Memories live in heart – Friendship with Mustain-san

Along with drizzles there were agonies of severance when we hugged. That was the pain of heart which the pen might not be able to convey. That is the kind of communion of hearts beyond cultures, community, nations and religions that expatriates makes during their stay away from their mother land in a foreign country. Some of the Japanese people passing through at that late night at Keisei Narita railway station might have witnessed a traditional Indian way of hugging. It was the final moments we shared each other in Japan – Mustain-san and me.

Mustain-san departed from Japan. He was one of my best friends for the last one year stay in Japan. He was the one to whom I could talk at first in the office as a friend, with whom I shared my personal feelings, thoughts, ideas and pleasures. Mustain-san showed me where to do shopping, where to look for economical purchasing and how to transfer trains in Tokyo. Those initial training was very much essential and helpful for my survival in Japan.

We visited many places in and around Tokyo together during weekends. He introduced me to the Indonesian restaurants in Tokyo and one of the Indonesian shop at Okachimachi. During Sundays I also go with Mustain-san to buy some items from Indonesian shop at Okachimachi. The boiled tapioca tender leaves with small fishes tasted good for me. I became frequent visitor to that Indonesian shop till we shifted our stay to separate apartments during September 2008.

Through Mustain-san I learned more about Indonesia and its culture. I had some general idea about Indonesia, but through him I got some deep knowledge of the complex culture of Indonesia and its ethnicity.

We studied lessons of Japanese language together at OVTA and shared our new words while working and walking back to the apartment. We made fun together and enjoyed with other friends. We dined together in different Indian and Indonesian restaurants in Tokyo. Mustain-san was my argument partner interestingly. We argue on technical issues and gained more knowledge. Now I feel a vacuum without Mustain-san.

Mohammad Mustain from Indonesia is no more with me now. He had already crossed the sea that separates Japan and Indonesia. We are far away but the memories are warm in the heart. After all friendship goes beyond sea and sky.

Thanks Mustain-san for everything you gave me during our days together in Japan. I miss you a lot.

Is there any Indonesian Restaurants in Tokyo?

Is this a question !

There are many Indonesian restaurants in Japan, especially in Tokyo. Indonesian migrant population in Japan is more compared to other south east asian countries like India. Japan also have interests in Indonesia as it is an oil rich area. During second world war, when allied forces, stopped oil supply to Japan, Japan dared to attack Indonesia and captured it as a source of petroleum. That is now part of history. Our topic is Indonesian Hotels in Tokyo.

This is the second time I was going to an Indonesian hotel in Tokyo. The first time I went with my Indonesian friend was to Surabay hotel in Odaiba, near water park. This time, we went to another SuraBaya hotel in Toyosu. This hotel is inside the Lalaport shopping complex in Toyosu.

Many varieties of food were displayed infront of the Surabaya hotel. Indonesian Surabaya hotel is near to and Indian hotel Bombay Talkie, inside the shopping mall.

The taste of food is similar to the traditional taste of food at Surabaya, my Indonesian friend told. Surabaya is a district in the East Java province. Surabaya is the capital of East Java. The distance from Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia is around 900 km, and takes around 70 minutes by air. East Java is famous for its cultural and religious mix up. Majority of Hindu people in Indonesia are from Java. They keep the traditional customs and rituals of Hindu religion till date.

'nashi goreng'

The food we have tasted also were not much different from many of the food varieties I have experienced in India. I took 'nashi goreng' in Indonesia, meaning fried rice with oil fried chicken and half boiled egg with fried fish snack. Nashi goreng is one of the popular food in Surabaya. The coutesy of the staff at restaurant was commentable. They are attentive and polite. Some Japanese staff are also there.

I enjoyed the nashigoreng and would love to revisit Surabaya restaurant again !