Let’s meet…

I got a message via Messenger on Facebook from my ex-student, Soon Yiew, telling me that he would be coming home to Sibu mid-March and he would like to meet me, if that would be possible. Of course it was possible and after all these years, I certainly was looking forward to it.

Soon Yiew was in school in the 90’s and left after completing Form 6 – I never saw him again but we did bump into each other briefly in 2010. He furthered his studies in Singapore and is a doctor, living there now with his wife and two kids and it certainly is amazing that his eldest, the boy, is already doing his O Levels and yet, Soon Yiew does not look a day older than what he looked like when he was in school so many years ago. I must say that he looks as handsome as ever!

We did not have anything in mind so that day, we just stopped by here for lunch. I ordered the belimbing prawns…

…and yes, he sure enjoyed that!

We also had the kacangma chicken…

…and yes, it turned out that he had that before so he did not have any problem with its uniqueness which is an acquired taste for some, something quite different from everything else.

The Payung rojak…

…was less colourful that day because Peter had used up all the torch ginger flower (bunga kantan) and the kedondong leaves for his dishes at his party the night before but thankfully, the taste was not adversely affected.

Of course, we did not miss out the pomelo salad…

…I would always order that here.

We sat there for hours, chit-chatting and catching up with lost times since when he left school to this very day. I did know a bit about what had been going in his life through Facebook but not much and this was the opportunity for me to put the pieces together.

This is indeed the perfect place to meet and talk because there are very few people around and they will just let you sit as long as you like to talk…and talk…and talk…

…recalling all the wonderful memories in our lives and enjoying each other’s company.

Of course, I did not forget to show Soon Yiew the key chain he bought for me from Singapore…

…when he went there for some interview during his school days. I am still using it to this very day, believe it or not, truly a treasured possession…for the key to the car I am driving now!

He did ask me what I wanted from Singapore but I told him to just come. Getting to see him again would be good enough for me but no, he had to bring something along and gave me this tumbler…

…and also an ang pao! That was so very sweet of him, indeed.

Personally, I feel that it is indeed such an honour when an ex-student from so long ago remembers an old teacher and cares enough to want to come and meet him/her and for that I am very much obliged, thank you so much, Soon Yiew! This reminds me of Adele and her English teacher – it sure does make me feel your love…and thank you also for the lunch treat and of course, the gifts you brought along to give to me. I wouldn’t know when I will have this pleasure of meeting you again – in the meantime, I pray that God will bless and protect you and your loved ones in your family abundantly and that your days will be filled with blue skies and everything nice. Cheers!!!

PAYUNG CAFÉ (2.284049, 111.833014)…

…is located at No.20F, Lanang Road, Sibu, Malaysia, back to back with the multi-storey car park of the Kingwood Hotel which faces the majestic Rejang River.