INTRODUCING KACANG POOL HAJI TO A TESL FRIEND

The mission of this morning gastronomic adventure was to introduce Kacang Pool Haji to a TESL friend from Kuala Lumpur. We set to meet at Selera Johor Food Court at 7:45 a.m. as the place was expected to be crowded on Sunday morning.

Fried Oyster Mushroom

Cekodok Pisang
[Banana Fritters]

Kacang Pool Haji

I am glad that Puan Hayati Burkhan liked her first attempt of having Kacang Pool, and she loved the Cekodok Pisang too. Mission accomplished. She and her husband had a flight to catch at 11:40 a.m. so we bade farewell for now. Hope to see them again some other time for other series of gastronomic adventures in Johor Bahru.

MEETING TWO TESL FRIENDS IN KAMPUNG MELAYU FOR DINNER

 

Puan Hayati Burkhan was in town with her husband, Mr. Amin. They attended a wedding reception of a relative's in the afternoon in Kota Tinggi but was putting up the night in Johor Bahru. I was excited to introduce her to the local food for the first time. However, I met the husband in August for Kacang Pool when he was here [READ HERE].

I just took them to the food court in Kampung Melayu for its Murtabak at Murtabak Azo Food Court.

Puan Salmiah, another UPM TESL friend, and her daughter were also in Johor Bahru because they went to watch the Festival Zapin, a kind of traditional dance event. We invited her to join us and she happily obliged even though they were staying at Kota Iskandar area which was 30 minutes away from town without the traffic jam.

We had to bid each other "goodbye" by 9:30 p.m. as it had been a long they for these people from Kuala Lumpur/Selangor. There will be one more gastronomic adventure with Puan Hayati before she flies back to KL after that.

ATTENDING THE WEDDING RECEPTION OF MR. SYAFIQ MASTOR

Another ex-student [of SMK Taman Universiti] held his wedding reception today, It was Mr. Muhammad Syafiq's turn to become someone's husband.

The event was held at Monet Garden by Diva, located somewhere near Taman Selesa Jaya. By now, I know the place already by heart and no need to use any navigation apps to get there.

Fried Banana

Puan Marina Abdullah, ex-colleague
of SMK Taman Universiti
and husband

I did not expect to meet quite a number of people at the wedding venue. One ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti and another one of SMK Dato' Jaafar. Then, there were a few ex-students of SMK Taman Universiti too, from different batches.

the groom's batch mates

Puan Mahani, ex-colleague of SMK
Dato' Jaafar, and husband

Mr. Fauzan [most left] and family

Mr. Nazri, was in Form 2 in 1995

Mr. Azfar

the lady in the middle, I used to see her
in courtroom

the door gift

Wishing Mr. Syafiq and her partner a happy and blessed married life, filled with sunshine and love.

THE GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE AT TANJUNG PIAI, PONTIAN

   25th OCTOBER 2026    ~ The gastronomic adventure this week took place in Tanjung Piai, Pontian. We wanted to try the food at Aiskrim Dulang by Pikapi after reviewing the TikTok video.

I was in Tanjung Piai for a gastronomic adventure was back in March 2024, with other friends [READ HERE].

As suggested by the name Aiskrim Dulang [TRANSLATE: Tray Ice Cream], the specialty of the place was its ice cream but we did not get it after the meal.

We arrived at about 2-ish p.m. and there were not that many people as it was already past lunch hour.

The chose the Dulang Set, something like a lunch set put on a big tray whcih comprised of a few Malay dishes.

The lunch set cost RM79.90 excluding drinks, and was meant for 4 pax. Surprisingly, my friend and I could finish it all because the portion of the food was not actually suffice for four adults.

MY HONEST UNPAID REVIEW: We had had better lunch at a more reasonable price somewhere else.

However, the gastronomic adventure must go on. We now have to think of the next eating venue for the upcoming weekend.

THE FAREWELL EVENT OF THE RETIRING PRINCIPAL OF SMK TAMAN UNIVERSITI

A Farewell Event was held for the retiring Principal of SMK Taman Universiti, Tuan Haji Saiful Azizi bin Mohamad Yassin. A few ex-colleagues were invited to officially bid him farewell. I was more excited to see my old friends during the session.

Tuan Haji Saiful Azizi was one of the teachers who had been teaching in SMK Taman Universiti for many years. Initially he was an academic teacher before holding all the Senior Assistant posts and eventually became the principal of the school.

It was the usual activities - speeches, students performance, giving away presents, photography session and the feast for the invited guesrs.

I was happy that I managed to be photographed with many friends in school. I was there for about 4 hours. No doubt it was tiring but I had a whale of a time to be able to see people whom I once worked together with.