THE PERFECT COMBINATION AND A COMPLETE NASI LEMAK

This packet of "nasi lemak" cost RM2, as there is one full egg. If you are unlucky, you will get just half, or even just ⅛ of the whole boiled egg. One disturbing discovery was that the packet I bought contained no cucumber, at all. Cucumber is a compulsory ingredient of "nasi lemak" so not to have cucumber with the rice was just not right. Fortunately, I still had the "bidara" fruit so that should be a replacement and hence made the nasi lemak more complete, somewhat stated in the Malay opening lines in the classic "pantun" (rhyming verse): 

"Nasi lemak buah bidara, 

Sayang selasih hamba lurutkan"

Did I have to find basil leaves now the "nasi lemak" is already complete?

NOTE: the tomatoes were also not included in the packet, just my small effort in eating healthier breakfast.

MY HOMETOWN GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - SELERA SUNDA SAWARGI

Long time ago, there was this Indonesian restaurant "Selera Sunda Sawargi" in Taman Universiti. I managed to eat there twice before it suddenly disappeared. Surprisingly, I saw a restaurant with the same name recently at Taman Desa Skudai. I was excited as I had had good food before and was waiting for the right to visit this eating place.

When old friend was in town, I decided to get dinner there. We ordered "mee bakso" - noodles and meat balls in soup and for dessert we had "Sup Buah" (fruit cocktail). I did not know how to rate the bakso as I seldom had that. Generally it was good and I did not mind getting back. However, I will have to try that "nasi timbel" - rice wrapped in banana leaf, next time.

For one thing, the restaurant was spacious and clean so it should be a good place to hang out. I have to wait for other friends to come and pay me a visit in JB.

Read about my first visit to "Selera Sunda Sawargi" in Taman Universiti in 2013 HERE.

MY PRIMARY SCHOOLMATE CAME VISITING

Mr. Sunny Teoh had been coming to see me in school, SDJ, for a few times for some official matters but only today I had the chance to get our photo taken together. We were classmates for six years, from Standard 1- 6 at Sekolah Temenggong Abdul Rahman (2). [a.k.a STAR(2)] We had since been separated when we went to different schools for secondary education and had never seen each other despite the fact we are both in Johor Bahru. Mathematically we had not seen each other for about 37 years already. We found and got connected on Facebook a few years back and on Whatsapp only recently. We shared fond memories of childhood when friendship did not recognize race and religion, everyone in school was always happy running here and there, and the word "stress" was a non-existence.

We need to have a longer chat session over coffee one of these days, and try to ask other ex-classmates who we still remember who they are, vice versa.

Thanks Mr. Sunny Teoh for the CNY goodies. Hope to see you again soon.

A PRE-CHINESE NEW YEAR OFFICE VISIT

Two friends/ex-colleagues from SMK Mutiara Rini came to visit me at the office today in SDJ. It was some sort of a pre-Chinese New Year short get together and Mr. LimKhin Yan and Puan Pua Yoke Ching were representing other friends from the former school I was teaching - to hand over the CNY hamper. 

That was really thoughtful of them and I was truly touched by their friendly gestures. To all my Chinese friends at SMKMR, thanks a lot for the gift, and most importantly the kind thought. Too bad they could not stay longer to gossip - I guess we need more time to chat to keep ourselves updated.

More mandarin oranges (and snacks) are arriving and that signifies the arrival of the Chinese New Year in just a few days. Let the celebration begin...

SATURDAY IS MEET-MY-OLD-FRIEND DAY

Here's a brief report of the reunion meeting I had yesterday, Saturday 11th February 2018, in point forms:

REUNION #1:

Puan Fazilah Abdullah

Ex-coursemate of UPM TESL class of 1993

met at Kafe Warisan Noor

unplanned

last met, many years ago when I went to give a talk at her school SMK Vokasional Azizah (now Kolej Vokasional)

REUNION #2:

Puan Norhariza Abdul Kadir

Ex-colleague of SMKTUN pioneers

met at Kafe Warisan Noor

unplanned

last met, most probably in 2000 before she moved to Terengganu

REUNION #3:

Mr. Shamsul Akmal Shamsuddin

Ex-classmate/dormmate of SMS Muar class of 1986

met at Selera Sunda Sarwangi

planned 4 hours before the meeting

last met, four years ago when he was in town for work-related matter

ATTENDING PUAN AZIAH ZAKARIA'S DAUGHTER'S WEDDING RECEPTION

I was invited by Puan Aziah Zakaria to attend the wedding reception of her daughter held at Raja Zarith Sofia Library in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. Puan Aziah is an ex-colleague from SMK Taman Universiti who has opted out for early retirement.

As usual, I met many ex-colleagues/friends there. Wedding reception has been a common place for old friends to meet up.

Thank you Puan Aziah Zakaria for the kind thought. Hopefully she will still remember to invite me for other wedding receptions to come.

MY FIRST BITE OF "BIDARA" FRUIT

"Bidara" fruit [mauripus mauritania] is nothing strange to the locals as it is used in the line of one of the most popular Malay "pantuns" [rhyming verse] which goes something like this: "Nasi lemak buah bidara..."

Anyhow, only today I had my first bite of this fruit, found at the night market. Out of curiousity, I bought a kilogramme of this green apples look alike but very much smaller in size. Surprisingly, the fruit was tasteless but it was crunchy and juicy. I guess it would best be eaten with something else, like spicy shrimp paste or preserved lime. Or perhaps, I really would have to get "nasi lemak" tomorrow and eat the "bidara" fruit as the "ulam" (local salad dish).