Yours Sincerely observes that the Chinese Malaysians have a peculiar habit of "belanja" or treating friends or paying up friend's bills in eating shops. There are several types of encouters of this nature:-
The first is not the prearranged type but rather impromptu as when you happen to be at the same place and at the same time with him. He has finished his meal, stood up, called for the bill and gestured to the cashier to also include what you are eating in his bill. When you have finished eating you get the "pleasant" surprise of discovering that it has been paid for you.
The second is when a few of you decide to have a meal together and walk into an eating shop. After the feasting and when it is about time to leave, you call for the bill. And when the bill arrives, there begins a tussle to foot it. Sometimes, the tussle can be embarrassing and the more insistent one or the one who is holding up a bigger note wins the day.
At other time, while your bill is being mentally calculated by the cashier, everyone digs into his pockets, and indicates that he wants to pay. In this situation, you may find that the bill is jacked up because the owner of the establishment knows well that no one is going to itemize the bill, and you end up paying more ! How silly!
Of course, there are the free loader or the free " luncher " who always seems to lose in the battle to pay by either :-0
i. Being to slow to produce their wallet and money
ii. Producing small notes by sheer "bad arithmetic"
iii. OR always seem to visit the toilet at the right time when the bill comes. LOL
While such "custom" or unwritten ethics may be good, it can be embarrassing especially when you do not bring enough cash since you do not expect to meet friends. However, to be on the safe side, and since living in a small town, Y S always ensures that he carries a bit extra just in case an impromptu situation arises.
However, many a time, Y S was proud of himself when his former students who are now working or having successful businesses insist that they want to treat their teacher. These former students always make my day, not so much for the free meal but the APPRECIATION that they show. After all what else can a retired teacher delight in ???
11 comments:
if u have many friends who like to belanja u then u can save some money
Hanes, then pretend a toilet call lor
I see my teachers... I oso belanja them lah. That's the least I can do for them. 8)
Hello Thomas,
This belanja is an interesting habit and reflects on the friendliness and large heartedness of Malaysians.
I used to know a friend during my working days who was a free luncher.Many times we made fun of his habit of not paying and he never understood our jokes on him. He will come with us have a hearty meals and at the time of paying the bill he will walk away saying he has to go very urgently to attend to an important matter. He never changed.
Best wishes,
Joseph
It is good to belanja. It shows that you have.
Joseph, hello! These free lunchers are every where and they thrive on our generosity. If you eat regularly with a group of friends, simple arithmetic will tell you when your turn to pay comes.
footian, you are right. Hope to see you in Taiping and be "belanja" by you. LOL
No problem.
the most effective way is to take your wallet out late pretend that your wallet is stuck in ur pocket then you will get BELANJAD
hanes, this is the trick of cheapskates
Hi Thomas,
I enjoyed reading the cheese cake post with lovely photos. Making cakes is a specialist job and I suppose people like me can only see and admire and eat provided someone takes the trouble of making it. You have such fantastic friends.
Many thanks for leaving a comment in my post.
Wish you all the best,
Joseph
Hi Joseph, if you were around here we could have tea and savor the cheese cakes together. Such food is for sharing like the local fruit called "durians". They just cannot be eaten alone.The same goes for liquor for which I do a bit socially, and NEVER alone!
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