I asked my dad once
what do sago worms taste
like?
"Well...like
sago!" he replied
you've heard the saying
"you are what you
eat"
apparently that's literal
for sago worms and
Kuchingites
there's something in the
Kuching air
something in the Kuching
water
something alive
vibrant
growing
something as ancient as the
sarawak river
pulsing through our city
like muddy veins
and something as fresh as
the green leaves
growing on the trees in
Padang Merdeka
we ingest it as we breathe
we drink it in until it's
part of our DNA
like little sago worms
nestled in the warm walls of
home
filling our bodies with sago
and safety
until we start smelling like
it
until we start tasting like
it
it
you know
eh, nok ya bah
you can feel it in the
atmosphere
as soon as you step off the
plane, you're soaking in it
aahh, humidity and home
that island living
that rainforest reality
that Borneo birthright
sago is an acquired taste
so is Kuching
for some: too bland, too
simple
provincial
for others: manna from
heaven, a balm to soothe the soul
comfort food
sago is viscous
so is Kuching timing
like sweet, sleepy molasses
we move slowly here
oh, we're easy to please
like sago, we'll occupy any
space we're placed in
just gradually
very gradually
ilek lok, there's no rush
sago isn't very exciting
fare
neither is Kuching
of this I am aware
but home is not supposed to
be a grand adventure
home is not the storm that
tests the sailor's skill
home is the harbour where he
anchors his weary bones
home is the cocoon
that crystallised our wings
and home is the nest
that we fly back to each
night
home is comfort food
sago and laksa and kolo mee
midin and ayam pansuh
home is yum cha
sitting in a kopitiam, minum
teh c special,
berkelaka, mengenjen, tetak
sampei pagi
home is Kuching
I can feel it in the
atmosphere
as soon as I step off the
plane, I'm soaking in it
I am home, and I have one
thing to say:
TOK BOK NYA
___________________________________________________________
Note: Rough translations for Sarawakian phrases;
1. Nok ya bah- That one (or to put it more accurately "you know what I mean")
2. Ilek lok - Relax first (or to put it more accurately "slow down")
3. berkelaka, mengenjen, tetak sampei pagi- To talk, to imagine stories, to laugh until dawn
4. Tok bok nya - This is it (or to put it more accurately "now this is what we are talking about")