September 14, 2010

Disappearing Miri : Ten Ringgit for Two Cucumbers

Miri as an urban centre has its share of interesting street characters - the old lady who sold lottery tickets while cursing in between her teeth and sales "men cannot be trusted..men are very bad...." in Cantonese and a very helpful plump man who used to amuse us in the various rojak stalls....They are slowly disappearing from our Miri streets.....and perhaps it is with the development of good education (better family values) and greater affluence that there are fewer wasted people hanging out in the town. Or perhaps there are now more institutions which put these people away from public glare. However we do have some odd characters who are hanging out in places. And perhaps it is better that they are allowed such freedom because they are still able to perform their "executive functions" .

We as the ordinary people all have our different perception of other people and especially older people.

However there is this old man who is very slim and tough. He brings along some of his own vegetables to sell to you....he will sit here in Taman Jade Manis in Miri and wait for you to come to him. I am not saying that he is a wasted figure but what I am saying is that he seems to have a mind and character of his own. He does not allow any one to disturb him and he goes around in his very persistent ways to sell you his home grown vegetables!! Sometimes new people just have to buy from him perhaps out of pity.

Here he is with only some vegetables left.






He has a few varieties of vegetables to sell to you. And he mumbles.....He looks sad...but perhaps he comes from a very rich family!!

So because he is hard of hearing and you cannot hear what he says...he will tell you TEN Ringgit!!

Yes all his vegetables are ten ringgit....and he won't give you back any change....and then.he will walk away without thanking you.....

You either curse him....

or you would say..."Never Mind...make his day...." One of those difficult to understand  aged cases we have in Miri.


8 comments:

Anonymous said...

if i'm the one who buy the vegetable from him.. i'll say so too.. ^^

Ensurai said...

Dear Pauline...you have a heart of gold....I wonder too if ever in his life his friends ever hugged him or say "I love you...."

wenn said...

so sad.

Ensurai said...

Wenn
Yeah....sad no doubt...but no every one will think like you....thanks for dropping by.

Anonymous said...

Hi there
It is pathetic that the usual unforgiving public can condemn a man like this by dismissing him as "useless bxxger"!!!just my 2 sens/

Old age must be pleasantly spent.

XXXX

Ensurai said...

Anony...Thanks for dropping by. I think the public can be too stern in some ways...and would say that this old man like other old people "did not think of their future when they were younger..." I used to garner help for old folks homes...and you know what? many would turn a sour face and tell me off...saying that they won't help these nasty fellas...well every story has many sides...

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

when we were growing up in Sibu, we used to believe that Vegs are very expensive in Miri.

But $10 for two TIBOON?????

Ensurai said...

Yes Ann...this man sells everything for 10 ringgit....and you cannot argue with him....He is not too right in his mind. But a lot of people just give him money...or some who are in the know avoid him.

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