Ah, Holiday Plaza

 

Holiday Plaza in JB was the scene of many firsts for me — all back in the glorious 80s.

It was where I had my very first taste of KFC — and yes, a friend had to teach me the “proper” way to eat it. Back then, KFC was quite the dining experience — they served the chicken on proper plates, with metal forks and spoons! None of this paper box and plastic cutlery business. It felt posh, ok?

Apart from KFC, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut were also popular makan spots at Holiday Plaza. And if I’m not mistaken, White Castle even had a brief stint there.

And who could forget the smell of Chinese herbal eggs wafting through the air? It was distinctive, pungent… and totally unforgettable. You either loved it or held your breath walking past.

It was also where I bowled for the first time — at Holiday Bowl (see pic above). My schoolmates and I became regulars, showing up almost every weekend. Some of the guys came decked out like Miami Vice characters — white blazers, pastel shirts, the whole vibe (and sockless, of course).

We’d spend hours at the video arcade too, even though we were technically underage!

Then there was Kimisawa — the department store that had everything under one roof. I bought some of my Raya outfits there over the years. But the bulk of my wardrobe? That came from 2nd Chance. Their “diskang” fashion was the look back then. That said, a few of my more stylish (and loaded) friends swore by getting their (carrot cut) pants tailor-made at Ken Follet, which gave them that extra “custom fitted” swagger.

One semester break during uni, I even worked at Sate Ria — making drinks, washing dishes, smelling like grilled meat by the end of every shift. Not glamorous, but unforgettable.

Our ritual usually started at KOMTAR. From there, we’d hop on the Alec or T. Hakkim bus to Holiday Plaza. That weekly trip felt like an adventure, every single time.

These days, while the building still stands, Holiday Plaza is more like a ghost mall. I haven’t been back in ages, but I’ve heard it’s a shadow of its former self.

Still, for us 80s kids, Holiday Plaza will always be the spot — where friendships were forged, fashion experiments happened, and weekends were never boring.

Pics: FB

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Adidas Again

It’s happening, people—Liverpool and adidas are finally reuniting today, the 1st of August 2025. 

Naturally, I had to do the only logical thing: raid my wardrobe and dig up the last two adidas Liverpool kits I proudly wore.

📸 Exhibit A: The Torres Jersey!

Ah yes. The unmistakable Number 9. This was me, channelling El Niño (minus the speed, skills, and Spanish accent). I remember buying this (in London) and thought that I'd be wearing it for years and years. 

Of course, that 'love story' ended in tears. The day Torres left for Chelsea, it felt like someone had punched a hole through my footballing soul. No warning. No thank you. Just blue. The betrayal was real—and the entire Kop was stunned. Jerseys like mine suddenly became... complicated.

📸 Exhibit B: At Bukit Jalil, 2011!

This one was no less emotional. I wore this 2010/11 away kit to catch Liverpool vs Malaysia live at Bukit Jalil—the stadium packed, the roar deafening, and my "This Is Anfield" banner held proudly. That adidas kit, with its clean white base and blue accents, remains one of my all-time favourites (feel free to disagree). Simple, classy, and forever tied to that electric night.

Adidas kits always felt like Liverpool. Whether it was the design, the heritage, or just the way it hugged your heartbreak during a tough loss—there was something right about it. Sure, Nike had their moment (and the club made loads of money), but emotionally? It never truly fit the way adidas did.

Now, with the return happening in a matter of hours, I feel like these jerseys are no longer "vintage" — they’re relevant again. It’s like my wardrobe got updated without me spending a single sen (but let’s be honest, I’ll still buy the new one).

Welcome home, adidas. Let’s make more memories.

#YNWA

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Jalan-Jalan Bentong

Yes, Bentong.

And why not? We've never really explored this bit of Pahang before, so it was decided that we'd make a day-trip there a couple of weeks ago. 

Googled a bit before the trip and a couple of things caught my eye. The first was a legendary makan place that serves lemang with rendang every single day of the week. Have also seen it on various makan programs before and thought we should finally give it a shot. 

Gents, here is Lemang To'ki! 

And dudes, the place did not disappoint! The lemang and rendang were divine. Alhamdulillah! And the ayam bakar was awesome too. 

The other stop that I had planned to make was to Bentong Gallery. But before that, here's a short version of the history of Bentong:

"Originally known as Kapong, the town at the confluence of Repas and Perting rivers grew into a mining hub after tin was discovered in those waterways. Locals began calling the ridge “Ban Untung” (“profitable ridge”), which eventually evolved into “Bentong” . In the late 19th century, with the arrival of Chinese tin miners and notably Mr. Loke Yew, Bentong transformed into a thriving economic centre. Loke Yew scaled tin mining into a major industry, spurring broader commercial and agricultural activity that shaped the town’s growth . The district was officially administered separately in 1919 and later elevated to municipal status in 2005 ."

What's interesting at Bentong Gallery? Housed in beautifully restored 100‑year‑old shophouses once owned by Loke Yew, it offers a fascinating, free-to-enter journey through the town’s past . It features three thematic halls: 

Hall 1: Chronicles early development—tin mining’s rise under Loke Yew, historic photographs of economic life, and the origin of Bentong’s name. 

Hall 2: Showcases tourism information, with large maps pinpointing town landmarks and nearby attractions. 

Hall 3: Honours the contributions of prominent figures such as Pahang’s Sultans, former MPs, and local industrialists.

Beyond the exhibits, there’s a cozy café (BG Café) to relax with a drink, and BG Store, offering local souvenirs such as Bentong ginger products, soya sauce, and homemade ice‑cream in flavours like Musang King durian or red bean.

Also, dropped by to visit the main masjid here:

And of course when you're in Bentong and it's durian season, kenalah makan sebiji dua to satisfy the craving! 

Heading home, we made a stop for coffee, up on the hills of Janda Baik. Seeing it was a weekday, we basically had the place all to ourselves!

Will we be back? Oh yes, indeed. Insya Allah.

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Zainal In Da House!

 

Alhamdulillah, Bengkel Rahsia Memukau Audiens bersama Zainal Ariffin Ismail telah berlangsung dengan penuh jaya pada 27 Julai 2025, di Dekat KL, Wisma Rampai, Kuala Lumpur.

Sepanjang sesi, Zainal berkongsi pelbagai tips praktikal, strategi berimpak tinggi dan pengalaman peribadi dalam dunia komunikasi serta pengacaraan. Dengan gaya penyampaian yang santai tetapi sarat dengan ilmu, bengkel ini telah membuka mata para peserta akan kepentingan menyampaikan mesej secara berkesan, berstruktur dan menyentuh emosi.

Antara intipati utama yang diketengahkan ialah penerangan mendalam tentang konsep Pathos, Ethos dan Logos — tiga elemen utama dalam seni retorik yang mampu menjadikan sesuatu ucapan lebih meyakinkan dan berpengaruh. Para peserta didedahkan kepada cara bagaimana nilai-nilai ini boleh diaplikasikan dalam pengucapan awam supaya mesej yang disampaikan bukan sahaja sampai, malah meninggalkan kesan mendalam kepada audiens.

Lebih mengujakan, bengkel ini dimeriahkan dengan penyertaan peserta yang sangat komited, aktif bertanya dan berani mencuba. Suasana yang hidup dan penuh tenaga positif menjadikan bengkel ini satu pengalaman pembelajaran yang menyeronokkan dan bermanfaat.

Setinggi-tinggi penghargaan dan terima kasih kepada semua peserta yang hadir dan menjayakan bengkel ini. Semoga segala ilmu dan inspirasi yang diperoleh dapat dimanfaatkan dalam kerjaya, tugasan dan kehidupan harian masing-masing.

InsyaAllah, kita bertemu lagi dalam siri bengkel akan datang. Teruskan belajar, teruskan memukau!

Bengkel eksklusif bersama Halim Othman bakal menyusul! Nantikan pengumuman rasmi di media sosial YouGo Training dalam masa terdekat. Jangan lepaskan peluang untuk menyertainya.

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Food, Glorious Food!: My 4 Favourite Nasi Lemak

Nasi Lemak Tanglin, KL

Been coming here since the late 90s (when it was a gerai and you ate in a dodgy bangsal!) and it's still my absolute favourite. The sambal might be an acquired taste for some, but I love it, as well as the generous portions of their side dishes. Go run at Taman Botani, then come here for the best nasi lemak in town!

Village Park Restaurant, PJ

"Overhyped" some might say, but it's still a good plate of comfort food 👍🏼👍🏼

Kafe Kampung Kaw, Port Dickson

Yes, kena keluar "sikit" from KL. But the drive will be WORTH IT, I can assure you. Their signature is the nasi lemak kambing bakar, with a side of kangkung. Yum! And do order the kuih gemuk for your appetiser 😃

Restoran Al-Ehsan, Taman Paramount PJ

So okay, the nasi lemak is average with sambal that is sweet, BUT they have the best fried chicken this side of the Klang Valley. Have a look!

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A Picture I Treasure

This picture of my late father (right) standing in front of Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, Kuala Lumpur in the early 80s is one of my absolute favourites. He was working with the Majlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru at the time, and as an official with their football team, he had the chance to travel all over Malaysia.

I still remember being completely in awe the first time I saw that photo. I don’t think I’d ever been to the capital then, and KL just looked so grand, and very "overseas".

Of course I also never imagined that I would actually work in that very building decades later!

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Mymuslimin Turns 3!

Alhamdulillah. Our labour of love, mymuslimin.com celebrates its 3rd anniversary today!

Thank You, Diogo

It's been a few days now, and I still can't bear to watch any Diogo Jota content. 

Jota and his brother Andre Silva passed away in Spain following a car accident, and the shock has yet to subside, especially for Liverpool fans. 

I can't recall a current player leaving us this way in the decades that I've supported the club, and the pain has been simply too much to handle.

Thank you, Diogo. You will always live in our hearts as a true legend and champion. 

And we will always miss you. YNWA.