What an embarassment!!

OOOOOO what a shame.
It was about twenty years ago, with only Along and Angah into being. For the first time in my life I would be going to Kelantan though I had, by then, been to so many other parts of the world. By the way, I could speak a “good” Klate through acquaintances during UNI days. Well, good in the eyes of the non-klantanese. With the Klantanese they know right away , I am “Klate Clup”.Hence, I promise not to try my klatenese while there.Early morning we drove up to DungunG Terengganu to fetch WATI, our relative. Can’t really remember whether LEHA our maid came along or not. After a nite at Batu BUruk we drove to Klate. For the first time in my life, I stepped to this land of Serambi Mekah. Fascinated by the extra super friendly people there. They are so courteous, so helpful, and so polite. So much so, my other half really got touched by the very klantanese, she didn’t take the change for the short ride on BECA RODA TIGA (Taxi to the klantanese). Those days RM 10 was big amount and the pakcik beca too was very touched with her gratitude.
In the morning I went out scouting for packed breakfast. (We stayed at the budget hotel though). Went to the stall scouting for breakfast. Here it goes:

MakCIK: Nok make gapo ?

Me: Ada apa Cik?

Mak Cik: OOO..ado belako , nasi kerabu, nasi dage, nasi goreng, nasi BERLAUK....

Me: Nasi BERLAUK? Nasi apa tu? Ada ke nasi tak ada lauk?

MakCIK: oooo..tu nasi biaso lah wey (awang), cumonyo dio ado mace mace lauk .

I learnt a new thing.

T cut short the story, it was time to drive home. We decided to drive back to Kedah via the east –west motorway connecting JELI and Grik. I was checking the engine before the long journey home when suddenly a PAJERO pulled up. Down came a big sized guy, serbaned (Turbaned) and politely asked whether I was having a breakdown or in difficulty. He offered his help if I was in need. Told him I was ok and politely thanked him. After salaam, we parted. MasyaAllah..in this new land, a stranger being so polite and helpful. Don’t talk about America, UK or elsewhere, even in KL you can’t and shouldn’t trust strangest!!!!

To the polite stranger, may Allah bless you.

Here goes the other incident, he he he which I shall never ever forget.
Many a time I related this TRUE incident to my peers, subordinates and even students and they burst into laughter.

We were driving on the outskirt of Kota Baru, looking for a way out to JELI. Though there were many signages, none depicted JELI. I presumed it was because JELI was a distance from KB and hence no mention of it. We went round and round and round until decided to seek help. I pulled by the road side and saw an old Chinese man, big belly, wearing singlet and a kain pelikat in front of a shop house. Knowing he was Chinese, automatically I was switched to be “Chinese”

Me: Hello Towkey aaa...sikit mau tanyia aaa,,sikalang wa mau pigi JELI. Wa sula pusing pusing manyiak kali , wa tatak yumpa itu yalan maaa.Mau pigi JELI apa maciam?

He looked at me up, down, up down in between his thick glasses on his nose. Then he smiled.

Chinese Man (CM) : oooooo sene jo. Demo gi terus ikuk jale ni, jupo sepe 3(simpang 3) kornar kiri, lepas tu straight ja,,, tu jale gi JELI larrrrr

Ya Allah! He could speak PURE PERFECT KLANTANESE while I was trying to imitate his dialect and be “Chinese”. I blushed. Embarrassed. Really embarrassing. Politely I thanked him in my real standard BM!!!!!!

CM: slamat jale..he he he..ni kawe nok tanyo ni. Guano demo kecek supo tu? Demo cino ko kawe cino?Oh my God!!!! Before more embarrassment I once again thanked him and drove straight towards JELI, grinning all the way, not sure out of humour or embarassesement!!!!!!