GOING ARABIC FOR LUNCH AT BUKIT BINTANG, KUALA LUMPUR

   22nd DECEMBER 2025    ~ After the trip to Kuala Lumpur Bird Park and the short shopping session at KKV shop in Bukit Bintang, Puan Hanna Sheikh Mokhtar and her daughter, took me to Halab Restaurant. We had all Arabic food on the table this time, ordered by the host.

It was a bit late for lunch and there were not many diners in the restaurant. Hence service was quite fast.

It was another hefty meal, thanks to the kind-hearted host. We had to leave and get ready for another supper session later in the evening with another friend.

AN UNPLANNED WEDDING RECEPTION IN KUALA LUMPUR OF PEOPLE NOT RELATED TO ME

   27TH APRIL 2025    ~ Here I was in Dewan Tun Rahah at Yayasan Tun Razak Building in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, attending an unplanned wedding reception of people who were not related to me. The reason: I was tagging along my [UPM TESL class of 1993] friend, Puan Hayati Burkhan and her husband after attending another reception earlier [READ HERE]. The host was actually a friend of Puan Hayati's husband.

I was truly impressed with the wedding venue. A fully carpeted huge hall which boasted luxury as I entered the dining area. Location wise, the building was situated in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur and not many could afford to hold a reception here.

We were still full from the feast at the first reception attended right before, and at the same time there was not much food left at this place. We could be the few latecomers for the event. I still have to thank Puan Hayati Burkhan and Mr. Amin for taking me to this place, which could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. I have doubt I would be setting foot here another time.

HAVING DRINKS AT THE FOOD COURT AT BUKIT BINTANG

   28TH APRIL 2024    ~ It was my first time in Bukit Bintang area [after so long], specifically at Pavilion Mall. A long time ago, when I was still studying in Universiti Pertanian Malaysia [UPM], my friends and I used to walk from Puduraya all the way to Bukit Bintang. These days, Bukit Bintang is the place for tourists and the rich.

I was there with Mr. Ridwan Wahid for a Book Launch event [READ HERE].

We arrived a bit too early so we decided to get some drinks and something light to eat. The next meal would only be at 4.00 p.m. later as we had planned to attend my friend's Eid Open House in Dengkil. [READ HERE]

I forgot to take the photo of the food bought because I was distracted by the three ladies who had to share the [long] table with us. The food court in the mall was crowded with diners at that hour. The ladies moved away a few minutes later, as their friend managed to find empty spots somewhere else.

Bukit Bintang sure had looked not they way it used to be. I would not have not been here if there was no event to attend. I got to thank Mr. Ridwan for asking me to tag along.

ATTENDING A BOOK LAUNCH EVENT AT STARHILL, KUALA LUMPUR

28th APRIL 2024 ~ Mr. Ridwan Wahid got invited to a book launch event and he asked me whether I would be interested to tag along. I had never been to one so I agreed to accompany him and to see the writer of the book, Mr. Malachi Edwin, our TESL lecturer in Universiti Pertanian Malaysia.

When we arrived at Eslite Bookstore in The Starhill, Bukit Bintang, there was already a crowd sitting in front of the stage. In the book talk session, Mr. Edwin was responding to the questions posed by the moderator on his latest book, a collection of short stories in "Have I Got Something to Tell You".

It just felt like attending the Literature class in university again.

After an hour, the book talk session ended and the last section should be Meet the Author.

I had never met Mr. Edwin since I left UPM 30 years ago. It was great to get to see the man who had introduced Literature to my friends and me after all these years. We got the novels signed and we could not have a long chat as other fans were waiting in line.

Congratulations Mr. Edwin on your new book. I have already finished reading 14 out of the 20 short stories published in the collection, and should be able to read all by the end of this week.