36th Japan Charity Fiesta and Bazaar 2008, Nikko Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

10:36pm, 9-Nov '08, Home.

On the 9th November 2008, 3 of us (myself, ultrabeast and divinefang) went to the 36th Japan Charity Fiesta and Bazaar held at Nikko Hotel, Kuala Lumpur. This event not just to bring the already strong culture presence of Japan to Malaysia but also the nostalgic atmosphere to the Japanese people residing or working here.

This event is self-explanatory, mainly a blend of fiesta with myriads of Japanese foods, the well known common foods such as sushi, yakitori, soft drink "Pocari Sweat" and various homemade candies and cookies by the lovely expatriates' wives and the member of the Japanese clubs. Filled with fun of kids games to keep their kids well entertain.

You also can expect some purchase of your favourite Japanese various mangas, characters, animes, figurines and masks at a bargain! hence the word "Bazaar". Meanwhile, in cultural wise, you have the opportunity to don on their traditional cloth such as Kimonos and Yukatas. Trays of astounding beautiful Yukatas and Kimonos awaiting to be selected. Young and old busied themselves to select the best and the finest cloths that suits them well. If you want to experience the genuine and authentic Japanese traditional tea preparation at an economy price, here you will get it :). Those who didn't go, perhaps you can try on next year :)!.

Some of the proceeds from this event will be channeled to the local charity organisation where they used to do it last year. Imagine to your fullest, you can spend, enjoy, experience and yet still can indirectly contribute to the charity, that's the perfect cycle of being a human beings with delightfulness :).

More details of this event can be acquired here.

The photos taken ensue (click to enlarge) :):

The poster.

The Fiesta and Bazaar 2008.

Entrance to the Grand Ballroom.

Woh! The grand entrance to the Ballroom.

Thousands of people shopping in the ballroom!

Ah! Getting more people as the time passes!

Myriads of kids' games - small balls scooping.

Floating balls with fancy colours awaiting to be scooped!

The balls' scooper, a ring-alike with a fragile paper forms the hole use to scoop the balls. I tried with just a ball scooped, then the paper was easily torn apart. Oh crap! the kids averagely can scooped at least 3 balls but not me :(! However, at the end, 2 additional balls were given as a consolation prize :).

Everyone busy scooping :)!

Another game - fancy patterned balloons hooking.

Each balloon is clipped with a string with a knob at the end. Use the given hook to hook for just 3 attempts.

3rd game - Throw a ring, soft drink got ringed, the price adjacent to the soft drink is all yours.

Children anticipatedly awaiting for their turns to try their luck!

Oh! please I want that big, juicy n fat chocolate bar :)!

Myself and the assistant of the Ring Game.

Take your chance to don in your favourite Yukatas and Kimonos.

Sweet lady, helping others to don a Kimono :). 着物を着てあげます。

Ah! A killing smile :)! 親切のスマイル：）！

Donned in their favourite Kimonos.

Small plantation for sale - various cactus.

Handicrafts made by the Japanese expatriates and the Japanese Club members for sale :).

Magnet for sale with Japanese miniature ornaments.

World's Best Cream Puff by Beard Papa. Is it nice? Maybe I should try at Mid Valley or One Utama when the time comes ;).

Beard Papa's manager: "Psst! You will be in the newspaper, quickly give your best smile", whispered the manager to his colleague :p.

Stacks of sushi for you to select! Yummy :).

Many more varieties of foods.

Yokomon - Japanese favourite ice cream. Ditto to Pokemon?

Here's the process. Step 1: a small cup of ice cream with clients' selected flavour taken out from the fridge.

Step 2: The ice cream was then place into a stamper.

Step 3: The stamper was tightly locked, then compressed by winding the level. The ice cream was then squeezed out round and round into a cup.

Done! You can have your Yokomon ice cream (camera-shy lady). The selling point of this Yokomon is the method of preparation of the ice cream. "It's the grinding movement (woods) that makes it (the chicken) so special (tasty)". Try to replace the green words with the bracketed, a similar slogan of Kenny Rogers Roaster :).

My Yokomon's ice cream with a strawberry flavour. A bit taste of rum. Yummy!

I, the Malaysian ambassador of Yokomon ice cream haha :p!

Eatery tables.

The items used for genuine Japanese traditional tea preparation. From left to right: transparent pot contains fresh water, a green bowl meant for tea, a ladle for scooping water, an iron pot contains hot boiling water.

The transparent pot contains fresh water. Very nice indeed!

Small desert served before tea-preparation performance commenced. Non-camera shy lady (left)!

The lady with red Kimono does the preparation and the other lady is to serve the finished tea to the customers :).

Step 1: Fresh water was politely scooped and poured into the iron pot and then awaits to boil.
Step 2: Tea leaves was then poured into the green bowl followed by the hot water. The mixture was blended with a blender.
Step 3: The bowl was then gently placed on the hand palm and was rotated slowly. The artistry of the bowl was observed on the same time.
Step 4: The tea was now ready to serve.

Oh! I had no luck, the much effort, once in a million, time and passion tea-made was served to other! The customer should do the same by observing the artistry of the bowl before drinking, explained by divinefang.

In sync, a group of servers walk gracefully from behind of the partition, served every single customers with the readily made green tea. "Wow! So fast! must be hastily done, perhaps by using an instant teabags :p?", exclaimed jokingly by ultrabeast.

The green tea upclose! Hmmm...the surface was filled with bubbles. How did they did the blending, I wonder? Both tea leaves and water were blended via gargling in mouth :p? and here's the "Green Tea birds' nest", I would call. Try to speak in Cantonese but by replacing the word "birds" into "human", 人窝 haha :)!

The ushers of the tea preparation perfomance.

That's all folks. Each of us brought back lots of memories besides our favourite mangas, animes and figurines. By the way, I didn't purchase anything but the foods and the enjoyment of taking pictures with divinefang's DSLR camera. The quality of the pictures are amazing, planning to get one for myself :).

Non-related but useful wordings.

It is the surmounting of difficulties that makes heroes - Louis Kossuth.

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