When I had a chat with Greenpeace Malaysia in early 2018 about a possible collaboration regarding the arrival of The Rainbow Warrior in Port Klang, My heart skipped a beat. I’ve known about this iconic ship for some years now through the media. Watching the documentary, ‘How to Save The World’, also got me acquainted with how important Greenpeace’s pioneering work at sea helped to cement their place in activist history.
As a Plant-Based Lifestyle Advocate, naturally one of the first ideas I suggested was to appear as a guest chef on the ship. I didn’t expect it to be received so readily, let alone nearly on the spot!
Preparing food for thirty people wasn’t easy, especially as a one-person show! Whatever I could put together on the day before, I did. It was about half of the food, and that alone took five hours in the kitchen. Keeping in mind the occasion, I hadn’t felt so happy performing such a huge task.
Back when I was an idealistic teenager, my father, being a practical man, used to give me lecture after lecture about why the act of caring was a complete waste of time. “NGOs like Greenpeace have been around for decades. Do you know why they are STILL around? Because NOTHING will change,” he would say.
The first morning in Port Klang that I was ferried to the Rainbow Warrior, in all its green glory, I cried. It wasn’t just about the ship. It was about my perseverance leading me to this moment, and realising that Greenpeace is still around because things ARE changing.
Thankfully, I had my friend Angus, management representative Leanna, and Greenpeace staff members, to help me on the big day: to assist with the loading and unloading, and as extra hands in the kitchen.
In my mind, the meal of the day HAD to be quintessentially Malaysian. I chose Nasi Lemak! Rice cooked in coconut milk and served with with Tempeh Rendang (a dry Malaysian-style curry), Sambal Nyonya Acar (Pickled Vegetables), and Seaweed Crackers to replace fried anchovies. For drinks there was Lemongrass Pandan Tea with Lime and coloured a deep indigo from Butterfly Pea Flowers. For dessert, dairy-free coconut vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce. Every single item was made with love, and from scratch.
The resident chef Willie was an absolute diamond. As an outsider ‘invading’ his office, he treated me as an equal and as a friend. He was patient and wise, laidback and warm. He helped to lug around cast-iron pans and saved the rice from being dry and inedible to fluffy and fragrant.
Word about my food went around the ship, even reaching the port! When it was ready to serve, everybody dug in and with much enthusiasm. Surprisingly, the most hyped item on the menu was the ice cream! I was told that having access to ice cream is extremely rare, especially since the crew is constantly at sea. That hadn’t occurred to me at all, and it made me all the more grateful that I chose ice cream for dessert.
The food came out at teatime, and there was so much of it that Willie didn’t need to cook dinner! When I was introduced to the crew members as the person who curated the meal, they shared how much they loved it. Even the captain of the ship, Hettie Geenen, personally found me to express her gratitude.
I couldn’t believe my good fortune in being able to spread love and happiness through food, and with people who are tirelessly working on a cause so close to my heart.
Over the following days, I got to tour the Rainbow Warrior together with my eco-conscious collective, The Green Guerrilla, guided by a deck hand and the only Malaysian crew on board!
I also moderated an on-board discussion on the reduction of plastic consumption in Malaysia. The panel featured Malaysian zero waste advocates Melissa Tan and Aurora Tin, Nabila of Ecoknights, environmental consultant Donovan Louis, and Captain Hettie. It went ‘live’ on social media and I was scared of stumbling in my moderator role. But it was a beautiful sunny morning, and everyone was so relaxed and just happy to be coming together. Everything went perfectly.
My Rainbow Warrior experience has been an incredibly empowering one. I got to express my deep appreciation to an extraordinary international activist crew through my love for cooking. I got a first-hand look at one of the most environmentally-friendly sea vessels in the world. And I was reminded of what we as a local community should continue striving towards for a healthier planet.
Thank you, Greenpeace Malaysia, for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Who knows? One day, I may find myself on board the Rainbow Warrior once more, experiencing life at sea, on board a ship that represents the global mission of doing what is just for Mother Earth.
Davina Goh is a Malaysian Performer and Plant-Based Lifestyle Advocate in addition to being a Greenpeace Malaysia volunteer.
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