A DELECTABLE WAY TO EXPONENTIAL GROCERY SHOPPING
By:  Iris P. Concepcion

On my recent trip to Kelantan, Kota Bharu, Malaysia, I have met a lot of people who, curiously, all hailed from Europe.  They came from diverse places such as Belgium, Poland, Italy and France.  A simple eureka in World Cup acquiantances.  I have likewise befriended Filpinos, students on tour, who came from Quezon City.

A kindly, portly woman of Muslim-Malay stock, about 50 years old in age, politely asked me on the bus we were riding on, if I have friends in Malaysia.  I had silently rejoiced over the inquiry as to have replied her with a resounding: "I have met a lot of people from the place and I exactly know my way around the area."  She gave me a nodding grin.

I had pointed at this seatmate the allure and beauty of pine trees sprouting out of nowhere.  I had delighted over the fact that the rice paddies are now in full soil mattress of green leaves with visible brown grains hanging like lamps in their stalks.  I had felt the urge to tell her a story.

"Do you see the rice fields over there?" as I pointed at the vast scape outside the window, filled with excitement.

"The Filipinos helped the Thai people to cultivate quality rice. Thai students went to the country's premiere university, the University of the Philippines, to study its proper cultivation.  This department was called the International Rice Reaserch Institute (IRRI)."

My companion stared at the subject of my side chat and I have seen her eyes turn moist at my tale.

I continued: " My father used to go there, along with his frequent visits to Innotech, obviously a take on technology and innovation which he took pride in regaling to me."

My companion continued to listen as we have seen abandoned stalls, brown and dry spots of leaves that had been dried, overlooking brown hills similar to the northern part of the Philippines.

"It is quite sad that the ones whom we have taught to cultivate it is now reaping the fruits of our agricultural education while the Filipinos chose to ignore the urgent need to adopt it," I thus enthused.

She had asked me then if I wish to move from one place to another.  I replied that Thailand offers a lot of surprises that stimulates rather than prods.  My words are not exactly along these lines but she had certainly grasped my knowing comfort in saying that the place is perfect for mind expansions as the King encourages it.  Malaysia, I told her, is perhaps a place where these mind expansions are executed in action.

I highlighted the fact that I have learned to love Kota Bharu and its eclectic products that are funnier and livelier.  Its city designs suit more my appetite than the monochromatic tall buildings I am used to seeing.  The building designs here have dimensions.  By this, I mean, the engineering precis of architecture that is 3D in appearance and is never flat.

I had hoped then that my companion had seen Kelantan's take on brochures as it wishes everyone a prosperous Chinese New Year.  The fabrics and textiles are like films in yarn.  It excites me to report on the various textile materials that had once adorned my youth with my mother's elaborate handstitched gowns and her fellow teachers' impeccable sewing patterns.  The itemized wares:  Sutera Washable Crepe 3D, Washable Silk printed, Washable French Crepe Printed, Washable Satin Crepe Printed, Opal Brasso (Free Lining), Italian Cotton Printed (Polka Dot design).

The name of the outlet is GSH at Gulati's, Kota Bharu outlet, with its mannequin and display windows reminding me of C.O.D. Department Store of the old sleigh bells ringing in Cubao, Quezon City.  Its windows are not monochromatic. Instead, they have layers of wood, middled by glass and panelled, again, in wood.  This outlet houses the following textile outlets: Euro Moda, Gulati's, The GSH and AALIA. The brochure is chicly titled Gucca, Italy.

The lamp shades and water filters have designs that I have not seen in any sprawling city that I have been to.  The wood of my youth, of stereo make and very shiny, now shields lights that are glaring with increased wattage. This likewise made me recall my father's Petromax.  These items are, clearly, made of superior craftsmanship beside the otherwise regrettable light sources with clothing shields.

I had likewise purchased a pizza delicacy but the pan is made of muffin, from my favorite bakery, M, that is priced at 10 baht (1 ringgit).  It is chewy as a soft fur with an even, sugary taste that goes well with the peas and ham toppings.  Its dough is similar to the American Cream Bread my mother used to buy in Kidapawan, a town next to my own, with its vast array of marketing goods.

My biggest economic experience came from a Chinese supermarket though. One could never miss it.  Called Pantai Complex, a shopper is greeted at the door with huge Mandarin oranges, all in red.  I ventured inside and expected to find Buddhas and mini temples.  Instead,  I saw cashier lines for a grocery store.  My jaw literally dropped at the prices, slashed down in half with the products still in good condition.  Unsalted/Salted butter from New Zealand and Australia, cheese imported from Singapore, different kinds of fruits and chicken/pork/beef cuts under Ayam brand.  One whole chicken costs only 40 baht (4 ringgit).  Ice-cream in 1,000 litre containers cost only 40 baht (4 ringgit) with a variety of flavors including sweet corn of my youth.  They have seemed to grow the size of pumpkins.  I finally saw the Lady's Choice mayonnaise used by my mother to whip up a mean chicken macaroni salad (the best in the universe), in exact replica of sexy and shapely bottles.  This was her favorite brand, along with Best Foods.

No one can dispute the packaging of these dearly departed and still alive people: their food line is incomparable.  The usual biscuits had grown; I saw Kraft's (another brand preferred by my mother)chocolate-topped biscuits, the forerunner to Chips Ahoy. Muslims had bought them for their lowered cost beside the plastic-packaged biscuits that had nonetheless crumbled.

My eyes popped at the chocolates, Cadburry's, Hershey's and M&M made from cacao so fresh which reminded me of the produce dropping at my auntie's backyard of the old lore. They were at their competitive prices as children cleared the shelves to have them.  The other best buys are the dishwashing liquid with their petrol containers, pampers, spaghetti noodles, fruit cocktails and other gastronomic revelry that are very affordable.

I purchased only one item: a Red Dates (without stones) in impeccable packaging that is not too sweet.  I do wonder how they had managed to remove the stones out from the plum without ruining the fruit. At 1 ringgit each package (10 baht), I had my just dessert in time for my other economic-enhancing activities.  This is a fun store, like a Disney find, or finding Cookie Monster with (real) beef burgers growing two inches in height.

Even the Campbell's Soup is a delight to look at, if only for Andy Warhol's immortalization of its iconic can.

For the piece de resistance, I saw a lumpia wrapper that is huge like a place mat.  Easily removable, my mind wandered at how malleable this product could get, from siomai to vegetable dishes.  They even look promising for burritos.

Kelantan is a find for hefty consumers with fun minds in approaching their food selections. The outlet has a built-in radio that blares a Chinese rap tune that is hilarious.

I went out of the city with fried chicken whose legs are the size of  turkey legs. 

I could not have found a better bargain.