GETTING MY FIRST BOX OF MANDARIN ORANGES THIS YEAR

Chinese New Year is coming. The festive season is synonymous with mandarin oranges, the fruits that are sold almost everywhere. They are the symbol of wealth and prosperity. Giving a friend or relative oranges is like giving him/her gold.

My first box of oranges was handed over to me today by Puan Lim Swat Pay, the representative of my Chinese friends of SMK Mutiara Rini. Thanks everybody for the kind thought. Wishing all of you a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year. Gong Xi Fa Cai!

 

ANOTHER CHINESE NEW YEAR REUNION MEETING WITH AN EX-STUDENT

Last year, the gathering was held in Kuala Lumpur [or was it Selangor?] [READ HERE] as Mr. Ng Ching Kai did not go back to Johor Bahru. This year, however, he was in town to celebrate Chinese New Year with his family so we had our annual reunion.

The chosen venue this time was Lavender Cafe in Taman Pelangi, and we chatted over bread, pastry and coffee.

We tried to do some catching up and update of the latest news. Surprisingly, we both had lost contact with most of his classmates of SMK Taman Universiti.

Glad that we still managed to keep the tradition that had been going on for quite some time. The time will come when Mr. Ng would be more occupied and busier, but as for now; Carpe diem!

Thanks Mr. Ng Ching Kai for the time, company and the treat as well.

THE ANNUAL PRE-CHINESE NEW YEAR GATHERING WITH EX-COLLEAGUES

This was the annual Chinese New Year gathering I had my my ex-colleagues of SMK Taman Universiti. This time four people were present: Puan Tay Le Mei, Puan Lee Kim Luan, Miss Lee Kiaw Moi and Mr. Ong Poh Shin. The chosen venue was SDS Cafe in Taman Universiti.

I was too excited to chat with old friends until I forgot to take more photos in the cafe. Luckily we had the group photos at the dining table.

Thanks to everyone for the time spent. We need to do this not just for Chinese New Year, so we could meet up more frequently.

A MEETING WITH AN EX-COLLEAGUE BEFORE THE CNY BREAK

A meeting was set with Mr. Lim Khim Yan, an ex-colleague of SMK Mutiara Rini. The main objective was to pass his Chinese New Year cookies to him, as he is now stationed at SMK Tan Sri Mohamad Rahmat, formerly known as SMK Kempas.

The initial plan was to meet at a cafe in Setia Tropika but I discovered there was Tea Garden at the same building. I had been to the branch in Taman Perling and this should be the chance to enjoy halal Chinese food.

I had Fried Radish, Egg Tarts and Taufu Fa in Soy Milk this time.

It was a short sit in session but we managed to get ourselves updated. Glad to get to meet an old friend again and hope we could do this again some other time.

AN IMPROMPTU COFFEE DATE WITH TWO EX-COLLEAGUES

The initial plan was to send the cookies to Puan Tay Le Mei's house for Chinese New Year. Then she suggested we met outside for coffee and she invited another ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti, Miss Lee Kiaw Moi. The chosen venue was SDS Cafe in Taman Universiti and we ended up having cakes, coffee and hot chocolate,

When in Taman Universiti, be ready to bump into ex-students. And we met two ex-students who are sisters in the cafe.

It was just a short meeting that lasted about half an hour but we had got ourselves updated with the latest development. For one thing, both the two ladies were glowing with happiness after opting out for early retirement and hopefully I will be like them too when my time comes.

Thanks Puan Tay and Miss Lee for the time. We should do this more often with other people after this.

MY CHINESE NEW YEAR SHORT GETAWAY TO BATAM ISLAND, INDONESIA

A short getaway for the Chinese New Year school break was planned and executed from 25th - 27th January, 2020. My partner in crime this time was another ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, This should be my second time in Batam and the first trip was like 9 years ago.

The adventure started at Berjaya Waterfront Ferry Terminal in Johor Bahru city. If you think the Chinese would stay at home playing mahjong or visiting friends and relatives on the first day of Chinese New Year, then you are wrong my friend. There was a huge crowd at the terminal and I could see a very long queue at the ticket counter when I arrived there in the morning.

Fortunately, the tickets had been bought online by my travel partner so there was no need to wait in line. We could just go straight to the counter to collect our ferry tickets and that should be a big relief.

Then there was another long queue at the immigration check point. *sigh*

After two hours, we arrived at Batam Centre Ferry Terminal.

And here, there was even a larger crowd, trying to get into Batam from many other ferry terminals and from Singapore too. The boats seemed to arrive at the same time. There were zig-zagging lines just to get to the immigration counter and PATIENCE was the keyword when one was in this situation. I must say the immigration officers worked efficiently and even the line was moving very slowly and the hall was packed, but it was done rather smoothly.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY: [1] Do not go to Batam during the Chinese New Year break, or most probably any other festive season as everybody else is also doing the same thing. [2] Another option, try to enter Batam via other ferry terminal such as the new Harbour Bay.

Don't forget to come back for more stories and photos of my Batam trip soon.


OTHER RELATED PAGES OF MY BATAM TRIP

Lunch at Pondok Batam Kuring
Batam Wakepark
Indonesia Miniature Houses
Visiting Three Factory Outlets
The Street Food
Shopping at DC Mall
Dinner at a Stall by the Roadside
Breakfast at McDonald's
Visiting Baitusyakur Mosque
Tebing Langit
Sultan Mahmud Riayat Syah Mosque
Observing Batam from the Mosque Tower
Balerang Bridge
Fried Duck at H. Slamet Restaurant

'TIS THE SEASON TO BE REUNITED

It has been a tradition for Mr. Ng Ching Khai and I to meet up before Chinese New Year since he left school after SPM in 2013. So far, we have managed to keep up the annual customary coffee session up until today. This time we decided to try the SDS Bakery in Taman Universiti for the short rendezvous.

Thanks Ching Kai for the time, the company as well as the never-missed CNY goodies. I really appreciate the effort especially when many others have already disappeared.

THE FESTIVE SPIRIT IS IN THE AIR

Representative of SMK Taman Universiti,
Puan Goh.

One more day before the school breaks for one week in conjunctions with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration.

Representative of SMK Mutiara Rini,
Puan Pua.

I will start doing countdown by the hours and minutes tomorrow morning.

'This the season to eat all the mandarin oranges - while they are still here.

MY HOMETOWN GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - KFRY URBAN KOREAN RESTAURANT AT HOLIDAY VILLA

18th FEBRUARY 2018 ~ The 3rd day of the Chinese New Year was spent for a gastronomic adventure with two SMKTUN's ex-students of SPM batch 2006, Ms. Khaulah Abd. Rahim and Miss Noorulnashuha Atan, at Kfry Urban Korean Restaurant. This eating place is located at Holiday Villa Hotel. It opened at 12.00 p.m. (until 12 midnight) and when I arrived, there was already a large crowd waiting to enter the dining area. You are advised to book a place before coming or else you will have to wait.

I just ate whatever the girls ordered. My first time going Korean locally. I ate (real) Korean food when I was in Jeju Island a few years back.

everything Korean

the chicken pieces were wrapped in front of us 

fat crispy fries

chicken in thick melted cheese

making the rice balls

before...

... and after

Bingsu? it looked more like a fruit bowl
with one type of fruit only

MY VERDICT:

Everything was so Korean. Definitely a place I would not go on my own. And not a good place to hang out on weekends as there were people waiting for their turn outside the dining area. A must-go for adventurous people who want to try Korean food.

to be continued....