THE ABC AND MURTABAK SESSION IN KAMPUNG MELAYU

Do you know that some people just come to Kampung Melayu, Johor Bahru, just to eat these two food items: Air Batu Campur, abbreviated to ABC [shaved ice with syrup and other condiments] and Murtabak [flat bread with sardine or meat filling].

The famous spot was the one beside/opposite the Kampung Melayu Mosque where there were two food courts. You could the two kinds of food from both places, but I prefer the one named Azo 96.

I had my craving satisfied with the company of an ex-colleague [of SMK Dato' Jaafar]. I used to take my friends who came visiting to this eating place. The last time I ate here was a very long time ago, I couldn't even remember when.

 

ANOTHER DINNER DATE WITH A TESL FRIEND [AND HER HUSBAND]

28TH FEBRUARY 2024 ~ A dinner date was proposed with Puan Maslinda Mohd. Dahalan and her husband when they were in town. The chosen venue this time was Md. Aris Yong Tau Fu located in Kampung Melayu.

This should be the place to get Yong Tau Fu in Johor Bahru, and this food is served differently from the variety found in Kuala Lumpur or northern states. It comes with soup and not just sauce. Puan Maslinda then wanted to get Muratabak to complement the dinner we had had so we went to a food court nearby.

Guess this should be our supper. So we had Murtabak and I suggested my friend to try the popular ABC [Air Batu Campur] of this place.

This is not the end. There would be one more episode of my gastronomic adventure with my TESL friend the very next day.

THE LATE AFTERNOON TEA WITH AN EX-COLLEAGUE

Now that I am a full time stay home person, I would be seeing less people. The opportunity to meet an ex-colleague of SMK Dato' Jaafar had to be used to the fullest.

I went to get Murtabak Kampung Melayu, not at the usual stall, but at the food court where you can find the popular Azmie Wawa ABC. I actually needed Mr. Shafiq's help to fix something at home but it was done quickly and we had enough time to go and get something to eat before Maghrib prayer.

Thanks Mr. Shafiq whom I will be seeing again for more projects to come.

MY GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE JUST NEVER ENDS

  1ST DECEMBER 2023   ~ When Mr. Ridwan Wahid announced that he would be driving to Johor Bahru in a few hours' time, that meant there would be more gastronomic adventure that was about to take place. I actually had two sessions of similar adventure in the morning and afternoon, one with a friend of the UPM TESL Class of 1993 and another one with an ex-student, but I was ready for more.

Mr. Ridwan was already familiar with some of the eating places in town so I just had to meet him and his family members at the Murtabak Kampung Melayu place [a.k.a Murtabak Azo] at about 7:00 p.m. After the appetizer, someone was still hungry for [rice]. Therefore, we then adjourned to another restaurant, L.C. Catering for the real dinner.

After dinner, I had to remind them not to get a heavy breakfast the next morning as the gastronomic adventure would be continued for lunch.

  2ND DECEMBER 2023   ~ I had promised them to take them to Asam Pedas Sri Pantai at Kampung Sungai Melayu during our last meeting in Shah Alam/Subang. So here we were, as early as 11:00 a.m. in order to avoid the crowd during lunch hour.

An ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti was also there with his family members, and it was kind of him to come over to our table with his baby girl to say "hi".

I was happy that my guests enjoyed the recommended food at this place. We had already decided of the next eating place to visit when they are back in town - most probably next year.

THE TEACHERS' EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITY FOR THE NEW SCHOOL SESSION

 

The school has been reopened for 2 weeks and it is going to be the fasting month next week. This should be our first outing session for the new 2022 school session and we will have to wait after the month of Ramadhan to do this activity again.

There were not many male colleagues [of SMK Dato' Jaafar] who could join us this time but we could not wait for everyone to be there to get our ABC and Murtabak from Kampung Melayu.

The gathering was adjourned to another time hopefully in May. Until then, happy fasting 😀

 

A MINI REUNION WITH AN EX-COLLEAGUE [AND HER FAMILY MEMBERS] FROM KAJANG

12th MARCH 2022 ~ Puan Noraliza Mazni and her family were in town. They came to Johor Bahru as Mr. Zuraimi, Puan Noraliza's husband, had to carry out his duty as a good citizen to cast his vote for the state level election. A date was set with the people from Kajang with ex-colleagues of SMK Taman Universiti and the venue chosen was the famous Murtabak Food Court in Kampung Melayu.

It was only a short chat session over Murtabak and fried rice, but it all felt just like old time. Hoping to see Puan Noraliza and her family members again when they make a return trip to Johor Bahru some other time in the future.

THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE LAST MINUTE DINNER DATE

It is true after all things that are planned last minute are more likely to happen. And I was meeting my old friends couple, Mr. Ismaznizam J. Azyze and Puan Hazlina Aziz [ex-coursemates of UPM TESL class of 1993], at Azo Murtabak Kampung Melayu which is near my place. It was good in a way that I didn't have to drive all the way to Puteri Harbour/Medini to meet them. 😀

The dinner session this time was shorter as they needed to get the Murtabak delivered to other people waiting at the hotel. It was time to bid farewell and hopefully I could see both of them again some other time, here or in Kuala Lumpur.

"It takes a long time to grow an old friend."
~ JOHN LEONARD ~