GETTING BACK TO UTM TO TEACH ENGLISH AFTER SO MANY YEARS

 

An old friend who is a teaching staff of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia [UTM] contacted me a few weeks ago, asking whether I would be interested to teach English. My first question was, whether it would be physical or online classes. Once informed the classes would be conducted face-to-face, I agreed without any hesitation.

Today, the first physical class was conducted, on week 3 of the semester. The first two classes were still conducted online as all learning institutions in Johor state were instructed to be closed because of the haze.

After 2 years and 10 months being away from school, I was excited to get into the classroom to do something I do best: Teach.

The lecture was held at T02 block, a new faculty building I had never been to. I arrived earlier and discovered there was a cafeteria on the ground floor. That was good news, now that I know I could always eat breakfast before the class starts.

HAPPINESS: to find Roti Canai and Teh Tarik available, and at reasonable prices.

The class went well despite the technical glitch i.e. the LCD project did not work. We had to resort to plan B, using Google Meet to watch the slide presentations. I was happy that I got to see real students in a real classroom one more time.

As I was about to leave the faculty, an ex-student [of SMK Taman Universiti] appeared out of nowhere. Fans are everywhere. He is now one of the faculty staff and he even helped me to report about the problem I had encountered with the projector to the technician of the faculty.

If you find me busier now, then you should know the reason already. I have another class to teach this Friday afternoon and am looking forward to that as well.

THE BREAKFAST SESSION AT GRANDMAMA'S IN KLIA TERMINAL 2

The long wait for the flight home had to be filled with beneficial activity. Too early in the morning, the best thing to do was to have breakfast.

Grandmama's should be one of the latest eating places opened in Terminal 2 KLIA. I happily marched in without any doubt upon seeing the Halal display at the entrance.

The restaurant looked expensive but the paper cup was a letdown. I just hoped that they would use a ceramic instead of the cheap paper containers.

I had Roti Telur [Roti Canai fried with egg] with curry and dhal gravy, accompanied by Teh Tarik. It was good and worth the money spent, especially after being away from home for 5 days. Now I have another option of an eating place when I am at the airport.

[MY XI'AN TRIP MAIN PAGE]

STARTING THE STAYCATION TRIP WITH THE BREAKFAST SESSION

Teh Tarik

   28th JUNE 2026    ~ The staycation trip was started off by the breakfast session at Gelang Patah. My travel partner wanted to have something light like Roti Canai [TRANSLATE: paratha] so he suggested Malek Prata Stall. We were so wrong as two (big) pieces of the flat bread could last us past the usual lunch hour.

REVIEW: Good Roti Canai with excellent thick gravy for the beef curry. If only the place was nearer to my house, I would be visiting the stall frequently.

We were so ready to start the journey once the tummy was full, and there would definitely more gastronomic adventures happening right after.

GETTING MY ROTI CANAI AFTER ONE MONTH AND ONE WEEK

I completed my six days of optional fasting in the month of Syawal yesterday. The first breakfast I had after one month and six days extra of fasting was Roti Canai [and Teh Tarik]. Accompanied by my assistant [part time] gardener, Mr. Eko, we went to this stall named Restoran Warisan Pak Atan in Kampung Melayu, to try the flat bread for the first time.

THE REVIEW OF THE ROTI CANAI: the flat bread was alright but unfortunately, the dhal gravy was not. It was a bit salty and thin at the same time. I have tasted better gravy at other places. Bear in mind, the gravy is one factor that determine whether the meal set is good or not.

I should now write Roti Canai review at the stalls/restaurants I visit in Johor Bahru after this.

THE BREAKFAST DATE WITH AN EX-PRIMARY SCHOOLMATE IN SUNGAI PETANI

   11TH JANUARY 2026    ~ I contacted Mr. Akhbar Yahya, a ex-primary schoolmate of Sekolah Temenggong Abdul Rahman [2] Johor Bahru, telling him I would be in Sungai Petani. The last time I  met him was last year in May [READ HERE].

The chosen venue was this place called Roti Canai Kari Kambing. We were at another place initially but the restaurant was full of people eating breakfast and there were no empty seats, so we adjourned to one other spot.

This place seemed popular as there were also many people that morning. [It was Sunday and a working day in Kedah, mind you.] There was a variety of food to choose from for breakfast. However, the attraction should be the Roti Canai [paratha] that went together with Mutton Curry.

It was just a short get together over breakfast, and I had to get ready for the wedding reception later in the afternoon. Thanks to Mr. Akhbar for spending his time with me again, and hopefully we could do this again when I am back in Sungai Petani or he in Johor Bahru.

THE SHORT STOP FOR TEH TARIK BEFORE THE WEDDING RECEPTIONS

   21ST DECEMBER 2025    ~ I was already at KLIA2 before 8:00 a.m. and the plan to be at the first wedding reception at Bandar Baru Bangi was at 11:00 a.m. So I suggested to my [Grab] driver, Mr. Amirul Yusri, to have a short stop for our morning tea.

We saw this one row of attractive restaurants by the roadside as we were heading to Bangi and quickly made a detour. The chosen restaurant was NKE, the acronym for Nasi Kandar Express, somewhere in a place called Southville City.

Mine was Roti Canai with egg and onion paired with Masala Tea, while my friend had Chapati and Teh Tarik, and we both had mutton curry for our flat breads.

The eating place was clean, shiny and comfortable, the effect of rebranding of a mamak restaurant, while the mutton curry was good. I was already full even before attending the wedding reception in about an hour after that.

THE BREAKFAST AT A MAMAK RESTAURANT IN KEPALA BATAS

   25TH OCTOBER 2025    ~ The original plan was to just have breakfast in my hotel room as I had bought some food items from 7-Eleven the night before. However, I still had a lot of time to kill before attending the wedding reception in Kota Kuala Muda in the afternoon and I ended up in the Mamak Restaurant called Al-Safaah which was just nearby.

There were two restaurants that were located near to each other but I chose this one as I saw more people were eating breakfast inside.

I got my Teh Tarik and Roti Canai fix in Kepala Batas that morning.

Here, visitor were given a glass for the half-boiled eggs. I had then to drink my eggs which was a new experience for me.

I guess the other restaurant would have to wait for my return trip to Kepala Batas, time is still unknown.