Hari Raya 2022..A Nightmare Traffic Jam, A 'Panic Raya' Then A Joy To Remember

Hari Raya 2022 was "memorable" with 'longer that usual' traffic jams and 'panic raya' announcement....

 Hari Raya 2022 will long be remembered for the date when the Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin announced a relaxation of Covid19 restrictions. Now without the movement restriction just before Hari Raya on May 3 we were free to move outside without masks.

For all Malaysians nationwide it was a most joyous announcement for many had not returned home for two years..

MAY 1 or Labour Day was a Sunday so Monday 2nd was an off day with May 3 supposed to be Eid as it was highlighted on kalendar-kuda’ nationwide

It was reported that over 2 million cars were on the road on May 1 a staggering number. It was also reported that some took 7 hours travelling from KL to Ipoh  another staggering number for a journey that usually took just over 2 hours.

Then at 8pm on Sunday night the Keeper of the Rulers Seal announced that Eid would be held be on Monday 2 instead of the 3rd. Another surprise for people who ‘waited till the eleventh hour’ to complete their preparations. 

For the first time have I heard the phrase 'Raya Panic'. For those who were stuck in the snarling traffic jam it must have been the start of  the panic.

..but it was happy. Ex NST journalist Luly Shahabudin and family at her ancestral home at Kuala Kangsar

For us non Malay senior citizens our shock was next morning at being shut off from our favorite eateries by hordes of outstation patrons and returning family members all queuing up to feast on Ipoh's fare of good foods.

...hordes of customers everywhere ...at popular village eateries for breakfast...

...at popular city eateries for dinner ...

..food courts saw whole families eating together at dinner time..it was a good scene  

It carried on for the duration of the holiday. Even my phone order to my regular diner was turned down .....' sorry uncle no order today, too many customers'.

..the joy of meeting friends carried on late into the night ...on Jalan Iskandar 

...at Central Market, Jalan Laxamana... 

it was very busy ..barbeque chicken wings, Chinese and Indian noodles

And so it so was to be like that from the 1^st. Crowds, slow moving traffic all over Ipoh, full diners. It carried on until the 4th evening when all establishments began returning to normal.

..on Wednesday evening May 4.. the traffic was 'quieter'....

And so that was the Hari Raya 2022. It might have started on a ‘panic note’ but there’s always a pleasure seeing loved ones. It will be a year to remember when the Covid restrictions were lifted after 2 years, a traffic jam marathon but overall it was a pleasant time.

Selemat Hari Raya..Maaf Zahir dan Batin

JAG