BLOGGING FROM BATAM ISLAND, INDONESIA

This is a short weekends getaway Mr. Ridwan Wahid and his family from Shah Alam.

This should be my third time in Batam, hence I am acting as a guide for them since I am more experienced.

We will be going out to explore a bit of the island with a driver before going back home in the evening.

GOING CHINESE AT MITSUI OUTLET PARK

   28TH APRIL 2024    ~ Mr. Rdiwan Wahid and I decided to get our early before sending me to KLIA2 to catch my flight home. He suggested we go Chinese at this restaurant called Mee Hiris and I happily agreed.

I had Beef Mee Tarik [TRANSLATE: traditional Chinese noodles made by pulling the dough into noodle strings] but I was not sure what my friend was having.

Before entering the restaurant, someone softly called out: "Cikgu.. Cikgu" [TRANSLATE: teacher] and it was an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, Mr. Muhammad Faiz Zulkifli. He was there with his friend, also catching his flight but to Penang.

The dinner at the Chinese restaurant concluded my weekends getaway this time, covering the area of Bangi, Kajang, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, Dengkil and Sepang.

HAVING DRINKS AT THE FOOD COURT AT BUKIT BINTANG

   28TH APRIL 2024    ~ It was my first time in Bukit Bintang area [after so long], specifically at Pavilion Mall. A long time ago, when I was still studying in Universiti Pertanian Malaysia [UPM], my friends and I used to walk from Puduraya all the way to Bukit Bintang. These days, Bukit Bintang is the place for tourists and the rich.

I was there with Mr. Ridwan Wahid for a Book Launch event [READ HERE].

We arrived a bit too early so we decided to get some drinks and something light to eat. The next meal would only be at 4.00 p.m. later as we had planned to attend my friend's Eid Open House in Dengkil. [READ HERE]

I forgot to take the photo of the food bought because I was distracted by the three ladies who had to share the [long] table with us. The food court in the mall was crowded with diners at that hour. The ladies moved away a few minutes later, as their friend managed to find empty spots somewhere else.

Bukit Bintang sure had looked not they way it used to be. I would not have not been here if there was no event to attend. I got to thank Mr. Ridwan for asking me to tag along.

ATTENDING A BOOK LAUNCH EVENT AT STARHILL, KUALA LUMPUR

28th APRIL 2024 ~ Mr. Ridwan Wahid got invited to a book launch event and he asked me whether I would be interested to tag along. I had never been to one so I agreed to accompany him and to see the writer of the book, Mr. Malachi Edwin, our TESL lecturer in Universiti Pertanian Malaysia.

When we arrived at Eslite Bookstore in The Starhill, Bukit Bintang, there was already a crowd sitting in front of the stage. In the book talk session, Mr. Edwin was responding to the questions posed by the moderator on his latest book, a collection of short stories in "Have I Got Something to Tell You".

It just felt like attending the Literature class in university again.

After an hour, the book talk session ended and the last section should be Meet the Author.

I had never met Mr. Edwin since I left UPM 30 years ago. It was great to get to see the man who had introduced Literature to my friends and me after all these years. We got the novels signed and we could not have a long chat as other fans were waiting in line.

Congratulations Mr. Edwin on your new book. I have already finished reading 14 out of the 20 short stories published in the collection, and should be able to read all by the end of this week.

THE 30TH DAY OF EID 1445H

   9th MAY 2024    ~ The second batch of my all ladies ex-colleagues of SMK Dato' Jaafar came today for the Eid visit. They came straight after school and for most of them, it was their first time here.

Everyone took the effort to have a theme colour for the visit - black.

Fifteen ladies in the house, with all the noises and laughter, made me feel like I was in school once again.

Thanks ladies for stopping by. Hoping to see everyone again at my place for many more Eids to come. Thank you also for bringing the gift and all kinds of food.

Today should officially be the last day of Eid and that should conclude the Eid visiting activities for the year 1445H.

AN EX-COLLEAGUE'S POST EID OPEN HOUSE

   10TH MAY 2024    ~ An ex-colleague of SMK Mutiara Rini, Puan Nadia Rusli, invited me to her open house held in Taman Pulai Indah. Even though officially Eid was already over, people still invited friends and families to such event.

I should be one of the early birds and there were a few familiar faces from school which was a big relief. I knew I had people to talk to while enjoying the food.

Thank you Puan Nadia Rusli for the kind thought of inviting me. Hope to be invited again for more open houses event in the future. 😀