It's different this month

Picnicking before the month of fasting begins

I find it intriguing how an entire society can change to revolve around fasting. 

-- Every morning I hear a guy running around at 2AM telling people to eat before the sun rises.
-- Some nights the bakery next door will be baking bread at midnight. It's easier to smell fresh baked bread when you're allowed to eat it, rather than when you're fasting.
-- Shops stay open later in the afternoon, but then open later in the evening. Instead of being closed 1-5, they're closed 3-8. This way people cooking for their "breaking the fast feast" can shop later in the day rather than first thing in the morning. Shop owners who are going to pray at the last call to prayer reopen their shops after prayer.
-- Everyone is thinking about fasting. At the beginning of the month, the question everyone asked me was always "are you fasting? Did you fast today? Are you able to fast?" Now the question is "How many days did you do?" Islanders count their days of fasting so that, later in the year, they can make up for missed days if necessary.

A big baobab tree

-- Street food is GONE. I used to be able to grab mini samosas or other random snacks during the day if I didn't have time to cook. During this month it's almost all gone. Even the local-style restaurants that do meat kebabs and chicken wings are mostly not working this month.
-- Family becomes even more significant. Having a place to belong when you break the fast is important. It's the one time of the year when families sit down together for a meal regularly, instead of everyone eating whenever it's convenient. Pity the person who has to break the fast alone!
-- Music is missing. Now that we're nearing the end of the month, I'm starting to hear more music. Normally, everywhere you go during the day there's loud music somewhere. Now, almost all the music is chants of some sort. It's so quiet out!
-- There's a taxi "dead hour." You're not likely to catch a taxi 5:30-7:00 PM. All the drivers are off breaking their fast! Before 5:30, taxis tend to drive faster, trying to reach wherever they're breaking the fast before sunset.

Anyway, those are a few of the things that are different this month. It's kind of a fun month... but I'm glad it's only a month!