Life-Love-Work: Pak Tongko or Cakoi?

Pak Tongko or Cakoi?

You call it Cakoi & I call it Pak Tongko. Still remember that? There are so many new things I had learned when I with you. So many foods I had tried when I with you. Foods I never imagine that I will eat such as "puyuh goreng", "telur bistik", "ikan bakar", "Rangka ayam" and "Durian". Errr durian I think is your father that always ask me to eat even when I did not like "durian" when it not freeze. Do you remember that when I said if I look at your face without your hijab I can eat anything even the vegetable? That is how sweet you are to me or is it me under your spell or charm?

Menu for Cakoi in Brunei. Different from Malaysia

Brunei Cakoi

Your had teach me " Kedai Maplay" when I only know "Kedai Mamak". You had show me the life of "kampung", you show me beside Penang & KL there other culture that I should know and learn. You had teach me to bath with cold water instead of using water heater. You make me feel how cold is "kampung" at night. Do you remember that I said, I always wish I have wife from "kampung" so that when "Hari Raya" I will have the mood of "balik kampung"?

Do you still remember on 9th February 2013? It is the day we go back to your "kampung" for me to meet your parent for the first time. You have to work on that Saturday and I had waited for you at your brother in law house at Sungai Petani. Well not actually I did not wait at your brother in law house but I wait at Shell station near the house. Have to wait your sister back from her in law as there something she need to pass to your parent. Before we start our journey we eat at the restaurant near the house. I know there 1 things special at that restaurant which I cant remember. It is you who introduce me to it and I like it. Whenever we go eat there I always want that thing. Can you help me to remember what dish it is?

The funny things is I afraid to go to your parent house. Do you remember I always ask you what your parent will ask me? Are they going to test me? For the first impression when going to meet up with your parent I had go for jogging and cycling to reduce my tummy. It not 100% reduce but it is less visibly compare to when we first go out. Yeop Joe family was there at that night, your mom is there but your father is not around when we arrive.

The next morning your father had ask me to follow him to have breakfast and it is only both of us. Do you know how scared I am at that time when you not following us? When in the car your father show and tell me the interesting place and where his first school is and where his parent house. It is a ice breaker as from there only we start to talk. When we arrived at the Kampung Gajah "maplay" your father friends was there but he introduce me as his friend at that time. At that time I always thinking when your father want to talk about us. I had order 1 "roti kosong" and milo panas. Your father is very friendly and always like to tell about the place and all the things about kampung. From our conversation he is proud with you and your sister. He had told me how manja you are when you stay at hostel. Your mother had to bring foods to you so that you happy. After finish our meal and when your father was smoking he start asking me about me. How long I had work at DCM, where I studied, about my family and about us.

The things that I still remember he was saying to me is that he okay with your choice because he & your mother do not want to control and choose who you should marry. Both of them want you to have happy life until the end and not for short time. So who ever you choose they will accept it. He told me a lot about you. How you love to eat and if the dishes is less than what you expected you will sulk (merajuk) with them. Well you still "merajuk" now and then, but belief me when we officially married & whenever you "merajuk" with me I know how to "pujuk" you. Tapi abg merajuk kuat lagi dari syng. right?

When we go back to your house your mother was asking what we had discussed during our breakfast, your father answer is simple. It a guy discussion. There a lot of people at your house when we come back and I still remember you said that is how "kampung" life is. Chatting until noon before preparing for lunch. My mind was thinking if you going to cook at 12 noon at what time can eat lunch? It is because I saw my mother always start cooking in the morning and finish by noon. So when the lunch was ready at 1pm I was surprise how fast your mom, you and mak su cook.

After you rest for a while we go out for our outing to Lumut. There to many people as it was Chinese New Year holiday at that time. We eat there, takes pictures and also but a pair of T-Shirt for both of us with our name on it. On the way back we stop by at "maplay" shop at Air Tawar to buy foods for Yeop Jeo. Then you show me your parent house at Air Tawar. What a memories I have with you. I like to think all this when I missed you. It seem like yesterday all this happen but time fly so fast as this Sunday-9th February 2014 it is 1 year when all that happened.