GOING FOR PIZZA FOR LUNCH AT PLAZA KOTARAYA

   26TH AUGUST 2026    ~ This was an unplanned lunch date so we were not sure where to go that afternoon. We just decided to drive to Plaza Kotaraya and to have lunch at the food court there. Unfortunately, there were no vacant seats when we arrived so we simply opted for Pizza Hut as the restaurant was not full.

garlic bread

mushroom soup

chicken popcorn

the Pizza

dessert: chocolate lava cake

It has been a long time since I last dined in at a pizza restaurant. The lunch set which comprised of all the food and drinks in the pictures above just cost me RM58 which I found reasonable. I would have to pay for an ala carte meal for all the food on the table for two people. We even took home most of the pizza slices as after taking all the side dishes, we were already full.

A COFFEE DATE TO CELEBRATE A FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY

A short coffee date with Mr. Syahril Mohd. Sharif who is a ow attached with Jojor BahruPPD [District Education Office] to celebrate his birthday today. Last minute plan worked most of the time.So we met up at Zus Coffee at Plaza Kotaraya, a place near to his office with easy parking access, during his lunch break. We could not stay long to chat as he had to go back to work.

Happy xth birthday [real age is not revealed] Mr. Syahril. It was indeed a rare opportunity to meet up as he is always busy with his work schedule and family commitment.

A SHORT COFFEE DATE AT PAPPA ROTI

It was a short coffee date with Mr. Firdaos Zulkifli, an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, at Pappa Roti at Plaza Kotaraya, prior to the first meeting we had two weeks ago. [READ HERE]

Even though it was a work-related matter, seeing and talking with someone over coffee outside was always enjoyable. We might be seeing each other more if things work according to plan.

WHEN AN OLD FRIEND WAS IN TRANSIT IN JOHOR BAHRU

20th DECEMBER 2019 ~ My ex-college mate, Puan Sakinah Ismail, and her family had a 3-day trip to Singapore and as usual, they had to transit in Johor Bahru. The day before they went home to Seremban, we still had a slot for the usual gastronomic adventure which I was playing host. She at first wanted to go to this "Mee Rebus House" but the place was not opened on Friday so I just brought her to my usual Mee Rebus spot in town at Plaza Kotaraya. I thought I had taken them to this place before but actually they had never been here.

I was glad they liked my choice.

We did not have much time to chat though but there will always be a next time, hopefully.

THE URBAN TRANSFORMATION CENTRE REVISITED

I was back at Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) in Plaza Kotaraya to get my passport renewed today. I got there at about 4:00 p.m. after school but only managed to get my (real) number at 4.45 p.m. as I went to the mosque in the building itself and then had cake and coffee. And my brand new passport was ready for pick up by 6.45 p.m. Congratulations to the staff of the Immigration Department for a job well done.

World, here I come...

WHEN TWO EX-CLASSMATES WERE IN TOWN

21st JULY 2018 ~ Puan Hafizah Mohd. Noor and Puan/Dr. Siti Zubaidah Ramanoon were in town and a date was immediately set for us to reunite at Plaza Kotaraya. Puan Hafizah is currently residing in Saudi Arabia but is back for a short break and Dr. Siti Zubaidah is lecturing in Universiti Putra Malaysia.

We were in the same class, called Budiman, in SMS Muar in the year 1985-1986. The last time we met was many years ago when we had a class reunion in Subang Jaya.

Dr. Siti Zubaidah's husband and son were also here so I got to know two new people.

It was only a short meeting but we were glad that we managed to see each other again. Hoping for another class reunion to be organized soon.

MY FIRST TIME AT URBAN TRANSFORMATION CENTRE (UTC)

15th JANUARY 2018 ~ If you think I was at this place called Urban Transformation Centre (known as UTC) to make the world a better place to live in or overcome life-threatening crisis, then you are wrong. This is a one-stop centre where people can pay their bills or do other business with government or non-government agencies. The offices here are operational until 9:00 p.m. daily, I think. I am not sure whether these people work on weekends too.

I managed to renew my road tax at JPJ (Road Transport Department) and paid my bill at SAJ (waterworks). You would have to use the auto teller machine to pay your bill for SAJ though and you cannot pay the exact amount as the machine neither accept small dollar note (like RM1 or RM5 I supposed) nor return the balance of your money. In other words, you will have to pay extra unless your bill is exactly RM50, for example.

The last two counters visited were to pay the taxes. I had to wait quite long at the station operated by MBJB. There were many people but only one officer was entertaining the tax payers.

I was still happy I could complete all the regular annual chores just within 2 hours. I should have come here before but ignorance could be the reason. Situated at Plaza Kotaraya, at the heart of the city but away from the crazy road congestion, the place is quite convenient. I will definitely come here again early next year.

THE LAUNCHING OF A PATRIOTISM PROGRAMME AT PLAZA KOTARAYA

Sometimes if I am unlucky, I would have to attend a programme outside school after school hours. In conjunction with the month of patriotism which is held in August annually, the Johor Bahru District Office launched "Program Negaraku Sehati Sejiwa" [translate: My Country, One Heart One Soul] at Plaza Kotaraya, Johor Bahru.

everybody was given a small free flag

There were dance performance, poetry recitations and singing patriotic songs by kindergarten students which people enjoyed watching the most as the kids were really adorable in their colourful costumes. Other than that, there was an adult choir group, a speech by an officer (thank God there was only one speech) and a prize giving ceremony.

Everything ended by 3:30 p.m. and I managed to get my "mee rebus" and Dunkin Donuts before running out from the building through the heavy downpour to get to my car parked somewhere very far away.

A MINI GET-TOGETHER WITH MY UPM TESL FRIENDS

A so called gathering was in session today when two old friends, Puan Aliza Alwi and Puan Wan Aisyah Wan Haris, arrived in JB. They have to attend a seminar in Berjaya Waterfront Hotel (formerly known as "The Zone"). The other one, Dr. Ng Pei Fern, who resides in JB and lectures in IPTI, also has to attend the same event. I was glad to get to see a few friends at the same time today, as I would not be available tomorrow onward.

The meeting was held at Plaza Kotaraya so I could introduce them to my favourite authentic Johor "Mee Rebus" for lunch. The gathering was a very short one as one of them had to go for a briefing at 2:30 p.m. but I guess we had had a pleasant time chatting.

Thanks everybody for the time. Hope to see you all again in the near future.

ONE DAY IN MY LIFE...

First, there was this so-called professional briefing for the district's principals held at SMK Desa Skudai by PPD Johor Bahru. Since my principal is retiring real soon, and the Senior Assistant of the Administration is not around, I was asked to tag along. The briefing started at 8:00 a.m.

Then, all the participants adjourned to SMK Taman Universiti because the school principal who has retired was giving free lunch to all the other principals of the Johor Bahru district. Believe it or not, this was the third retirement event of the same principal I had already attended. Unfortunately, we had to make our way back to SMK Desa Skudai to continue with the briefing.

The whole thing ended at 4:00 p.m. By that time, I was already having a headache which means, very long briefing is definitely not good for me. In fact, at this moment while I am updating the blog, my head is still throbbing.

Right after that, I rushed to Dataran Bandaraya to meet our angklung guru from Jogjakarta who is here in Johor Bahru. We decided to have tea at Chamek Kopitiam at Plaza Kotaraya, and had a short talk - definitely about angklung related matters. Then I had to take him back to Dataran, said our "goodbyes" and hopefully I will be seeing him in Jogjakarta one day.

There was one more event I attended after that but I will post about it later.

AN OLD FRIEND FROM COLLEGE CAME TO TOWN

4th September 2015 ~ When Miss Jashireen Bashir was here in town, the best thing to do was to introduce her to my favourite "mee rebus" at Plaza Kotaraya. She is another coursemate from UPM TESL class of 1993 and was/is in JB for work-related matter.

Thanks for the time, Jash. We should try other authentic local Johor delicacies when you are here next time.

MEETING MORE EX-STUDENTS CUM EX-ANGKLUNG PLAYERS

23rd JUNE 2015 ~ Once in a blue moon, I got to see girls ex-students over coffee,or heavier meals. When Ms. Hariani asked me on Facebook whether I was free to meet up, with another ex-student, Ms. Nurul Izzati Zakaria, I did not hesitate to say "Yes". So we went to Plaza Kotaraya for a late lunch/tea/early dinner with a lot of catching up to do.

Both of them are from SPM batch 2008 so the conversation was basically about the good old time in SMK Taman Universiti, all the things in the past and present. Both of them played angklung before and Izati was also the school chess player. Surprisingly there was a lot to gossip so I am looking forward to another session some other time.

Thank you girls for the time. We should have the all-girls Angklung Group reunion one day.