Coffee shops run by Chinese towkays have some vintage marble tables.
The coffee shop culture of South East Asia has lots of tales regarding marble tables. I have a tale or two to share.
My great grandfather bought one in Singapore and had it shipped to Sibu sometime in the 1910's when there was a huge sea trade between Sibu and Singapore. When the marble table arrived in Sibu he had it brought over to the Ice Mill which was called Hua Hong (Chinese Prosperity) My great grandfather and his good friend Rev Yao Shiao Khing were famous for giving a lot of names to local businesses. Great Grandfather was patriotic while Rev Yao was a academician, a man of letters.
Years later, the marble table belonging to great grandfather went to my father who continued to live in the same house as he did when he was alive. My mother married my father in 1948 and she fell in love with the marble table, a valuable asset. She had come from the rubber tapping area where most had only wooden home made tables. To her in her own words, "a marble table was then a status symbol."
Later when we moved to Sibu, the marble table came with us although it was quite tale that someone wanted to steal it and my mother's brother, a very strong man took the table from the thieves and carried it from the wharf to the lorry. Well you see, the belongings of our family had to be moved from across river to the Tua Pek Kong Wharf and from the boat, all the belongings had to be moved from the boat to the waiting lorry. The marble table was not packed as it would be like today's movers would do. The stuff was carried one by one to the lorry and the movers had to be very alert. Nothing should be carted away anyhow. Third Uncle had that marble table story to tell for a long time.
"Good things always get stolen."
In Marudi there are some very good coffee shops with marble tables but there is only one Hainan Coffee shop, Joon Seng Loong Cafe, that has good bread and coffee. The shop has many marble tables which have been enjoyed by the locals from many diverse cultures.
Mr. Phua the owner has lots of tales to share. His father had arrived in Marudi from Hainan and started a small coffee shop. This cafe offers good services to people of all races and it is indeed a well loved outlet for all, young and old, to hang out. Muslims and non Muslims love to come to this shop for their morning coffee. It is one of the few shops in the whole of Sarawak that sells ONLY bread and coffeee. No noodles.....sorry. But it is always full.
The kuihs which are halal are supplied by some Malay suppliers.,
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