I have no idea why it took me 11 years to return to Jicca.

@jicca0423 is no ordinary restaurant in Kumamoto City. It was a place where I used to date my then-girlfriend. The owner trained in Thailand to hone his cooking skills, so the Thai dishes he served were authentic, yet tailored to the Japanese palate. We chose this restaurant as one of the places for our pre-wedding shoot, so it was a special space that was loved by a bicultural couple.

But since my pre-wedding shoot, I have not dined here. Each year, I convince myself that taking the tram to the venue takes up too much of my time. I would be better off catching up with the sights and people nearer Kumamoto Station.

This year, I made an uncharacteristic decision. I asked my friend to meet me for lunch at Jicca.

I come from a country in which cafes and restaurants come and go like seasons in a year. But it seemed that I had been transported back to my past once I set foot at Jicca.

I recognise some of the paintings. The layout was exactly as I had remembered. Didn’t know that my tastebuds craved Japanese-adapted Thai food until I tucked into the curry and pad thai.

More importantly, the owner and his wife were around. I introduced myself to them and showed them the photos. The owner remembered our 縁 (fateful encounter) back then. Talking to him made me even happier. Connections are what make a place memorable and irreplaceable.

Following this meal, I resolved not to be held captive by the economy of time. Just travel all the way out to have lunch at Jicca. No need to optimise a day’s worth of schedule.

懐かしい味。 懐かしい雰囲気。 Aroi mak mak. Khop khun khrap.