STOPPING BY AT AL FALIHIN MOSQUE IN KAMPUNG ALAI, MELAKA

    21ST APRIL 2026    ~ After lunch [READ HERE], the group stopped at Al-Falihin Mosque in Kampung Alai, which was not far from the restaurant for our day prayers.

SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE MOSQUE:

The original site of the mosque could be found 30 metres away. It was built in 1890 and was made of wood with the area of only 30 X 40 square feet.

Visitors could still observe the Malay traditional architecture inside the building, especially the carved wood for the pillars, doors and roof.

THE GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE IN TELUK MAS, MELAKA

   21ST APRIL 2026    ~ I was with the JKM [Welfare Department] educational visit to Melaka, stopping at two venues. In between the two places, we stopped for lunch at  Restoran Nooraidah Hj. Isenin in Teluk Mas, Umbai, Melaka. [The lunch was paid by the organizer].

When in Melaka, then eat like Malaccans do. I chose a plate of white rice, Asam Pedas Ikan Pari [Stingray] which would be the signature dish of the place, Fried Chicken and Fried Mixed Vegetables.

Everything was good and if you are in this area and thinking of having lunch with Malay traditional dishes, this could be an option you might consider.

THE IMPROMPTU GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE WITH AN EX-STUDENT AT MARRYBROWN

I met Mr. Hamzah Hamdan at the district level Chess Competition in Taman Sri Tebrau. He is an ex-student of mine [of SMK Taman Universiti] and is a teacher himself. This should be the opportunity to sit down and talk a bit so we decided to get out for [a late] lunch. The venue was at Marrybrown Restaurant at Pelangi Leisure Mall, which was near to the competition venue.

It was only a short impromptu lunch date as Mr. Hamzah needed to get back to the competition venue to supervise and monitor his students. It was getting difficult to meet up and I am glad we managed to chat over lunch for once.

THE POST EID VISIT IN THE MORNING

According to the wall calendar, the last day of the month of Syawal was yesterday and the Eid celebration should also end. However, people these days still continue doing house visits beyond Eid month.

I happily welcomed Puan Rokiah Junoh, an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti, and her husband, Encik Abdul Rahman. I was truly touched they still made the effort to visit for Eid this year. According to Puan Rokiah, there is still one year to continue the tradition before they move back to her hometown in Pasir Mas. I then have a chance to visit them in the east coast in the future.

I am still expecting a big group to visit this coming weekend.

ATTENDING A WEDDING RECEPTION ON THE 29TH DAY OF EID

Puan Noorfaizah Ghapar Shah, an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti, held a wedding reception for her daughter, the first one for the family. The event was held at Bricks Cafe Hoemstay in Kempas.

The first two people I met were Puan Aliah Hussein whom I visited for Eid three days ago [READ HERE] and Miss Nor Raubiyah Musa.

Then more and more recognizable faces started to appear in the hall, to my delight.

Most of the ex-colleagues I met had already retired and wedding receptions were the places where reunion happened all the time.

Thank you to Puan Noorfaizah for her kind thought of inviting me to the reception. My we see each other again in her other receptions for her children in the future.

THE 19TH DAY OF EID 1447H - PART TWO

   8TH APRIL 2026    ~ A group of ex-colleagues of SMK Dato' Jaafar [of those teaching the Form Six students] came visiting for Eid today.

Puan Radziah Hassan, a retiree, and Mr. Amirul Hakim, who is the Principal of a secondary school nearby, were also present.

They were kind enough to bring some food for the Eid gathering.

It is always a pleasure to welcome friends and hoping that they will all still continue visiting for many more Eid to come.