City News

A Merdeka Special: "I fell in love with him and embraced a new culture"

August 31, 2020


This Merdeka, we bring you a love story like in the movies, when faith brings girl to a new town and there she meets her hero. Lim Yook Moi, who comes from a traditional Chinese background shares with us a beautiful Malaysian love story that began exactly 53 years ago when she first met her now-husband, who was and still is nothing short of a handsome Kollywood superstar, stole her heart and tells us how she instantly fell in love with the Indian traditions and cultures, making them all her own. 

"I used to love cooking as a teen and my sister who runs a school canteen in Batu Arang often asked me to head there and help her out. And I remember telling her, 'who wants to go to a small town, so boring and all.' What do you expect from a teenager," she said laughing.

However, right after her SPM (high school final examinations), she decided to experience a holiday with her sister in the small town. And little did she know that it would be the start to her most favorite love story to date!

"So I thought ok, officially school has ended for me, let's not disappoint my sister and accepted her invitation to stay over at her place for a bit. I would go over to the school canteen to help her and my brother in law out. And that's when I met him, my man - V. Govindarajanthran, looking so smart and dashing. it was love at first sight with this teacher. They say high school love and all, and probably that felt like it for me!"

Her sister later moved out of Batu Arang after a few years, but she stayed on until her daughter turned five, when her husband got a promotion. Never say never they say! 

My sister still teases me today, "You never wanted to come to Batu Arang but you found your soulmate here and stayed on longer than us!"

"We'll be married for 50 years next year and I must say we'll be lost without each other. We have our fights and all but I surely could not have asked for a better soulmate. These days, we enjoy being home watching Tamil serials and movies, I don't quite understand them entirely but I enjoy sitting with him!"

The couple tied the knot on 21st August 1971, ten days before Malaysia's independence day and we bet it would have been an amazing week of happiness leading up to the nation's huge celebration.

After the wedding, she fell in love with his culture and tradition, embracing it and eagerly learning everything she could.

"I made it a habit to drape a saree for every occasion, even though it wasn't perfect in the beginning, and then eventually practice made my pleats perfect. I remember how those around me would tease me and ask if my husband draped my saree for me!"

She added that the community in Batu Arang was so closely knitted and she never once felt different. 

"I would attend all the temple prayers and go to the temple every Friday without fail. I would even sit and listen to the talks and speeches even though I didn't understand the language. There was calm and I always felt I belong in a large family. I would even participate in preparation activities for functions and events, helping out to cut vegetables for not only temple festivities but also Malay wedding. Everyone accepted me as their own."

She shared that life was interesting in Batu Arang. It was a place at that time where everyone is a  part of a large family as a true Malaysia.

"The was once this Indian only lady who walked a distance from her house to our's and asked if she can stay with us for a few days. She saw me in the temple and probably felt a connection, so when she had a little argument with her family she thought of me and came looking for me. We adopted her for a few days. I couldn't speak Tamil and that was the language she knows, but we managed to communicate for three days. We then sent her home once her anger subsided, as she was old and her family must be missing her."


She added that it was just natural for her to ensure her kids hold the traditions close to their hearts and passed it on to the next generation. 

"When my daughter Nishah was three, I started sewing her traditional outfits using my mother in law's old sarees. I remember when she was five and watching me select a saree from my wardrobe to drape, she looked at me and said sternly, 'Amma don't use up all the sarees, keep some for me!' And that's when I knew that the tradition will live on," she exclaimed happily. 

It was also a growing love affair that continued with food and festive delicacies. 

"The family says my mutton curry is top! I would day my muruku skills is also pro! This is all thanks to my mother in law and friends, as well as neighbors who helped me out a lot with recipes and constantly encouraged me to keep trying to perfection."

She added that all these did not come easy and the trick is to never give up.

"There were days when I actually cried over failed cooking attempts. But the husband was ever supportive and continues to be my food tester and critic, until the day I didn't need guidance anymore."

Deepavali, she shared was a big affair in Batu Arang, and her master chef skills come to good use every time.

"I remember cooking ten chickens for the celebration. We had friends, family and students come over to the house. It was such an amazing time and we always looked forward to it."

She shared that this year it will be different due to the pandemic but she will still prepare a feast for loved ones in her home where she lives with her husband now in Bukit Beruntung, and her mutton curry will continue to be the show stopper!

Wanderlust

Elvina Fernandez - A former journalist with a passion for writing about all things I fancy including Food, Travel, Fashion. This blog is a place where I share my thoughts with you! Happy reading and stay in touch!

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