THE COFFEE SESSION BECAUSE OF A GLASS OF FREE COFFEE

I was at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Cafe in Setia Tropika with Mr. Solihin Ramli mainly because I had this voucher given by UOB that needed to be redeemed today. The offer would expire tomorrow.

I was expecting a bigger treat given by the bank but one could only either choose one piece of bagel OR a glass of drinks [from the three options given], for free. Well,beggars cannot be choosers. And we had cakes that we had to pay on our own.

I am already hungry now. I should have chosen the bagel instead of the iced mocha, and buy a cup of hot coffee.

Thanks Mr. Solihin for the time and company. It is getting difficult for me to find a coffee buddy these days, and it is getting to be more difficult next year. You go figure why.

ATTENDING A MEETING WITH THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFFICER

After receiving the appointment letter in March, a meeting with the officers of the Welfare Department was [finally] called at their office in KWSP Building in town.

I am not sure what really lies ahead with the post given but this should be something really new for me as I might to be in the courtroom. I will have a lot to learn and there is till a long way to go. Wish me the very best of luck and may Allah ease everything.

VISITING DUSUN TOK DIN: HOMESTAY IN THE ORCHARD - OVERVIEW

   1st JUNE 2024    ~ After attending the wedding reception of an ex-classmate's sons in Tasik Gelugor [READ HERE], Mr. Shamsul Akmal and Shamsuddin and his wife asked me to join them to visit their friend's homestay nearby. They were quite persistent so I had no choice but to agree.

I was already impressed the first time the car entered the compound of the homestay. The concept used was Homestay in the Orchard. The place was really huge and there were four types of accommodation available which I would do some sort of review extensively.

There was also a huge swimming pool here which should be good news for family with small kids who love to swim and play in the water.

There were also many fruit trees like durians, rambutans and mangosteens.

We were lucky as the were ripe durians that just fell from the tress so we had a small durian feast at the homestay.

I will take you on a tour around the accommodation available at Tok Din Homestay in the next posts.

THE ACCOMMODATION AT DUSUN TOK DIN:

OVERVIEW

THE BUNGALOW

THE CONTAINER HOUSE
THE BUS HOUSE

You could contact the owner for further information
WHATSAPP: 013-5850880

INSTAGRAM: dusuntokdin

FACEBOOK: Dusun Tok Din

TikTok: Dusun Tok Din

ATTENDING A WEDDING RECEPTION WITH THE GROOM'S FAMILY FROM KUANTAN

   22ND JUNE 2024    ~ I was again invited by Puan Suriana Ali [a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993] to join her family from Kuantan for a wedding reception. I was also with them during the engagement ceremony last year in November [READ HERE]. Puan Suriana's son was the groom of the day and the reception was held by the bride's side.

The event was held at Amansari Hotel located in Bandar Seri Alam, Pasir Gudang.

First of all, the parents of the groom and the relatives gathered outside the hotel lobby. They chose lilac as the theme colour for the group.

the proud parents of the groom

Then, at 12:30 p.m., the floor manager of the event came to brief us of the programme that was about to be executed in the hall.

the kompang boys

The was a small procession into the hall, accompanied by the Kompang, the traditional hand-held drums like the tambourine without the metal pieces.

At the gate, the groom was stopped by the "toll gate girl", asking for money packets from the groom so as to let them enter the hall. There was some sort of bargaining process happening here of how many packets were necessary to let him in. This was a custom that was practised in Johor, to tease the groom, just for the fun of it.

As usual, we had a prayer recitation and followed by a speech delivered by the bride's youngest brother.

There was also a slot for "Tepung Tawar". The parents and relatives of the groom were invited on stage to give their blessings by sprinkling "Air Mawar" [TRANSLATE: rose water] on the couple's palms.

Then it was time to enjoy the food that was specially served on the VIP table. Not only that, we still went to get other food on the buffet tables.

The [literally] one and only wedding violinist of Johor Bahru, Mr. Aqmal Daniel, was also invited to entertain the guests.

 

It was a grand event and I had to thank Puan Suriana Ali for inviting me to join her family for the reception. By 2:00 p.m., most of the group members had to excuse themselves as they had to travel back to Kuantan right after.

However, this was not the end. I am yet to attend the reception of the groom's side in Kuantan this Saturday and I am so looking forward to it.