THE BIRTHDAY LUNCH AT TEA GARDEN

   10TH OCTOBER 2026    ~ Even though I already informed my gastronomic adventure buddy there was no need any celebration for my birthday, he still insisted that we went out for lunch. Despite the fact that I was still full from the feast at the wedding reception before meeting him [READ HERE], I did not want to let him down. I suggested we just went to Tea Garden Restaurant in Taman Nusantara and hopefully there would be something light for me to eat.

Unfortunately, there were many items on the menu that we wanted to order were not available, like the Portuguese Egg Tarts and Fried Radish Cake.

I opted for Fried Kuew Teow while Mr. Redzuan chose to have Fried Rice.

Thank you Mr. Redzuan for the birthday treat. Birthday or no birthday, the gastronomic adventure must go on.

THE BREAKFAST SESSION WITH THE RETIREES

When we got to know Puan Rohani Shamsuddin was in town, a breakfast date was promptly set with two other ex-colleagues of SMK Taman Universiti, Puan Rokiah Junoh and Puan Rosnani Abd. Talib. The chosen restaurant was Tea Garden in Taman Impian Emas.

    

Puan Rohani is currently residing in Kemaman, Terengganu and was here visiting her daughter and her family. It was customary for the four friends to meet up every time she is in town.

There were not many people in the restaurant so we managed to stay for about two and a half hours. The meeting was long as the chat topics were vast and varied, but was heard in Tea Garden remained in Tea Garden.

Thanks to all the sisters for the fun time, eating and chatting. Hope we could see each other again when time permits.

THE POST CHINESE NEW YEAR GATHERING AT TEA GARDEN

  11TH FEBRUARY 2025   ~ A post Chinese New Year gathering was held again with friends who used to be the English paper markers for PMR Examination many years ago. The chosen venue was Tea Garden Restaurant in Taman Perling, the same place we met last year. [READ HERE]

Some of the topics discussed: travel experiences, health issues, supplements and medicines taken, treatments and clinic visits, and other things as well.

Hopefully we could do this more often and just an annual event. Thanks to Puan Ng Siam Noi, Puan Jeanette Goh and Miss Lee Kiaw Moi for the time. Until we meet again for the next gathering.

THE GATHERING THAT HAPPENED AT KLIA2

   30TH OCTOBER 2024    ~ I had a few hours to kill to catch my AirAsia flight home to Johor Bahru. A gathering with two ex-schoolmates of SMS Muar was set Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2.

The lunch date took place at Tea Garden where there were not many people in the dining area. Hence we could sit longer to enjoy our food [and gossip].

Then there was this notification informing that my flight was delayed for about an hour so we then adjourned for coffee at Richiamo Coffee nearby.

We were there for about 3 hours to catch up for lost time, which was not enough. Hopefully there would be another opportunity for another gathering with Puan Adura Adnan and Puan Hafizah Mohd. Noor in the near future.

There was an unexpected meeting with two people in the boarding hall. There were Dr. Ng Pei Fern, a friend of UPM TESL Class of 1993, and Puan Law Siao Siu, an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti, who are now colleagues. They were also going back to Johor Bahru after attending a course in Putrajaya. Reunion happened everywhere.

A MEETING WITH AN EX-COLLEAGUE BEFORE THE CNY BREAK

A meeting was set with Mr. Lim Khim Yan, an ex-colleague of SMK Mutiara Rini. The main objective was to pass his Chinese New Year cookies to him, as he is now stationed at SMK Tan Sri Mohamad Rahmat, formerly known as SMK Kempas.

The initial plan was to meet at a cafe in Setia Tropika but I discovered there was Tea Garden at the same building. I had been to the branch in Taman Perling and this should be the chance to enjoy halal Chinese food.

I had Fried Radish, Egg Tarts and Taufu Fa in Soy Milk this time.

It was a short sit in session but we managed to get ourselves updated. Glad to get to meet an old friend again and hope we could do this again some other time.

THE LUNCH DATE THAT RECONNECTED AND REUNITED [OLD] FRIENDS

A lunch date was set with three friends who once marked the PMR English papers together when we were much younger. [READ: We are still young (at heart)] It was a very thoughtful gesture to get all the four pensioners reunited and reconnected one more time. Except for Miss Lee Kiaw Moi who is an ex-colleague of SMK Taman Universiti whom I last saw last year during Chinese New Year, the last time I met Puan Ng Siam Noi and Puan Jeanne Goh was like 10 years ago. 2013 was the last year for the form three students to sit for the PMR exam and it was replaced by PT3 exam in 2014.

The restaurant chosen was Tea Garden in Taman Perling. One good place for people to hang out (when the time is right) and enjoy the good food.

The chit chat session lasted for about 2 hours and we had decided to meet up again after this. Thanks again to all my three friends for the reunion. May we all be blessed with good health so we can regularly see each other again in the future.