A Scary Experience of A Brief Memory Lapse

On 18 May 2024, I sent my wife to attend a reunion lunch organized by one of the former students of a class in St. John Tuaran. The gathering was held at a roadside restaurant along Jalan Sulaiman called D’Dalit Transit Tuaran, located in Kampung Lok Batik. Since the restaurant was just 7.5km from Tuaran Town, I decided to head into town for lunch at one of the local eateries after dropping her off.

My plan was to enjoy a plate of Tuaran Mee at the original founder’s outlet - Lok Kyun Restaurant. I believe this is the same place Junshi developed a liking for Tuaran Mee after tasting it during her first visit to Sabah in January 2009 (Read here). Unfortunately, the Tuaran Mee we had more recently at Restoran Tuaran Mee (Read here) in March this year - when Sam's family came for a week-long holiday in Kota Kinabalu - was disappointing and did not live up to our expectations.

To my dismay, Lok Kyun was closed on 18 May 2024 , apparently undergoing renovation. Not wanting to give up on my Tuaran Mee craving, I searched on my phone and discovered another outlet nearby - Tai Fatt Restaurant - also reputed to serve Tuaran Mee. This eatery happened to be within walking distance from Restoran Tuaran Mee.

I parked my car behind a row of shophouses and began walking in search of Tai Fatt. However, I had trouble locating it and eventually decided to retrieve my car and drive around instead. After a short search, I found a parking spot beside another row of shophouses and, finally, located Tai Fatt.

After finishing my meal, I walked back to the original car park to pick up my vehicle - only to find, to my horror, that the car wasn’t there. My immediate thought was: “My car has been stolen!” Panic set in as I mentally ran through my options. I considered heading straight to the police station to file a report and began planning how to inform my wife about the situation and arrange for alternative transport.

Just before making the police report, I decided to take one last walk around town in the hope of spotting the missing vehicle - perhaps, I thought, the carjacker might still be driving around nearby. As I turned a corner, I spotted a familiar-looking car parked beside a shop. At that moment, it hit me - I had moved the car earlier from the original car park!

I was overwhelmed with relief but also slightly shaken by this brief lapse in memory. What a rollercoaster of emotions over a simple bowl of noodles and a misplaced car!

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With the car "recovered", I was able to drive to visit Kampong Panandawan before picking up my wife later. Panandawan is a sizable native settlement just next to a bay which is 8.5Km from SMK St. John Tuaran. Many of the children in this Kampong choose to study in SMK St. John.

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When I went back to the restaurant to pick up my wife after their meal, I was asked to be their photographer for their group photo! These high school students are now in their early 50's after a span of over 35 years since my wife was their school principal in mid-1980s to mid-1990s!

A Fruitful Holiday to West Malaysia

On our way back from Malacca to BP, we detoured to Best Hearing Aid Centre in Muar to have my MIL's hearing aid device checked by the Centre.

Since acquiring the hearing aid device, she has not been wearing them consistently. Her main objection of using them was the excessive noise and the negligible improvement as far as audio quality was concerned.

Upon checking and servicing of the devices, another round of ear examination and a bit of counselling from the Center's staff, she has now decided to regularly put on the hearing aid device after experiencing marked improvement in the audio quality. To us, this is probably one of the best reward of the whole trip.

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Final photo shot after sending her back home on 30.05.2024. We flew back to KK the next day. 

My wife, a strong advocate of clean living environment did her bit of free housekeeping service before we left her original family home!

A Brief Down Memory Lane in Malacca

In our walk along Jonker Street, my wife was excited to see a familiar place - the Geographer Cafe. It was in this cafe where the Class 70 students of CHIJ Batu Pahat gathered for a drink in their Class Reunion in February 2015.

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Another down memory lane walk was along the riverbank of Malacca River where many bars and pubs are located. Cruise boats which we took during the previous CHIJ BP Class 70 Reunion still ply the Malacca River!

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Bee Chu, my wife's former classmate in CHIJ BP took us for breakfast before we proceeded to driving back to BP on 29.05.2024. Bee Chu had just returned two days earlier from UK after spending two months holidaying with her family in UK and some European countries.

Bee Chu has always been a very generous person. She presented gift items which she bought in her recent Europe trip to both my wife and my MIL.

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On 21.05.2024, just a day before we began our driving tour, a small gathering was held at a cafe in Batu Pahat by some of the ex-convent ‘girls’ of CHIJ. The meet-up was specially organized to welcome two members who were visiting - Eva from the USA and my wife. Bee Chu, a former CHIJ student now residing in Malacca, was unable to join the gathering."

Before the meal, I posed for a group photo with the attendees. This time I did not join in their makan session because I needed to take my MIL to visit her relatives in one of the housing estates in BP.

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Ever since I got to know some of them in their first grand Class 70 reunion on 28.02.2015, I have been invited to join in some of their gatherings, especially whenever our visits happened to coincide with theirs in Batu Pahat or Singapore. 

My wife and I were invited in Singapore to have lunch at the

Westin Singapore at Level 32, Asia Square Tower 2

in June 2016 when we visited Singapore.

CNY Jan 2017.
Notice the difference - we wore glasses in 2016 and 2017
but no longer now! :)

During Chinese New Year in 2017, the group also held a mini reunion in Batu Pahat, and I felt privileged to be invited to join them for their gathering at one of the local restaurants. Being the only male among the lively company of ladies, I couldn’t help but feel a bit like a thorn among the roses - but in the most delightful way! :)

Day 3 Driving Tour - Malacca

Our next stop after Port Dickson was Malacca. We last visited Malacca in September last year during the off-day of our stay at Aenon Health Care in Tambin (Read here). That visit in the afternoon was short, just long enough to have lunch, to meet up with some old uni-friends and to do a bit of shopping. 

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For this trip, we had time to enjoy some of the well known local food and to take a stroll along Jonker Walk which was within walking distance from our hotel. Jonker Street is known by many other names - Chinatown Street, Chi Cheong Kai (雞廠街) and officially as Jalan Hang Jebat.

We had expected to explore the night market along Jonker Street, but unfortunately, that day being a Tuesday, it's an off-day for the night market. But it turned out that with less people on the street, the area was less congested and walking around was more pleasant and easier. 

In Malacca, we took the chance to try out some of Malacca well known food - the Chicken Rice Balls, Pork Satay and Cendol.

Satay at Ah Lan Hainanese Satay.

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Ice kacang at Mahkota Ice Kacang.

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Jonker Street

Just before we ended our walk along Jonker Street, my wife received a phone call from her ex-high school classmate insisting for a get-together before we leave Malacca for BP. We agreed to meet for breakfast the next morning.

Staying in Water Chalet in Port Dickson

I still remember my last visit to Port Dickson back in early 1974, when I attended a retreat organized by the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) for undergraduates at the Golden Sand Baptist Retreat Centre. It was held right after my first year in Malaya University and just before the start of the long holidays. Hard to believe that was exactly fifty years ago - how swiftly time flies, carrying with it memories that feel both distant and vivid at the same time.

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For a change, on our Day 2 outing with my mother-in-law, we booked a stay at one of the water chalets at the Lexis Hotel in Port Dickson.

The chalet was designed with two separate sections - one housing the bedroom, and the other comprising a shower room, a generously sized open bathtub, and a toilet. While the layout and facilities were reasonably adequate, the overall condition left much to be desired. The interior looked old and rundown, with clear signs of neglect in both housekeeping and regular upkeep. Unless the management embarks on proper refurbishment and maintenance, I would find it difficult to recommend this accommodation to anyone planning a holiday here.

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Still, it's a pleasant feeling to walk around the concrete footpaths linking all the chalets to the main hotel lobby onshore.

Another Retirement Home at Seremban!

Similar to countries like Japan and Italy, Malaysia too is experiencing population aging. The composition of population aged 65 and over increased from 7.2% in 2022 to 7.4% in 2023. Hence, building developers in Malaysia are moving into building retirement homes, an optional place retirees can consider spending their final period of their lives.

We visited a retirement settlement in Tasmania in March 2019 (Read here) and have also started pursuing the implementation of a retirement home in my own home town since 2022 (Read here).

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Earlier, we received a short video about a new retirement home in Seremban. Since our Day 2's destination is Port Dickson in Seremban, we decided to make a detour to see this new retirement home before checking into our hotel in Port Dickson, the Lexis Port Dickson.

Buffet breakfast at VIP Hotel just before

we depart to Port Dickson.

This new retirement home, named Millennia Village consists of two blocks of multi-storey condominium are sited on a hill slope, once a granite quarry.

The village has good facilities to cater for the needs of the residents - gym room, art & craft room, recreational & majong room, library, swimming pool, laundry room and walking trail. 

Unlike the retirement home we visited in George Town in Tasmania which caters for heathy and well as the less healthy residents, Millennia Village currently only caters for healthy residents. This is designed for like-minded seniors who enjoy community living. According to the Founder, Mr. John Chia whom we met at the village, they have plan eventually to built another part that caters for physically challenged or less healthy seniors. No date on this was given.

This Village may attract seniors who are physically fit and healthy. But for those who plan to stay long-term until deteriorated health condition and eventual death, this may prove unattractive!

Common lounge for residents.

The site commands a spectacular view.

Entrance huge lounge.

Swimming Pool.

Gym Room.

Art & Craft Room.

Recreational & Majong Room.

Library.

Walking Trail.

Laundry Room.

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According to the Owner, the units are not for sale and only for rental. Three types of units are offered. All units are for double occupancy. Each unit is charged on monthly basis irrespective of whether it's occupied single or double. Charge rate includes housekeeping, breakfast and dinner but not lunch. Laundry is done at the laundry room and paid by the occupants.

Type 1 at RM5,500 per month.

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Type 2 for two singles.

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Type 3, the most luxurious comes with separate bedroom at RM7,500 per month.