Brendan's Orientation Day

Our son is all grown up.

It took me a while to get used to seeing Brendan in olive green long pants. Wasn't it only only yesterday he was toddling around yelling "Mom, make milk!".

Oh well, time does fly. My advice to all parents is to cherish the time you have with your kids or else they will grow up and grow out of your lives.

Back to the actual topic, we took Brendan to his secondary school orientation session/seminar today.

Izzat, Brendan, Arvind.. friends since way back when

Cat and her good friend Irma (Izzat's mom)

award winning brass band practicing hard

a sight for sore eyes

the old with the new in the background

line up boys!

to attention!

listening intently

our boy's all grown up

something amusing?

this school is HUGE!

roll call..

freshly cropped hair J

Enrolling in this school was a no-brainer, and a natural progression from his primary school just across the road. Brendan's johannian spirit will not allow him to consider any other school!

Ee Ji Ban Chicken Rice Ball

Ee Ji Ban Chicken Rice Ball

275 Jalan Melaka Raya 3

Taman Melaka Raya

Melaka 75000

+60163665220

(Coordinates: 2.188310, 102.253645)

Believe it or not, a day after coming back from Kuala Terengganu, we made an impromptu day trip to Malacca because we had a hankering for chicken rice ball.

in Melaka Raya proper

looks can be deceiving, they are using a high tech billing system!

candid shot, hehehe J

lunch is served J

the sotong sambal is my personal favourite

oooh lala J

rice balls anyone?

We've read reviews of this place and one particular person who absolutely bashed this place. While we agree that Ee Ji Ban does not compare with the more established rice ball restaurants at the Jonker Walk area, we do not agree with this person's assertions that this place serves absolute crap.

To each his own I guess...

Xmas 2011 in KT Day 4

Time to head back to Kuala Lumpur :(

We had breakfast at the hotel, and checked out.

everyone looking glum

yes, someone perked up

while he's still not happy about leaving KT

one last fond farewell to Kuala Terengganu

On the way back, we pit stopped at our favourite kopitiam in Kemaman:

Kedai Kopi Hai Peng

3753 Jalan Sulaimani 

24000 Kemaman 

+6098597810

Coordinates: 4.234707, 103.421851

Its been a while, so Elaine (the proprietress) vaguely remembers me. Her memories were refreshed when I reminded her that I used to be the relief manager of the bank next door (which has since closed down.. sigh).

we couldn't get enough of the nasi lemak

nasi lemak J

nasi lemak J

while I enjoyed my coffee J

make a point to come here if you'r ever in Kemaman

aahh, all done J

still not done with his curry puff

Oh well, its back to Kuala Lumpur for us. We'll be back though.

Xmas 2011 in KT Day 3

Third and final day in Kuala Terengganu, and we decided against having breakfast at the hotel. We wandered around and found an antiquated shop in Kampung Cina:

Restoran Sin Phin Siang

136 Jalan Kampung Cina 

20100 Kuala Terengganu 

+60123545966

Coordinates: 5.333958, 103.133333

rustic or rusty?

quaint..

their roti pa-ong was pretty good

We then headed to:

Pasar Besar Kedai Payang

Coordinates: 5.335636, 103.135389

The market is synonymous with Kuala Terengganu. Interestingly enough, it literally means big bazzar store but there is no meaning to the word Payang. Locals believe in the old days, it was the site of a kedai tempayan (crockeries shop?) hence the word Payang. I was looking to buy a batik shirt and the choices were aplenty and varied.

oh the vanity!

a landmark!

colours of Malaysia

where do I start?

We had lunch at my childhood favourite joint, affectionately known in my family circle as Buyong: 

(located within Restoran Ramai)

Jalan Banggol 

20100 Kuala Terengganu

Coordinates: 5.331470, 103.135297

Abang Buyong has been running his nasi padang stall since I was in diapers! Again, while on the surface some things may have changed in Kuala Terengganu, Buyong’s Nasi Padang Istemewa (misspelling and all) remains untouched by time. This place brings back memories of cycling around town with friends, no money in our pockets but no cares in the world!

along Jalan Banggol

Nasi Padang 'Istemewa'

a postcard from my childhood

the variety

mamma mia

will you believe this?

lunch is served

freshly caught fish

padang chicken curry

ooh lala, rendang padang

let's dig in!!

After much bantering and reminiscing with abang Buyong, we headed back to the hotel and slept. All that food does put you to sleep.

We had dinner at another favourite joint later that night:

Kedai Makan Guan

Jalan Kampung Cina 

20100 Kuala Terengganu

Coordinates: 5.332222, 103.132569

I didn’t manage to snap some photos though, too hungry I guess.

another old favourite

right beside Kampung Cina's welcome arch

We then took a drive around: 

Kampung Cina Waterfront

Coordinates: 5.331250, 103.132292

and were pleasantly surprised by the sights, no wonder it’s called the I-City of Terengganu.

lovely lights J

nice 

never thought I'd see these sights in my hometown

a change for the better in Kuala Terengganu

wish I had my tripod and remote..

.. to do justice to this place!

oh well, there's always next time

We went back to the hotel for spent some time at the hotel lobby before retiring for the night. Tomorrow will be a long drive home.

It’s still Christmas after all J

Brendan in his new Terengganu t-shirt

one last shot before we called it a night

Boo-hoo-hoo, we’ve going back to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow...