VISITING HAVOC FOOD FEST AT UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

   24TH OCTOBER 2026    ~ There was a Food Fest held at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. My regular gastronomic adventurer decided to visit the venue, to see if there was anything interesting. This was my very first time going to a Food Fest. I did not really fancy such event as, firstly, the food prices were usually higher and secondly, there was always a huge crowd.

The last time we were at the same exact venue was in February, when there was an expo for the upcoming Eid festival. [READ HERE]

There were many stalls selling all kinds of food, especially modern and trending delicacies. At the same time, there were also people selling other non-edible items at the Food Fest.

Mr. Redzuan got some food to take home for lunch and dinner as well. I, on the other hand, did not buy anything as I was still full from lunch that I had had [READ HERE] before going there.

The only ex-student [of SMK Taman Universiti] that I met was Mr. Radin Mohd. Fauzan who was accompanied by his wife.

I have to compliment myself for being resistant to all the temptations at the event. Things might have been different if I had not eaten at that time though.

GOING WESTERN FOR DINNER IN PORT DICKSON, NEGERI SEMBILAN

   18th OCTOBER 2026    ~ After too much Malay food in Melaka, we decided to go western for dinner when we were in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. My co-pilot cum gastronomic adventure buddy, Mr. Redzuan, found this place called "Kafe Santai" which was not that far from the hotel where we were staying.

We ordered the Dulang Set [TRANSLATE: tray] which contained a piece of chicken chop and lamb chop, French Fries and two portions of fried rice. Western but Malaysianized as some people just could not live without rice.

The meal size was sufficient for two people and taste wise, all the food in taste was tasty that we finished everything.

That was a good start for our gastronomic adventure in Port Dickson and we would continue with the next episode the next day.

THE PRESENT THAT ARRIVED 17 DAYS AFTER THE BIRTHDAY

A huge and heavy parcel arrived at my doorsteps this afternoon. By looking at the label "PLANT" on the box, I could already guess who the sender was.

I am happy that I now have a new collection of Caladium plants at home. I need to visit the nursery urgently to buy vases and organic soil.

Thank a lot to my friend [of UPM TESL Class of 1993], Puan Sharon Taty Mokhtar for her kind thought. Only Allah may repay her kind gestures.

GETTING BACK TO UTM TO TEACH ENGLISH AFTER SO MANY YEARS

 

An old friend who is a teaching staff of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia [UTM] contacted me a few weeks ago, asking whether I would be interested to teach English. My first question was, whether it would be physical or online classes. Once informed the classes would be conducted face-to-face, I agreed without any hesitation.

Today, the first physical class was conducted, on week 3 of the semester. The first two classes were still conducted online as all learning institutions in Johor state were instructed to be closed because of the haze.

After 2 years and 10 months being away from school, I was excited to get into the classroom to do something I do best: Teach.

The lecture was held at T02 block, a new faculty building I had never been to. I arrived earlier and discovered there was a cafeteria on the ground floor. That was good news, now that I know I could always eat breakfast before the class starts.

HAPPINESS: to find Roti Canai and Teh Tarik available, and at reasonable prices.

The class went well despite the technical glitch i.e. the LCD project did not work. We had to resort to plan B, using Google Meet to watch the slide presentations. I was happy that I got to see real students in a real classroom one more time.

As I was about to leave the faculty, an ex-student [of SMK Taman Universiti] appeared out of nowhere. Fans are everywhere. He is now one of the faculty staff and he even helped me to report about the problem I had encountered with the projector to the technician of the faculty.

If you find me busier now, then you should know the reason already. I have another class to teach this Friday afternoon and am looking forward to that as well.

THE GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE AT KEDAI MAKAN SAKDIAH IN ALOR GAJAH

   18TH OCTOBER 2026    ~ Before leaving Alor Gajah, Melaka, and heading to Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, we decided to get lunch. Recommended by a friend who is residing in Melaka, we searched for Kedai Makan Sakdiah and there were already many people filling in the dining area for lunch.

My friend had Ikan Baung Masak Lemak, and I chose Asam Pedas Ikan Duri. Both were traditional Malay dishes, eaten with rice. As for the vegetable, we both took Fried Bean Sprouts.

One minus point was the place was not air-conditioned. The food was hot [i.e. spicy] and the weather outside was hotter. That would be the way to enjoy authentic local meals. One thing we discovered there were many eating places along the stretch of road and there could be possibilities for us to come back and try, time unknown.

REVISITING WARONG BUNDA FOR THE THIRD TIME WITH ANOTHER TESL FRIEND [AND HER HUSBAND]

   24TH OCTOBER 2026    ~ Puan Hayati Ismail [a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993] and her husband were in Johor Bahru [with their kids]. A breakfast date was set with the parents and she wanted it to be at Warung Bunda, the place where I had taken other TESL friends before.

I arrived there at 7:30 a.m. and there was already a large crowd occupying all the tables in the main eating area. Fortunately, there were still a few left at one part of the eating place.

Visitors could easily be impressed by the wide array of choices they had in the room where all the food was put on the counters.

Lontong Kering/Darat

everything mixed up

Lontong Kuah

Kuih-muih

We, on the other hand, were not extravagant with the amount of food taken for breakfast.

We could not stay too long in the restaurant as there were people standing everywhere, newcomers eyeing for empty seats. It was always my pleasure to entertain friends from near and far over meals and hopefully we could do this some other time, either here or in Kuala Lumpur/Selangor area.

Warong Bunda's Visit #1 and Visit #2