THE SOLO COFFEE SESSION IN MUAR TOWN

   6th SEPTEMBER 2025    ~ After walking back and forth from one end to the other at Maharani Uptown, I decided to stop for coffee. There was this cafe called Hayven which was still operating after 9:00 p.m.

The place was still full with diners when I walked in.

The cake and coffee should be my supper for the evening.

The whole town looked deserted as I was walking back to my hotel.

That should wrap up my activities in Muar town this time. I don't mind coming back to this place just to chill and spend the time all not doing anything, but just to have my me-time the whole day.

THE BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT SPAZIO RESTAURANT IN ANGSANA

   25TH APRIL 2025    ~ The gathering today was called to celebrate the birthday of Mr. Mohd. Khir Masbol. The chosen venue was Spazio Restaurant at Plaza Angsana as the place was conducive for us to sit for longer hours and there were varieties of food to choose from the menu.

At the same time, a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993, Puan Fazilah Abdullah and her family were in the same restaurant. We managed to strike a short conversation. To our surprise, she generously paid for our meal.

the birthday boy

After cutting the birthday cake and handing over the birthday presents, not only for Mr. Khir's birthday, the gathering was adjourned to a later date, unknown. We don't need to celebrate birthday to get together actually, it can just happen anytime.

THE COFFEE SESSION BEFORE GOING TO THE AIRPORT

   1st MAY 2025    ~ After attending the wedding reception in Taman Melawati, I had a few hours to kill before catching my flight home to Johor Bahru. I was lucky as a friend was kind enough to have coffee with me despite his busy schedule that day.

The chosen venue was Padi House located in Subang Parade, the mall that was popular when I was still an undergraduate in the early 90's.

The restaurant was jam packed with customers when we arrived at about 3:00 p.m. Maybe people had late lunch on Labour day, a public holiday.

We just ordered coffee and Tiramisu cake but unfortunately, the service was a bit slow even though many diners had already left at that time.

After one hour and a half, it was time to leave the place. I would have to get on the trains and go to the airport for my 9:00 p.m. flight. Apart from the wedding reception, I had a few meetings with friends during my 2D1N stay in Subang Jaya and it was a fun getaway for sure.

THE PARCEL THAT ARRIVED ON THE THIRD DAY OF EVE

A parcel arrived at my doorstep on the third day of Eid ul-Fitr. There was, however, no sign of who the sender was so I had to post a message asking the person to own up for his/her good deed.

Fortunately someone immediately confessed and I was happy to get to know who the person was. Thank you to Puan Nurhanim Hassan [a member of the UPM TESL class of 1993] for couriering me the cake all the way from Penang. Only Allah may repay your generosity.

Now I got to eat my cake and have it, not figuratively speaking, as it is a big one.

A 3-DAY ELECTION WEEKEND ACTIVITY - DAY ONE

A [late] lunch date was set with Mr. Mohd. Solihin Ramli, an ex-student of Asrama Semai Bakti Felda. We decided to meet up at Old Twon Restaurant in Mid Valley Mall at about 4:00 p.m. once Mr. Solihin was done with his photography job.

I had Mee Kari [translate: Curry Mee} which was surprisingly tasty so now I know where to find my Mee Kari when I am craving for it. Mr . Solihin had [steamed] rice with minced choicken {I think] and vegetable.

To complement the lunch, we then had coffee and shared a slice of Onde Onde Cake at San Francisco Cafe in the same mall.

Someone came to our table to say "hi" and it was my primary school classmate, Mr. Mohd. Fauzi. I was happy that he still recognized me and I could still remember his name.

And that was how my first day of the 3-day long weekend went but I was glad I managed to get out of the house.

THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT AND CAKE THAT ARRIVED TODAY

The parcel that I got today arrived in school yesterday actually. I was not around as I had to attend a workshop outside. 

Then a colleague passed to me a sinfully chocolaty "batik" cake before going back - again because I was not in school for actually three days for formal meetings.

It is always better late than never.

This time I have to thank Puan Mariati Salleh, a friend of UPM TESL class of 1993, for couriering the birthday present all the way from Melaka to me. And thanks to Puan Aminah Hamid too, my colleague of SMK Dato' Jaafar, for the sweet, literally, gesture.

FROM THAILAND TO THE USA FOR THE GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE

Finally the gossip girls were reunited after many months but one group member could not make it this time. The gastronomic adventure started and we decided to go Thai for lunch, and ate at this restaurant called Absolute Thai located at Mid Valley Mall. That was my first time there and the food tasted like Thai food alright but a bit costly but what did you expect when you ate in a place like that.

Someone was kind enough to provide us with a huge piece of Marble Cake each - it was like the door gift for the gathering.

Once all the plates and bowls were empty, we went to search for coffee [and cake] to complement the huge meal we had had before and randomly chose to get into San Franciso. From Asian, we shifted to be American in a blink of an eye. This was another first time for me in one day which should be an achievement.

The coffee was good but the company of old friends was the best. Hopefully we could go for more gastronomic adventures after this, just like what we had done before the pandemic.