For Malaysians, it is a double celebration on the last two days of August this year, as we celebrate the Eid ul-Fitri or more commonly known as Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Malaysia, and also our nation's 54th Independence Day on 31 August 2011. Just like previous days, the Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo held their annual Hari Raya Aildilfitri celebration in Shibuya, Tokyo.
This is my third time attending this double-celebration at the embassy, but I gotta say the celebration this year was much a smaller scale compared to the previous years.

A huge colourful bouquet of flowers by Rasa Malaysia Restaurant in Ginza, to welcome the guests to the open house.

Catered Indian food was served on Hari Raya Aidilfitri. But that is what makes Malaysia unique, isn't it?

Delicious home-made kuih raya and deserts were served as well.
In terms of the number of guests who went to the embassy, the attendance was relatively lower. I guess the fact that Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year fell on the middle of the summer holiday in Japan, most of the students had gone back to their hometowns to celebrate it with their family and loved ones.
The guests at the embassy were mainly the newly arrived juniors, new faces whom the orang lama (old people) like us have not seen before.
The open house started at nine-thirty and was supposed to end at noon. Mr Takeo Kishida, the CEO from "Feel Japan with K", a travel agency however, arrived there at eleven-thirty. He was there to cover the event but unfortunately, most of the guests had left the place and the food has also finished by the time he was there lol! He scrambled around the place, in an attempt to look for people to have their photos taken. We were asked to pick up random cookies and smile to the camera, to recreate the Hari Raya atmosphere earlier in the morning haha!
After the open house at the Embassy, we headed to the Embassy's staff apartment in Kamimeguro as they organised open houses for Malaysian students too.

To have Malaysians in their bright and colourful traditional costumes, walking on the streets while carrying white plastic bags of the food
tapao-ed from the open house in Tokyo was indeed a rare sight.

This staff apartment of the Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo was officiated by the wife of our former Prime Minister, Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali exactly twenty years ago.
The open house started at nine-thirty and was supposed to end at noon. Mr Takeo Kishida, the CEO from "Feel Japan with K", a travel agency however, arrived there at eleven-thirty. He was there to cover the event but unfortunately, most of the guests had left the place and the food has also finished by the time he was there lol! He scrambled around the place, in an attempt to look for people to have their photos taken. We were asked to pick up random cookies and smile to the camera, to recreate the Hari Raya atmosphere earlier in the morning haha!
After the open house at the Embassy, we headed to the Embassy's staff apartment in Kamimeguro as they organised open houses for Malaysian students too.

To have Malaysians in their bright and colourful traditional costumes, walking on the streets while carrying white plastic bags of the food
tapao-ed from the open house in Tokyo was indeed a rare sight.

This staff apartment of the Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo was officiated by the wife of our former Prime Minister, Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali exactly twenty years ago.
The first open house we went was Puan Siti Zaharah, the Counselor for the Public Service Department's (PSD) Education and Training office in the Embassy of Malaysia in Tokyo unit. We were there quite early, but there were already a big group who went there much earlier than us. The main menu of the day was the famous Kelantanese nasi kerabu, as Puan Siti herself hails from Kelantan.
The rendang and ketupat was great as well.

Besides nasi kerabu (blue-coloured rice on the left), nasi dagang (brown one on the right) from Terengganu was served as well.

The ketupat and nasi himpit, which was superb when taken together with the kuah kacang (peanut sauce).
The rendang and ketupat was great as well.

Besides nasi kerabu (blue-coloured rice on the left), nasi dagang (brown one on the right) from Terengganu was served as well.

The ketupat and nasi himpit, which was superb when taken together with the kuah kacang (peanut sauce).
Everyone was in their traditional costumes, while I went there wearing a t-shirt bearing the word "JAPAN". I guess I should get a pair of
baju Melayu soon (provided I can find the right size that fits me haha!)

Mr Morinaka (in blue batik) was there with her family and two other staffs (one is a driver and the other a body-guard) from the Embassy of Malaysia.

We managed to catch up with the always smiling Miss Chiba as well. She has been working in the Embassy since 1994!
Although we were away from Malaysia, the festive atmosphere was still very much alive, many thanks to the effort made by the organisers of the open house, to celebrate the happy occasions with the Malaysians who did not have the chance to return to Malaysia.
Our open house adventure continued to the third stop. The next open house was Mr Muhamad Annizam Mokhtar, the Second Secretary of the HR Department unit, just two floors below.
Our open house adventure continued to the third stop. The next open house was Mr Muhamad Annizam Mokhtar, the Second Secretary of the HR Department unit, just two floors below.
Spaghetti and tomato sauce with home-made meat balls.
I would like to extend my personal thank you message to both Puan Siti and Encik Annizam for their warm hospitality at the open house. And to all my friends out there, wishing you all a Happy Eid ul-Fitr!