Traditional Street Delicacies
Yesterday afternoon, I felt really sleepy. I wondered whether I should buy some snacks — some people say that chewing helps you stay awake. I wasn’t so sure about that. I doubted it would work for me. As usual, I just felt even sleepier after lunch. But maybe, just maybe, I could try some snacks. How about traditional street snacks?
Unluckily, the store in the traditional market near my kos — my rented room — was already closed. So, in a desperate attempt to stay awake, I tried using my thumb and index finger to pry my eyelids apart, just like a child would. I knew it wouldn’t work, but at least I was trying something, haha. Of course, it was useless — I fell asleep within minutes, randomly woke up in the middle of my nap, and decided to continue my unexpectedly exciting and tense dream :).
When I finally woke up, I panicked. I was supposed to get something done at noon, but I had postponed it — again, and again, and again. What a bad habit. I need to remember this moment for the rest of my life. Hopefully, this will be the last time I procrastinate. As a result, my adrenaline spiked, snapping me back into focus. I rushed to finish my task, and somehow, I managed to complete it just in time — too on time, maybe?
Then, my Ibu Kos — the owner of the kos — knocked on my door. She smiled warmly and handed me a box of traditional market snacks. I wasn’t exactly sure what they were, but I could recognize at least two: surabi and lemper. The flavors were delightful, spoiling my taste buds. Once again, I was reminded: God is good. Too good to be true. I was touched by Ibu Kos’s kindness — what a beautiful coincidence!
Not long after, she knocked on my door again. I wondered what it could be this time. To my surprise, she brought me another traditional treat: es cendol! Whoa — I had been craving it for weeks, but had completely forgotten about it. What an amazing day!
To be honest, I wanted to dig into the snacks right then and there. But I had a Zoom meeting in just a few minutes, so I decided to focus on that first. After the meeting, without wasting another second, the es cendol disappeared into my stomach. The sensation of palm sugar blending with the soft, chewy cendol was unbelievably refreshing.
What a day to be alive — I really love it!
