Two Days with a Sikh

As we stepped off the bus coming back to Kuala Lipis from our little vacation in the highlands, we parted ways to run our various errands.  I headed straight home while others went to the market to buy produce.  When they returned home, they told me about an Indian man they met. Apparently, he makes friends with foreign teachers who come here and his son lives across the street from us.

Next thing I know, the man is outside our gate telling us that he is a Sikh and that it’s his new year so we should celebrate with him.  (Sikhs are the religious group from northern India; you know the ones with the turbans.)  So of course we join him, and he treats us to a FEAST of naan and tandoori chicken, curry chicken, chapatti, and more.  During dinner we discover that he pretty much owns this town.  Literally everyone knows him, and he is an independent contractor in Public Works.  He showed us his corporate rental property and we met all of the owners of his stores and restaurants.  After he received a call saying his cows were out, we took a little bit of time to wrangle his cattle in the car with loud Indian music (a first cattle roundup for me). Then he took us to his home that he built on one of the tallest hills in the city.  He showed us the view from up there, the gold jewelry from his wedding, and many photos.  Later that night he drove us home and told us that he would be in touch.

After our “corporate dental hygiene session” aka going to the dentist with friends, our good Sikh friend pulled up in his car and asked if we would join him.  Then the busiest day in ages ensued.  Iced Milo at his restaurant, accompanying him on work errands, a walk around the pond in the forest reserve (jungle), and another visit to his home where the view was even better in the day.

Next thing I know, it is time to move the cattle again.  His son took two of our girls in his truck, and I jumped on the back of his motorbike and we set off into the winding paths of his 46 acres.  Like modern day cowboys we rustled the cattle through the palm plantation to another grazing spot by motorbike.  (anytime I saw the turban dip down ,I knew it was time to duck from the oncoming branches elsewise I would be whacked in the head and have the little spiders fall on me again…boo!)

Then onto lunch at his restaurant, a look from the highest point in K.Lipis, touring around the rubber tree plantation, a visit to the Clifford school to read about Hugh Clifford who made this area what it is during the British reign, a visit to Clifford’s old house, and back home (at least I think this all we did after lunch…but I did fall asleep in the car.)

I don’t know what else this man has planned, but once again, we left with the knowledge that he would be in touch.  And I am fairly sure that it will be a good thing to stay in touch with the man who basically owns this town.  Who knows what will happen with another two days with a Sikh?