Ramadan
 

Ramadan has always been a huge contradiction of fasting and piety and a disgusting example of rampant consumerism gone mad.

However I was in carrefour yesterday and was staggered by the displays of food and sweets that companies have deals on.

2x 5kg bags of sugar as a deal with a free 2kg bag thrown in. The largest jar of nutella i've ever seen on sale, the list could go on for ages.

Maybe i just need a holiday but it seems like things are utterly out of control this year, carrfour was mobbed yesterday at bloody lunchtime, its not like the place closes for ramadan!

The sheer volume of advertising for wanton gluttony was actually quite offensive, no bloody wonder there is a huge diabetes problem here.

is it just me or has the entire place entirely missed the point of ramadan?

Re: Ramadan
 

I told the lad who works for me (Indian Muslim) that it was a complete farce. Told him I'd cruise fasting if I got to sleep all afternoon and eat all night.

He was genuinely flabbergasted

Re: Ramadan
 

It's not genuinely fasting, it's simply delaying your food until later in the day. Scientists reckon that actually fasting, for 3 days or more (this doesn't include abstaining from fluids) can be beneficial. But ramadan type 'fasting' is just denying yourself for a few hours.

Re: Ramadan
 

There is that bollocks diet favoured by Phillip Schofield where you eat 5 days and dont eat 2 days. Seeing as he now looks like death I don't see it being that clever but it does seem to work.

To the original post, I don't even talk about Ramadan anymore it just winds me up. 3 weeks this year sat in Spain drinking and eating all day everyday for me - bliss.

Re: Ramadan
 

Also take a trip to a branch of Union Co-Op for unbelievable food bargains and piled high trolleys. I make a point of visiting every Ramadan for the entertainment factor.

I have yet to work out why anyone needs to buy 16 boxes of creme caramel mix (a taped together offer) or why if you buy two bottles of Vimto you get a free litre of oil. How do they go together? In fact they have shelves and shelves of flipping Vimto in there. Extraordinary how that has become the go-to Ramadan drink.

Re: Ramadan
 

Just had a Ramadan thing for lunch at work. Vimto was the drink :-) Also a little booklet was dished out and in the FAQs it seems that Wet Dreams are OK during Ramadan :)

Re: Ramadan
 

Fasting if done properly, the way it is meant to be done, is highly beneficial for the body and also helps you feel what the poor person on the road feels, all year long.
Gluttony is not the proper way I am afraid.
as far as the deals on carrefour etc go, I think a lot of stuff being sold is either subsidized or nearing its end of life, hence the odd pairing of men's extra large polka dotted boxers with lemon grass scented hair removing cream (I think Scamp would be interested in that deal)
and by the by, I really wouldnt be too surprised if most of the shoppers picking up those large quantity deals are non-muslims, either for their small stores to sell after Ramzan when prices go back up again or even for their own pantry. And yes I was waggling my head when I wrote these last 3 sentences :D

Re: Ramadan
 

there is nothing beneficial about not taking on fluids for that amount of time.

Re: Ramadan
 

nor diabetes medicine :(

Re: Ramadan
 

I dont know, I always feel non-bloated if I dont drink water for a long period of time, I feel thirsty yes ofcourse, but somehow I think, in my head, I feel more prone to loosing calories. Ofcourse there is no medical proof for what I feel. I did read somewhere that the 8-9 hour fast helps reduce cholestrol.
Ofcourse I sit in one spot the whole day and not sweat at all, for anyone who is out there in the heat and proper sweating, dehydration is a very serious possibility. Yet people still do it. What can I say. You cant stop them.

My mother has type 2 diabetes and for the past 5 years I literally have had to fight with her every Ramzan not to fast yet she still does it. Sometimes she will let a day slip by if it gets too hard and I just froth and fume inside while watching her but should I question her faith? Who am I to question anyones faith? be it Muslim, Hindu, Jew or Christian. My best friend's grandmother (christian) is 90 if not more and she still fasts.

I guess I should have phrased my earlier statement in a different manner, 'Fasting if done properly, MIGHT be beneficial to some but there is that thing called faith for which there is no logical answer'

Re: Ramadan
 

8-9 hours is called a nights sleep and provides exactly zero cholesterol benefit.

proper fasting can be beneficial, look up intermitant fasting but depriving the body of fluids is not beneficial, ever unless its of alcohol
if you want the best benefits from fasting you need to start at about 2 days and go on for as many as 10.

Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration of damaged, old immune system -- ScienceDaily

Re: Ramadan
 

my old Egyptian boss saw Diabetes as an excuse not to give up anything during Ramadan.

apparently Diabetes meant he didnt have to give up Cuban cigars and Turkish coffee.

my other egyptian colleagues managed about a week until they started smoking and 2 weeks until they hit the coffee pot!

Re: Ramadan
 

There is a whole heap of gluttony as the people being taken to hospital for overeating every year demonstrate.

Re: Ramadan
 

what annoys me the most (or rather saddens me) are the breastfeeding and pregnant mums who fast

Re: Ramadan
 

well some dont
they are allowed to make it up later and they know it
mine didnt fast both times either
but having said that I hate to admit that yes you are right, most do fast during this time and that is just so wrong for the kid in the long run

Re: Ramadan
 

almost all do because their families expect them to because their mother/motherinlaw/aunty etc all did so why can't they?
I've seen so many young lasses at work lose their milk supply because they aren't hydrated enough, it makes me want to cry

Re: Ramadan
 

In 48c heat when you work on a building site!!!!
:(

Re: Ramadan
 

LOL and I had a Saudi Colleague who actually tried not to swallow his own saliva all day!!! I am absolutely serious. And he kept getting up and washing himself. On day 3 I asked him why he was washing himself literally ever half hour. He said it was because he was having sexual thoughts and he wanted to cleanse himself. Now, it was only me and him in the office and it freaked me out a tad as I wondered if it was my tail turning him on, so I moved offices. HE ignored me for weeks after.:amen:

Re: Ramadan
 

like most of the west :D

I don't really see he point in Ramadan bashing. The truth is that it hardly affects the average western expat. My inability to have a drink of water outside is more than compensated for by the month-long 6 hour (which is about 4) day.

Re: Ramadan
 

x 2 :goodpost:

Re: Ramadan
 

Lucky you. My old place did shorter working hours, this place doesn't. It's normal hours, work hard, Ramadan doesn't exist kind of attitude. Stupid.

Re: Ramadan
 

Of course. Same for us. Then by the second day, we realise that no-one picks up the phone so its time to go home.

Oh and, unless you are in the DIFC freezone, I think that policy is illegal.

Re: Ramadan
 

not bashing ramadan, am bashing the awful displays of gluttony and greed that are wrapped up in a pious veneer

Re: Ramadan
 

Exactly, I like Ramadan. I have the full use of the staff canteen with only maybe one other guy. The chef is so bored he asks every day what I'd like to eat and cooks it. I spend about 1 hour a day on company stuff and the rest on private work, so it's perfect to catch up on side jobs.
Any grief I get over why something isn't done, I can pawn off on the fasting people.:thumbup:

Re: Ramadan
 

me too. I'm off to Jeddah on Sunday too. Nice day in the gym while collecting my per diem. :lol:

Re: Ramadan
 

we just got an email telling us the reduced working hours but in practice that won't happen.

Re: Ramadan
 

By who?
Americans have some of the lowest per capital sugar consumption in the world as a result of sugar taxes (how else will governments regulate it?!) - of course, they have that corn starch thing instead which they eat to excess and is worse.

I wonder if sugar regulation will just lead to a different poison being introduced.

any why have cans of coke grown to 355ml?

Re: Ramadan
 

I'm hoping that realisation dawns on the boss quickly. He's been here 7 years. He should know better by now.

Always a good time to catch up on other stuff. My money spreadsheet gets an overhaul, sort out car hires / hotels etc for holiday. Nice time to keep busy sorting things you never normally do!

Re: Ramadan
 

The ones in Jebel Ali Food Court have shrunk to 300ml.

Newtons 3rd Law?

Re: Ramadan
 

I'm please to hear this. I was worried that we were heading for disaster.

Re: Ramadan
 

Lunch options during Ramadan 2014 - Geordie Armani I have made a list of independent eateries and a few hotel one thrown in due to the mall location that are open for dining during the day during Ramadan.

I have my Vimto :)

Re: Ramadan
 

Correct. UAE Labour Law states that ALL employees must work two hours less throughout Ramadan. In DIFC the reduction is for fasting Muslims only.

Re: Ramadan
 

We've just been told we're doing 0830-1600 instead of 0830-1730.

Fine with me.

Re: Ramadan
 

Just as well I don't have a DIFC visa. I normally have my lunch and leave. :lol:

Re: Ramadan
 

despite the fact that Labour Law is supposed to supersede Freezone regulations

Re: Ramadan
 

In Oman, all Muslims have to be present in the office for 2 hours less than they normally are.

Re: Ramadan
 

09.30 - 2.30 or, by arrangement 08.30 - 1.30.

Re: Ramadan
 

0900 -1600 for us
but i doubt I will finish much earlier than usual

Re: Ramadan
 

I have put extra classes in for my local girls, most of them want to train after iftar, a couple just before and I even had 2 who wanted to know if I would train them at 3am.. they would be on their way home and could train and go straight home to sleep all day!!

Re: Ramadan
 

and then they are being "pious" by effectively shifting night to day? that's not fasting.... :sneaky:

anyway, I hope you said yes :D more clients more money :D