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.

THE COFFEE/TEA DATE WITH A POLICEMAN

Mr. Radin Mohd. Hafiz was in town for the short break to celebrate Eid ul-Adha with his family here. An ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti, he is now attached to the the Malaysia Royal Police in Ipoh, Perak.

He texted me last night, asking me to join him and his friend for dinner, but I couldn't make it as it was at the last minute and I was ready for bed at that time. 😀 However, knowing that putting off any coffee/tea date would end up with no tea/coffee date at all, we decided to meet this afternoon at Taman Universiti.

The chosen venue: Old Town White Coffee Restaurant. I particularly like this place as there are always not many people around, and I love the Teh Tarik here. As we wanted to get something light, we ordered Sardine Roti Canai a.k.a Paratha and it was surprisingly delicious.

The chat session lasted for about an hour and hopefully we could see each other again, even though it is impossible to do it frequently. The last time I saw him was two years ago during my short trip to Ipoh [READ HERE].

ATTENDING A WEDDING RECEPTION IN SUNGAI PETANI, KEDAH

   17th MAY 2025    ¬ The wedding reception today took place in Institut Kemahiran Mara [IKM} in Sungai Petani, Kedah. It was the reception of the son of Puan Suhana Abdul Jamal, a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993. I happily flew all the way from Johor Bahru to be there.

the groom's aunties

the early birds

before more guests arrived,
with the parents of the groom

Mee Rebus

Roti Canai

Apam Lenggang

the TESL ladies' husbands

A few of our friends had actually attended the reception done for the bride's side in Kuala Lumpur the month before. Hence, only the northern people were there [except me].

with the bride and groom

with the proud parents

the very last one outstide the
hall before leaving

Congratulations to Puan Suhana and Mr. Fakhrul on the addition of the new member into the family. May we be invited again for other receptions in the future.

It was another fun time getting reunited with old friends who are residing in Kedah and Penang. Hoping we could see each other again in similar event soon.