The Force of the Mamak...
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
While I'm not admitting boredom just yet, but at least I'm not the one sitting for exams this week (Good luck to those who are). Midyear hols have also started for the school-children last weekend; just can't remember how long it is.
As the force of the mamak stall is strong in most people, particularly those aged 18-35 (sounds like 8TV's target group), I don't find myself drawn to it. Well, not that much anyway. If someone invited me then fine; but otherwise, I can't be bothered. And my mum wouldn't be too happy anyway.
But in PJ, mamak is also synonymous with two things: William's or Murni. Murni is in oh-so busy SS2, where there's a crowd there everyday after sundown, a few shops away from Dad's old office (I remember a few breakfasts there years ago); William's is closer to home, literally: less than a minute's drive from my house, it's also a stone's throw from Dad's current office. I'm not too sure what the appeal is, but I think a factor might be the menu - roti pizza and giant iced drinks, anyone? - and maybe it's a brand name all by itself.
Location-wise: While SS2 Murni's in a shop house; William's is situated along the makeshift stalls along the road in Mayang, a road I drive on almost every single day. William's is so big it has to set up tables and chairs outside the (from what I heard, gonna be defunct) minimart.
Menu-wise, both places are pretty similar cos they're run by two Chinese brothers (Weird, innit? Considering that the mamak scene typically run by the Indian-Muslim). Only difference is it's easier to get parking at William's, ha ha. But my dad claims that the food there is dirty - there's that saying: the dirtier the place, the better the food.
While it's a cheaper place (than Starbucks or CBTL, anyway) to meet up with friends and to be carried away whenever there's an important football match... but when the night's too warm to bear or if it rains... bleaurgh, gimme air conditioning and a roof any day. Of course nobody sits indoors when they're at the mamak - people eat al fresco mah: by the roadside where the taste of the hygiene-questionable food will improve with the addition of carbon monoxide emanating from the cars going by and the other "11 herbs and spices" in the air. Then there's also the chance of getting run over by some maniac driver and getting killed in the process...
I just thought it's funny that some people would go out of their way to go to William's when jokers like us who live a stone's throw away either don't know where it is (fyee asked me where it was the last time we met =]) or don't patronise the place (I personally can't be bothered leh).
I know I'll miss the mamak when I've no access to one.
As the force of the mamak stall is strong in most people, particularly those aged 18-35 (sounds like 8TV's target group), I don't find myself drawn to it. Well, not that much anyway. If someone invited me then fine; but otherwise, I can't be bothered. And my mum wouldn't be too happy anyway.
But in PJ, mamak is also synonymous with two things: William's or Murni. Murni is in oh-so busy SS2, where there's a crowd there everyday after sundown, a few shops away from Dad's old office (I remember a few breakfasts there years ago); William's is closer to home, literally: less than a minute's drive from my house, it's also a stone's throw from Dad's current office. I'm not too sure what the appeal is, but I think a factor might be the menu - roti pizza and giant iced drinks, anyone? - and maybe it's a brand name all by itself.
Location-wise: While SS2 Murni's in a shop house; William's is situated along the makeshift stalls along the road in Mayang, a road I drive on almost every single day. William's is so big it has to set up tables and chairs outside the (from what I heard, gonna be defunct) minimart.
Menu-wise, both places are pretty similar cos they're run by two Chinese brothers (Weird, innit? Considering that the mamak scene typically run by the Indian-Muslim). Only difference is it's easier to get parking at William's, ha ha. But my dad claims that the food there is dirty - there's that saying: the dirtier the place, the better the food.
While it's a cheaper place (than Starbucks or CBTL, anyway) to meet up with friends and to be carried away whenever there's an important football match... but when the night's too warm to bear or if it rains... bleaurgh, gimme air conditioning and a roof any day. Of course nobody sits indoors when they're at the mamak - people eat al fresco mah: by the roadside where the taste of the hygiene-questionable food will improve with the addition of carbon monoxide emanating from the cars going by and the other "11 herbs and spices" in the air. Then there's also the chance of getting run over by some maniac driver and getting killed in the process...
I just thought it's funny that some people would go out of their way to go to William's when jokers like us who live a stone's throw away either don't know where it is (fyee asked me where it was the last time we met =]) or don't patronise the place (I personally can't be bothered leh).
I know I'll miss the mamak when I've no access to one.
Labels: random stuff
