JJCM in KT #4 – The Ambiance of Hai Peng Coffee Shop.

We decided to take the coastal road to Kuala Terengganu as we wanted the road with the lovelier view through rustic villages and an occasional view of the open sea. We hit “Chukai” (which means tax in Malay) by 11.30 am. What an odd name for a town I thought and mentioned that I would not want to stay in a place that constantly reminded me of taxes. Later, I found out that the first excise and customs department on the east coast was set up at Chukai because of its busy port. So there is a logic to the origin of its name.

“Shall we stop for coffee?” Phua asked.

I said “no” (Breakfast #2 not yet digested). June said “yes”. She won. But was I glad to have listened to a woman’s intuition. Man usually just listens to his stomach. For what a delight Hai Peng coffee shop turned out to be. It is the most famous establishment in this town popular with both locals and tourists alike.

The minute we stepped in, we knew this shop is special. Rarely had we came across a Malaysian coffee shop with such mixed clientele. Customers from different races were co-mingling and enjoying their morning cup of coffee. It is a sad fact of Malaysian life that after 50 years of Independence, there is hardly any social racial integration in spite of generally good racial harmony. That is why it is such a delight to see this fine example. The next thing I noticed are all those antique pieces tastefully displayed all over the shop and even hanging from the walls and ceilings giving it a unique atmosphere. The large black table you see in the center contained all kinds of goodies that you select to bring back to your own table for consumption. Help yourself, literally.

The shop has a very interesting combination of the old and new. Yet it somehow blended in well. Old bottles, ancient vase, are placed alongside stacks of boxes and modern displays advertising the shop’s delicacies.

There is a large picture of the original shop besides that of the founder owner toasting his coffee beans.

Established in 1940 and surviving the difficult years of the WWII, this shop has a lot of history. There must be a reason and a story behind each of the piece standing or hanging in the shop. What is the story behind the towkay’s hard hat? The old metallic clock? Or that bunch of ketupat skin (compressed rice packed in young coconut palm leaves) hanging from the celing?

There is a picture of a sweet little girl on the wall.

Who must have ridden on this tricycle a long time ago.

She has now grown up. We speculated which of these two ladies was the little girl and send Phua to find out. Four of us got it wrong. Who do you think is her? You can ask the answer yourself the next time you are in Chukai and visit the coffee shop that you absolutely should not miss.

Coming up next, we will give our marks for the coffee and food of Hai Peng Coffee Shop.

To be continued...