…guiding others to acquire the taste...
It was only about three weeks ago that I had lunch with Dr. Kay, a colleague of mine in the same research area, a staunch Buddhist and one of such pleasant character.
“What is that?” she asked, her own plateful of rice in her hand.
“What’s what?” I answered with another question.
“That thing, you are putting in your plate!”
“Oh! This is really nice…you want to try some?” I offered her as we sat in front of the big TV set at the eatery. At the far end was the sound of gurgling water falling into a pool. The air was cool.
“Oh no! I don’t think so!” said Kay looking at me from the corner of her eyes.
“Have you ever tasted it before?” I asked, folding back the long sleeve of my right dress, ready to delve into my plate.
“No!” was her short answer.
“Then, I think you should! Just a tiny weeny bit! Here!” I said, shoving a little portion on to the side of her plate.
Kay took a whiff at the mushy reddish stuff and spooned some from the tip of the spoon in her hand, into her mouth.
“That is some taste!” said Kay, her forehead holding back a wrinkle.
“Maybe you will learn to like it!” I said. Kay’s eyebrows raised. Then she was silent.
Last week, there was a bit more of the stuff on Kay’s plate. I did not say anything.
And yesterday’s lunch was most profound.
“What is this?” Kay said, her fingers pointing to some leafy greens on the spread in front of us.
“That is ulam raja,” I answered.
“And this?” Kay asked again, this time pointing to another variety of the greens.
“We call that daun selom and they all go well with that!” I nodded my head to her plate.
Kay pursed her lips. Already on her plate, was a moundful of the mushy concoction.
As we tucked into our meal, Kay said, “This tastes better and better each day! I forgot to ask you. What do you call this?” her eyes were bright and dancing.
“It is what we call sambal tempoyak! Sour, fermented flesh of the king of fruits. Famous in Perak, my home state. And it is my family’s favourite side dish!” my eyes were smiling as I answered Kay’s question.
“Whatever this is, it is just so divine!” said Kay, her eyes twinkling, the food on her plate fast diminishing...
If only we can encourage others to savour and taste the beauty of Islam, just like acquiring the divine taste of tempoyak…..little by little until you eventually feel comfortable, to the point like you never had enough of it….
“What is that?” she asked, her own plateful of rice in her hand.
“What’s what?” I answered with another question.
“That thing, you are putting in your plate!”
“Oh! This is really nice…you want to try some?” I offered her as we sat in front of the big TV set at the eatery. At the far end was the sound of gurgling water falling into a pool. The air was cool.
“Oh no! I don’t think so!” said Kay looking at me from the corner of her eyes.
“Have you ever tasted it before?” I asked, folding back the long sleeve of my right dress, ready to delve into my plate.
“No!” was her short answer.
“Then, I think you should! Just a tiny weeny bit! Here!” I said, shoving a little portion on to the side of her plate.
Kay took a whiff at the mushy reddish stuff and spooned some from the tip of the spoon in her hand, into her mouth.
“That is some taste!” said Kay, her forehead holding back a wrinkle.
“Maybe you will learn to like it!” I said. Kay’s eyebrows raised. Then she was silent.
Last week, there was a bit more of the stuff on Kay’s plate. I did not say anything.
And yesterday’s lunch was most profound.
“What is this?” Kay said, her fingers pointing to some leafy greens on the spread in front of us.
“That is ulam raja,” I answered.
“And this?” Kay asked again, this time pointing to another variety of the greens.
“We call that daun selom and they all go well with that!” I nodded my head to her plate.
Kay pursed her lips. Already on her plate, was a moundful of the mushy concoction.
As we tucked into our meal, Kay said, “This tastes better and better each day! I forgot to ask you. What do you call this?” her eyes were bright and dancing.
“It is what we call sambal tempoyak! Sour, fermented flesh of the king of fruits. Famous in Perak, my home state. And it is my family’s favourite side dish!” my eyes were smiling as I answered Kay’s question.
“Whatever this is, it is just so divine!” said Kay, her eyes twinkling, the food on her plate fast diminishing...
If only we can encourage others to savour and taste the beauty of Islam, just like acquiring the divine taste of tempoyak…..little by little until you eventually feel comfortable, to the point like you never had enough of it….
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