A chance encounter at a cafe in Seremban, Malaysia, gave us pause to ponder over life and to count our blessings.
Are we at the right place?
Looking at the woman with the large contraption over her head, steam billowing from it while a man fussed over her, this is obviously a hair salon – not some local cafe bearing 4-star reviews.
“Did the GPS send us to the wrong place? The sign says it’s a hair salon.” I queried my partner, pointing to the word ‘coiffure’ on the signage. But the Tiger Beer logo gave us hope. “Yes, this is the right place,” he replied confidently, “That’s what the GPS says. Let’s take a look!”
Far from the madding crowd
Bored of the usual offerings at the mall in Seremban, we jaywalked across roads without any pedestrian crossings or traffic lights, passed by a few dilapidated buildings and trudged past sandy pavements in the blistering late afternoon sun.
What Google Maps didn’t mention was the heat – beads of perspiration were already dripping from my eyebrows as I saw the signage “Cutting Edge Coiffure”. Next to it was a Tiger Beer logo indicating the sale of Singapore’s iconic beer. Besides this tall building, there was little else going on – just overgrown grass and no sign of life outside.
At 7 Warner Kopitiam or 七記茶樓, the Open sign was prominently displayed. We stepped in, still unsure. Seeing the lady mid-treatment, I couldn’t help but wonder again, were we at the right place?
Then came the burring of an electric blender and a faint scent of coffee aroma. As I looked around, we were greeted with the menu. A cafe in a hair salon? What a delightful novelty!
When scissors meets sambal
Drawn by the nostalgic decor, we ordered something – not to satiate our hunger – more to soak in the vibes. After all, cafes are not aplenty in Seremban.
Two rollable blinds bore vintage prints of a Chinese lady in cheongsam, a traditional coffee cup and toast were set behind cane chairs and tables – perfectly instagrammable! Nearby stood a guzheng (a traditional Chinese musical instrument), a vinyl-player and a teakwood analog radio. Pots of vibrant sansevieria livened up the place.
Further in, Chinese calendars featuring sixties and seventies-style cover girls were on proud display. A rusty old charcoal iron, a congkak board (a Malay traditional board game), and long-spout kettles and enamel pots used during our grandparents’ time added to its charm. The old-school nostalgic feel at the cafe was undeniable.
Of coffee and coiffure
While partaking in good food and visiting new places make travelling exciting and fun, the true markers of a great trip are the serendipitous encounters with strangers and unexpected lessons.
While waiting for our drinks, the owner shared the interesting story behind the amalgamation of the hair salon, kopitiam cafe and bar lounge. A veteran hairstylist who owns several hairdressing salons in Malaysia, he also trains aspiring hairstylists across the country.
The world held its breath
He recalled the early pandemic days when everything was at a stalemate – when businesses shuttered, movement restricted and human contact severed.
“I was lucky. Owning the land where my cafe stands eased the financial burden though other business owners were not so fortunate.”
Thankfully, government aid helped weather the storm especially during the initial trying period when everyone was grappling to find their footing. That’s when he found unexpected joy in cooking. Thanks to his wife’s Nyonya heritage, they started experimenting with Nyonya recipes.
“The pandemic came so suddenly. All of us were in this together, yet we were unable to get together. There was nothing much to do, so my wife and I started cooking as a way to make ourselves feel better. During the down time, I kept asking myself how I can rise above this. Pivoting towards the food business was a natural progression.”
Their new cafe concept proved profitable. Today, their hair salon cum kopitiam cum bar lounge is thriving. The rest, as they say, is history.
The pandemic came so suddenly. All of us were in this together, yet we were unable to get together.
Reflections of the pandemic
What he said next left a deep impression on me. “We are lucky. The pandemic is still better than the war.” Despite the uncertainty of COVID-19 our quality of life was much better than the war-torn days of our grandparents, in which every day was lived in fear and dearth.
Thanks to digital connectivity, we managed to continue to work, enjoy food deliveries, shop online, exercise at home and even explore new hobbies. When face-to-face meet-ups were impossible, we learnt to make do with free video chats and connect via various digital tools.
We are lucky. The pandemic is still better than the war.
Lessons beyond a cafe
As the months passed, we adapted – and realised that life, when stripped down, wasn’t so bad after all.
Mulling over my coconut coffee, it got me thinking, what brings true fulfillment?
Beyond food, shelter and health, it is connection and lifelong learning that keep us going. Material goods and luxury items – cars, handbags, shoes, watches, cosmetics – are but the icing on the cake. So many material possessions and nowhere to go to. So much makeup and nowhere to wear it to.
Counting our blessings
Those were the times that taught us to count our blessings – to give thanks to being alive and enjoy the privilege of growing old. The owner’s reflections reminded me of those difficult times we braved through together and the tenacity of the human spirit. Life was not easy but we never gave up living.
Should war, bird-flu, mad cow diseases, SARS, COVID-19 or something new were to strike us, one thing’s for sure: the human species have the incredible ability to adapt and survive.
The 5am Club
The importance of staying alive and the owner’s constant strive to improve his situation reminded me of a quote from Robin Sharma’s The 5am Club: “Don’t die”.
It holds both literal and metaphorical meanings. We should take exceptional care of our health so we can do meaningful work. At the same time, don’t die while we are still alive.
The pandemic reminds us to keep growing, keep learning and keep our sense of wonder alive.
Tuning in to that sense of wonder, I turned my full attention to the simple pleasures of piping hot food and a better appreciation towards humanity’s rise above difficulties.
Kaw kaw coffee and Nyonya noodles
Beyond the inviting ambience of the cafe, how did the food and drinks fare? We give the thumbs up for the Nyonya laksa (RM16.90), the signature Kaw Kaw (meaning rich and extra strong) Quang Zhao coffee (RM4.90) and the coconut coffee (RM12.90).
Looking at the plethora of ingredients for the laksa: from beancurd skin, fish balls, tau pok, beansprouts, eggs to chilli slices and a wedge of lime, further whetted our appetites. The sauce was rich with the aroma of coconut, without being overpowering. The signature kaw kaw coffee has a distinctive, unplaceable flavour, absolutely delicious.
Kudos goes to the finely-grated coconut carefully placed around the rim of my coconut coffee. While I personally prefer the stronger kaw kaw coffee, since my personal taste veers towards rich and robust coffees, the coconut coffee uses distinctly different beans from its signature.
Pity the owner was busy attending to other customers for us to chat more, so we smiled at ourselves on finding another great cafe and finished our food. Should we have another chance to pop by their other cafes in Melaka and Ipoh, I would probably try their toast, Nyonya Pie Tee and nasi lemak which comes in 7 dollops of rice in 7 colours – definitely a thing for food photographers.
That short encounter at the eclectic cafe in Seremban offered not just respite from mall fatigue. It gave us pause to count our blessings, now that we are travelling again and connecting in person. It demonstrated how intertwined human fragility and resilience are.
At Our Travel Footprints, it is such chance encounters that leave lasting imprints making travel all the more meaningful.
Quick facts
7 Warna Kopitiam 七記茶樓 is located at 69, Persiaran S2 B2, Seremban 2, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Opens 8am to 8pm. This location has ample parking space.
The owner mentioned his plan to open a new outlet in Johor Bahru. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for 7 Warner Kopitiam when around that area! The cafe is also available in Melaka and Ipoh. Check for updates.
Sometimes a chanced encounter, a scene, a remark during our travels can spark our creative juices or send us down a rabbit-hole of artistic pursuits. Because travels may not necessarily be merely a physical act of visiting a destination, it also has the power to evoke within us the stirrings of emotions so strong we want to leave other footprints such as this.