A Double Celebration and My 3rd Google Adsense Money

1 - A typical kampung house with bamboo fence, terracota pots and attap roofs

Today the streets of Kuala Lumpur will soon be deserted with the mass exodus of people out of the city. We call this 'balik kampung' where we go back to our villages and hometowns where we were born and grew up in. It is time to visit our old folks, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, maybe childhood friends and sweethearts, to join in the holiday fun. In many places in the rural areas, family members patiently and longingly await the arrival of their loved ones for a happy reunion. 

In Malaysia, we have a double celebration:

1. Independence Day or Hari Merdaka as we call it falls on 31 Aug 2011
2. Eid ul-Fitr - In Malaysia we call it "Hari Raya Aidil Fitri", a grand celebration for muslims which may fall on 30 or 31 Aug.

For the rest of us who are not muslims, we shall be enjoying a few days to a week break. Our muslim friends will hold 'open house' parties to invite other races to join in the festivities in the spirit of camaraderie.

Google Adsense sent my 3rd payment on 24th Aug via Western Union Bank, so I went to the bank to collect USD 111.51 cash.

“A Double Celebration and My 3rd Google Adsense Money”, a copyrighted post, was written for My Nice Garden blog by Autumn Belle @ http://www.mynicegarden.com/ on August 29th, 2011.

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The Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Brilliant Red' is the National Flower of Malaysia. In Malay, our local language, we call it "Bunga Raya".

"Bunga" means flower while "raya" means big/grand or celebration.

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"Hari Raya" is a day for celebrating the dawn of the month of Syawal, after a period of fasting in the holy month of Ramadhan.

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Today is also the 1st day of the 8th lunar month in the Chinese calendar.

Tonight, we shall wait for the announcement of the sighting of the new moon. The sightings will be observed at 30 different locations. An announcement will be made by The Office of the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal. If the new moon is sighted, Hari Raya celebration starts tomorrow, 30th August, otherwise, muslims in Malaysia will celebrate Hari Raya on our Independence (aka Merdeka Day or National Day) on 31 August 2011.

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To my readers, please take note that our weatherman has reported that there will be occassional predawn showers and thunderstorms during the festive season. With thunderstorms, there is likelihood of lightning.

Malaysia is known as Asia's Lightning Capital. We are the no. 2 ranking in the highest number of lightning strikes in the world.

Hence, do remember to stay safe by taking the following precautions:

1. Remember, no place outside is safe when there is a thunderstorm, so stay indoors.
2. During a storm, stay away from windows, doors and stay off porches
3. If you need to go out, try to avoid high places (hills, mountains, ridges or peaks), open fields, isolated trees, rain or picnic shelters, communications towers, flag-poles and lamp posts.

Below is a 30 min educational video:

Malaysia is a tropical country with an annual rainfall of between 2,000mm - 2,500mm. Global warming has probably increased the severity and frequency of thunderstorms in Malaysia.

The cities of Subang, Bayan Lepas and Kluang are lightning-prone areas with about 180-200 thunderstorm days a year.

Source: New Straits Times

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Before I sign off, I would like to wish all my Malaysian friends and readers,

Happy Merdeka and Happy Holidays!

To my muslims friends and readers around the world, 

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri and Happy Eid ul-Fitr!

To those travelling,
May you have a safe and smooth journey home!