THE OPEN HOUSES ON THE LAST DAY OF EID - PART TWO

   18TH APRIL 2026    ~ The next open house I attended was held by an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti, Puan Norizah Ahmad at Bandar Baru Kangkar Pulai. She has now retired too, and guess more and more people are joining the club.

My ex-secondary schoolmate of Sekolah Temenggong Abdul Rahman (2) [STAR2], Mr. Ridzuan Masrom. was also there with his wife.

The husband, Mr. Abdul Wahid [who is also a teacher] and her daughter, Miss Farah, are no strangers to me. When she was a small kid, Miss Farah used to tag along her mother to school and now she is already in college, pursuing her bachelor degree.

I could not eat that much as this was already my third house visited for the day. I was glad to get to meet Puan Norizah and her other family members after so long.

[READ HERE FOR HOUSE #1 AND HOUSE #2]

Nevertheless, I still managed to squeeze in one more Eid Open House invitation, which was held by a neighbour, Mr. Shahrul.

I was there at about 5:30 p.m. and my other friends must have come much earlier. There were not many people at that time.

I just had Chapati [forgot to take the photo] eaten with Fish Asam Pedas and two pieces of Kuih.

After attending a non-stop eating activities at four houses in one day, for sure I had grown fatter by no time. Thank God it was the last day of Eid and it was time to try and lose some weight after this.

THE BREAKFAST DATE WITH AN EX-PRIMARY SCHOOLMATE IN SUNGAI PETANI

   11TH JANUARY 2026    ~ I contacted Mr. Akhbar Yahya, a ex-primary schoolmate of Sekolah Temenggong Abdul Rahman [2] Johor Bahru, telling him I would be in Sungai Petani. The last time I  met him was last year in May [READ HERE].

The chosen venue was this place called Roti Canai Kari Kambing. We were at another place initially but the restaurant was full of people eating breakfast and there were no empty seats, so we adjourned to one other spot.

This place seemed popular as there were also many people that morning. [It was Sunday and a working day in Kedah, mind you.] There was a variety of food to choose from for breakfast. However, the attraction should be the Roti Canai [paratha] that went together with Mutton Curry.

It was just a short get together over breakfast, and I had to get ready for the wedding reception later in the afternoon. Thanks to Mr. Akhbar for spending his time with me again, and hopefully we could do this again when I am back in Sungai Petani or he in Johor Bahru.

THE GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE WITH AN EX-PRIMARY SCHOOLMATE IN SUNGAI PETANI

   16th MAY 2025    ~ I was in Sungai Petani to attend a wedding reception. This should be the best time to get reunited with an ex-primary schoolmate who is now residing and become a permanent resident there. A date was set with Mr. Mohd. Akhbar Yahya, my ex-classmate of Sekolah Temenggong Abdul Rahman [2] a.k.a STAR (2). The last time we met was 2 years ago when he was back in town. [READ HERE]

The venue chosen for the dinner date was Senja Food Place, right in the heart of the town.

The eating place was modern and clean, brightly lit up with hanging bulbs. It was drizzling when we arrived so we had to sit under the sheltered area instead of the open air.

Kuey Tiaw Tom Yam

Sate

Yong Tau Fu

a live performer

Meeting an old friend from primary school was a rare opportunity, what more it took place all the way in Sungai Petani. We stayed there for 2 hours, chatting while trying to finish all the food the host had ordered. I got to thank again Mr. Mohd. Akhbar for his time and company, and hopefully we could do this again some other time, when in Kedah or when he comes back to Johor.

ATTENDING THE WEDDING RECEPTION OF THE SON OF AN EX-COLLEAGUE OF SMK GELANG PATAH

Mr. Ujang Mohd. Lazim is currently teaching in Sekolah Tun Fatimah but we once taught in the same school back in 1993 when I was first posted, SMK Gelang Patah. It was very thoughtful of him to invite me to his son's wedding reception held in Bizmilla Wedding Hall at Eko Botani.

SMK Gelang Patah reunited

I was lucky as another ex-colleague of SMK Gelang Patah, Mr. Ali Mustafa, decided to attend the reception with me.

STAR(2) JB reunited

There were a few familiar faces of teachers and District Education Office officers I saw. However, I was more excited to meet my primary school, Sekolah Temenggong Abdul Rahman (2) ex-classmate, Mr. Noor Azam Mohamed there.

Congratulations Mr. Ujang Mohd. Lazim as you are now officially a father-in-law. Hope to get invited again in other [children's] receptions in the future.

PRIMARY SCHOOL REUNION - AFTER 42 YEARS

Initially, a friend who came from Sungai Petani, Kedah, announced he was in town. Immediately, a short reunion session with other classmates/schoolmates of Sekolah Temenggong Abdul Rahman [2] a.k.a STAR(2) was planned.

Five people who were once classmates 42 years ago were reunited at Kacang Pool Haji, Larkin Bomba. The gathering took about 3 hours and the topics of discussion were surprisingly varied - from the unforgettable childhood moments in primary school to politics and current issues, as well as real live paranormal sightings and experiences at a few spots in town.

Thanks everyone for the time. Hopefully we could do this again with more people in the future.

THE 5TH DAY OF EID 1444H

Today, another ex-classmate of Budiman [of SMS Muar], Mr. Abdul Razak Sapian, and his wife and three children came visiting for Eid. This should be the second time of the family from Selangor to come over during the festive season. Three other sibling were already making their way home as they had to start work the next day.

A reunion with an ex-classmate of my primary school friend happened later in the evening. Mr. Mohd. Akhbar Yahya was my schoolmate at Sekolah Temenggong Abdul Rahman 2 [known as STAR(2)] and we were finally reunited after 42 long years. He is now residing in Sungai Petani and was in town to visit his mother for Eid. It was an hour 15 minutes reunion at McDonald's but we hope to see each other again soon.

25 more days to go...

MEETING MY PRIMARY SCHOOL EX-TEACHER

I met an ex-teacher of my primary school, Sekolah Temenggong Abdul Rahman (2) [STAR2], Puan Hajah Salmah during a wedding reception. The reunion happened only after almost 40 years, at a wedding reception of her grandson. And the father of the groom, who is her son, is actually my ex-schoolmate. I was so happy to see still look healthy at 80, and she still walked around the hall, greeting and talking to the guests. Of course she did not remember who I really was after all the years, but as people say, once a teacher is always a teacher.

I just wonder later when I turn older, will my ex-students still come to me to say "hi" and ask for a selfie.