I received an sms out of the blue that day from my ex-student/lawyer-friend, Louis, now residing with his family in Kuching. He asked if I was at home and of course, I replied that I was. These days, I would be home most, if not all, of the time. He said he was on his way to my house.
Oh? So he was in Sibu again? He comes over very often – I guess he has a lot of cases here but most of the time, he would be here for a day or two and he would have to rush back to his missus and boys in Kuching, not much time for much else while he was in Sibu.
He said he had some things for me and I just assumed that somebody had sent some stuff from Kuching to me through him but no, it turned out that he bought some Sibu Foochow-style sio bee…
…from here for me to enjoy. As far as I know, without fail, he will drop by that coffee shop everytime he comes back to Sibu for his favourite beef noodles in town.
For me, the sio bee from this coffee shop…
…are small but they are very nice, going all the way back to 2012 when I first tried the ones from their branch along Island Road, since demolished to give way to some construction there. They were 70 sen each then – the last time I bought some, the price had gone up to 80 sen, dunno how much they are now.
Their bak chang is also very nice and yes, Louis did buy me a few…
…to enjoy as well.
He also got me this one…
…but he was not sure what was inside, kacang or something, he said. Here, if people say it’s kacang, it can mean peanut or tau sar (red bean paste). At the time of writing, I have not tried it yet so I don’t know which that would be.
Thank you so much, Louis, for the sio bee and the chang, so very nice of you to think of your old teacher and to go through the trouble of buying and sending them all the way to my house – it sure was a pleasant and sweet surprise.
The Dragon Boat Festival or 端午节 Duānwǔ Jié, usually called the Chang (Dumpling) Festival falls on the 14th of June this year so it is just a few weeks away. I guess when the time comes, I can just buy a few of the nice ones from here to eat to preserve the tradition, our heritage.
SIN KIAW CAFE (2.291287, 111.826611) is located along Ramin Way, the first shop on your right as you turn in from Jalan Kampung Nyabor, right behind the petrol station located at the bend.
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
So nice of your former student to buy the chang for you. 🙂 I can’t wait to enjoy mine as well.
Just a few weeks to go. I love the nyonya ones, none here – can get them easily in Melaka.
That was so nice and thoughtful of your ex-student. Sio bee are my favourites too. Wow, you have an early Dragon Boat Festival celebration. These days bak changs are sold everywhere and everyday, so one can easily get to eat them any time of the year.
Yes, one will just need to know where to go for the good ones. Unfortunately, we cannot get the lovely nyonya ones in Sibu, only in Kuching. Over there, I would not bother about these Hokkien ones, will just go for the best nyonya ones in town.
Gosh, I absolutely love staying connected with former students. It brings so much joy to know how they are growing.
Oh? You were a teacher before? They must be thrilled to be taught by someone who looks like Nigella Lawson. LOL!!!
Aw, so sweet of you! I am STILL a teacher! This past year has been crazy with teaching online, teaching on campus, and the hardest of all doing both at the same time.
Oh! Nothing beats face to face, what they call that human touch. That is why I prefer to go out and buy things, talk to the sellers, small talk…but of course, I can’t do that anymore. Hopefully, it’s only for the time being.
Lucky you, always receiving food. LOL! These day chang is readily available anytime, just need to know where to get the good ones.
Exactly! We do have some nice ones here, these Hokkien ones but I love the nyonya ones – not available in Sibu. Sobsss!!!
Havent got myself a bak chang yet. Still have time.
Yes, still lots of time but I’m not going out much these days. I can always get from my neighbourhood shops – they will have lots, homemade ones when the time comes.
I miss my teaching days. It is so joyful and lovely to stay connected with ex-students. You are well loved by your students. Looking forward to enjoy my bak chang again.
It is, especially when they appreciate all that you did for them.
I love shumai! Back in the Philippines I used to eat them almost everyday
You can do that here too – they’re not expensive, not here.