THE ABC AND MURTABAK SESSION IN KAMPUNG MELAYU

Do you know that some people just come to Kampung Melayu, Johor Bahru, just to eat these two food items: Air Batu Campur, abbreviated to ABC [shaved ice with syrup and other condiments] and Murtabak [flat bread with sardine or meat filling].

The famous spot was the one beside/opposite the Kampung Melayu Mosque where there were two food courts. You could the two kinds of food from both places, but I prefer the one named Azo 96.

I had my craving satisfied with the company of an ex-colleague [of SMK Dato' Jaafar]. I used to take my friends who came visiting to this eating place. The last time I ate here was a very long time ago, I couldn't even remember when.

 

ANOTHER DINNER DATE WITH A TESL FRIEND [AND HER HUSBAND]

28TH FEBRUARY 2024 ~ A dinner date was proposed with Puan Maslinda Mohd. Dahalan and her husband when they were in town. The chosen venue this time was Md. Aris Yong Tau Fu located in Kampung Melayu.

This should be the place to get Yong Tau Fu in Johor Bahru, and this food is served differently from the variety found in Kuala Lumpur or northern states. It comes with soup and not just sauce. Puan Maslinda then wanted to get Muratabak to complement the dinner we had had so we went to a food court nearby.

Guess this should be our supper. So we had Murtabak and I suggested my friend to try the popular ABC [Air Batu Campur] of this place.

This is not the end. There would be one more episode of my gastronomic adventure with my TESL friend the very next day.

EATING OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE MCO WAS FIRST IMPOSED

The first meeting place was Bank Rakyat in Larkin Perdana. However, because of the SOP during the COVID-19 pandemic, only two people were allowed inside to see the officer. Mr. Abdul Aziz and Mr. Ahdat went in while Mr. Iskandar and I went to this food court called Selera Johor to see whether it was operating.

Fortunately business was still going on as usual except there were fewer tables and chairs for people to dine in. Only two people could occupy the square dining table. I guessed when the other two friends came here, they would be seated separately and communication between the two tables would be hard to establish.

On my second time of eating out, it was a super heavy breakfast. We had fried banana, Mee Rebus Johor and Sate, and I skipped lunch and dinner because of this heavy meal.

The sate was surprisingly good and I would make a comeback for this later.

the food court's cat

When the other came from the bank, we were lucky as the long table which could accommodate four people was already vacant. Just imagine, one person from one end had to shout to speak to another seated at the other end, but at least we were still together as one group.

The meeting was then adjourned at my house which is actually not that far away from that place. We just needed a more conducive venue to chat and discuss. Today was the 13th day of Eid so this could be an Eid visit as well (even though visiting was only allowed on the first day only during the MCO period).

Believe me, it was a huge pleasure to see some other people after all this (an almost) lockdown period. The last time we saw each other was in February, when we were busy with the chess competitions at the district and state level. All the online interaction would never replace the real life socializing experience in out life. I will make it a point to go out and see more people once this pandemic is over but I am not sure whether my gastronomic adventure will be the same again.

BOYS' NIGHT OUT FOR FRIED CHICKEN AND ABC

7th AUGUST 2019 ~ This was one rare occasion when colleagues from school (SMK Dato Jaafar), comprising of the young ones and the young at hearts, went out for a gastronomic adventure. The first venue where we gathered at 9.00 p.m. was "Ayam Goreng OK" [translate: OK fried chicken] at Kampung Melayu. This fried chicken is actually quite popular but this should be my very first time there despite the fact the place is quite near to my house.

The chicken was fried and served hot, out from the boiling oil into the plates. So how did I find OK fried chicken? It was OK to me but would not be something I fancy.

The fried chicken session was done by 10.00 p.m. and the night was still early so we adjourned to our next eating spot just a stone's throw away which was Murtabak Kampung Melayu. We were not there for popular murtabak but to quench our thirst with the Air Batu Campur, or abbreviated as ABC [translate: shaved ice].

We had to end the gathering as it was getting late and we had to go to school early the next morning.

I just wonder when will this session be repeated in the future?

INTRODUCING ABC KAMPUNG MELAYU TO TWO VISITORS

24th NOVEMBER 2018 ~ Someone from Kuala Lumpur was in Johor Bahru attending his friends' weddings. Even though he studied here in UTM many years ago, he had never tried the famous Kampung Melayu ABC, a short form of "Air Batu Campur" [translate: mixed (ingredients) shaved ice].

So how am I related to Mr. Amirul? He is an ex-student of my English class in UTM back in the second half of 2011, when I taught part-time there. We sometimes met to play ping pong during weekend and are still connected on Facebook. He was here with another friend whom I had not met before, Mr. Irfan.

It was really a very short gathering but hopefully there will be a next time.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT UHB SECTION 58 GROUP 2011 HERE.