Mum78.2: The Old Haunts

A trip to my hometown of Kuantan is not complete without sampling the exquisite Malay food. Breakfast was at the famous Nasi Kerabu Mekla, Permatang Badak with the Y Tribe. Always a great place for a large selection of traditional Malay delights. Then we were introduced to Slow Bar by Kopicat, a cafe operating out of an old wooden house along Jalan Alor Akar. The young baristas with their manual espresson machines make quite a mean cup of coffee. 

With our bellies full, it was time to visit the goldsmith. Quite a tradition to buy gold from the shop owned by the Y Tribe due to their honesty and competitive pricing. Mum would always gather her loose or unwanted items for a trade-in. Hours would go by browsing the selection of chains, rings, lockets, and charms. In the end, we found something for Mother's Day. 

KH and I slipped away later in the afternoon for a paktor session at The Rolling Dough, a cafe located in the Alor Akar neighbourhood, very near to where I used to stay. Must say that they make an excellent Dutch Baby. The place also has stacks of old issues of National Geographic and Enid Blyton, some even as old as KH. When I was a kid, mum would frequent this row of shops to do overlock stitching. There was a, sundry shop called "Hon Seong" where I would spend my pocket money on junk food and candy. Mum on the other hand would buy rice and biscuits there. Today, most of those old shops are gone except for this "Fresher Very Stor" (nama yang sangat glamer) and the corner kopitiam, "Man Hin".

As we went around town, the spectacle shop where I got my first pair of prescription glasses still exists. Back when I was 14 years old, I wore a pair of full frame glasses in the customary gold. Then I visited my Alma Mater-- SRK Bukit Sekilau, SMK St. Thomas and SMK Sultan Abu Bakar. The last two are now rolled into one.