I've learned to trust my instinct when I come face to face to another Malay since I've been living here. Out of 11 times I've been right 10 times. I don't know what it is, but I think we have a universal antenna among anak dagang -wanderers and travelers. There is a quick as a lightning moment when you exchange the look with that person you know right away s/he has tasted belacan- shrimp paste.
I had that moment the other day when I was in the subway. I got on the Park Street station and sat near the door. The woman's behind who sat next to me was bigger than the seat, her left hip squeezed me. As I inched away to the left I had a feeling somebody was watching me. When I looked up, the woman sat opposite me diverted her eyes away abnormally quick. But we already exchanged that knowingly look. I think she wore baju kurung, but I'm not sure because she had a light jacket on. But I remember she also wore a blue denims jeans, black pump shoes and a light blue head scarf. When she looked at me again, I smiled at her and leaned forward and greeted her. She looked at me without an expression, not even smile, a kind of smile you gave to a stranger when you're mistaken for somebody else. I leaned forward again. "Excuse me, are you Malaysian? Are you from Malaysia?
"I don't understand you."
Not even a hint of smile, but her accent gave her away.
"I'm sorry. My bad."
When the train pulled into Downtown Crossing, she got up before the train stopped.
Well, better luck next time Anasalwa.
I guess she didn't get her belacan fix for a long long time.
Posted by: kri | April 01, 2006 at 05:01 PM
Paran,
you're probably right,but if a person has eaten nasi lemak with shrimp/ikanbilis/egg/beef sambal tumis bought at hawkers/stalls most likely the sambal tumis has belacan in it. Belacan is one of the most important ingredients in sambal tumis.
I hope my curiousity didn't scare that lady. who knows our paths will cross again.
Ninetta
I guess she had her own reasons to shy away and I respect that.
Posted by: anasalwa | March 30, 2006 at 06:28 AM
Ha, I think some times some other Malay probably get scared to be identified because they think they are going to get invitations to go to the ceramah ugama and what nots... It happens. But I am sorry that a person would deny her own identity. That's a little sad...
I wish you were nearby.
Posted by: Ninetta | March 29, 2006 at 03:27 AM
Ha ha ha Ana...Ana,
Few corrections,
1) Not everyone who eats Belacan are Malay. For eg: Me (at least before I turn vegetarian)
2) Not all Malay eats Belacan.
Anyway, you scared the SH*T out of that lady I guess. The next time she bumps into you I'm sure she gonna hand over her money and valuables to you. ha ha ha. Just kidding. Anyway, you Asians better don't you.
Posted by: Paran | March 28, 2006 at 11:11 PM