Category: Thoughts

The Kopitiam Pasta

I think it was Alisan coffee shop in the Masjid India area that pioneered the food court within a kopitiam. That was in the early 1980s and the concept has since been adopted by many Chinese coffee shops. The big and popular ones may squeeze as many as two or three dozen food stalls into a single shop lot.

Currently, one of the less common types of food served at such places is pasta. With the new burden of GST and the Shringgit (a term attributed to my friend Sidek Kamiso), the poor man’s Italian dining should become more popular.

If you are not a snob, this Seafood Pasta is good value as the portion and ingredients are generous at RM 9 nett. Of course, it won’t taste as good as that from an Italian chef who hand craft his pasta and blend the sauce from some time-tested family recipe.

Nevertheless, I like that I can customise it in whatever way I want at the kopitiam. No snooty chef or maitre d’ protesting because it is heresy to even suggest.

The fat Chinese cook here nodded his head happily when I requested a tomato-based sauce even though it is served dry.

I also like that I can order a barley drink to go with it and have dessert of Nyonya Kuih Lapis bought from another stall outside.

The coffee shop is at one corner of Jalan SJ6, Selayang.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 320, f6.3, 1/250 sec.

A Slice Of Life: Colourless At Slim River Bus Terminal

Frustrations from waiting can get people to come together and to interact. Sometimes.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f11, 1/160 sec.

Guardian Of The Cemetery

A Hindu shrine guarding a Chinese cemetery in the outskirts of Slim River. What was even more interesting was that the burial grounds had both Taoist and Christian tombstones mixed together. Quite unusual.

I suspect there is also a Hindu or Indian burial ground nearby. I can see what looks like a funeral pyre.

Waited for a lighting strike but it didn’t happen at where I pointed the camera. I was the only living soul around and the atmosphere was getting a little creepy. Could hear howling dogs but I can’t see where they are.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f13, 1/320 sec.

The Slim River Rest House

At one glance, Rumah Rehat Slim River looks like a charming hippie commune from the flower power days. Only thing missing is a VW Kombi with psychedelic colours.

Unlike other government rest houses from colonial days, this one is relatively recent. The reception clerk told me it was built in the 1960s.

The motel-style chalets are on stilts, clustered on a big lawn with nice countryside surroundings as a backdrop. I think I’ll stay here for this part of the journey.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f4, 1/1000 sec.

What Lah

I was walking by a restaurant in the Hartamas area when I saw a hipster choking on a black burger. Yes, it’s 2015 and our hipsters are still into burgers with charcoal buns (and green tea Kit Kat).

Fortunately, someone else there knew the Heimlich maneuver and administered it. The victim’s frantic partner called 999 and insisted on a hybrid or electric ambulance.

I shouted: “Give him a lemongrass drink or a mason jar with infused water and he’ll be alright”

The slumped, choked guy nodded in agreement.

“Later get him a Central Market T-shirt with an owl or dreamcatcher motif to cheer him up. Or find an inspirational quote for him to post on his Instagram”, I added.

Tears welled in everyone’s eyes.

As I exit the restaurant, I saw the manager running around the al fresco dining area in circles, as if still in panic.

I asked: “WTF, madam?”

She replied: “Oh. I’m plotting my running tracks to upload to Facebook”

Olympus OM-D, ISO 250, f6.3, 1/100 sec.

*juicy burger with charcoal buns photographed previously at myburgerlab. Not related to incident mentioned here.