A Funny Old Day

It had been a funny old day. I laid there in Johor Baru, Malaysia, recovering from the three hour drive from Kuala Lumpur. A friend had, very kindly, put us up for the night. We, my Chinese saviour and I, brought down the Khmer paintings and drawings we are hoping to exhibit at the October exhibition of Khmer art to accompany the re-launch of my book 'A Story of Colors of Cambodia'.

Smoothly eloquent Steven Fry entertained us from the car's CD player, making me realise how under par my writing really is, and how I really should not bother to express myself in the English language. Nonetheless, secondary school boy or not, I traversed that sun-threatened highway all the way down to the very tip of peninsula Malaysia, caught in a literary bemusement with high hopes and balmy,  if not barmy dreams.

Upon our arrival, kind hands aided the transportation of paintings and drawings from the SUV, making our work so much lighter, and stacking those products of industrious Cambodian chidren in our friends’ brand spanking new office. There were heavy sighs of relief on task completion, and hasty talk of Bak Kut teh (pork stewed in Chinese tea) in the town of Johor Baru. A reward for all our labours.

Pig's intestines, stomach,  ribs all floated, or sank, in a Chinese herbal soup. Long, fried, Chinese donuts (Char Kway) were chopped and took the place of croutons in the porcine stew. Participants (6) tucked in, further flavouring their chosen morsels with a mixture of soy sauce, raw, chopped garlic and chopped ferocious chillies. It was an epicurean delight marred only slightly by a thin soup.

The promised dessert never materialised. I went to bed heaving sighs and having images of black glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk swimming before my gluttonous eyes. Malaysia is THE place for desserts, but none were to come my way that night.

The next morning's early start never materialised. Sleepily, we trundled back (uphill) the 3 hours 22 mins and 330.4 kilometers to Puchong, to catch the telecom guys in time to install our fibreoptic internet. Within minutes all was very well. Holes were drilled and cables laid. Our broadband was duly installed,  with thanks to the diligent workers. Thus I no longer have to rely on my mobile data at home for news and reviews. You cannot see it, but I smile as I write.