In Indonesia while fasting, we have a tradition to break the fast together or called bukber (buka bersama). We usually do it with family, friends, or colleagues. This moment is also used to reconnect with old friends or big families.

The schedule of bukber for some people usually full in Ramadan. This day with office friends, next day with High School friends, the other day with big family and so on. A person might attempt more than five schedules. Moreover, if you are a social person. Therefore, many restaurants usually full of reservation in bukber time.

It is a long time ago I have bukber invitation. Since, I have stopped worked at office and choose to be a freelancer. From my experience, it is more comfortable and relax if I break fasting at home. If I want to eat food from some restaurants, I just order online and eat at home.

However, couple months ago, I joined with a company. Suddenly couple days ago, my boss asked us to bukber with Surabaya colleagues. Actually, we work from anywhere, but some of us stay at the same city. He wants to meet and greet with us. Although, my boss live in the next town, he agreed to meet us in our city, Surabaya.

Since the invitation is in last minutes, it was difficult to find a restaurant. Almost all were fully booked. One of my colleagues, suggested to have bukber at hotel restaurant. It was a good idea because we can have all you can eat meal. Finally, we can have a reservation at Hotel 88 at Jl. Kedungsari No.78, Surabaya.

I never had a bukber at hotel. I usually had bukber at a restaurant with one menu or sharing menu in a table. In a hotel, they have all you can eat meal. In this hotel the theme is Indonesian food. They had a table full of main menu, like rice, fried rice, fried noodle, vegetables sauté (like capcay), soy sauce chicken, fried dory fish with sweet and sour sauce, and also the condiments like sambal and shrimp crisp.

They also had a western salad table where you can add various vegetables like lettuces, corn, carrot, tomato, and many more. They also had Indonesian fruit salad or rujak. Various fruits like cucumber, papaya, pine apple, mango, jicama doused with palm sugar peanut sauce.

In snack table, I can find various breads, cakes, fritters, kolak, sweet porridge, mixed fruit ice dessert, and siomay. For drinks, they had coffee, tea, iced syrup, and water. In outside, they still had middle east table menu like kebab, nasi mandhi, satay, and other menus.

There were so many foods. After we hold half day not eating and drinking. Then, we saw so many foods, it was good and bad for me. It was good because there were many options. It can satisfy my appetite.

On the contrary, because with so many options, we will want to eat more. With an empty stomach for hours and suddenly eating so many, our stomach might be shock. It can make the stomach bloating. Therefore, I started slowly. I went around and saw all the menu and decide which food I like to eat the most.

For starter I eat dates, watermelon, and water. Then, prayed first at prayer room near the restaurant. It is really helpful they provide prayer room around restaurant. So that, we can pray Maghrib before continue break fasting.

After that, I eat main menu. I choose fried and noodle rice, vegetables, chicken, dory, and chicken wing satay. Protein was a priority for me. I took each in small portion and put in a plate. Then, back to the table and eat slowly.

After finish it, I like to eat the snacks while meeting. I chose a piece of strawberry cake, a banana and a Tempe fritter. I also ate rujak. For the drinks I just drink water. After that, I was full. Off course I still want to eat more, but I stop because my stomach can hurt if I continue eating.

After all, it is a satisfy bukber experience for me. The important is I can control myself, so my stomach is not getting hurt. The key to eat safely at all you can eat meal are take in small portion, eat slowly, and listen to your body. If your body say stop, you should do it. Remember, we eat for our health, not for our lust.