MEETING AN OLD FRIEND FROM KUANTAN AT JPO

25TH JUNE 2022 ~ Puan Aunillah Hilmi, was here at JPO, with her husband and other colleagues. My friend of UPM TESL class of 1993 was on her school trip to Johor Bahru and JPO being one of the stops in the itinerary. It was always my pleasure to meet up when someone informed he/she was in town, even just for a short while.

We chose a place to sit and I was lucky to be given a treat of sinfully chocolaty and creamy Godiva ice-cream in the Godiva Cafe. It was my first time there despite the fact that I had been to JPO many times before this.

We managed to feed ourselves with the necessary updates of the things that happen around us. It was time for the group to leave JPO by 6:30 p.m. and I had to bid Puan Aunillah and her husband goodbye. Hope to see both of them again, either in Johor Bahru or Kuantan.

THE FIRST SHOPPING TRIP FOR 2022

When boredom sets in, one has to find a way to entertain himself.

I actually had to find a few items as presents for people being transferred and trying to get something for myself as well. And I ended up in Johor Factory Outlet [JPO] to join other people shopping at branded outlets and feeling rich for once.

There were not that many people and there were long queues outside certain stores.

Mission accomplished in less than 2 hours. I actually spent more time waiting for my turn outside the Adidas outlet.

VISITING JPO WITH A MISSION TO ACCOMPLISH

20th MARCH 2021 ~ I was back at Johor Premium Outlet this afternoon with a mission to accomplish - buying presents for colleagues transferring to other schools. It was a Saturday and there were many people at the shopping venue and I could already predict that by looking at the number of cars already parked when we arrived.

There were already long queues forming outside a few shops. I had to find other places where I did not have to wait for long to get my shopping done.

This time I had Mr. Nazafee Mohamad, an ex-student [of SMKTUN], to accompany me so I had a helper to carry all the bulky items around.

 

As usual, there were ex-students and ex-colleague that I would meet at a public place like this.

The objective of the visit to JPO was achieved and it was worth the time and effort as I managed to get all the items bought at very good discounts. I will come back here when the time come for me to buy presents for other people again. Or to meet my friends from other states when to come to shop here once the border is opened.

VISITING JPO ONE SATURDAY EVENING

I visit Johor Premium Outlet for two reasons: (1) To meet friends who go to JPO to shop, or (2) To buy presents for other people. And I was back in JPO for reason number 2.

There were still many people although there was no crowd like it used to be on a weekend. At certain shops, people were queuing up outside before they were allowed to get into the outlet. I must say, scanning the QR code for screening in every shop had become something tedious to do.

I decided to get myself a mug of coffee and a slice of cake at Coffee Bean. I realized that the coffee was always a bit too sweet in these established eateries, much sweeter than the Nescafe I made at home. This should not be good for health.

The objective of the evening was achieved and one of the paper bags actually belonged to me. I had not been buying thing for myself for a long time and I guess it was the time to do so.

A RENDEZVOUS WITH AN OLD FRIEND ON THE 20th DAY OF EID

The initial plan was to meet Mr. Ridwan Wahid, a friend of UPM TESL Class 1993, and his family at JPO for coffee. JPO seems to be their favourite short getaway from Shah Alam once in a while. However, it was then changed at the last minute and I just suggested Almizan Satay House at Bandar Baru Uda. It is quite difficult to think of eating places in town during this MCO period as we are not sure of its operation hours.

It is not a good idea to socialize while eating at the restaurant these days if you come in a group of four. Your two other friends will be separated metres away. And if you gossip, you will share it with everyone else in the restaurant. I don't like the new normal. The new normal is NOT normal.

I have to thank Mr. Ridhwan again for asking me to come and meet him, the wife and daughter, when he was in town. We still exchanged Eid's greetings on the 20th day of Syawal. It was a very short gathering but I guess there will be other similar meetings like this in the future, especially after we are free from the COVID-19 pandemic.

AN IMPROMPTU PLAN TO MEET WHICH WAS EXECUTED WELL

It was Mr. Ridwan's impromptu plan to visit JPO but the timing was just right. So I rushed to JPO from home at 5.30 p.m. so as to avoid the heavy traffic on EDL Highway. Johor Premium Outlet seems to be an easy meeting place for me and my friends when they come to Johor.

After Maghrib prayer, we decided to hop to another nearby shopping mall, AEON Kulai, as there would be more choices of places for dinner.

Mr. Ridwan and family chose Mee Tarik Warisan Asli, and that was their very first visit to the Chinese Muslim Restaurant.

By 9:30 p.m., we had to part ways. They drove all the way from Melaka, spent a few hours in Kulai, and rushed back there right after.

Thanks a lot for the time and the company, and the noodles too. It is always my pleasure to meet up with friends of UPM TESL class of 1993.

ANOTHER MEETING AT JOHOR PREMIUM OUTLET

3rd FEBRUARY 2018 ~ I sometimes go to Johor Premium Outlet (JPO), but not to shop, rather to meet friends who go there. Mr. Ridwan Wahid and his family were here for a (very) short trip, all the way from Shah Alam. When he announced of his plan, that should be the opportunity to meet up even though initially we decided to gather somewhere else. 

So it was a gossip session over sandwiches and iced lemon tea this time. JPO doesn't offer much when it comes to dining. People come here not to eat and chat in the first place. We had to part ways after about 2 hours, as the outlet was already going to close shops.

I even bumped into an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti, Puan Fauziah Kassim (I hope I got the name right). She was in SMKTUN many years ago and is now in Melaka.

I must say I was glad to see Mr. Ridwan and the girls, especially before they leave for Mekah for "umrah" in a few days. I pray may Allah ease their journey there and may they stay healthy during the stay on the holy land.