June 24, 2010

Coffee Shop Towkay Neo of Kuala Belait

Kuala Belait is a small town at the mouth of the Belait River in Brunei Darusalam - Malaysia's Eastern neighbour.

KB as we fondly call it is an Oil Town like Miri. Just a few row of shops make it an urban centre catering for commercial and financial needs. Development has been slow but steady and not overwhelmingly suffocating. Business goes on rather discreetly and you do not see any grotesque show of wealth flaunting itself like a colourful street walker of old times.

I like KB a lot because the drivers give way politely to peadastrians. At road junctions you do not have to wait for long minutes to get into the main road. Some kindhearted drivers would wave you on and with a good smile. If you have been to KB more often the shop keepers remember what language you speak even!! So I feel very welcome in a way.

I love these lamps!!




This is the coffee shop which has probably the best Hainanese Chicken Rice in town!


And this is the lovely towkay neo who sits at the cash desk. She has a warm personality and customers are often on first name basis with her. She can still call out "Kopi -O Noh"(two black coffee for the customers who have just walked in!!). And this loud calling style of service never fails to deliver your orders in just minutes!! It is an operation system that has been well tested and is famous in Malaysia and Brunei!! Perhaps that is a Hainanese Delivery System? She has a gentle and gracious demeanour.


Her rice dumplings are big and tasty. You can get them every day.


Another aspect you will like in her coffee shop is the number of old marble top coffee shop tables that she has. She has two of the rectangular ones and they must be more than 50 years old. Accompanying these tables are some very antique chairs. So having a coffee break in this shop is like having a slice of KB history.

The family also owns a coffee shop in Limbang and her brother was one of my former students. Perhaps because of that she shows a kind of kinship with me whenever I have my lunch or dim sum in her shop.

Let's raise a cup of coffee to a great manageress of a kopitiam of KB!!

9 comments:

Sunflower said...

Thank you for posting HNF coffee shop as promised and a closer look into my hometown. Do please post more about KB or any part of Brunei, love to read it.

I can't remember this lady, her brother's nickname is not Ah Dee is it?

Ensurai said...

Hi Sunflower
It is a pleasure writing about what I know of Brunei and KB....I wish I can spend more time there as a visitor . Weekends may be too soon over!! But Brunei is a good place for just any one who appreciates natural beauty and balmy lifestyle!

Will find out about her brother. I know her youngest brother.

Bengbeng said...

i would like to see her chairs n tables

Ensurai said...

Bengbeng
Next time I will visit her when there are very few customers and then I can take all the different parts of her lovely coffee shop.

By the way Steve and friends could not find the KB shops when they came over...so they drove on to BSB ..this I found out in the Chinese United Daily!! Kekekeke.

Instructions: As you come into KB direction and see the Kettle at the round about you have to turn left...The water tower (loji) is a landmark...and then lots of beautiful government offices on the left with the Belait river to the left...

Anonymous said...

Hello madam
Yes she has a very nice shop and my family and I go there when we are in KB...she serves Filipino soup noodles which is very nice. I like the original char siew...yum yum...

Justin

Anonymous said...

I enjoy coming to this coffee shop for a snack with my mother. Their curry puffs and cakes are great.

By the way, I am your ex-student in Maktab Perguruan Sarawak. Thanks for motivating me to write journals.

Ensurai said...

Hi Justin...thanks for dropping by...Nice surprise when I revisit my own posting!! Made my day...

Ensurai said...

Dear Anonymous...I am glad you are enjoying journal writing....continue to write...Best of everything especially in your teaching.

Anonymous said...

For most recent news you have to visit internet and on web I found this web page as a best web page for hottest updates.


Here is my web-site :: does silkn flash and go hair removal device work review

Soh Mien on First Day of Lunar New Year

 Today 10.2.2024 is the first day of the New Lunar Year of the Dragon. Yes I have cooked the chicken and made the soh mien. Happy New Year!!...