A Peek Into Hai Peng Kuantan's Life
>> Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Date: 25 July 2009, Saturday
Venue: Hai Peng Kopitiam, Kuantan
Occasion: Brunch & meet up with David, Hai Peng Kuantan's owner
Halal: Yes
I was actually very excited to meet up with David :) Though I felt a 'lil shy (yes, I do feel shy at times) to meet up with the owner of a kopitiam without any formal invitation, I went on with the plan to just drop by for a simple meal & a catch-up.
Aaron & I took our brunch at Hai Peng Kuantan before heading to Pekan. I had to have the laksa cos I just missed it! The noodles aren't the usual yellow noodles used in curry laksa, nor is it the common 'lai fun' used in asam laksa. I really feel that the noodles used is actually spaghetti! Yums! Furthermore, the laksa is the Siamese style laksa - slightly thick, fragrant, & has fish bits :D It's not the best, but it's good for me :) Aaron prefers curry laksa over all types of laksa; me prefer Siamese laksa! *woot!*
David actually contacted me through email, seeking permission to use one of my photos of a soft boiled egg taken at his place. It was a pleasant surprise indeed that someone would actually contact me for such a thing :) *delighted* In a way, I was also wondering how David would be & whether it will be awkward for me to actually chat with the owner of a kopitiam; I've never done so before. To my delight, David is a very nice to chat person! :D
Throughout the entire conversation with David, which lasted at least 1.5 hours, I was told that the one aim of Hai Peng Kuantan was not to provide the best food or drinks to their patrons, but to provide a "homey" place for family & friends to gather over a cup of coffee, a slice of toast, or just a bowl of laksa for that matter. Interesting.
Although this is an income-generating business, David doesn't put that as his priority. All he is interested in are the lives that walk into his kopitiam (he knows almost all his regular customers & have sat down for chit-chat with them)! If you ever get a chance to meet & talk to him personally, you'll find out how friendly he is :)
When I asked him to recommend his best-sellers or just what's the one famous food item that's offered in Hai Peng Kuantan, he couldn't narrow it down to just one item. He explained that people actually drop by at Hai Peng for various reasons - some love the wholemeal home-made toast with home-cooked kaya & butter (he can confidently claim that he's the 1st to introduce wholemeal toast at a kopitiam in Kuantan), others go all the way to his kopitiam just for the nasi lemak/laksa, while others drop by everyday for a glass of iced coffee to cool them down on a hot day. Whatever reasons people have to drop by at Hai Peng, it's certainly for something that paints a smile over their faces :)
It was almost an instant bond among David, Aaron, & myself! :D We talked from life in general to cars, football, school days (Aaron & David were from the same school), to perspective in life & human character. Very interesting to sit down, listen, & talk when I could....hahaha...when it comes to things like cars & football, I'll let the gentlemen do the talking & bonding ;)
Hai Peng Kopitiam
Jln Haji Abdul Aziz
25000 Kuantan
Pahang Darul Makmur.
Ah, what a lovely Saturday :) Thank you SO much for the lovely meal & chat, David!
After that makan & chat, Aaron & I left for Pekan to visit his workplace/site, which is also my new uni ground! :D Wheeee.......we're pretty tired after traveling here there for half the day... there was family gathering/Aaron's birthday dinner at night, so we headed back to rest & enjoy the dinner (chef Eugene cooked up a yummilicious meal!)... me enjoyed the Saturday! :D
Here are some photos to share:
At UMP, Pekan's grounds
So nice lor! Our old lecture halls are classroom style!
Just check out the lovely sky above!!! *day dreams*
The total area of the university is actually REALLY large...as what Aaron have said to me before, "you can't even see the other end of the uni from one end"
At the dinner:
VERY interesting & makes the salad very 'zesty'
*drools*
- Ruth
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7 comments:
Amazing timing. Bangsarbabe also blogged about the same place. Did you two bump into each other?
http://bangsar-babe.blogspot.com/2009/08/coffee-break-in-kemaman-starmetro.html
->Frat Mustard: Hey Frat! This is Hai Peng Kuantan, not Kemaman :) The Kemaman's Hai Peng kopitiam is owned by David's grandfather...the Kuantan kopitiam is by David himself :)
Oooh thanks for clarifying. My bad :)
Ruth!! Can't believe you actually went to the new campus. Those photos remind me our good old days in uni :)
->Anne: Sure la! Aaron works there ma ;) It's SO UMP la...hahahaha....looks like our old campus with a bigger area, that's all! :D
Ruth, it was nice to have Aaron and you around. And about that chat, it was only 1.5 hours. Place a consistent supply of good pint in front of me and I could go on till kingdom come. LOL XD
->Wayne: Thanks for having us :) It was indeed a good time of catch-up. Hope to see you around sometime soon! Take care!
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