Raya, here and there.

Salam & good day,

Yes, last Tuesday (Europe continent) or Wednesday (the other sides of the world), all muslims all around the globe have celebrated the eidulfitri. Literally means "celebration of to break the fast / or back to nature @ fitrah", it has one significant meaning, the mark of the end of ramadhan, and welcoming syawal. And throughout the world, this day was jubilantly celebrated in many ways. Way back home, people are having "rumah terbuka" - open houses that will last for almost a month. As for me, this is my third time, celebrating "raya" away from home. Nothing special here, but i have to make it special anyway. Some say, what's for ? you're away from home, nobody celebrates this here. hey, stop pulling my legs then. I agree to disagree that. Celebration should be there, no matter where you are. With or without rendang, ketupat and satay, eidulfitri is here to stay.

I was a bit lucky, since my sister has posted me a parcel contains "baju melayu". One full set. Actually i was not that much to wear this when i was in Malaysia, since i used to wear a robe. But, to set something different this year, and more years to come, "baju melayu" will be a must thing then. Why it is a lucky thing? ... i received it exactly the day before the eidulfitri, before i stepped back to my residential. Sounds like a perfect setting though.

1st Raya (Tuesday)

Dutch people called this day as a "suikerfeest", or literally "sugar festival". One could imagine that, since the Turkish and Morrocon people will serve a very nice set of sweet dishes. Not sure much about its name, but it tastes good. The thing i love most is Baklava. It is tremendously sweet, but it is a must for me. It is actually a pastry made of layers of dough filled with chopped nuts, usually walnuts or pistachios and sweetened with sugar or honey syrup.

Baklava (it is great!) * and it was free!

awesome taste .. heet lekker! (and free! ;-) )

Shaorma for my 1st raya dishes

Well, i did my Eidulfitri prayer at the mosque somewhere in the middle of Amsterdam. No idea about its name, but it was full packed with Pakistanis, Turkish, and Dutch people. Again, have no idea about the sermon as well. Guess, i need to learn this Dutch language at soonest! ...more than ever.


2nd Raya (Wednesday)

I guess, this is the closest thing to home. I went to the Embassy of Malaysia, somewhere at Rustenburgweg, The Hague (Den Haag). It took me almost an hour journey, from Amsterdam Zuid, using a high-speed train. The weather is pretty cold, reckon mother of nature wants to say something, winter is approaching!. Well, finally - typical raya dishes!. Rendang, sate, fried meehoon, lontong, ...hmm, what else? ..... (actually i was looking by any chance of nasi dagang! - what a hopeless hope though!).

Autumn rules!, winter is coming soon! .....

Happy Eid Fitri @ Gelukkig Suikerfeest!

The best i can get! ..heh..heh..heh

One kind of the crowd. Feels like home (err... not really!).

Stayed there till 5pm, met a couple of people, yeppp, new people, new contacts, and new networks. Shortly after kill most of the time there, i went to the Bro. Zahari's house, for another open house (means more sate, rendang ... ha ha ha eat till you drop time). What a small world, i met my senior there. heh....heh...heh had a chat till 9.00pm, before headed to the train station. The best thing when you have quite small communities here, you will get notice how close they are. Perhaps, trying to have something familiar to home, is what they are trying to do here. Me ? i will not bug much, but knowing them and how they are trying to preserve what should be preserved is the thing fancy me most. It is not easy, but when there is a hope, yes, there is a will. Anyway......

pakcik: well, may this eidulfitri transcends the true meaning
of life, hopes, enjoyment, and sharing!. Salam aidilftri to all!

....... may we will meet our beloved months of Ramadhan and Syawal again next year!. Insya' Allah.