lads. it is the likes of old uncle lim, who is the real cultural heroes of our time. it was almost a picture of sheer perfection. a tau foo fah stall standing by itself at a slightly elevated corner. steaming tau foo fah in steel canisters flanked by white and brown syrup with thin bronze ladles sticking out of them. icebox chilled soy milk in paper cups. plastic tables and stools. the rev of a tiny, diesel powered generator – most, if not all of its power going towards lighting up his bold lightbox style signage. the dwindling traffic making its way through the main roads and hitting the highway.
good company. one really cannot go wrong with a healthy dose of syrup drenched dessert topped off with good company. i needed that. and though i am hoping to someday strike that miraculous balance between these midnight escapades and good ol’ fashion sleep (!!!), i am enjoying the rare joys of comfortably endless conversation about anything, nothing and everything.
i cannot imagine the kind of fortunes uncle lim may make from this humble endeavor. but maybe it is not about ambitions for ringgit millions. there has to be something more. and i think he knows and that is the reason he does it.
