5.140 Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak

Cycle 5 – Item 140

25 (Sun) May 2014

Pak Nasser’s Nasi Lemak

2.5

on Air Asia Zest: Flight Z2 85

-Incheon en route to Manila-

solo

Home Visit 5: To Watch DJ Play Soccer (Day 3)

FAMILY TIME

Not that I need a reason to come home, but I made the trip this weekend specifically to attend Dominic’s soccer tournament. Doing my best not to be a deadbeat dad.

To form a football club in Korea, a group of kids within a given age range (e.g., kids in the same class) can band together and (their parents will) hire a coach. The coaches join a network that organizes occasional games between the teams or larger tournaments once or twice a year.

DJ, who’s the team captain, was utterly devastated that his team lost all 4 games, scoring 0 goals. I place full blame on the dumbass coach, who had obviously never taught them about positioning or strategy, turning each match into a 20-minute cometball clusterfuck, with DJ trying to play both sides of the pitch and his teammates trailing after him, leaving him exhausted and ineffective all around. Seeing him cry in disappointment/humiliation after each game, even though he’d done his utmost, I was about to go up to the coach and chew him out, but then W restrained me, explaining that no other coaches were currently available and so we couldn’t risk him quitting. Even worse, the other parents actually apologized and asked us to forgive their kids for not providing enough support for DJ – flabbergasted, I was like, “No, it’s not their fault!

Everyone got participation trophies, even though DJ is clearly not buying it.

LUNCH

On the way home, we had lunch at Byeokje Galbi, the parent restaurant of Bong Piyang, located right next door.

Mul naeng myeon cleanses the soul.

DINNER

Air Asia Zest is a budget airline based in Malaysia. Except for a 7-kg carry-on allowance, and restrooms, everything else comes with additional charge, even water. Still, for just $250 roundtrip between Seoul and Manila, I’ll take it.

Nasi Lemak is a Malaysian dish. Consists of rice, soaked in coconut milk, then steamed, traditionally served with boiled peanuts, dried/fried anchovies, boiled egg, and sambal, and sometimes chicken/shrimp/beef/whatever, often wrapped in a banana leaf both for convenience and for additional flavor. In Malay, “nasi = rice” + “lemak = fatty/oily/creamy.” Regarded by many as Malaysia’s national dish.

Very encouraged to see nutrition information, including allergen warnings, so prominently displayed.

The nasi lemak wasn’t too bad. In addition to the basics, the dish also came with some kind of curried chicken. Personally, I find that anything with curry tastes pretty good, even for in-flight meals. Whether proper or not, I mixed all the components together, kinda like bibimbap. A bit salty, a bit spicy. Pops of peanuts or dried anchovies in every other bite. I enjoyed it.