Beachcomber Seafood Restaurant – Fresh fish but bad attitude

Kay and I were around Cutty Sark/ Greenwich, London recently and had fish and chips at Beachcomber Seafood Restaurant per our friend’s recommendation. The restaurant is a small but served fresh fish. I would have given the restaurant 9 out of 10 points for the great food. Unfortunately, it has people with ‘shitty’ attitude serving the customers.

Upon seated, we were asked to order our drinks, but no drinks menu was available for our selection. So Kay asked for ice-lemon tea and the waitress says “Sorry, we don’t serve that”. That doesn’t impress us – how would the customers know what drinks is available if we are not given a menu or a list?

Anyway, that was just half the story. The ‘shocking’ event came when the owner or manager or (basically someone that looks in charge) came over to our table filled with ‘wrath’ and ‘sarcasm’. Here is a simple sketch of what happened…














So, my verdict is 4 points out of 10 for the very reason of ‘no matter how good the food is, you will lose your appetite when the people who serve you has attitude problem’. That is unless you don’t mind the attitude – the food is ok.

The 'Conversational Attitude'

Living in a different country means you face a different culture. Living in a different culture would require one to change their habit.

Welcome to London where half the population may not be local Brits but a diversity of people from Europe, America and Asia. Working in UK made us realised how ‘shy’/ ‘quiet’ Asian people are. While the Westerners talk much about anything during a conversation, Asians just sat at a corner and listen. There is very little of contribution to the group conversation (I do note that there a limited number of Asian that could blend into the group conversation though).

Some of my friends complained of their colleagues, “The people here only knew how to talk but there is not substance”. Then they added “If they are back in Kuala Lumpur, my ex-manager would ‘fark’ them for talking too much”.

Sadly, most of the Asians had difficulty in adapting what I – Bob the Blogger would term “Conversational Attitude”. Some of the people I’ve meet continue to live in the past rather than at the present. I am not saying I could blend in well. I too had my problems considering the way we Malaysians were brought up.

Unlike Malaysian education system, people here are encouraged to talk and ask questions since young. Parents and teachers encouraged young kids to ask… even if the question sounds stupid. A teacher from LSE once said “There is no such thing as stupid question. The only stupid question is when you ask none”. I couldn’t agree more.

But people in Malaysia were brought up in a very different system. It is an education system that instills discipline among young students but at the expense of addressing the enquiring mind. Imagine a school where you do not ask questions but only listens/ you sit when you are told to and you are not encourage to debate with your teacher. In other words, forget about curiosity and asking question. It is all about putting in information into the brain.

Alas – the system adopted yesterday produced mixed results today.

At best the product of yesteryears education produces young ‘citizen’ with successful career …

A successful Malaysian businessman as depicted by Lat

But there are some that end up not what as we had expect…

Mat Rempit on the loose...

Or maybe this…

The infamous Ah Beng/ 'Si Ham Chai' (Cockles Boy) attempting to be cool

Okay, maybe I went too far on blaming the education system. I agree that the product above wasn’t the fault of the education system alone. There are other factors to consider. But I would still hold on to the fact that the way Malaysians are taught had resulted lost of the very essence of ‘Conversational Attitude’.

Take the following snippets of my younger year’s memory as examples:

‘Why can’t you shut up’?

I remember when I was 8 in Junior School. While the teacher was teaching, a classmate of mine raised up his hand and asked some question about the subject taught. You guess it right! The teacher replied “Could you shut up”? The teacher could have answered, “Yes you are right, but maybe we could discuss another time or after class because time is almost up for this session”. Noooo… the teacher got to show who the boss in the class is. The student must be disciplined and the teacher is always right!

‘I don’t understand’

Once (forgot how old I was) in class the teacher asked if there any question. Another classmate of mine raised his hand – he was a slow learner to start of with. The teacher walked over to him and said ‘Why are you so stupid? Can’t you understand anything”? – I guess no one wants to ask any question thereafter.

‘Jual satu sen pun tak ada orang beli’

This one happened to me. I had the passion for art (but not a very good one though). Nevertheless, I had always looked forward for art class until this eventful day. That day, we were asked by our art teacher, Mrs Lee to weave a craft mat using…I forgot what. But the important thing is, I was struggling and when Mrs Lee came to me and saw my pathetic artwork she said something really encouraging “Jual satu sen pun tak ada orang beli (Even if you sell for 1 cent, no one is going to buy)”. With her ‘encouragement’ – my heart melts and never enjoy art class the way I used to like. Anyway, Mrs Lee, I just want to say ‘Thank You for your encouragement!’

Nah!

Unfortunately, most of the teachers had the lack of passion to teach or are just a bunch of lazy ass. But I don’t blame them. I mean if you put yourselves in their shoes, their pathetic pay do not compensate any further effort. So why take the trouble to answer or encourage an ‘enquiring’ mind of a young when you could have gone home watch TV or take a part time direct selling job to boost your income? Of course, not all the teachers are described above because I personally knew some really good teachers who encourage us to pursue our knowledge further beyond the classroom (Mrs Lee is not one of them in the list)

What I am trying to say is, because we are taught that asking question would reflect our stupidity and that we just need to shut up and listen, most of the people today fail to acquire the ability to control a conversation or to debate upon what we had in our mind. I guess unless we cultivate the young to build an enquiring mind, I could only imagine the next generation being as reserved as the last generation. - Yes, I am blaming the past but I am working at present to make a better future.

The above represents my memories which built upon to the conclusion of this article and may not represent the view of the general. If you don’t like it, I couldn't care less.

Malay: Al-Kisah Si Lembik dan Muka Pantat; English: Tale of Softie and Pussy Face

Whilst I was online recently, someone that I knew, drop in over MSN to say ‘Hi’. Although we used to work together I am not even sure if I would consider her as a ‘friend’. Not trying to be rude, I returned her greetings. Then we began our usual ‘bullshit’ chat about life in London and her life in Asia.

After a 5 minute ‘how is your life – bullshit’, she asked “So have you been drinking a lot in London”.

To dispel the myth about my alcoholism in London, I answered “Actually, I haven’t been drinking lately. Only unless when a project is completed, I would go out with my colleagues for a beer”

Then she answered “Beer is good. I love beer. You owe me beer!”

“Don’t remember owing you anything?” I answered.

“Yes you do! And you did not inviting me to your wedding and your farewell party!” she pushed on.

What the f*ck? Don’t remember owing her anything in life! Her statement then struck me and reminded me of her and her friends’ ‘punanism’ behaviour. You see, this woman, let’s called her ‘Lembik’ had a history of being a party crasher. Like pirates, she and her bunch of punani friends would usually attend other people’s party without being invited, consume all the alcohol and food, then leave without even contributing a single penny. And I had my fair share of experience with her barbaric behaviour!

Once, Vulture (good friend of mine) and myself held a dinner party with some of our close friends to celebrate our promotion. Unfortunately, our private party became a nuisance when Lembik arrive uninvited with her friend Mr. Pussy Face (the name is self-explanatory - a guy with spiky hair and an imaginary crack on his face). Pussy Face, as we understood, is some rich kid in town who runs his own business. Despite his wealth status, he and Lembik are infamously known to eat, drink and party at other people’s expenses.

Lembik and Pussy Face walked to our table on the pretext of saying ‘Hi’. Then they sat down and started drinking our beer. Next thing you know, Pussy Face ordered food. Biggie, being a gentleman cracked a joke with Pussy Face “Brother! Remember to leave money on the table for your food and drinks!” It was a nice stark reminder that he is welcome but do pay for his own meals.

Alas, Lembik and Pussy Face’s skin is much thicker than a crocodile’s skin. Either they’ve got no brain or played dumb, they continued on the night drinking our alcohol and eating our food. And when the night end, we took the bill and Biggie ask for their share of money. Unfortunately, they walked out pretending to be drunk and pretend not hearing Biggie. They didn’t even have the courtesy to leave any money for their share. I was made to understand this is not their first time. I guess maybe Pussy Face may be having trouble with his business and need to beg for food and drinks by crashing people’s party.

Anyway, what is loss is loss. We didn’t want to make a scene. But what annoyed me was Lembik had the cheek make a statement about not inviting her to my wedding and farewell.

Well, here is a message to you Lembik if you are not crashing other people party and happen to read this blog: My wedding and farewell party is a private function. It is for my family and close friends. It is for people I respect. It is for people with integrity and represents the best of social behaviour! People like you and Pussy Face are not the best kind of people I had in mind to give my respect. I would however suggest that you and Pussy Face sign-up for ‘How not to be a Punani’ classes to improve your ill-behaviour. Maybe then, I may change my perception of you.

And here is my last famous last word for you Lembik:

A Close Encounter with Kiasu Travellers

Ever encountered weird travellers with crazy behaviour at the airport? I had - in fact, loads of shitty encounters to share with you.

Not too long ago, I was at KLIA - LCCT waiting to board an Air Asia flight (Malaysia version no-frill airline) to Bangkok with Kay. We got to the boarding gate rather early (about 45 minutes before departure time) and I was sitting there reading my book.

Then, all of a sudden, a family of 5 or 6 people walked into the boarding gate area. There were like 3 or 4 children, accompanied by 2 ladies (must have been their mum). The ladies must be housewives – as evident and/or suggest by their choice of fashion – worn-out t-shirt and short-pants, slippers as footwear choice and a plastic bags as their hand luggage.

What caught my attention wasn’t their fashion as I couldn’t give a two-hoot about what they wear – so long as they are wearing something – that would be a great favour to society. Anyway, when the family walked into the boarding gate area, they walk straight up to the gate. And I thought, what are these people doing? The airline hasn’t called for boarding yet but the family of travellers seems to put up an energetic show of enthusiasms by standing in front of the boarding gate.

After about 30 minutes of ‘excitement’ – standing in front of the boarding gate, the airline finally called for boarding and passengers began to get into the line. The family (despite being ahead of the game) decided to make sure that they are absolutely the first group to board the plane. They sort of hoard the frontline and began to make ‘small’ advancing movement. If it weren’t for the officer standing in front of the gate, I am sure the family would have pushed their face against the glass door and might have force the door open.

The minute when they were ‘release’ from the boarding gate, they began to run. I was dumbfounded! What the fuck? - sorry for the profanity but I think they deserve no less than what I am going to say.

Hellooo…WWII is over. You don’t have to run to the plane as if you are a refugee! You are already in front of the line. No one is going to take your precious seat of yours. No wonder Kay’s dad told us that travelling on Air Asia is like travelling like a refugee.

I am just not sure why can’t these people be more mature when it comes to simple things like getting on a plane. OK, maybe they want to sit together and since Air Asia is operating on a free-sitting basis, it would make sense to be ahead of the line. But to run even when you are ahead, that is just plain ‘Kiasu’.

I am not sure where they eventually sit on the plane, but after all the standing and running, I hope they get what they want! In fact, I think they should fart at their ‘prize’ seat to mark their fucking territory for all the effort they have put in.

Punany neighbours

You know you’ve ‘punany’ neighbors when ...

1. They would just spit as they pleased along the staircase hallway in your flat;
2. They stomp their elephant feet along the staircase hallway in your flat when they return home during the wee hours;
3. They come home at 4.00 am (on a bloody working day!) after a clubbing spree and talk out loud right outside of your flat;
4. Their guest were so drunk that they press on your doorbell during midnight instead of theirs;
5. Their pet dog, just like the owner, pee and take a dump anywhere as it pleased; and
6. They take your morning papers as though its theirs.

And that's my story about my neighbors. And they are a punany. How about your neighbor?