Malaysia, day nine, or possibly ten: KL – Ol Skool bar
I watched in uncertainty, trepidation and amused resignation as he piled the glasses up in front of me.
First, a margarita glass, upon which he balanced a small pair of tongs, like those used to transfer a lime slice into your G&T.
Then a tumbler, placed upside down on the tongs.
Then a smaller tumbler on top of that.
And another.
And, finally, a little upside-down shot glass.
A measure of some clear liquid was carefully poured into the bottom glass. I was pretty sure it wasn’t water.
He handed me a straw. “Not yet,” he said.
He picked up another glass of clear liquid. Took out a lighter. And set the liquid alight.
He poured it over the upside shot glass, creating a magnificent tower of blue flame as the liquid ran down all the glasses to collect in the margarita glass below, setting light to its contents in turn. At the same time, he poured some light green, creamy substance into the margarita glass, which swirled amidst the flame.
“Drink,” he instructed.
I hesitated. Flaming liquid through a plastic straw??
Then took the plunge.
While Gitario, Clarkey, Dewy, Cuz Jeeves, SJ, the singer, the guitarist and the rest of the bar clapped, cheered, wet themselves laughing and sang happy birthday to me.
Not that it actually was my birthday yet. But still.
Cuz Jeeves leaned forward, still laughing, and yelled over the hubbub: “I wanted to buy you a Ferrari for your birthday. But I couldn’t afford it, so I got you this instead.”
It was a Flaming Lamborghini.
