PETALING JAYA: If you are ever in California and see a
four-wheel drive go by with a “Kopi O” licence plate, relax.
He’s not that kind of “kopi-O licence” driver Malaysians are all
too familiar with, but someone showing how much he loved his time
in Malaysia while announcing his favourite drink to fellow
motorists.
After returning home from a round-the-world trip, 29-year-old
Scott Burkhalter decided to register the personalised plate, or
vanity plate, because he developed a taste for kopi-O (black
coffee) on his visit here and also as a reminder of his
travels.
“I love coffee, and since my car is black and the new vanity
plate is in California’s classic black, I thought black coffee
would be the most suitable.
“Getting that in English would be fine, but I thought it would
be more unique to get something related to my travel experiences.
‘Kopi O’ was the perfect choice!” said Burkhalter, a tow truck
driver for a police department.
During his 26-month trip, Burkhalter and his girlfriend visited
Australia, South-East Asia, India and Europe.
They visited peninsular Malaysia last year and wanted to leave
after only three weeks as they did not feel a strong connection to
the country.
However, things changed when they were invited by outdoor travel
company Radak Adventure to volunteer at the company’s guest house
in Gopeng, Perak.
“We helped prepare the Gopeng Guesthouse for its opening, worked
at the riverside camp for the company, enjoyed observing Ramadan
with our crew, and had plenty of kopi O,” Burkhalter said.
“Two months went by and I grew to love Malaysia. I made lots of
new friends and developed a deeper understanding of local
life.”
Radak Adventure founder Mohd Hasrol Kamis, who introduced the
drink to Burkhalter, said the adventurous American drank kopi-O
every morning.
“Today he texted me. He said he just got a new car, a new job in
the US, so he will put ‘Kopi O’ as his licence plate to show that
he really loves and wants to come back to Malaysia,” Mohd Hasrol
said.
Burkhalter said his relationship with kopi-O was love at first
taste.
“Beverages, and how to order them, are unique to Malaysia. The
first time I ordered kopi-O, I didn’t know exactly what I would
get, and like all the other drinks (in Malaysia), I loved it
immediately,” he said.
After leaving Malaysia to continue his travels, he felt a need
to return to Gopeng to see his friends and savour the food again
before going back to California.
“We returned to Malaysia once more before ending our long trip
to see Gopeng Guesthouse open and running, and reunite with our
friends, and of course indulge in the amazing food!”
Burkhalter may have left Malaysia, but with “Kopi O” on his car,
he will always have a reminder of the country with him wherever he
goes.