Mr. Yong, the Grab driver who picked us up from the Sandakan Airport a few days ago recommended Sim Sim Restaurant in Kampung Buli Sim Sim for their great seafood. We arrived at the restaurant around 3:45 pm that same day for a late lunch/early dinner. There was a Sim Sim 88, and next to it Sim Sim 90. The lady at Sim Sim 90 said they will reopen for dinner at 5:00. So we went to Sim Sim 88. The view was great and the guy took our order within the first ten minutes. After about 45 minutes, Kenric signaled to the boss asking where the food was and he just shrugged. They brought us our first dish after 5:00 pm even though there were only a few tables filled in the large restaurant.

We were so mad to have wasted more than an hour just waiting because we could have used the time to explore this neighborhood. Kampung Buli Sim Sim is a water village and the entire neighborhood is on stilts. There were friendly children playing on the concrete walkways waving and saying “Hi” to us. We would have loved to chat with them more. The food was OK.

Playing with a deflated, dirty basketball

On our way back to the main entrance, there were five boys playing football (soccer) on the main walkway. One said “Hi!” before declaring to his friend, “I’m Germany, you’re Mexico!” I wanted to say, “But Germany just lost to Mexico at the World Cup.” I stopped myself because that would actually be encouraging disloyalty in the child, and I believe children should not be taught that they must be on the winning team, or be fair-weather fans or friends. Besides, I’m sure he knew about the shocking loss since almost everyone here watches the World Cup. The ball they were playing with was actually a completely deflated dirty shell of a very old basketball, but they were having fun kicking and guarding.

When we told Mr. Yong about the long wait the following day, during our drive to the river cruise pick-up point, he laughed nervously because he knew for a fact that the restaurant does not have a chef on duty between 3:00 and 5:00. He didn’t think to tell us that before because he thought we would go during dinner time. That made me more mad at the restaurant because they took our order with no intention of delivering for at least an hour. They should have just closed for two hours like their neighbor, Sim Sim 90, or be upfront about the wait time.

I want to get a new ball for the boys

Later I told Kenric that I wanted to get the boys a ball. I said I don’t know if Germany Boy would grow up to be a professional footballer, but if he’s going to work towards that, a functioning ball would be a good start. So, when our river cruise guide’s son drove us back to Sandakan this morning, we asked him to make a stop at a sports store and then drop us off at Sim Sim water village. He asked why and we told him. He helped us select a ball at the store he frequented when he lived in the area. Turns out, he played soccer in high school.

We arrived at the water village around 1:00 pm. No children were out playing. Of course, we went to Sim Sim 90 instead. Everyone was nice, the food was great, and we saw many fishermen and fisherboys bring in their catch to sell to both the neighboring restaurants. I showed a picture I had taken of the “Germany Boy” to a waitress, she didn’t know him. I asked the nice lady who took our order. First, she said yes. Then, she asked why, thinking the boy was in trouble. I told her we brought him a ball because we saw that his ball was in such a bad state. She said that was a nice thing to do, and my mind went to the many times I wished someone had gotten me a new badminton racket when I was young.

The boy lives close by

She said Shamsuddin knows where the boy lives and it’s close by. She yelled for Shamsuddin to come over, but he did not want to be bothered. So she walked me over to where Shamsuddin and another guy were chopping up a big fish. She explained the situation, both the guys smiled. The lady told me the Germany Boy’s father used to work at the restaurant (!!) but he stopped working recently because he got sick. It was his appendix.

We quickly gathered our stuff, paid and followed the two guys. They knocked on a door and a teenage girl opened the door. When she heard we were looking for her little brother, her face said, “Uh-oh, what did he do this time?” They guys explained the situation and left. The sister put on her shoes, came out to the walkway and yelled, “MAAAAANN!!!!!!” Someone started running towards us from the end of the walkway. It’s Germany Boy with three boys behind him.

Aiman

All the best in achieving your dreams, whatever they may be, Aiman and friends.

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