This
visit to Teluk Intan, we made new friends. We decided to stop for the
night after visiting a few makam (graves of former sultans) and the
abandoned bungalow of Raja Muda Perak.
Dinner was crab curry and
sweet sour udang galah by the river side Malay-style. Crabs were meaty
and prawns juicy. Someone slurped the curry like soup oblivious to the
world.
In the morning was a trip to the wet market for salted fish and a look see. Ended up buying petai and kulat as well.
Upon checking out we went to find a nasi campur stall and found Mama
Corner opposite the leaning tower. Mama was so nice, she had salted fish
fried for Sarah who suddenly had a craving. Her son angah cooks all the
dishes daily. His udang galah masak merah was superb. We chit-chatted
further and turns out her son is an popular singer - Izzmad Harun. A
talented young man. She even gave us a free CD!
I asked her
where to buy 'perkasam' only to be told it's available on Sundays at the
farmers market. Seeing me despondent, she told us she had some. She
quickly went into the kitchen, opened her freezer and voila a big
container of 'perkasam' whisked out and landed in my hands. I was
grinning ear to ear thanking her profusely wanting to pay but she
refused. She even invited us for makan-makan after raya. Yes!!
Final stop was the craft fair. I wanted to buy more 'sudips' (wooden
food turners) but there were none. Instead I bought a mini picnic basket
from Kak Liza who hails from Keratong, Pahang. She makes all the
gorgeous rattan baskets seen in the photo. My eyes went into a trance. I
wanted them all. It was very bad. Forced myself to buy only one item
and the picnic basket caught my eye. Only RM40. Wish she had more.
We left Teluk Intan with happy memories after meeting such nice people,
Mama, Angah and Kak Liza. May their business grow and grow.
Kali
ini ke Teluk Intan kami seronol dapat kenalan baharu. Lepas ziarah
beberapa makam dan rumah agam Raja Muda Perak yang terbiar, kami
tergerak hati nak tidur semalam.
Makan malam di tepi sungai. Kari
ketam dan udang galah tiga rasa. Sedap tak terkata. Ada orang hirup
kuah kari macam sup. Tak hengat dunia.
Pagi esoknya, ke pasar besar nak beli ikan masin. Jumpa petai dan kulat. Terus beli.
Check-out dari hotel, misi cari nasi campur dekat menara condong.
Pusing-pusing jumpa gerai Mama Corner. Mama yang baik hati menunaikan
permintaan Sarah yang nak sangat makan ikan masin. Anak Mama, Angah
tukang masak semua lauk-pauk gerainya. Udang galah masak merah sangat
enak. Bebual sambil makan, Mama beritahu yang anaknya seorang penyanyi
popular terkini - Izzmad Harun. Pemuda yang sangat berbakat. Mama siap
bagi kami CD percuma satu!
Lepas habis makan, masa nak bayar
saya tanya Mama mana ada jual perkasam. Dia jawab pasar tani hari Ahad
jer ada. Melihat muka saya yang dah terkebil-kebil, Mama kata yang dia
ada perkasam dalam peti ais. Terus dia ke dapur, buka peti ais dan
bawak keluar bekas berisi perkasam dan menghulurnya ke tangan saya. Saya
senyum sampai tersepet mata punyalah teruja. Nak bayar Mama tak bagi.
Lepas salam-menyalam, sempat Mama ajak datang hujung raya untuk
makan-makan. Yay!!
Persinggahan terakhir di pameran kraf nak
mencari sudip kayu. Lansung tak ada. Yang ada bakul rotan bermacam saiz
dan warna hasil tangan Kak Liza dari Keratong, Pahang. Mata saya dah
bersinar-sinar. Semua nak angkut. Sangat bahaya. Paksakan diri beli satu
benda jer. Terpandang bakul 'picnic' yang comel sangat. Satu jer
tinggal. Cepat-cepat sambar. RM40. Kalaulah dia ada lebih mesti dikaut
juga.
Kami meninggalkan Teluk Intan dengan kenangan manis dapat
bertemu Mama, Angah dan Kak Liza. Semoga mereka sentiasa dimurahkan
rezeki.
