Indian (Tambi) Rojak
I remember the first American tourists who came to visit Sibu. It was a very interesting tour of Sibu. My aunt acted as tour guide and took the couple along the streets of Sibu.
I came along rather by accident. It was interesting how in 1958 or 9, the public would stare at the Orang Putih and talk about them loudly. Some even asked my aunt questions.
Where are they from?
Why are they here in Sibu?
Where are they staying?
The couple (I cannot remember their names) stayed at Hoover house. Sibu then was small enough for a walking tour.
I remember that day in particular because I had my first taste of the Indian Rojak.
We sat at a marble table and the coffee shop owner was most polite, speaking in Foochoow. He helped my aunt order two plates of Indian Rojak (in Malay) and told the stall owner not to make it too spicy hot.
I did not quite like any raw ingredients especially beansprouts. But I enjoyed the Indian dhall fritters and hard boiled eggs.
From then on, I love Indian Rojak.
A few months later my aunt left Sibu, and migrated to the USA where she had studied. This time she flew to her new country. Her first journey to the USA was by a freighter. Later she moved to Canada and married a Canadian professor, and she worked as school psychiatrist. She was the first Foochow, Sibu woman to hold an American masters' degree in education in 1958.
She passed away a few years ago in Canada.
No comments:
Post a Comment