I saw many beautiful baju kurungs. 

Waiting for 3 car Commuter at KL Sentr

The picture barely captures the crush of people. Once the train arrived we were pushed inside with scarcely an inch to spare. Doug couldn't reach for his camera and I couldn't get to my phone to tell Lina that we were on our way. A pretty unpleasant trip - by the time we arrived we were covered with sweat. Anything new would have become completely bedraggled. One of Lina's sisters pointed out in addition to the crowding there were the smells - true (enough said).

A raya supply of ketupat

Shortly after we arrived we ate beef redang, chicken redang, and ketupat (squares of condensed rice that used to be sold with satay - not so much now days). We would sample a cookie from one of the jars of cookies, talk for a while than sample another. We enjoyed the conversation and the chance to savor tastes of the individual cookies. One sister is a cooking genius and her three siblings enjoy the benefits.

Later a family who were on way to the next town dropped in. They turned off the main road because of traffic and remembered that they knew Lina's family.  We sat and continued chatting as they ate the rendang, moved on to the cookies, and then headed out. My hypothesis is that Malaysian holidays involve unprogrammed dropping in, eating and chatting. Of course, I am sure that there are families and friends that must not be missed.

Vegetation in Labu

The family house was built by Lina's parents. It is large and airy with a spacious kitchen. We took a tour of the outside - coconut trees, two types of rambutans, jack fruit, pandanan, and herbs. We experienced why Malaysians romaticize  village life. We forgot to take a picture, but this snap taken at the railroad station captures the vegetation.

Lina's two younger sisters are going to Mecca (or Makkah) this year. Soon they will receive an "invitation" telling them when they are going, where they are departing from, and where they are landing. Just part of the logistics of bringing three million people from all over the world to one spot for a limited period of time.

At the end of the afternoon we left for train - the infamous KTM Commuter. As we left Linda reported that the past week she had waited 1.5 hours several times and she was on her way to work. We waited nearly 2 hours. Since Labu is near the beginning of the line we got a seat, but soon the train was jammed. A bell rang the whole way, we smelled burning brakes, and babies (understandably) cried. At major stops people shouted in several languages as they struggled to get out and others surged to get in. We normally do all that we can to avoid taking Commuter. If we go to Labu next year we will search far and wide for an alternative.

Commuter - old, slow, and an unreliable schedule