The Big Tsunami: It's Been 20 Years...

 

The photo above is from November 2004. During the FHM Editors Conference in Phuket, we went for some snorkelling near Phi Phi Island. The spot was completely wiped out when the tsunami came a month later.

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Superman 2025: Will You Be Watching?

 

The trailer for James Gunn's Superman dropped a couple of days ago to much fanfare and excitement. Here it is, if you haven't seen it yet:

Superman is the only superhero I care about these days. And I've cared since the 70s; from the time of that live action TV series (from the 50s, but shown on Singapore TV in the 70s) starring George Reeves with primitive special effects (if you can call it that). 

Then of course there was the Christopher Reeve era. His portrayal of Superman (and Clark Kent) was absolute perfection. I was completely hooked and I've watched his Superman films over and over and over again these past 40 plus years. 

And what about the new one? I choose to reserve judgement; on the director, on the new star, on everything lah. Cos I'm what you call a 'totok' Superman fan. I'll watch everything, but will of course love some more than others. 

How many times have I watched all the Superman films over these past five decades, you ask? And which ones do I love the most? Well, here's the list...

Superman IV - 3

Justice League - 5

Superman Returns - 7

Batman vs Superman - 8

Man Of Steel - 12

Superman 3 - 35

Superman - 42 

Superman 2 - 137 (the latest was last week!)

* Approximately lah :)

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Superman will be in cinemas 11 July 2025

Food, Glorious Food!: 3 Places To Go For Laksa Johor

Firstly, growing up in JB, we never ate Laksa Johor at shops. NEVER. It's a traditional, home-cooked dish, and that's how we used to prepare and consume it. It was something for special occasions, especially. Our Hari Raya would simply not be complete without our atuk or one of my aunties making Laksa Johor for everyone at our family home in Kampung Melayu, JB. (my late mom's own specialty was mee rebus.)

So, Laksa Johor for me = fabulous food + meaningful memories. 

It's a relatively "simple" dish. We use spaghetti, instead of other types of noodles. (Some people foolishly laugh at this and say that because of this, Laksa Johor is a recent creation. But in fact, it was because the Sultan of Johor was a world-traveller even back in the 19th Century, and he took a liking to spaghetti and asked for it to be part of this traditional dish.)

Then there are the condiments; taugeh, daun kesum, shredded cucumber, bawang and caipoh. MUST. HAVE. CAIPOH. The pièce de résistance is the gravy; a thick and flavourful fish-based goodness. And not forgetting the sambal belacan!

These days, plenty of restaurants serve Laksa Johor, especially the ones that specialise in Johor cuisine, even in the Klang Valley. But over the years, it's been a hit and miss affair for me personally. (Even places touting to serve "authentic" Johor food have failed miserably when it comes to Laksa Johor.)

But here are 3 places that I recommend!

1. The Teapot Deli, SACC Mall, Shah Alam

2. Puteri Restoran, Jalan Datuk Sulaiman, TTDI

Couldn't find a pic of me at the restaurant, so here's that time I tapau-ed some home. And yes, the real Johor way is to makan pakai tangan!

3. Kafe SERVE, Bandar Baru Bangi

 

Shaikh Dr Abdal Hakim Murad In KL!

 

Masya Allah! When I woke up this morning, I never expected to be sitting in the same room as Shaikh Dr Abdal Hakim Murad, listening to him talk right here in Malaysia. But that's exactly what was written for us. 

It started early in the morning when I was scrolling social media and saw a video of Shaikh Hakim attending a Madani program in Putrajaya. I literally jumped out of my chair! Searched all over and finally found the info that he'll also be giving a talk at a program hosted by Khazanah Research Institute later in the day. I quicky RSVPed, and the rest is history.

Shaikh Hakim is the founder and dean of the Cambridge Muslim College and also an Imam at the Cambridge Mosque. He has a unique style of speaking that's calm and measured, yet so profound, poetic and full of wisdom. 

And as I've written before, my mind was actually blown when I got to know that Shaikh Hakim's brother is Henry Winter, the football journalist whose writing I've been reading basically my entire life. 

Oh, what a day! Alhamdulillah.

1001 Memori Bertugas Di Sri Pentas

 

Here it is, the first full episode of PODCAST KITA ANAK GEN-X! I had actually prepared a different topic for the premier ep, but in late October, my ex-Media Prima colleagues started sharing their favourite Sri Pentas memories on social media. The thing that has been talked about for so long, was finally going to happen: Media Prima companies were starting to migrate to Balai Berita in Bangsar, leaving Sri Pentas in Bandar Utama for good!

And so I thought hey, why not I share my own wonderful memories working at the iconic building? (Something, in truth, I never expected to happen in my life.)

So, here it is. Happy watching, folks!