MY FIRST TIME ON THE ETS TRAIN FROM JOHOR BAHRU

4TH APRIL 2026 ~ I finally made my first trip on the new KTMB ETS train from Johor Bahru northbound. The final destination of the coaches I boarded would be Padang Besar, but I disembarked in Seremban.

I arrived at Johor Bahru Sentral, the first boarding point of the south part of the country, at 6:30 a.m. The train was scheduled to depart at 7:30 a.m. but the passengers were allowed to board the train as early as 7:00 a.m. Bear in mind, one has to check in at least 5 minutes before departure time. Being late, you will not be permitted to embark on your journey as the system will be locked.

My coach looked brand new and clean, in contrast with the one I was in many years ago, Surprisingly, I enjoyed the 3-hour trip on the train, and I felt the journey was a short one, unlike travelling on an express bus.

I went to the train cafe for breakfast. There were only four seats if you decided to eat your food there right in front on the counter, Or else, you would have to enjoy your food at your seat and the smell of your food will be shared by almost everybody sitting in the same coach and the person sitting beside you especially.

I took the Mee Hoon with three pieces of Kuih, and 3-in-1 Nescafe which cost me RM13. Not as expensive as the food sold in a flight, even the Mee Hoon was tasty.

I took the 7:15 p.m. train back to Johor Bahru on the same day. The coach this time was slightly older. I did not enjoy the evening trip as there was not much to be seen outside and the lights in the coaches were not dimmed so sleeping was difficult.

The train should be a popular means of transport as all the seats were full both ways. There is a possibility, I might take the train again for my future travel.

 

THE 16TH DAY OF EID 1447H

I ventured out further, crossing into another state, into Seremban in Negeri Sembilan, on the 16th day of Eid. I went to visit the house of Mr. Raja Mohd. Hilmi and his family who are residing there. Upon arrival, I was first served with Putu Mayam, something light, as I would be attending a Engagement Event cum Eid Open House right after.

After the event, I again went back to his house and the hosts had prepared something special - Penang Laksa. Despite of still having a full tummy after the Open House, the Laksa was too good to resist.

I had actually informed Mr. Hilmi that I would be going to Seremban when he came to visit me in Johor Bahru for Eid last week [READ HERE]. He was too enthusiastic to make me go to his house and guess, I could not say "no" to his invitation.

Thanks again to Mr. Hilmi, his wife and the kids for the hospitality. That was my first visit and hopefully will not be the last.

MY FIRST TIME AT ABANG UJANG NASI AYAM GEPUK RESTAURANT

23RD JANUARY 2026 ~ Finally I set foot into this restaurant that I had driven past by every time I was in Kampung Melayu. I had my assistant gardener, Mr. Eko, with me so he could give his testimony of this Indonesian restaurant serving Indonesian dish.

The rice portion was bigger than usual, and one could even top up the rice [and sambal] for free. The restaurant was modern and using the fast food restaurant concept. The rice set that came with iced drinks could be slightly pricy but it was reasonable.

More photos will be uploaded later.

ATTENDING AN AQIQAH EVENT ON THE 8TH DAY OF EID

28TH APRIL 2026 ~ An Aqiqah event was held by two ex-students [of SMK Taman Universiti], Mr. Ahmad Khairy and Ms. Nurul Atiqah, who are now a husband-and-wife couple. The event was held to welcome their new baby boy. It was held at Lavender Event Space somewhere in Kempas Baru.

 

Aqiqah refers to the Islamic tradition of sacrificing an animal (usually a sheep or goat) to celebrate and express gratitude for the birth of a child. It is a recommended Sunnah (practice of the Prophet Muhammad) that serves as a symbolic welcome for the newborn.

SOURCE: Google AI Mode

As expected, I met quite a number of ex-students, a few are actually the family members of the hosts, and one ex-colleague as well.

Congratulations to Mr. Khairy and Ms. Atiqah. May your days be merrier with presence of the baby boy in the family.

DONATING BLOOD FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR THE YEAR 2026

I decided to carry out the social responsibility of donating blood today. I had been receiving phone call and messages from the HSA Blood Bank during the fasting month to come and donate. However, I did not feel I was fit enough to do that when I was fasting.

This time, I went to a centre at Mid Valley Megamall as there was a Blood Donation Suite. It was my first time and surprisingly, there were many people when I arrived at about 2:30 p.m.

The place looked new and modern, if compared to the existing centre at the hospital.

Everything ended in no time and I was glad I went there today. I might come back to this same place in 3 months.

THE 12TH DAY OF EID 1447H

The one and only visitor of the day was an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti [SPM batch 2005], Mr. Mohd. Faiz. He was here at 10:30 a.m. and I decided to ask him out for lunch as it was almost noon before he left.

The chosen restaurant was Abang Ujang Nasi Ayam Gepuk in Kampung Melayu. It was my second time there, eating an Indonesian rice dish, and the first time for Mr. Faiz. The place was popular as more people started arriving for lunch as we were about to leave.

I will be seeing Mr. Faiz more frequently after this as he is now assisting me with some business matter, which I will tell later.

 

THE 11TH DAY OF EID 1447H

Puan Farah Sabina Safiai and her husband, Mr. Azlin Shah Omar, came for Eid visit on the 11th day. Puan Farah is a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993, and she is married to someone who happens to be my neighbour and also the alumnus of Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, of the same residential college, Fourth College. They are now residing in Seremban.

Guests who come could now also visit the garden at the back. Puan Farah managed to get some chillies to bring back home today.

We are now actually in the second week of Eid, about 19 more days to go. I am not sure if there will still be more people coming to visit after this.