Ramadan in Photos

As Todd said about a week ago, “It’s time to get our Ramadan on”. Ok, so no we are not fasting for the month, and we’re not even sure we will make it through one day, but we are experiencing Ramadan here in the world’s most populous Muslim country. Ramadan began on Saturday and will last through late September. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five basic tenants of Islam. Muslims forego eating or drinking between the hours of approximately 4:15 am and 5:45 pm. One should be finished eating by the time the call prayer comes in the morning, which is around 4:30. People eat around 3 am and then again around 6 pm and following. It’s a wonder to me that so many people can go without eating or drinking for so long each day over the course of an entire month, in a tropical environment no less. My amazement probably has a lot to do with the fact that I am an American, and well, as you know, that just wouldn’t fly where we come from.

Interestingly, while one would think that if all the country’s Muslims are fasting, the demand for food would be at its lowest level of the year. But, last week a newspaper surveyed people in the 10 largest cities in Indonesia and found that most people spend more money on food during Ramadan. I would be interested to know if that was the same for villages. The survey seemed to show people buy more nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and snacks to sustain them during the day.

Some restaurants and streetside, portable eateries called 'warungs' do not open during the day. They adjust their schedules during Ramadan. One of our coffee spots opens at 5 pm rather than 3 pm and they serve dates (customary) and fresh juices for people to break the fast, or 'buka puasa'.

I’ve gone to campus to see how students break the fast. It’s a great scene—lots of stands are set up along the roads and there are people selling iced fruit soup and iced fruit drinks with rice. Hundreds of students park their motorbikes and meet to break the fast together. I saw some people waiting with bowls of ice fruit soup in front of them waiting for the evening prayer to come.

Here's Ramadan in photos:

Man selling Pisang Ijo ('Pisang' means banana, and I believe 'ijo' is a shortened version of the word for green or 'hijau')
Students selling donuts with ice-cream and sprinkles on top

I also came across a striking group. The majority had bleached hair and looked shall we say, alternative, for Indonesia. They were very friendly and insisted on a photo. As it turns out, this is the staff of Yogya’s most happening night club, Hugo’s. They were also breaking the fast together.
It is considered disrespectful to be seen eating or drinking while people fast. So if restaurants decide to open they often have strategically placed curtains, such as Starbucks in the mall.

We use the gym facilities at a local hotel. I’m amused by the camel scene they’ve created. Much like our winter wonderlands or manger scenes, I believe this is a reminder that we are in a special holiday season. I don’t think it’s worth overthinking this benign camel, but it is a little out of place seeing as the deserts of Arabia are a far cry from Indonesia's tropical landscape. But, then again, it doesn't really snow in San Diego either.