THE BREAKFAST SESSION BEFORE GOING BACK TO SEREMBAN

Mee Rebus Johor

The original plan was to go back to Pondok Santapan [READ HERE], the place we went to get breakfast the day before. However, when I arrived there, the place was not opened on Friday. I called Puan Sakinah Ismail and a spontaneous decision was made to go to Selera Johor which was nearby.

Kacang Pool

We were there at 8:00 a.m. Surprisingly, a few stalls were not operating and a few others were just about to be opened. Before this, the stalls were ready for business quite early.

Fried Banana

We still enjoyed the breakfast which comprised of authentic Johor food such as Kacang Pool, Mee Rebus and Fried Banana dipped spicy soy sauce. Puan Sakinah and her husband drove back straight to Seremban right after. This should conclude our introductory gastronomic adventure for 2025. Hopefully we could do this again some other time soon.

BREAKFAST WITH THE MONITOR - MR. RIDWAN [PART ONE]

21TH JANUARY 2024 ~ The breakfast spot visited this time was yet again Selera Johor. There could be reasons why this place had become a favourite: stalls selling all kinds of Johor delicacies under one roof, easy parking, and the cleanliness of the food court.

Mr. Ridwan, the wife and daughter chose to have Mee Rebus, Laksa Johor, Kacang Pool and Fried Banana. While I first picked my favourite Cekodok Pisang [fried mashed banana + flour] and later went to buy Sate.

Unfortunately I could not accompany the family for their next gastronomic adventure for lunch as I had had other planned things to attend to. I was not worried though as they already knew some of the places where to find good food already. However, there would be the next dinner date in the evening.

A BREAKFAST DATE WITH ANOTHER TESL MATE WHO WAS IN TOWN

   1ST DECEMBER 2023   ~ Puan Aliza Alwi, a UPM TESL Class of 1993 mate, was in town, attending some sort of official function in one of the hotels. She seemed to be too occupied with work and the only time to meet up was on the last day, the morning before she flew back to Kuala Lumpur.

A breakfast date was set. I picked her up at as early as 7:30 a.m. and drove to Selera Johor.

We were among the early birds. The guest wanted to have Mee Rebus and Kacang Pool, and glad she loved the food.

It was just a short meeting and I drove and drop her off at Senai Airport right after. [But we stopped at Otak Otak JB Factory Outlet first on the way there.] Glad we had the time to meet and eat, and hopefully there would be more friends coming to Johor Bahru.

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.

KACANG POOL SESSION WITH AN EX-STUDENT

Mr. Syazwan Shavarein, an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, was back in town because of work-related matter and it was kind enough of him to ask me out fot tea/early dinner. The chosen place was his favourite Kacang Pool Haji restaurant in Taman Dato' Onn in Larkin.

The meeting was just a short one but we had updated ourselves with essential news and gossips. There should be one more similar meeting like this real soon and I am looking forward to that.

A DINNER AND BREAKFAST DATE WITH FRIENDS ON CNY EVE AND MORNING

Puan Maslinda Mohamad Dahalan, a friend of UPM TESL class of 1993, and her husband, were in town the day before Chinese New Year. They were here to attend the wedding of a relative in Pekan Nanas. I was notified last minute but we still managed to set a dinner date. It was again Kacang Pool Haju [for me and her husband] but this time it was at the restaurant located in Taman Dato' Onn. This was in a way a dinner on the eve of the Chinese New Year. Then another breakfast date was set the next morning.

The venue for breakfast was at the Food Court at Larkin Sentral. This time there were Mee Rebus, Lontong Kering and Roti Jala. 

Someone had a shopping spree at the market on the ground floor of Larkin Sentral. That should conclude their trip to Johor Bahru this time. I have to thanks the husband and wife for asking me to accompany them for dinner and breakfast and will never hesitate to do just that when they come visiting again.

KACANG POOL SESSION WITH FRIENDS FROM SEREMBAN

It was a last minute plan for Puan Sakinah Ismail [a friend of UP TESL class of 1993], Mr. Azhar Ahmad and their daughter to come and stay in Johor Bahru just for one night. The timing was not quite right so the best option we had was to meet up at Kacang Pool Haji stall at Larkin Bomba for dinner/supper.

The meeting was a short one but we had quite a lot to update in less than 2 hours. Glad that we managed to meet again as the last time we met was in July last year. Thanks Puan Sakinah and Mr. Azhar for spending some of their time to chat and we have to do this again real soon.

"KACANG POOL HAJI" TIME DURING THE DEEPAVALI SCHOOL BREAK

Two ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti invited me out for "Kacang Pool" session at Kacang Pool Haji Restaurant in Larkin. The last time I had "Kacang Pool" must be a long time ago before the MCO [Movement Control Order] was imposed in May. This used to be my easy choice to get friends from outside Johor to sample the local delicacy in town.

Thanks Mr. Syazwan Shavarein and Mr. Fahmi Foad for the time, food and company. Someone is going to tie the knot soon so I guess I will have less people who will invite me out for meal after this. 😃

WHEN AN EX-COURSEMATE WAS IN TOWN AGAIN

Mr. Ridwan Wahid, an ex-coursemate of UPM TESL class of 1993, and his family members were back in town and it was the time to meet up again. We decided to go for dinner and I couldn't believe it I had not introduced them to the popular Kacang Pool Haji at Larkin Bomba.

It was just a short meeting as it was getting late but we would be going for breakfast together tomorrow. 😀

AFTER SCHOOL "KACANG POOL" SESSION

After the heated discussion of where to meet, we settled for "Kacang Pool Haji" in Larkin. When was the last time I had this famous Kacang Pool in Johor Bahru? I couldn't even remember when, it must have been ages. This time we went to the restaurant located near the Chinese primary school and not the one beside the Fire Station.

Thanks Mr. Syazwan Shavarein [ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti SPM batch 2013].for the time. Looking forward to venture out for the next gastronomic adventure - and hope that is going to happen.