OPTING OUT FOR A SIMPLER GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE

   20th SEPTEMBER 2025    ~ When you went to a few eating places during lunch hour and found that  all the seats were occupied, there was no choice but to just randomly choose a restaurant that could accommodate you [and your friend].

Eventually, Mr. Azman and I ended up in a Burger King outlet somewhere in Subang Jaya where there were many vacant seats available.

Even though the place was not crowded, it was a popular shop as we could see people coming in and out during our stay.

The gastronomic adventure was not that adventurous this time, but we left the place with happy tummies. However, we went for another round of adventure not long after that for real food.

LUNCH SESSION WITH TEACHER FRIENDS

We finally managed to sit and chat over lunch after all the earlier plans did not materialize. Someone chose to eat burger at Burger King so we met at one outlet near Taman Tasek. This time the lunch date was with 2 teacher friends, one is an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti and the other one whom I got to know during a chess tournament carried out at his old school.

There was a long queue during lunch hour and at the same time, people were getting hold of the special offers as today is 11.11. The place was understaffed hence the slow service at peak hour.

Just one complaint: the dining area was quite hot and uncomfortable. It was either the air-conditioner was not working or they shut down the appliance to save electricity to cut cost.

Thank you Mr. Azhar and Mr. Syahril, both who are the alumni of SMS Muar, for the time. There sure would be many other things to discuss in our next meeting.

SUNWAY BIG BOX - THE LATEST ATTRACTION IN TOWN

3rd OCTOBER 2020 ~ Sunway Big Box should be the latest attraction in town even though it is tucked away a bit further away from the city. Located at Nusajaya Iskandar Puteri, other than  the shopping outlets, people go the just to actually to take photo at one particular bookstore there. [READ HERE LATER]

The place is huge. From my observation, there are two wings: the east and west. If you want to get to the bookstore, then make sure you park your car at the right place or else you have to walk from one wing to the other which is quite a distance. That was what we had to do when we were there.

We made a stop at Burger King there just for coffee, before the long pilgrimage we had to make in search of the so-called Instagrammable bookshop.

There were also booths selling all sorts of items along the corridor and outside, a car boot sale was going on at the parking lot.

an ex-student of SMKTUN
*fans are everywhere*

I did not have enough time to explore the place more but my greatest worry is whether this place could survive the Covid-19 pandemic especially when the Johor-Singapore border is not opened. There are just too many shops that have closed down in the malls all around the city as business is already hit hard by the crisis. Just hope that this place could still exist in many more months to come.

MY WEEKEND'S GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE AT THE KING'S

4th JULY 2020 ~ We just found out that there was an offer going on for set meal at Burger King so this should be the best time to get lunch. Even though I do not visit Burger King as frequently as McD, the burger there was something to die for. And the prices of the food are also (slightly) higher.

We chose to go to MidValley Mall because of its strategic location. Besides, we could explore the place more after the meal.

It was my first time trying Burger King's fried chicken. THE VERDICT: I will be coming back for more next time.

Guess will have to plan for more gastronomic adventure with Mr. Wan Mohd. Nazri real soon. It is good to have a friend who loves eating out, at least there will be someone else who will also get fat. 😊

A POST GATHERING AFTER A REUNION HI-TEA AT THE AIRPORT

16th DECEMBER 2018 ~ We had a mini post gathering after the UPM TESL Reunion Hi-Tea at the hotel initially. There were four other friends who continued sitting and chatting in  together for just a short time at PappaRich Cafe in KLIA2.

Puan Rozida Ramli had to wait for a flight to Penang scheduled at 9:00 p.m. As for Puan Sharon Taty and I, we would be staying at a nearby hotel before catching our flights to our respective destinations the next morning and Puan Zanariah Abdul Shukor was kind enough to accompany us the whole evening. As for Puan Maslinda Mohd. Dahalan, she was there as she could not make it to the bigger reunion earlier.

Then the time came to send Puan Rozida to the domestic departure gate of KLIA2, and Puan Maslinda to the parking entrance/exit of the mall.

Early the next Monday morning on 17th December, Puan Zanariah sent Puan Sharon Taty and me to the airport again and had breakfast at the Burger King restaurant there. Our flights were at 9:00 so we had to part ways one hour before the gates were closed.

And I met Puan Adila Ahmad, another TESL coursemate, who was there with other family members on their way to Belitong, Indonesia.

I guess I would have to thank Puan Zanariah Abdul Shukor again for driving all us here and there after the hi-tea gathering until the next morning. And for the others, thanks for the company. The waiting at the airport had never been a pleasant one when you had friends around.

LUNCHING OUT

This was a treat long overdue. They were brought to lunch out at Burger King, Skudai, because when they were in form two, they had helped me to lock all the door grills of the school's staircases throughout the year. And the second reason, Khalil is going off to a boarding school by next week. Just a small effort to show my appreciation for their willingness to help me which was actually priceless. Actually I still owe one more student the same kind of thing but I will try to make it in the future.

Zharfan in the red shirt

and this is Khalil

And I bumped into two ex-students who are now working part-time at the Petronas Kiosk which the fast food outlet is attached to. They are waiting for their SPM result which is not yet released. From faraway I could spot Muadzakiy at the petrol pump. And right after that, I met one more, Akmal, who is one of the restaurant staff. One of the advantages (or disadvantages) of teaching is you have very high probability of meeting students and ex-students alike just anywhere and everywhere. That is one of the reasons why until now I have never stepped foot into Jusco Taman Universiti and also the pasar malam because I know they are lurking around. The real truth, it is always a pleasure to see people I know (or perhaps I have forgotten), to be greeted or when they introduce themselves and telling me that once they were my students.

with Akmal in the restaurant

with Muadzakiy at the kiosk