Ramadan is over...

This is usually a three lane road, turned into one with all the cars parked on either side of the normally busy street.

Walking to the nearest Mosque in their traditional dress with their prayer rugs.

Ramadan is the most holy month for Muslims and the month that it is celebrated depends on the lunar calendar (so it changes every year). It is a time where they fast from all intake (eating, drinking, smoking, etc.) from sunup to sundown for one month, pray more and do their best to remain pure and become more holy. Then at sundown, they feast all night. Thus, during the day, all the restaurants are closed and nobody is eating and if any local person did get caught eating, he would be put in jail for 6 months. As a foreigner, it can be difficult because we shouldn't eat in public out of respect for the people. It's also difficult to get much done during the day, as many places are closed, people are very tired and not very productive. However, the day that Ramadan ends and the people are permitted to eat again is a big holiday called, the Aid-al-Fitr, which was just celebrated on Sept. 10th. On this day, there is a special morning prayer that is sung from all the Mosques which goes from 4-9am. The videotape above, is what we heard from our bedroom window all morning. Then, all the people head to the Mosques to pray and gather. This was an amazing sight, as the roads had almost no cars driving on them, only parked, and people were walking from every place to the nearest Mosque with prayer rugs on their heads (pics above). I am thankful to live in such a different land, where I can continue to learn about another culture so different from my own.

So... while all the locals where celebrating with their families, we decided to head to the beach with our friends who love the beach and have two kids too! It was a beautiful day and the beaches were empty:)