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.