VISITING AN EX-STUDENT IN KPJ HOSPITAL IN DAMANSARA

After attending a wedding reception in Klang, I quickly drove to KPJ Specialist Hospital 2 in Damansara. The mission was to visit Mr. Ahmad Firdaus Shahlan, an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti who had just undergone a bypass heart surgery there.

I also got to meet the wife of Mr. Ahmad, Puan Noor Al Iman Mazlan, and his younger sister, Puan Shazwani Shahlan, who were both my ex-students of the same school.

There were many other visitors when I was there. It seemed he was one popular patient in the ward. Unfortunately, I could stay that long as I had to drive back to Johor Bahru right after.

Wishing Mr. Ahmad a speedy recovery and looking forward to other coffee sessions with him and his friends soon.

THE SUPPER SESSION IN DAMANSARA "RARE"

   23rd DECEMBER 2025    ~ The next supper session took place with UPM TESL friends on the second day of my stay in Damansara. Puan Adila Ahmad [and her daughter] and Puan Hanna Sheikh Mokhtar [and her husband] took me to this food court named Rare somewhere in Kota Damansara.

There were many stalls selling variety of food, and most of the tables were occupied by people dining in.

While enjoying our food, we were entertained by the live performance by the duo buskers.

The food was good and the company of friends made it better. I got to thanks everybody for the hospitality, taking me out for supper session for two consecutive nights. I went back home fatter and happier.

The duo performing a Malay song "Tiara" as requested.

The next gathering with my UPM TESL friends is going to happen later in January when there are two wedding receptions to attend.

THERE IS ALWAYS A SECOND TIME AT Q-BISTRO IN LOTUS'S DAMANSARA

   21st DECEMBER 2025    ~ Puan Hanna Sheikh Mokhtar hosted the supper session when I was in Damansara. Her husband, Mr. Azizul was also there and Puan Adila Ahmad with her two daughters also joined the party. Puan Hanna's son arrived a bit later in his Cosplay costume - the more the merrier.

This was my second time at this particular restaurant. The first one happened last October with the same people [READ HERE].

We stayed there until the staff started to tidy the place and rearrange the chairs so as to signal to us they had to close the shop at 11:00 p.m. This was just the beginning, there were still more gastronomic adventures that were going to happen the next day in Damansara.

STAYING AT ROYALE CHULAN, THE CURVE IN DAMANSARA FOR THE SECOND TIME

The second time I stayed at Royale Chulan at The Curve, Damansara, was from 17th - 19th October, 2025, to attend another wedding reception of a friend's daughter. Although the venue was in Bangi [READ HERE], I chose to stay in Damansara, which was actually quite far, as another TESL friend and her husband were also putting up the night there. At the same time, I had other friends residing in the nearby area so we could always meet up for dinner.

Everything was almost the same except I was given a room without a balcony, unlike the first time, but it was actually better [and cleaner]. [READ HERE] And I got the view of the mall blocked by the roofs.

This time round, I booked the room together with the buffet breakfast package, as suggested by Puan Aunillah Hilmi. I must say the breakfast spread was impressive.

They had the chefs going from table to table, offering diners their special menu of the day. They prepared sandwiches on the spot [which were actually bagels] and gave away their vegetable cocktail which contained cucumber as the main ingredient.

I don't mind staying at Royale Chulan at the Curve again when I am back in Kuala Lumpur, and might consider paying for the breakfast buffet one more time.

FOOTNOTE: Do not get confused with another Royale Chulan nearby, which is Royale Chulan Damansara, which is just a walking distance away and not attached to the Curve shopping mall.

THE FIRST TIME AT ROYALE CHULAN, THE CURVE, DAMANSARA

My first time staying at Royale Chulan at the Curve, Damansara was from 13th - 14th September, 2025. I had to attend a solemnization event of a friend's daughter in Damansara [READ HERE]. I fell in love with the hotel at first sight.

I stayed there just for one night. This is because, right after the event, I was already travelling to Kuantan for another wedding reception.

Firstly, it was near a train station i.e. Mutiara Damansara, and it was a walking distance away. Secondly, the hotel building was attached to the Curve shopping Mall, and connected to Lotus's Hypermarket at the other end. Opposite the hotel was Ikano Power Centre [IPC] where IKEA was located. I went to have my brunch there when I stayed the second time [READ HERE].

I was informed by the front desk that my room was upgraded to the one with a balcony. On one hand, I was happy with room. On the other hand, unfortunately, the balcony was not well taken care of. It looked deserted and not cleaned.

I took the breakfast package when I stayed there again in October [READ HERE].

I might choose this place again when I am in KL some other time, unless I could find another hotel with a reasonable rate and equally convenient.

FOOTNOTE: Do not get confused with another Royale Chulan nearby, which is Royale Chulan Damansara, which is just a walking distance away and not attached to the Curve shopping mall.