When India Megha hoisted up its banner on Jl. Nasional January 2006 my husband was excited. I was cautious. The previous week I had spotted a sign that read “Italy” on Jl. Nasional and was more than a bit disappointed to discover they weren’t serving pasta; instead they had an abundance of mosquito spray. It turns out my husband was right – Indian Megha was worth getting excited about. For several months this restaurant served Indian food, right here in Meulaboh. Now, whenever I pass restaurants and stores with names like Bombay, Hollywood Photo, Hong Kong Seafood, and Brunei, I’m intrigued. So, to find out just how international these restaurants and stores truly are the “My Meulaboh” team did a little investigating.
Take this brief quiz to gauge your knowledge of Meulaboh’s internationally named locales.
1. When asked why a Meulaboh restaurant is named after the Indian metropolis of nearly 13 million people, formerly known as Bombay, owner Hangky Randy said:
A) He makes a mean masala dosa.
B) He used to own a restaurant in Bombay.
C) He likes cooking with bawang bombay (onions).
D) He was inspired to name his restaurant as a tribute to the Bollywood films he loved to watch as a senior high school student.
2. Rostina and her husband decided to name their photo shop and stationery store Hollywood Photo because:
A) Their relatives own a Hollywood Photo in Banda Aceh and it is a chain store.
B) It’s Rostina’s dream to move to Hollywood and star in a movie with Tom Cruise.
C) On the wall behind the cash register is a photo of Rostina’s nephew in front of the famous Hollywood sign in California.
D) In the back room you can dress up like you’re a Hollywood celebrity and have your photo taken – preferred costumes are Sylvester Stallone and Cher.
3. Naming this popular restaurant on Jl. Teuku Umar Hong Kong Seafood seemed appropriate because:
A) The mie goreng special comes with a bowl of shark fin soup
B) The family is originally from Hong Kong
C) The father was a chef in an international hotel and worked with people from Hong Kong
D) Meulaboh reminded them of their summer vacation 1998 to Hong Kong
4. When asked why the owner named this electronic and appliance store after the tiny country on the northern coast of the island of Borneo, Brunei, the manger responded:
A) All the appliances come from Brunei.
B) The owner is from a town named Beureuneun, he shortened it and that’s how the store got its store name –Brunei.
C) During negotiations with a customer from Brunei, the customer said he’d buy the refrigerator if the owner named the store after his country.
D) Actually, the country was named after the store.
Answers
1. D. Hangky Randy was inspired to name his restaurant as a tribute to the Bollywood films he loved to watch as a senior high school student. “My favorite film was ‘Salmankhan,’” he laughed. No, Hangky does not know how to prepare Indian food, nor has he ever been to this country famed for its cuisine, but he claims Bombay Restaurant has been serving up a fantastic plate of nasi goreng for over 12 years. True, you may not be able to order that mango lassi you’re craving, but according to Hangky, the nasi goreng spesial with shrimp and chicken won’t disappoint you. “And it’s very cheap,” he added.
2. A. Hollywood Photo owner, Rostina, has never had a Hollywood celebrity develop photos at her store. The store got its name because relatives in Banda Aceh have a Hollywood Photo shop and they helped Rostina and her husband to open their own Hollywood Photo in Meulaboh. While they don’t take Hollywood photos in the back room, they do print photos starting at Rp. 1,000 in addition to printing t-shirts with photos. And no, Rostina isn’t dreaming of going to Hollywood any time soon, but she does enjoy watching films with Al Pacino and Tom Hanks.
3. C. According to Sunsun, 27, of Hong Kong Seafood, no one in his family is actually from Hong Kong. Sunsun’s father used to work as a head chef in an international hotel in Kalimantan and it was there that he worked with people from Hong Kong. The interactions he had and the foods he learned to make encouraged him to name his own restaurant Hong Kong Seafood. Although Sunsun’s family is from Jakarta, they do serve a few popular Chinese dishes, such as Cap Cai Goreng, (stir-fried vegetables) Fu Yung Hai (Chinese omelet) and Sapo Tahu (tofu soup). But if you’re really craving something special from Hong Kong, Sunsun said this can be arranged. For Rp. 2,000,000 a Hong Kong feast for five will be prepared. This has yet to be ordered, but you’re welcome to be the first!
4. B. Brunei is indeed an interesting name for an electronic and appliance store in Meulaboh. “Do any of your products come from Brunei?” I asked the manager. He shook his head, “Medan.” “Has anyone who works at the shop ever been to Brunei?” I continued. Again, he shook his head. “It’s like this,” he told me. He pulled out a piece of paper and wrote “Beureuneun.” Apparently, the owner is from a town in Sigli named Beureuneun, he shortened it and that’s how they got its store name –Brunei. The manager assured me there is no connection between the country and the store, except for the fact that there are probably electronic appliance stores in Brunei, as well. If you are interested in going to Brunei – the one on Jl. Nasional—take a look at their freezers and TVs—these are the best selling items.
Take this brief quiz to gauge your knowledge of Meulaboh’s internationally named locales.
1. When asked why a Meulaboh restaurant is named after the Indian metropolis of nearly 13 million people, formerly known as Bombay, owner Hangky Randy said:
A) He makes a mean masala dosa.
B) He used to own a restaurant in Bombay.
C) He likes cooking with bawang bombay (onions).
D) He was inspired to name his restaurant as a tribute to the Bollywood films he loved to watch as a senior high school student.
2. Rostina and her husband decided to name their photo shop and stationery store Hollywood Photo because:
A) Their relatives own a Hollywood Photo in Banda Aceh and it is a chain store.
B) It’s Rostina’s dream to move to Hollywood and star in a movie with Tom Cruise.
C) On the wall behind the cash register is a photo of Rostina’s nephew in front of the famous Hollywood sign in California.
D) In the back room you can dress up like you’re a Hollywood celebrity and have your photo taken – preferred costumes are Sylvester Stallone and Cher.
3. Naming this popular restaurant on Jl. Teuku Umar Hong Kong Seafood seemed appropriate because:
A) The mie goreng special comes with a bowl of shark fin soup
B) The family is originally from Hong Kong
C) The father was a chef in an international hotel and worked with people from Hong Kong
D) Meulaboh reminded them of their summer vacation 1998 to Hong Kong
4. When asked why the owner named this electronic and appliance store after the tiny country on the northern coast of the island of Borneo, Brunei, the manger responded:
A) All the appliances come from Brunei.
B) The owner is from a town named Beureuneun, he shortened it and that’s how the store got its store name –Brunei.
C) During negotiations with a customer from Brunei, the customer said he’d buy the refrigerator if the owner named the store after his country.
D) Actually, the country was named after the store.
Answers
1. D. Hangky Randy was inspired to name his restaurant as a tribute to the Bollywood films he loved to watch as a senior high school student. “My favorite film was ‘Salmankhan,’” he laughed. No, Hangky does not know how to prepare Indian food, nor has he ever been to this country famed for its cuisine, but he claims Bombay Restaurant has been serving up a fantastic plate of nasi goreng for over 12 years. True, you may not be able to order that mango lassi you’re craving, but according to Hangky, the nasi goreng spesial with shrimp and chicken won’t disappoint you. “And it’s very cheap,” he added.2. A. Hollywood Photo owner, Rostina, has never had a Hollywood celebrity develop photos at her store. The store got its name because relatives in Banda Aceh have a Hollywood Photo shop and they helped Rostina and her husband to open their own Hollywood Photo in Meulaboh. While they don’t take Hollywood photos in the back room, they do print photos starting at Rp. 1,000 in addition to printing t-shirts with photos. And no, Rostina isn’t dreaming of going to Hollywood any time soon, but she does enjoy watching films with Al Pacino and Tom Hanks.
3. C. According to Sunsun, 27, of Hong Kong Seafood, no one in his family is actually from Hong Kong. Sunsun’s father used to work as a head chef in an international hotel in Kalimantan and it was there that he worked with people from Hong Kong. The interactions he had and the foods he learned to make encouraged him to name his own restaurant Hong Kong Seafood. Although Sunsun’s family is from Jakarta, they do serve a few popular Chinese dishes, such as Cap Cai Goreng, (stir-fried vegetables) Fu Yung Hai (Chinese omelet) and Sapo Tahu (tofu soup). But if you’re really craving something special from Hong Kong, Sunsun said this can be arranged. For Rp. 2,000,000 a Hong Kong feast for five will be prepared. This has yet to be ordered, but you’re welcome to be the first!
4. B. Brunei is indeed an interesting name for an electronic and appliance store in Meulaboh. “Do any of your products come from Brunei?” I asked the manager. He shook his head, “Medan.” “Has anyone who works at the shop ever been to Brunei?” I continued. Again, he shook his head. “It’s like this,” he told me. He pulled out a piece of paper and wrote “Beureuneun.” Apparently, the owner is from a town in Sigli named Beureuneun, he shortened it and that’s how they got its store name –Brunei. The manager assured me there is no connection between the country and the store, except for the fact that there are probably electronic appliance stores in Brunei, as well. If you are interested in going to Brunei – the one on Jl. Nasional—take a look at their freezers and TVs—these are the best selling items.
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