THE FIRST TIME HAVING BREAKFAST AT PONDOK SANTAPAN

The gastronomic adventure of the day began with the breakfast session at Pondok Santapan located in Larkin area. Even though I am a local here, this was actually my very first time coming here. I only got to know of its popularity from an ex-colleague who is now staying in Kuching, Sarawak.

This was the best time as my UPM TESL friend, Puan Sakinah Ismail, and her husband, were in town. They were also suggesting this place for breakfast, which meant they had done their homework much earlier.

We were there at about 8:00 a.m. when the seats were approximately 50 percent occupied.

Nasi Ambeng

Laksa Johor

Lempeng [Coconut Pancake] and
Puri [Indian flat bread but round in shape]

THE VERDICT: All the food was commendable, and we even decided to come back again to this same place tomorrow morning to try other food, to try other food in the menu list.

As we were leaving, more and more people were filling in the seats in the dining area. Where did all these people come from? I thought they should be in the office already.

MY FIRST UPM TESL FRIEND AS THE GUEST FOR THE YEAR 2025

Puan Sakinah Mohd. Ismail, a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993, and her husband, Mr. Azhar Ahmad, were back in town. They were my first guests of the year and as usual, we went to get dinner. They were happy to go back to Infusion Cafe at KSL Hotel for our first gastronomic adventure.

We stayed there for about two hours and a half, and they had to go get some rest after the long journey from Seremban in the morning. We already had a date for the next episode of the gastronomic adventure in Johor Bahru for breakfast tomorrow.

THE DINNER SESSION BEFORE CATCHING THE FLIGHT HOME AT KLIA2

   9TH FEBRUARY 2025    ~ Mr. Rosman Fudzi was kind enough to give me a lift to KLIA2 Airport. He was driving from his house in Shah Alam and picked me up at my hotel in USJ10. We then stopped for our early dinner at Tomyam Fara Seafood Restaurant located near the airport.

Since it was a Thai Restaurant, we had to eat dinner like Thais do. The food on the table reminded me of the gastronomic adventure I had in Southern Thailand in November last year.

Once the tummy was full, I was so ready to get to the airport and wait for my flight at 10:20 p.m. And I would be meeting Mr. Rosman again in February for our short trip.

THE FAREWELL GATHERING FOR THREE FRIENDS LEAVING SMK TAMAN UNIVERSITI

   15th FEBRUARY 2025    ~ Nowadays when people apply for transfer to get back to their hometowns, the applications would be approved easily, if compared to last time. Hence, more friends are leaving and there are less people in school that I know of now.

Mr. Sanusi Jusoh was kind enough to offer his house and prepare food for the farewell dinner gathering at Bandar Pulai Jaya.

Three friends were leaving SMK Taman Universiti this time, Mr. Azlan going back to Batu Pahat, Johor, while the husband and wife couple, Mr. Reynullah and Puan Wan Nor Azrin went back to Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

Wishing all the three of them the very best of luck in their new schools. Hope we will still be connected and see each other again when the opportunity knocks.