Umbla Anne

Umbla is a local fruit in colour and size not unlike an unripe green walnut. A sour plum perhaps, from which here in Penang a tarty cool drink was made. Despite the lighter colour tone a newcomer mistakenly thinks, Thai green tea. At two ringgit worth a try. On Penang Road - Kumpung Malabar corner Anne Wong calls it her "signature drink." Two ringgit. Convent educated Anne. The pendant on the end of her gold chain not a cross however—conversion had been avoided. In the end Anne accepted she had not in fact learned the expression in the Convent, certainly not in formal classes. In the case of a daughter Anne's mother wanted to name her child after the Queen of England; (one year in fact after the British withdrawal and independence). Fond mother. Innumerable cases of sequenced rhyming English names bestowed on children the northern end of the Straits the same as the southern, where the Chinese were concerned. (Not the Malays or Indians.) An Ipoh Chinese housemate of a number of years ago by the name of Sharon had siblings Darren and Karen. There were innumerable examples down in Singapore. Of course Anne here in Penang should have been Elizabeth. A difficulty though. How was an illiterate, fond and loving mother supposed to get her tongue around that twister? Even Lizzie must have been tough; and not the same thing either. Fifty-five and more years ago good Queen Liz had become the mother of a daughter. Horsey Princess Anne unhappily taking her Greek father's features. But that was a quibble. Anne. There must have been baby pics in a crib even here in the steamy tropics. God save our gracious Queen / Long live our noble...Fair bit of talent for finagling bestowed with it too you would say judging by the regular trade in tehs and umbla at this particular corner last few days. Woman ought to be retired. Office work it had been earlier. Product of good, earnest, mid-twentieth century aspirant former coolie stock found it hard at home with the crossword and daytime TV. Cooling on a hot day, the little stab of sourness much preferable to all the heavily sweetened beverage. Warmly recommended, perhaps particularly for those poor backpacker kids totting their kits around the bars on Chulia Street on the next corner. After the temples maybe follow the locals and try some meditation over a cup within those walls on Penang-Malabar, guys.