Di 1 Syawal 1430

19th September 2009

Travelling back to Alor Setar for the Aidil Fitri this year is not much better than previous years. Especially  on the highway. It was 3.30 a.m that we left our house in Bukit Jalil. First we "lost" our way in Kuala Lumpur. Imagine that staying in Kuala Lumpur for the last 15 years and still can't find the way out  of Kuala Lumpur. OMG. The nightmare started when we miss the junction to Bukit Lanjan junction after the Tun Razak hockey stadium in Jalan Duta. We drove into Bukit Damansara, then towards TTDI. Thinking the route might take longer and more toll have to be paid, we made a U turn and then go towards Bukit Kiara leading towards Penchala Link, Bandar Sri Damansara and then only found the way into Sungai Buloh. I think that was a merry go round. Just imagine if it was during the day with heavy traffic things will will be worse.

Upon entering the North South highway at Sungai Buloh, I thought it was a relief because the traffic was not that heavy. However it was shortlived. Traffic start to get slow after the Rawang RnR. Even cars going into the RnR has to queue from the highway into it. The never ending bumper to bumper traffic crawl was showing red tail lights of cars as if going into infinity.

As usual we decided to exit at Tanjung Malim. It is also my usual route whenever going back to Alor Setar to avoid the "torturuous" toll rate. Remember I have blogged that I spend less than RM 20.00 on toll from KL to AS.

It was 4.40 when we stop at a restaurant at Tanjung Malim for the sahur. We took off again at about 5.30 and I has to drive this time because my daughter feels sleepy. The situation on the road seems just a bit better than the highway. There was a slight jam before the traffic light into Bidor. The early morning and balik kampung rush might be the contributing factor.

Since it is already daylight, I thought the trunk road traffic will make my journey slower. So I decided to enter the highway again at Tapah. I was dead wrong. The nightmare......errrr.....can I call it daymare?, begins. Its about 6.30 in the morning and trafic is crawling. Not worth paying for the toll to get stuck in the  jam. The "herronous" jam continue all the way and get worse after the Jelapang upon climbing the road towards Menora Tunnel. It was bumper to bumper all the way. Just a bit of relief at the exit of the tunnel but not for long. It gets back crawling about 300 meter away and all the way to the Sungai Perak RnR. No  way to stop at RnR unless one want to get tensed and stressed on this last day of Ramadhan. Queing to enter the RnR, finding parking space and then queue again to get into the toilet. After relieving, have to queue again to get out of the RnR. Not worth.

However we stop at Bukit Gantang RnR to go to the loo. Jammed again. After this traffic is a bit relaxed until the exit at Juru toll plaza.

20th September 2009

Today its Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. It is a day much awaited by all Muslims eventhough though who skipped the Ramadhan fasting due to personal and cooked up reasons. Islam is not a religion that make things difficult for its followers. Fasting during the month of Ramadhan is compulsory because it is one of the five pillars of Islam but there are exemptions for some quarters as those who are undergoing serious medical treatment and there is still hope to revocer, travellers for a good cause, people who are too old and weak, women breastfeeding infants etc. Read MORE......

I perform my Aidil Fitri prayer at a mosque in my kampong as I have been doing for the past year.