We do not normally ensure that the stall is open on a particular day of travel because each trip is meant to be for more than one purpose. For this one, we took along an old wooden deck chair and a seat for rebinding by Leong on Chulia Street; CY went along to order a pair of shoes to be custom made by Wong of Craft at Komtar; and so on.
I was to discover and confirm that SP has a problem with her memory. I distinctly heard her confirming that we will reach her sister's place at 10.30am. On the way, I joked to CY that our excuse was to be 'traffic jam' something uncommon in Ipoh, especially along the Ipoh-Lumut highway. SP insisted she told her 'leaving at 10.30am! When we arrived one hour late, her sister said that she knew we would be late like always and 11.30am is considered as expected! She confirmed what I heard correctly earlier. It was the next day that another sister, who is a doctor and her specialist husband, confirmed that the drug for lowering cholesterol could affect memory! I was glad I have been right most times, arguing over what had been said, otherwise it was also affecting me, wondering each time whether it was me or her.
Anyway, with my usual driving according to speed limits, we reached Balik Pulau at 2 pm. I was worried it was going to be a waste of travel time but the stall was still open for business. 3 of us ordered 'with lemak' while CY ordered without. Assam laksa is not my cup of tea but the trouble in getting there made me order one for myself and it was really good. Both sisters really enjoyed till the last drop of soup and ordered another bowl without lemak for a change, to be shared. They were supposed to try another stall but the one opposite seemed to lack customers, not an encouraging sign at all.
We took the Batu Ferringhi way to town. First stop was Leong's rattan shop at Chulia St. knowing full well the shoe shop closes later. Chulia St. also was the right place for money-changing as CY has to travel to Thailand and Europe. We parked at a place near Komtar and we put in coins for two hours, till 7.00 pm. By the time we were ready to leave, there was heavy downpour and we had a drink at a mamak shop nearby. Personally, I would have dinner there but SP had already set her mind (as usual) on the Thai restaurant at Clove Hall Rd.
Craft, the shoe shop, was recommended by someone who taught SP how to make beaded shoes, few years ago in Penang. Its unassuming display include some newspaper write-ups with pictures of senior Wong and the renown Datuk Jimmy Choo. I suppose little is known about senior Wong being Jimmy Choo's ex-sifu, before he made his name in Europe and worldwide, with some celebrities as his regular customers. So it was definitely a good deal to get good workmanship at normal prices at Craft!
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