GOING KOREAN FOR DINNER AT SHAH ALAM

   7th AUGUST 2026    ~ There was no specific plan for the gastronomic adventure is Shah Alam. We ended up going Korean in Dubuyo in Plaza Shah Alam which was just beside the hotel where we were staying.

There were not many people in the mall and only one or two tables in the restaurant were occupied.

We both had a big bowl of seafood noodles that came together with three types of kimchi. I think the dish was called Buldak Boomyeon.

I couldn't remember when I last had Korean food. Guess I will have to visit my favourite Korean restaurant in Johor Bahru one day.

THE KACANG POOL SESSION WITH AN OLD FRIEND'S HUSBAND

When I met Mr. Aminuddin, the husband of Puan Hayati Burkhan [an old friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993], at a wedding reception in Klang last week [READ HERE], he told me he would be coming to Johor Bahru and would be meeting me for coffee.

 

Today, the plan was materialized and I suggested to meet at Kacang Pool Haji Restaurant located in Larkin.

There were not many people when I arrived at the restaurant at 4:00 p.m.

Kacang Pool Haji was a synonymous cuisine to Johor Bahru. I tried its minced mutton gravy for the first time. The was similar to the regular beef gravy but more expensive.

Glad that Mr. Aminuddin liked the Kacang Pool. Many people said that Kacang Pool in other places tasted different from the one you got here. It was only a short meeting but hopefully he would ask me out again for coffee next time when he is in town.

A COFFEE DATE WITH AN ANAESTHETIST AT ORIENTAL KOPI

toast

After all the planning, the plan to meet up was finally executed. Mr. Muhammad Rahmat Ali Hassan suggested we go for coffee at Oriental Kopi in AEON Tebrau City after his office hour, which was then became a late lunch/early dinner for us.

chicken rice

I think the very last time I met my ex-student [of SMK Taman Universiti] was 16 years ago when I was hospitalized in Hospital Sultanah Aminah Johor Bahru [READ HERE]. I had to undergo an operation and I met him in the operation theatre as he was the anaesthetist doctor on duty. It was a small world after all.

chicken briyani

Thanks to Dr. Muhammad Rahmat for his time and company despite his busy schedule. It was good to get reunited again and we needed to go for another coffee date some other time after this. 

ATTENDING A WEDDING RECEPTION IN KLANG, SELANGOR

    8TH AUGUST 2026    ~ I drove all the way to Klang, Selangor, from Johor Bahru to attend the wedding reception of the son of Puan Rohazila Zahidi, a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993.

The event was held at a venue called Laman Mazmida. I have broken a new record actually: driving a car the furthest distance so far.

My friend, who also acted as the co-pilot this time, arrived at the venue at about 11:00 a.m. We were among the early birds.

As usual, I got to meet a few friends there.

the mother of the groom

Unfortunately, I could not stay that long in the event hall this time because I planned to visit an ex-student at the hospital in Damansara.

Congratulations to Puan Rohazila on the arrival of the new member into the family. Hopefully I will be invited again for similar event in the future.

STARTING OFF THE KL ROAD TRIP WITH BREAKFAST

    7th AUGUST 2026     ~ The my very first road trip to Kuala Lumpur started off with the breakfast session. We chose to eat at this restaurant called De Selera Pantai Timur in Taman Pulai Mutiara, as it was located on our way out into the main road.

There were not many people when we were there as people had already clocked in for work.

The specialty of this place was its East Coast cuisines and I decided to try Nasi Dagang, while my friend just settled for Sardine Murtabak.

We had to make a move because there would still be a long way to go. This was just the beginning of the gastronomic adventure of the road trip. I don't mind coming back to this place to try its other food, may be for lunch or dinner.

VISITING AN EX-STUDENT IN KPJ HOSPITAL IN DAMANSARA

After attending a wedding reception in Klang, I quickly drove to KPJ Specialist Hospital 2 in Damansara. The mission was to visit Mr. Ahmad Firdaus Shahlan, an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti who had just undergone a bypass heart surgery there.

I also got to meet the wife of Mr. Ahmad, Puan Noor Al Iman Mazlan, and his younger sister, Puan Shazwani Shahlan, who were both my ex-students of the same school.

There were many other visitors when I was there. It seemed he was one popular patient in the ward. Unfortunately, I could stay that long as I had to drive back to Johor Bahru right after.

Wishing Mr. Ahmad a speedy recovery and looking forward to other coffee sessions with him and his friends soon.

BLOGGING FROM SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR

 I am now blogging from Shah Alam, Selangor and will be spending the night here. The shirt trip is more interesting and different from others as I drove all the way from Johor Bahru. There will be important agenda in the itinerary list tomorrow before going home that could be featured in my blog real soon. Make sure you come back for the updates real soon.