A SHORT STOP AT AL BUSYRA MOSQUE IN MERBOK, KEDAH

   11th JANUARY 2026    ~ After performing the Zuhur prayer at a mosque in Kepala Batas, Alor Setar [READ HERE], we stopped again for Asar prayer. This time it was at Al Busyra Mosque in Merbuk, on the way back from Tanjung Dawai [READ HERE].

This was another modern mosque with unique architecture. One important thing, the place was well taken care of.

The mosque complex was quite huge actually. There were other facilities like a mini mart and food stalls. There was also a hotel in the mosque compound.

This was my first stop at this mosque. I had been passing by three times before and finally managed to visit the holy building. There is a possibility for me to set foot at this place again if I am invited to another wedding reception in Sungai Petani or Kepala Batas area.

"HAJJAH SITI HASIL LAUT" REVISITED

   11th JANUARY 2026    ~ After the wedding reception in Jitra [READ HERE], before sending me back to my hotel in Sungai Petani town, Mr. Fakhrul and Puan Suhana, made another pit stop at Tanjung Dawai. This time, it was to accomplish the mission of buying a specific seafood product product from Hajjah Siti, i.e. dried shrimps.

I was at this very place, also with two other TESL friends and their husbands, in October last year. [READ HERE]

This time, there were not many people in the shop, most probably it was already late in the afternoon on a Sunday.

I got what I wanted to bring back home and was ready to get back, but there were still two other short stops yet to be made on the way.

TANJUNG DAWAI REVISITED - THE THIRD TIME

25TH OCTOBER 2025 ~ This was my third time visiting Tanjung Dawai after a wedding reception in Kedah. The main reason: to eat Mee Udang [TRANSLATE: Prawn Noodles] and buy seafood products to bring home.

I am always thankful to have friends who really enjoy exploring places and trying local food at the same time. Puan Aunillah Hilmi and Puan Hanna Sheikh Mokhtar, with their spouses and daughter, decided to get our Mee Udang at this place called Port Lepak Pantai. Fortunately, the eating place was not full at the time when we arrived.

This was also my third time having Mee Udang in Kedah, and at another different place.

not mine

A bowl of the cuisine, which came with six big prawns, cost only RM15 - something that I could not get in Johor Bahru.

After the gastronomic adventure, we then went to Hajjah Siti Hasil Laut to buy some seafood products as well as other food items. The place was buzzing with activities and there was still a big crowd doing their shopping there.

I successfully grabbed a few things from the shelves like anchovies, dried shrimps, locally produced coffee powder and coconut sugar. That should end my gathering with my TESL friends in Kepala Batas/Kota Kuala Muda. We shall meet again during other receptions, most probably in January next year.

TANJUNG DAWAI REVISITED

   16th MAY 2025    ~ I did not have this place in my itinerary list; actually, I did not have any specific itinerary during my stay in Sungai Petani. However, a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993, Puan Zur'aiza Abd. Hamid [and her husband] was kind enough to take me to Tanjung Dawai that Friday afternoon. This was my second time visiting Tanjung Dawai. The first time was two years ago [READ HERE].

The first pit stop was a shop called Legasi Cikgu Fauzi. The mission was to buy salted fish to bring back home. And mission was successfully accomplished. The shop was huge and modern, and one good thing they received payment using credit card.

The next pit stop was to embark on another gastronomic adventure. The visit to Tanjung Dawai would be complete without eating its popular Mee Udang [TRANSLATE: Prawn Noodles].

Puan Zur'aiza took me to this place called Rumpun Mambu. There were many diners eating when we arrived. According to my friend, this place was popular for its signature cuisine, and on weekends, people had to wait in line to be seated as it was always crowded. I had my first Mee Udang in Tanjung Dawai somewhere else [READ HERE].

The Mee Udang here was commendable and hopefully there would be another next time.

I have to thank Puan Zur'azia and her husband, Mr. Ismail, for the breakfast date in the morning [READ HERE] and the trip to Tanjung Dawai in the afternoon. They came all the way from Jeniang to entertain me during my stay in Kedah. May we meet again some other day, perhaps when there are other wedding invitations.