Weekend no.9
Well another weekend here in London. It's a long week end this week as Monday we have a bank holiday. Duhh ? Why they called it 'Bank' holiday instead of Public Holiday like everyone else on the other side of this planet? I'm not sure but I think it got something to do with Bank closes on holiday dated wayyy back in the 18th Century? Or my explanation is just a pure fantasy or fiction but we can get details from Wikipedia.. I hope.
On Saturday, there I was, stood at the entrance of the Malaysia Hall Cafe reading a rather strange and surprised newly printed rules which read something like this 'Only Malaysian can enter this cafe. Foreign must be accompanied by a Malaysian…'. Now, that would post an identity crisis to me. Yes, I'm a Malaysian and I used to vote and paid my yearly Cukai Pendapatan, EPF and yet the last time I was there, people mistook me for a foreigner or, at least a Singaporean. Do I look like Ah Beng or something? Then, I didn't carry any forms of identification. I don't want to be chased out while having a good Malaysian meal and I don't want to listen to anymore 101 Guides to Malaysian cultures! As I walked in, the waitress and her boss at the counter were staring at me. My quick thinking paid off. I started a short conversation with her about their food in my Kedah accent ..hehe. What a relief!
Ah yes! After 50 years of Merdeka and the gap is still there. Ooppss.. Did I say 50 years? My bad! Like all 'Anak Sarawak', we recognized it as 44 years not 50 years and that our Sarawak sentiment period. Then, I am always trying to understand why the racial integrations in Sarawak are so progressive as compared to the West counterpart.
Anyway, back track to the Malaysia Hall cafe. The new management had made some improvement to their menu. There are more choices of food now but the prices are not that cheap as before. I ordered 1 sambal prawn (it came with 1 x portion of tiny Udang galah minus the Sambal at £3.00 - there's no fixed price on this, it depends on the Boss who set the price on the fly), a 'Cawan' portion of Nasi tomato with an over cooked harden Ayam masak merah and a can of Coke, and that meal cost me GBP6.90. In fact, at the end of my meal my stomach stills grumbled angrily at me. I would love to taste their Kari Ikan or Fried Ikan Bawal but pity, the atmosphere was not on my side. Their food counter by now was swarmed with those Datuks, Datins or some VIP look alike. I waited for about 15 minutes and they were still haven’t decided what they want. Oh well, maybe next time..
On Saturday, there I was, stood at the entrance of the Malaysia Hall Cafe reading a rather strange and surprised newly printed rules which read something like this 'Only Malaysian can enter this cafe. Foreign must be accompanied by a Malaysian…'. Now, that would post an identity crisis to me. Yes, I'm a Malaysian and I used to vote and paid my yearly Cukai Pendapatan, EPF and yet the last time I was there, people mistook me for a foreigner or, at least a Singaporean. Do I look like Ah Beng or something? Then, I didn't carry any forms of identification. I don't want to be chased out while having a good Malaysian meal and I don't want to listen to anymore 101 Guides to Malaysian cultures! As I walked in, the waitress and her boss at the counter were staring at me. My quick thinking paid off. I started a short conversation with her about their food in my Kedah accent ..hehe. What a relief!
Ah yes! After 50 years of Merdeka and the gap is still there. Ooppss.. Did I say 50 years? My bad! Like all 'Anak Sarawak', we recognized it as 44 years not 50 years and that our Sarawak sentiment period. Then, I am always trying to understand why the racial integrations in Sarawak are so progressive as compared to the West counterpart.
Anyway, back track to the Malaysia Hall cafe. The new management had made some improvement to their menu. There are more choices of food now but the prices are not that cheap as before. I ordered 1 sambal prawn (it came with 1 x portion of tiny Udang galah minus the Sambal at £3.00 - there's no fixed price on this, it depends on the Boss who set the price on the fly), a 'Cawan' portion of Nasi tomato with an over cooked harden Ayam masak merah and a can of Coke, and that meal cost me GBP6.90. In fact, at the end of my meal my stomach stills grumbled angrily at me. I would love to taste their Kari Ikan or Fried Ikan Bawal but pity, the atmosphere was not on my side. Their food counter by now was swarmed with those Datuks, Datins or some VIP look alike. I waited for about 15 minutes and they were still haven’t decided what they want. Oh well, maybe next time..
posted by Rohaya & Taufik at
2:34 PM
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