THE HOMETWON GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE SERIES: THE LATE LUNCH AT TAMAN TERATAI

   8th FEBRUARY 2026    ~ After the visit at the exposition in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia [UTM] [READ HERE], we were ready to get our late lunch. The impromptu decision was made in the car to stop at Aroma Bakar Restaurant located in Taman Teratai.

I had been here twice and hoping to get good food again this time. The place was almost empty at this time and we seemed to be the only people dining in at that time.

We had rice that came together with Daging Masak Lemak [Beef in Spicy Coconut Milk Gravy], Grilled Chicken and Salad with Sambal Belacan.

Lunch was good and hopefully Mr. Reduzan, the regular gastronomic adventurer, could go out for another last gastronomic adventure before the fasting month which will start next week.

THE SMALL GROUP MEETING WITH EX-COLLEAGUES OF SMK GELANG PATAH

  14th DECEMBER 2025   ~ Believe me, it was not easy to get everyone to come for a coffee session, even from a small Whatsapp group. However, the party still had to go on, regardless of the number of people attending.

The small gathering this time was with ex-colleagues of SMK Gelang Patah, Mr. Ali Mustafa and Mr. Mohd. Safarin Nordin. The chosen venue was Aroma Bakar Restaurant located at Taman Teratai.

Three people were enough to make other people turned their heads to find out where the source of loud voice and laughter. Hoping to see more people in the next meeting.

 

A SHORT GATHERING TO BID FAREWELL TO A FRIEND

   18TH FEBRUARY 2024    ~ A gathering was held to bid farewell to Mr. Mohd. Marzuqi, an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti, who would transfer to a new school in Teluk Intan, Perak. We had a special gathering for him much earlier [READ HERE] but he could not make it at the very last minute. Since he was still around, it was best to see him to properly say "goodbye".

We are in the midst of school holiday so many friends could not make it this time. Five people were enough to get the party going.

I met an ex-student [of SMK Taman Universiti] who was operating the Sate Stall in front of the restaurant.

I had to excuse myself at 11:30 p.m. but a few of them still stayed to continue chatting. Wishing Mr. Mohd. Marzuqi the very best of luck in his new school. Hope to see you one day in Teluk Intan.

A FAREWELL DINNER FOR [MALE] FRIENDS GOING AWAY TO OTHER SCHOOLS

    15th AUGUST 2023     ~ Some male friends of SMK Taman Universiti, of the present and the past, gathered for dinner at Kedai Tomyan Ainoni in Pulai Perdana. The gathering was organized to bid farewell to three people who went away to other schools. They are: Mr. Mohd. Rifqi Mydin who is now in his hometown in Kelantan, Mr. Wee was transferred to SMK Damai Jaya while Mr. Abdul Rashid Lip was sent to SMK Mutiara Rini.

As usual, after dinner there was the speech-giving session for those who left the school and followed by the handing over of farewell presents.

More and more friends are leaving SMK Taman Universiti but hopefully we could at least see each other again in gathering like this.

As fora few, the dinner session extended to supper gathering past midnight at one Mamak restaurant in Taman Teratai. Then only I realized, I had not been staying up and spending my time outside this late for such a long time. Luckily it was not a school day the next day for us.

MEETING THE FRIENDS I FIRST MET ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO

22ND NOVEMBER 2022 ~ It was an impromptu dinner/supper session with friends I first met in SMK Gelang Patah when I was posted there in 1993. After almost 30 years, we are all now separated in all over the places. This meeting happened when Mr. Rasidi was here in Johor Bahru attending his daughter's convocation ceremony in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

The place chosen by Mr. Safarin was Aroma Bakat in Taman Teratai. Five people managed to gather this time. The four of us are still residing in Johor Bahru and only Mr. Rasidi is now back in Terengganu.

It was just a short meeting that lasted for about 2 hours. I had never thought I would be able to meet these people in one big group after all these years.

Now that we have been put in one Whatsapp group, I hope we could get more people to be reunited and organize more similar meet up sessions in the future.

ATTENDING TWO WEDDING RECEPTIONS FOR FOUR EX-STUDENTS

I attended two wedding receptions today which involved four ex-students of SMKTUN. There were only three pairs of brides and grooms. How could that be possible?

[high order thinking skills question]

WEDDING #1

Mohd. Firash Mohd. Noor (SMKTUN SPM batch 2007) and Nur Dawana Mahudin

VENUE: Taman Sri Pulai

the groom's younger brothers

Mr. Khairil Azwar Ramli,
same batch with the groom

WEDDING #2

Muhamad Firdaus Abdul Latif and Siti Munirah Zolkafle (both of SMKTUN SPM batch 2011)

and

Siti Maisarah Zolkafle (the elder sister of the bride, ex-SMKTUN, cannot remember which batch, but will find out soon) and Muhammad Hasan Abd. Malek

VENUE: Taman Teratai

Firdaus and Munirah

The brides' auntie, Puan Sabariah Zainuddin, is my ex-colleague/friend of SMK Taman Universiti too.

Maisarah with the bridesmaid

the other bride just arrived

To the three pairs of newly-wedded husbands and wives, may today be the beginning of a long, happy life together.