December 31, 2003
the active visionary
when i was in malacca, staying at hotel equatorial, i was down with a fever on the first day. so i had room service come send me my dinner that night. i had hainanese chicken rice, which wasn't too bad. i remember my last trip to malacca, when i ordered black pepper chicken steak for lunch at some hotel, and was given a chicken drumstick soaked in satay sauce. but that's another story. so i ordered hainanese chicken rice and prepare to pay the guy RM15.50, when he says 'RM16.00' please. so i quickly fish out another RM1.00 and give him a total of RM16.50, praying that he'd accept my tip of 50sen with a pinch of salt. so he takes the cash, thanks me and makes his way back to wherever it is he came. kitchen, perhaps. so i'm halfway through eating my chicken rice, studying the various condiments they'd given (there was this green thing which i never figured out) when there's a knock on my door.
it was the kitchen guy.
"yes?" i say.
"you gave 50sen extra." he said.
i woulda smacked my forehead, and then HIS forehead for him. but i couldn't, so i gave him another RM1.00 instead, 'keep it,' i said.
"oh, ok thank you!"
if i wasn't feverish and he was 6, i woulda pinched his cheeks and bought him a lolly. everyone should have an experience like that at least once every lifetime. i must say that it made me think about whether i've been fair or not, each time i wanted to stereotype people, while begging the pardon of my malaysian viewers. and i must admit that it was an enlightening experience.
so the thing i learnt here is this: never tip a malaysian.
4:15 PM
