Ramadan Blues

i can already feel ramadan even if it is still 2 days away (or until they have sighted the moon in the right crescent)...

our center is now relatively quieter (which is not good for our business! oh no!). many people are planning on going out of the country again. memorandum on changed office timings are circulated (we usually work just 6 hours during ramadan). we have given orientation to all our staff who has not yet experienced ramadan (no eating, drinking and loud laughing in public until 630pm in respect of the muslims). the nocturnals are rejoicing! mall timings have changed. our center will only be open from 7pm until 1 am. there is liquor ban the whole month, though i heard other bars were already allowed to serve alcohol. the muslims are more serene, more forgiving, less complaining, though there are extreme cases when some are more irritable because of lack of food and drink.

it's like the world is suddenly brought to a halt during the day, and goes crazy and festive during the night until wee hours in the morning.

for us as a company, it is budget-setting time for 2008. it is time of cleansing (of files and stockrooms! haha!)...it is time of reflecting (of past projects)... a time for planning (for 2008 action program)... and time for preparing (for the the Eid celebrations!)

and for our staff, it means sleeping at 6am, sleeping during the day, movie-marathons, chikahan-to-the-max, and eating-to-the-max!it's the time when the office people (morning timings) usually do not see the operations people (evening timings)...

for me personally, i like the serenity of ramadan. i've always bee exposed to the noise and chaos of being in an amusement park, so this is a welcome change for even just a few days of the year. it's like catching up on yourself and on your life, since there is nothing to do outside during the day! you have to be creative to enjoy this month, unless your sense of enjoyment is eating, sleeping, reading, watching movie, strolling at the parks at 2am-- all of which is just perfect for me!

Ramadan Kareem!