December 16, 2011

Nescafe in the Rajang River

The aroma from a freshly made coffee in a mug gives me that warm kick start for the day. It also helps me crank up my creative juices...and I am at peace with the world.

Some time ago on a trip to the Ulu (up river) on the Rajang River - the longest river in Sarawak and Malaysia I caught this scene....


Nescafe has come to the interiors of Sarawak in many different ways!!

The instant coffee is very versatile and easy to use. Water boiled in kettles over wood fire can easily help housewives prepare the sweet thin instant coffee.

A tray of coffee in tin mugs is a sure welcome to a weary traveller and long house dwellers know this only too well.

Coffee can become very expensive as one travels further up the river. I can live on dry biscuits and sugared water with just a a sprinkling of Nescafe !! Why very thin coffee? Sometimes it is just to camouflage the muddy river water...sometimes it is just housewives' budget conscious ways....A large bottle of Nescafe is always a good gift to friends and relatives in the Ulu when you visit them. And of course a few plastic packets of granulated sugar!!

Nescafe is such a good brand that in the Iban language nescafe is synonymous with coffee. "Ka nyirup nescape deh?" "Would you like some coffee dear?" (Many Kanowit Ibans cannot pronounce 'f" which becomes 'p' in their speech. So "fish" is "pish" with a little lisp...no offence meant. So may be that is why coffee is kopi in this part of the world.....) But then we Foochows also say..Goh Bee...when we mean COFFEE.

I wonder how much the company is paying for this advertisement or is it for free?

This river boat or motor launch is really full by the looks of it...

Have a great weekend!! More Instant Nescafe Coffee?

11 comments:

Daniel Yiek said...

Nescafe is popular in India at airports and along the road stalls. They are served small cups and sweetened.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

I like instant coffee too.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

Talking about invasion of modern instant food, a relative found a packet of instant noodles was served as a soupy big bowl of noodle soup for the whole family in the mountians.

sarawakianaii said...

Dear Daniel..Haven't been to India yet..but I do like Teh Tarik India served in Brunei...(Kurang manis)...the girls in that particular shop do not have to ask for my order......

sarawakianaii said...

Ann...when you are busy...and cannot remember when to eat...nescafe is the best thing to have in your hand!!

sarawakianaii said...

Ann....instant noodle is a must have in the rural areas...in any country!! Once we had no more food left....wow the instant noodle became gourmet food!! Luckily we did not have to kill each other for the packet!! We shared the noodles and added edible leaves and sweet potatoes...(after that our leader said that he must never forget to tell his team mates to bring extra salt...)

Anonymous said...

not "nyirup" nescafe but "ngihup" & not "kopi" but "kupi"..ha..ha.. nice blog. Have a merry & blessed christmas to all.

Ensurai said...

Hi Stranger...I believe you must be from the Kanowit area!! Where the "R" cannot be pronounced..but "l" is often emphasized...

Yes..thank you for the merriment..and Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!!

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