Really?
Well, no, not really. I still dislike the sticky sweet taste of the Jala Mas because I dislike sweet things unless it is naturally sweet. I don’t mind the nasi lemak with sweet sambal, as long as the sambal is hot. My first crush is a Kelantanese, well, maybe a mixture of Afghan, Thai and Kelantanese. Come to think of it, I was almost married off to a beautiful Thai young lady who is the youngest daughter of a village headman back in 1989, being a Leftenan Muda (Second Lieutenant) on a task in Southern Thailand with an army Captain near Tak Bai in Narathiwat. I couldn’t speak Thai then but those people spoke the Thai-Kelantanese dialect, which really is a rojak of Thai and Kelantanese words. I was even told by the father that I could return every quarter or so to have my wife-to-be’s “needs” be fulfilled. If it weren’t for the need to acquire permission from my Commanding Officer, I would have perhaps jumped at the chance. Anyway, for the one month that I was there, she introduced me to the kampung culture of South Thailand and I fell in love with things “Thai/Kelantanese” such as Dikir Barat. Wayang Kulit, however, has always been my object of curiosity and interest since I was little. Until today, Thai music, especially folk tunes like Loog Thoong, becomes my main musical interest.
No, I do not have Thai nor Kelantanese genes in my bloodstream. I am a full-blooded Nasution of the Mandailing tribe of North Sumatera. My compatriots include Ahmad Tarmimi of the Siregar marga (clan), Rubiah of the Lubis marga, and the infamous Datuk Mokhtar Hashim of the Harahap marga. My great-grandfather, Abdul Jabbar, or well-known as Ngah Jabor in the annals of Perak history, was jailed for 6 years for participating in the assassination of JWW Birch. But I know no words in Mandailing except “Horas.” I know more Thai and Kelantanese than my own mother-dialect.
My greatest love for things Kelantanese/Thai is the Wayang Kulit (shadow puppeteering). Not just any wayang kulit but Wayang Kulit Siam or Nang Thalung in Thai. I love it so much that I learnt how to perform, and also perform the accompanying musical instruments such as the canang, kesi and gong. I have yet to master the serunai. Even my sifu whom the United Nations has recognised as a Puppet Master wonders what is it about me that is Kelantanese if at all.
My ex-wife’s late husband (bless his kind soul) would converse with me in the Kelantanese-dialect and also used to wonder about my Kelantanese-ties. He even used to get me the best Budu for me to take home.
Actually Budu is the reason I write this posting today. Whenever I go diving, I’d ask Boatman to make sure Budu is available for me during all meals. I can live with just Budu mixed with some lime and cili padi, plain rice, omelette and ulam.
Aargh! I need to go back to Perhentian.
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