Wear a Jersey Long Dress in Singapore, Why not?

Sebenarnya cerita ini terjadi tahun lalu, tepatnya saat aku dan dua teman blogger (Alfian dan Darwin) memenangi sebuah perlombaan yang hadiahnya jalan-jalan ke Singapura dan Malaysia. Saat itu di itinerary sudah tertulis bahwa first landing kita adalah Bandara Internasional Kuala Lumpur, jadi pakaian pertama yang kupakai dari rumah adalah gamis jersey berwarna piech.

Sampai di bandara Soekarno-Hatta sekitar pukul 04.00 pagi, dan setelah menelepon teman, akhirnya kami berkumpul di salah satu spot yang ada di dalam bangunan bandara. Mas Faisal yang saat itu sebagai pendamping yang ditugaskan pihak pemberi hadiah langsung membagikan ID Card dan satu lembar itinerary baru. Aku langsung melihat itinerary  tersebut dan selanjutnya membuat mataku membesar. Wah, kenapa bisa berubah total begini?

Ternyata penerbangan pertama kami tidak landing di Kuala Lumpur, melainkan Singapura. Seketika aku memekik kecil hingga dua temanku bertanya.

“Aku salah kostum. Yang benar saja aku ke Singapura pakai gamis begini.” Kataku dengan cemas.

Bukannya menenangkan, mereka malah tertawa. Dalam hati aku iri sekali dengan Alfian yang saat itu hanya mengenakan kaos dan celana pendek di bawah lutut. Dia pasti akan nyaman sekali saat menyusuri jalanan yang sudah mirip Eropa di Singapura sana. Lha aku? Gamis ini pasti akan jadi pusat perhatian banyak orang. Aku tidak siap mendapati pandangan sinis orang-orang. 

Begitulah kecemasanku saat itu. Mungkin karena gambaran Singapura yang kulihat di internet menampilkan suasana kota seperti di Barat. Terutama Orchad Road. Tiba-tiba aku dbayangi oleh kejadian-kejadian tidak ramah yang didapat wanita berhijab di negeri minoritas Muslim (Sungguh kalau diingat-ingat, kok kesannya kecemasanku saat itu terlalu lebai).

Sambil menggerutu aku menarik koper menuju salah satu toilet di bandara. Sudah saatnya untuk berwudhu dan menunaikan shalat Subuh. Mau ganti pakaian, aku malah malas buat bongkar-bongkar koper. Pasrah. Yeah, itulah yang kulakukan. We’ll see what happen to me with this dress.

 

Changi Airport, Singapore

Sekitar pukul 09.00, roda-roda pesawat yang kami tumpangi sempurna mendarat di Bandara Changi Singapura. Usai melewati pemeriksaan di bagian imigrasi, kami segera berjalan keluar bangunan bandara. Tengah hari kami sudah sampai di areal tugu Rafles lalu berlanjut ke areal patung singa. Matahari bersinar sangat terik hingga membuat mata perih. Saat itulah aku bersyukur karena telah mengenakan gamis jersey. Bahannya yang tebal namun ringan dan sejuk sedikit meminimalisir panas yang berlebihan. Dengan bagian bawah yang jatuh dan lebar, langkahku jadi lebih bebas. 

 

One Fullerton area

Masuk waktu Zuhur kita shalat di salah satu Masjid (mungkin Masjid satu-satunya) tidak jauh dari Orchad Road. Aku melihat banyak wanita berwajah antar bangsa sedang berwudhu dan shalat di sana. Ah, setelah berjam-jam melihat isi Singapura, baru sekarang aku melihat para wanita berhijab. Aku merasa tenang di dalam Masjid ini. Rasanya ingin berlama-lama.

Beberapa menit kemudian, aku telah selesai shalat. Selanjutnya aku pilih duduk di salah satu sudut ruangan untuk istirahat sebentar. Aku sibuk memperhatikan pakaian dan wajah para wanita yang ada di sana. Sebagian besar adalah wanita dari Timur Tengah. Aku bisa mengenali dari abaya hitam dan celak tebal yang mereka pakai. 

Tanpa sadar, ternyata aku sudah lama memperhatikan seorang wanita muda yang duduk sekitar tiga meter dariku. Aku dibuat takjub pada bentuk wajahnya yang sempurna. Hidung lancip, dagu seperti sarang lebah, mata lebar dan hitam, kulit putih, dan bibir tipis yang indah. Rasanya aku sedang melihat ciptaan Allah paling indah. 

Aku gugup begitu tahu perempuan itu telah memandangku seraya tersenyum ramah. Sedikit ragu dan salah tingkah aku pun mengangguk dan membalas senyumannya. Tanpa diminta, ia beranjak berjalan ke hadapanku. Ia ulurkan tangannya.

“Hi. I am Fatimah from Jeddah. Kulihat kamu memperhatikanku sejak tadi.” Ucapnya santun.

Aku masih gugup, tapi sebisa mungkin agar suaraku tidak bergetar. “Hi, Fatimah. My name Sofia from Indonesia. Nice to meet you. Aku minta maaf karena sudah memandangmu terlalu lama. Maaf jika itu membuatmu jadi tidak nyaman.”

“Itu bukan masalah, my dear. Baiklah, aku sudah ditunggu oleh suamiku di luar sana. Sampai bertemu lagi. Semoga Allah selalu melimpahkan kebaikan padamu. Sampai bertemu lagi.”

“Sampai bertemu lagi. Doa yang sama untukmu.”

Fatimah tersenyum lalu berdiri dan melangkah menuju pintu. Namun sebelum keluar, ia menoleh sekali lagi dan berseru kecil. “Aku suka pakaianmu. Andai aku bisa memakainya juga.” Ia mengedipkan mata.

Tidak ada ucapan apa-apa lagi yang keluar dari mulutku. Aku hanya diam seribu bahasa. Antara bahagia dan haru. Fatimah sudah hilang di balik pintu, tapi kebahagiaan dalam hatiku masih saja meluap-luap. Dalam hati aku membatin, ternyata gamis jersey yang semula kutakutkan menjadi musibah justru mendatangkan anugerah. Kesimpulan yang bisa kuambil, “Jangan pernah takut untuk tetap menunjukkan identitas kemuslimahan meskipun saat itu kita sedang berada di tempat minoritas Islam. Allah selalu menjaga hamba-hambaNya yang patuh pada perintah-Nya.”

Apakah sahabat-sahabat di sini punya pengalaman yang mirip/sama? Feel free to write in comment box.

***

Actually, this story happened a year ago, precisely when I and two blogger (Alfian and Darwin) won a traveling prize to Singapore and Malaysia. In the itinerary was written that our first landing is Kuala Lumpur International Airport, so i decided to wear a jersey long dress (almost like abaya) with piech color. I heard that people in Malaysia is very religous (mostly).

I reached Soekarno-Hatta airport at 04.00 am, and after called my friends by phone, we dealt to meet at one of airport building spot. Mas Faisal (a representative from the company that gave us prize) gave me ID Card and new itinerary sheet. I immediately saw to the itinerary which in turn made my eyes dilated. Hey, why could they change our route?

In our new itinerary was written that our first flight landing isn’t Kuala Lumpur Airport, but Singapore. Instantly I little squealed until my friends asked, “What happened?”

"I’m wearing a wrong dress. I can’t go to Singapore with this dress." I said anxiously.

They didn’t make me stay calm, but laughed. In my heart I was envy to Alfian. He was only wearing a t-shirt and short pant. Surely he will comfy while walking on the streets of Singapore (which is almost similiar with streets in Europe). And me? This long dress will surely be the center of attention of many people. I wasn’t ready to get a cynical sight.

That concerns was because Singapore photos i had seen on the internet showing city with West view. Especially Orchard Road (i thought it almost same with many streets in UK or USA. So busy and loaded) Suddenly I imagined about many of Muslim women got bad treatment by people in the minority Muslim country (Lebai mode on).

I tried to forget my worries and decided to pulled my luggage to a Musola (praying room) in the airport. It was time for perform Subuh praying. My heart said to change my clothes, but I felt lazy about loading and unloading luggage. We’ll see what happen to me with this dress soon.

Around 09:00 am, our plane perfectly landed on Changi Airport, Singapore. After passed little of examination at the immigration site, we immediately walked out from airport building. At noon we had reached Raffles Landing Site area, and  then went to One Fullerton spot. Sunshine was very hot up. It made my eyes sore. At this time I was grateful to have been wearing jersey longdress. Its material very comfy and cool with wide and blowing low part. I felt freely to take my steps

Near Raffles Landing Site

Near One Fullerton

Time wore on. At 13.00 pm we decided to pray in one of the Mosque (probably the only one Mosque there), not far from Orchard Road. I see many international women was praying there. Ah, after hours of seeing the live of Singapore, only now I see women with hijab. I felt peaceful in this Mosque. I wanna stay at this Mosque until hours later.

A few minutes passed, I had finished my pray. Next I choose to sit in one corner of the room for take a quick break. I was busy looking clothes and faces of the women who were there. Most were women from the Middle East. I could recognize from the black abaya and their thick kohl.

I didn’t realize, it turned out I have long noticed a woman who was sitting about three meters away from me. I was amazed at her perfect face shape. Pointy nose, chin like a beehive, eyes wide and black, white skin, beautiful and thin lips. I think I saw the most beautiful Allah’s creation.

I was nervous when knew she was looking at me. Gave me a smile friendly. I nodded and smiled back. I didn’t believe she stood up and walked to me. She smiled and gave her hand.

"Hi. I am Fatima from Jeddah. I saw you are looking at me for a few minute." She said politely.

I was nervous. I tried my voice didn’t tremble as much as possible. "Hi, Fatimah. My name Sofia from Indonesia. Nice to meet you. I'm sorry I've been looking at you for too long. Sorry if that made you uncomfortable."

"That's not a problem, my dear. Well, My husband is waiting me outside. See you again. May Allah always bestow His kindness to you. See you again."

"See you again. Same du’a for you."

Fatima smiled, stood up, and walked toward the door. However, before exiting, she turned once again and shouted a little. "I like your long dress. I wish I could wear it, too." She winked.

No greeting or anything else came out my mouth. I was just silent. Between happiness and felt touched. Fatimah disappeared behind the door, but the happiness in my heart was still overwhelming. I thought, this long dress never be a bad treatment’s source, otherwise it brought peaceful. The conclusion I could take is, "Never be afraid to show your Muslim identity by your fashion style, even though at that time you are in a place with minority Muslim. Allah always keeps saving us who follows His command."

Do you have similiar/same experience? Feel free to write in the comment box.