LINE CLEAR AND LOUD

Years ago I wrote an article on Nasi Kandar stalls.It never got published. After watching Anthony Bourdain No Reservation Penang Episode, I mentioned to him that Malaysia is best represented in a Nasi Kandar stall. So I guess let me publish that article which i wrote in 2008.

Nasi Kandar outlets are patronized by people from all walks of society irrespective of race ,creed and colour.

                     

In fact the Nasi Kandar outlet(a.k.a the mamak stall) plays variety of roles to everyone. Say, if you went for a clubbing night and got drunk. Your parents are the type that waits for you at the front door with a 

breathalyzer kit way before the cops. The Nasi kandar shop will come  to the rescue. You eat as much as possible to cut the alcohol from your body. By the time you reach home,your parents might just believe that you went on an excursion tour of a spice factory! Even better if they really use a breathalyzer kit it will just show high oil and fat content.

Or if you are a sales agent and going to meet your client for the first time and really not sure you are going to nail it.It's the best cheaper alternative to a decent restaurant. You have a big screen LCD ,Wi-Fi,a vibrant and noisy ambience to create excitement in the deal you are going to make. Of course you would try your best to refrain the client from touching the untouchable item in the list like crabs,prawn(serious damage to your wallet and sotong(giant ones). Minus these  it will be an affordable affair for you

How many times when you want to impress a tourist or a foreign friend you have taken the person to a nasi kandar stall. There is no way you are going to take your British friend to a western joint and say here you go'the best fish and chips!' Even before the tourist eats at the mamak restaurant you would know the verdict. They just love the food especially the Roti Canai and of course the curry.

By the time you read this,you would have noticed that the people patronizing the Nasi kandar stall never came to your mind.It never bothered you. You never left the place because you are the odd coloured one .You stayed there even when the waiter(foreign workers) at the stall  speaks local lingo as if he is the fifth generation staying in this country and you feel like you have just mastered the language. Or on a bad day the newly arrived waiter struggles to  make sense of your order like "Teh tarik air-con". You will never abandon the nasi kandar stall.

In fact judging from this it would be a great idea even to come up with a political party called "Parti Nasi Kandar"(Nasi Kandar Party) where no one cares what colour you are as long you are there to enjoy the food. Aren't we suppose to be doing that in this country reap the benefits together regardless of creed and colour. In fact if judging from the turnout at ceramahs in recent times ,imagine having a ceramah at a Nasi Kandar stall by the Parti Nasi Kandar.It will be a bomb! It will definately be a multi coloured and multi creed in attendance. Line Clear would be a good venue! LOL