THERE IS ALWAYS A THIRD TIME AT ORIENTAL KOPI IN SENAI AIRPORT

   10th JANUARY 2026    ~ The reason Oriental Kopi was visited again:
[1] I arrived at Senai Airport at 5:45 a.m. and my flight was scheduled at 8:20 a.m. I needed to kill time with a beneficial activity.

[2] At this hour, there was no queue to get into this popular restaurant.

I had the same coffee, Kaya Toast and half-boiled eggs for my early breakfast, like what I had had during my first and second visit at this place.

This time, however, the service was much faster than the last time I came [READ HERE]. I wonder if the management read my review of the restaurant in my blog.

THERE IS ALWAYS A SECOND TIME - AT ORIENTAL KOPI

6TH DECEMBER 2025 ~ After arriving at Senai International Airport at 5:15 a.m. and my flight to Kuala Lumpur was at 7:00 a.m., the best thing to do was to get breakfast. I saw finally there was no queue outside Oriental Kopi Restaurant so I happily marched into the dining area.

This was my second time at this popular restaurant. The first one was at another branch in Paradigm Mall. [READ HERE]

I had the usual coffee, half-boiled eggs and Kaya [coconut jam] toasts.

I ate definitely the same thing at the other two nearby cafes in the airport, and guess what? It was cheaper in Oriental Kopi. One strong factor that would make me come back here again before flying.

THE DATE THAT HAPPENED AT SENAI AIRPORT

A [UPM TESL Class of 1993] friend's daughter, Miss Adlina Maisarah, informed me she was in Johor Bahru. Unfortunately at that time, I was already in Kuala Lumpur so there was no chance of meeting her. However, as we compared our itinerary, there was a possbility to see her as I would be arriving at Senai Airport from KLIA at 6:00 p.m. while she would be flying out to Penang at 10:00 p.m.

So I waited for Miss Adlina to arrive at the airport and we got to sit down for coffee at 7:00 p.m. at this cafe called Miyakori. Believe or not, the cafe was already closing down by 8:00 p.m. and we had to leave the place.

With one more hour to kill before she went into the boarding hall, we then adjourned to KFC Restaurant, also located in the airport building.

Even though I could not entertain her when she was in town, at least I could still see Miss Adlina Maisarah before she left. My bond with my friend had now extended to the next generation and I was more than happy to get to see any of my friend's children.

THE TEA SESSION WITH AN OLD FRIEND NEAR SENAI AIRPORT

28th AUGUST 2024 ~ I had to go to Senai International Airport for some urgent matters and that should be the best time to meet up an old friend/ex-colleague [of SMK Taman Universiti]. Mr. Masrizal Sayute was staying in a residential area not far from there and he agreed with the idea.

We decided to go to the restaurant located near the airport. If I was not mistaken, we had been there once - Chamek Restaurant.

We had the traditional "Jemput-jemput" and "Lempeng", and I must say the Curry gravy was superb. I would not mind ordering the same food if I were to come back again to this place. We also had something slightly different drinks this time: "Teh Cincau" [Milk Tea + Grass Jelly].

It was just a short meeting but it was time well spent. We had to leave before 5:00 p.m. before the roads got congested when people went home from work. There would always be a next time, but the exact tine was unknown.

MEETING ANOTHER OLD FRIEND AFTER THE MCO

13th NOVEMBER 2021 ~ We had not been seeing each other for quite some time because of Movement Control Order, especially when my friend is currently residing in another district. The original plan was to meet up at this one Mamak restaurant near Senai Airport where we used to meet. To my surprise, the restaurant had already closed down, which showed how long we had not been there, so we had to go to another place.

The best option we had was Chamek Kopitiam which was the nearest restaurant. We decided to have "teh tarik" [milk tea] and "Lempeng" [thin, flat, tasteless pancake] with chicken curry which had no chicken meat at all.

It was a short meeting with Mr. Masrizal Sayute, an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti, who has been promoted to the Head of Department of Technic and Vocational in SMK Gelang Patah. Looking forward to having other frequent meeting sessions with Mr. Masrizal after this.

GETTING RECONNECTED WITH A FRIEND OVER SUPPER

The MCO that was imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 had actually separated friends. Now that the threat has lessened and the the government has allowed more socializing activities, the time had come to get reconnected with an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti, Mr. Masrizal Sayute.

We went to our usual meeting spot at this Afra Restaurant, which is a Mamak's, near Senai International Airport, which was convenient enough for us. Unfortunately, at 10.00 p.m. only limited choice of food was available for supper. There are now less people getting out of the homes, I supposed.

We had to part ways before the clock struck twelve and before the carriage turned into pumpkin. It was a short meeting but it was worth the effort driving there. Hoping for more supper sessions in the future.

WHEN AN EX-UPM TESL COURSEMATE WAS IN TOWN

Puan Rozana Sani Abdullah Sani, an ex-UPM TESL coursemate was in town due to some work-related matter so it was time to see her on the 28th July 2019. Puan Hayati Ismail coincidentally was also here in Johor Bahru with her family so she happily joined us at Murtabak Kampung Melayu food court. And Puan Rozana finally got to taste the famous murtabak after a few failed attempts before this.

On the 29th July, I managed to see Puan Rozana one more time to send her off back to KL at Senai International Airport right after school. Unfortunately, she was too occupied with work, writing busily her report while in the car to the airport as well as after having lunch at Secret Recipe while waiting for departure. That happens when your friend is a newspaper reporter.

It is always my pleasure to meet and greet friends who come to Johor Bahru, and was glad to get to see Pn. Rozana Sani before she left.

ANOTHER TESL EX-COURSEMATE WAS IN TOWN

12th MAY 2018 ~ Mr. Shazreen Mohd. Shah was in town during the weekends. He was one of the few male TESL coursemates I had when studying in UPM. He was here with the family members as the wife had to attend a conference in UTM. I could not fit in his schedule but we finally had our "teh tarik" rendezvous at a McD outlet near the Senai International Airport. It was just a short meeting as it was already past midnight and we hoped to get the chance to sit down and chat longer in the future.

WHEN AN OLD FRIEND WAS IN TOWN

Puan Maslinda Mohd. Dahalan, a TESL UPM friend/ex-coursemate, is in town as she is going to attend her relative's wedding in Singapore tomorrow. So I went to fetch her at Senai International Airport and had lunch at Secret Recipe.

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The service was too slow unfortunately. I ordered at about 1:00 p.m. and the food was not ready so I went to perform my Friday prayer at a nearby mosque. According to my friend, she still had to wait for a long time for her noodles to arrive.

Puan Maslinda also followed me to see the angklung practice at SMK Taman Universiti and stayed until 5:00 p.m. before I send her to the hotel she had booked earlier.

There was then the dinner session a few hours later which will be continued in the next report.

A COFFEE SESSION AT SENAI AIRPORT

Puan Aliza Alwi was in town as she was accompanying her daughter who is studying in UTM home for the semester break. She arrived in JB in the morning and already leaving late in the afternoon. The original plan was just to meet her at Senai Airport. However, I was also attending a wedding reception somewhere near UTM so I might as well fetch and drive them to the airport in my old car. The coffee session at Secret Recipe lasted just for an hour but it was good to chat with someone from UPM class of 1993.

A STRING OF WEDDING RECEPTIONS IN ONE AFTERNOON

Here is a VERY brief report of the wedding receptions attended today. I attended 5, but the one which was held by a neighbour is not documented.

WEDDING #1

FATHER OF THE BRIDE: YB Tuan Hj. Aminolhuda b. Hj. Hassan

[Ex-Senior Assistant of SMK Taman Universiti]

who is now a politician

VENUE: Senai International Airport Mosque

WEDDING #2

THE BRIDE: Noraslinah Abdul Aziz

[an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti]

VENUE: Taman Universiti, Johor Bahru

WEDDING #3

THE BRIDE: Siti Nurulhanija Hj. Md. Tahir

[an ex-student of SMK Taman Universiti]

VENUE: Taman Universiti, Johor Bahru

WEDDING #4

THE BRIDE: Nurul Bariah Moosa

[an ex-student of SMK Kempas, who was in my  English tuition class]

and now an English teacher at SMK Nusa Jaya

VENUE: The hall at English College, Johor Bahru

Do expect for more wedding reports real soon.