Sam Tam Ramblings: Hari Raya (or Eid) Open House

This Saturday, we have open house invitations to 2 different houses in celebration of Hari Raya (or Eid as it is called in other countries). Open House is a unique Malaysian way of celebrating major festivals of the Chinese, Malays and Indians. The Chinese do it during Chinese New Year, the Malays in the months of Syawal (after fasting for a month in the month of Ramadan) and the Indians during Deepavali (Divali as it is called in India). Christians too have been known to have open houses for the Christmas celebrations. Open House is when friends. colleagues and acquaintances are invited to the house to eat and drink and have fellowship with one another.

The first open house we went to was Indah's. She was the LSCA admin many many moons ago and this year is the second time we are going to her house. For company, we had Jeanie (another ex admin from EMG) and Madeline (also an ex admin from EMG). The day started off HOT - really searingly HOT! Indah's house is located in Bukit Jelutong - not too far from my other house in Denai Alam. We first picked up Madeline from work - her boss allowed her to leave 10 minutes earlier since we were already there.

By the time we arrived at Indah's, Jeanie was already there. Indah had her food catered by Chakri Palace!!

We had satay, bee hoon, colorful rice, colorful cookies and a whole host of edibles!.

I had to remind myself not to overeat and leave some space for the second open house. Burp!!!

From Bukit Jelutong, we used the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE) to get to Rawang. That was my first time using the full GCE and I am very disappointed - I had to pay tolls 3 times within a relatively short stretch of 20km or so. Before we reached the Rawang interchange, dark clouds were gathering in the distance ahead.

And by the time we reach Marya's house, all hell broke loose with torrential rain hammering on everything on the roads and in the area around Bandar Tasik Puteri.

For Marya's open house, she had also invited a couple of orphanages to join in and so Jeanie and I had prepared some GREEN packets for the orphans. This in itself is an evolved custom. The Chinese gives RED packets during Chinese new year and over the years, the Malays had adapted the practice by giving GREEN packets. Indians give PURPLE packets during Divali.

After our group had gorge ourselves on rojak (we prepared it ourselves in the comfort of the kitchen instead of getting soaked in the tents that Marya had put up), Nasi dagang, soup ayam and teh tarik, Jeanie and I hurriedly went to the front to distribute the GREEN packets before the orphans went home.