Chatter Of The Squirrel

Book: 20 Fragments Of A Ravenous Youth by Xiaolu Guo

After one of my CKT dinners, I grabbed a random book to read while waiting for time to pass.

20 Fragments of a Ravenous Youth by Xiaolu Guo, is a short novel about a village girl who came to Beijing and became a “ke le fe“.

It’s some random fragments of life in Beijing for the new generation of Chinese youths, particularly the poor and struggling ones with just the unfortunate awareness to still cling helplessly to a vague, hopeless dream.

I don’t do very well with stories like these. Stories with no overall plot or direction. When Fenfang’s boyfriend is swimming in a puddle all by himself instead of teaching her to swim as well, it’s probably a dirge to chivalry, or some such commentary. But I can’t really tell for sure.

But the author does paint a number of interesting characters, and I did enjoy the book.

Food: Char Kuey Teow for RM1.10

Seri Penang at Ikano Power Centre, (next to ACE Hardware), has a promotion all of April.

Char Kuey Teow promo from 3pm to 6pm, only RM1 per plate.

That’s why I rush out of work promptly at 5.30, and race to IKEA. I usually can get my ass in a chair by 5.54.

The portion looks kinda small, but well worth it for RM1. It’s got bits of shrimps, cockles and that funny green vegetable that looks like spring onion leaves, but isn’t. It’s really yummy.

Not 7.90 yummy (which is the usual price), but I am thoroughly enjoying it at this price. Have been trying to have my dinner here every evening since discovering it. It’s really great, cos right after dinner, I can hop over to Borders and read.

Today’s the last day of this promotion. For the month of May, it’s going to be Penang Laksa, for RM1. And June, it’ll be Yong Chow Fried Rice, for RM1. I know exactly where I’ll be eating my dinner for the next 2 months…

The restaurant is quite full these days, sometimes more than 20 people before 6pm. But everyone is only eating CKT. Sometimes 2 plates each. I hope the place will stay afloat at least till June. ^_^ The food is quite good, just ridiculously priced.