THE LATE LUNCH DATE IN THE RURAL AREA OF THE CITY

   2ND AUGUST 2025   ~ The buffet breakfast session at Sunway Hotel Big Box [READ HERE] sure had made us full and because of that, we decided to meet up for a late lunch session at 4:00 p.m. When asked by my guests of a place where we could get good food, Restoran Pantai Sungai Melayu was the venue that crossed my mind. I did warn my friends of the route where one had to drive quite a distance through a palm oil plantation before reaching the place.

I sure had not been here for a long time as a lot of things had changed. First, the junction from the main road to get into the fishing village had been rerouted and second, there was a construction work that was in progress right beside the restaurant so there was no parking space for the visitors, except by the road side.

It was a good idea to get our lunch much later as there were fewer diners when we arrived. For one thing, I was glad that Puan Nurhanim Hassan and her husband, Mr. Mashor, loved the Stingray Asam Pedas and other dishes served at the restaurant. We did not think we could go for another meal after this so that should wrap up the gastronomic adventures with the lovely couple from Klang this time. They better be ready for more restaurant-hopping activities when they come to visit next time.

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.

PLAYING TOURIST GUIDE WITH TWO TOURISTS FROM BRUNEI

   16TH JUNE 2023    ~ During my recent trip to Brunei, I made a new friend there. It was a long story and will tell you all about it later in my blog post in the near future. Mr. Zerol first messaged me, telling me that he and his friend would be arriving in Johor Bahru ion Friday morning, 16th June and that would be less than 24 hours. [They were here for work/business related matter actually] Being a seasoned tourist guide to my friends who came visiting, I was always ready to welcome my friend from Brunei with open arms. Guess what one could do in one day in Johor Bahru?

1. BREAKFAST AT SELERA JOHOR

After fetching Mr. Zerol and Mr. Muiz at Senai Airport, we went straight to Selera Johor Foodcourt to get breakfast Johor style. I guessed they were spoilt for choice and eventually settled for Mee Rebus Johor and I added a plate of Sate. I just hoped they liked the food chosen.

2. TAN SRI HASSAN YUNOS STADIUM

A.K.A LARKIN STADIUM

On the way to the hotel, we stopped at Stadium Larkin, one of the training grounds for JDT football team. This was not my first time to discover how Bruneians were fans of Johor football team. They managed to get a few merchandise items from the store there. And I took them to another [indoor] stadium for the JDT team at the city centre.

3. LEGOLAND MALAYSIA AND THE LOBBY OF LEGOLAND HOTEL

After the Friday prayer, my travel companion to Brunei, Mr. Solihin, joined the excursion. He drove us to Legoland and I think both visitors had been here before many years ago. Fortunately, I managed to talk to the person at the door of the Legoland Hotel to give us the permission to go the hotel lobby to have a look around the place. That would be my first time too to be inside the hotel.

4. PUTERI HARBOUR

The next place we brought the visitors was Puteri Harbour which was not far from Legoland. The only thing that we did was to take photos of the scenic marina late in the afternoon.

5. ASAM PEDAS KAMPUNG SUNGAI MELAYU

It was time for the early dinner and I specifically chose to go to the Sri Pantai Asam Pedas Restaurant located at Kampung Sungai Melayu. The best thing was that to see my guests enjoying the Johor dishes a lot.

6. SULTAN IBRAHIM STADIUM

A.K.A JDT STADIUM

This was the place my guests requested to be taken to. This was my second time taking other people from other place to this stadium. I had never known this landmark was popular among people outside Johor.

7. LAMAN MAHKOTA

The very last spot one had to go to when in Johor Bahru was The Crown at Laman Mahkota. This should also conclude my one day tour of the city with my two new friends from Brunei.

Too bad they would be meeting Mr. Muiz's friend the next day and would be flying to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday morning. It was just a short meeting and it was a memorable one for me, and hope for them too.

Parting is a sweet sorrow and I do hope we will be meeting again some other time in the future. It is always my pleasure to play tourist guide again if they make a return trip.

WHEN AN EX-SCHOOLMATE WAS BACK (FOR GOOD)

18th OCTOBER 2020 ~ My ex-schoolmate of SMS Muar was finally back for good - after working many years in Doha, Qatar. I guess it should be time to feed him real food after he was freed from the 14-day quarantine session. We met earlier for supper a few days before at the famous Kacang Pool stall as an introductory gastronomic adventure.

I decided to take him to my favourite Asam Pedas restaurant at Kampung Sungai Melayu and at the same time, trying to get his review of the chosen food. As expected, he extremely the late lunch and I was happy to see my friend happy.

This time I spotted a stall selling seafood like fishes, crabs and prawns nearby was operating so we went to check it out, and ended up buying something from there.

The trip was concluded by going to this one spot where we could see Singapore just across the strait. It was so near yet so far away. But I am quite sure there will be more gastronomic adventure with Mr. Mohd. Razib Nordin as he has more free time now.