There
is something very special about relationships among school friends who have
grown up together through Primary and Secondary schools, some even through
college and university years, going our separate ways and then meeting again as
adults.
School
friends have seen different versions of each other through various stages of
life, from awkward teenage years and the search for identity, to establishing a
career or getting married, having a family – getting divorced – and for some, remarrying.
A we-fie of us travelling comfortably
together in my car for the drive-abouts
Many
school friends left Johor Bahru after Secondary school for family reasons while
most left for further studies abroad or to Kuala Lumpur and nearby Singapore.
Some
who obtained their degrees, chose to stay in those cities or wherever their
careers took them. When the internet was introduced and became common use for
everyone, school friends gradually reconnect in cyberspace.
As a result of this reconnection,
a reunion gathering was organised and more than 60 of us met in 2004, hosted at
the Mount Austin Resort in Johor Bahru. This was our first organised meet-up
after we left Secondary school and it was exciting that many came back from
abroad, even from as far as the US of A.
In the ETS heading to Johor Bahru
We attributed this effort of
coming all the way back to Johor Bahru, to the freedom to travel that most have
achieved from after having established their careers and a peace-of-mind from
no longer having to take care of children who by then, were old enough to look
after themselves.
The highlight of our second
reunion in December 2007 hosted at the Le Grandeur Palm Resort, in Senai,
Johor, was a chance encounter with our former Primary school mate, a member of
the Johor royal family.
In school, she was simply Tunku
Zabedah to us while her official title now reads as, Yang Amat Mulia Tunku
Besar Zabedah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
When we learnt that she will be
at the resort as Guest of Honour for an event, we lined up in the lobby and met
her on arrival. She was pleasantly surprised but graciously paused and shook
hands with each one of us. 
Safe arrival at the JB Sentral
I do not know what she said to
those who were out of my earshot, but one of the remarks that we remember to
this day, was her kind comment that we appeared to look, “so well maintained!”
[I even captured a photo memento of this meet-up!]
Our next school reunion in
December 2012 was to mark a milestone year as our Big Birthday Bash [BBB], held
at the Pulai Springs Resort in Johor Bahru.
After this grand celebration, we
decided that future gatherings would be on a much smaller scale, ad hoc with
small groups, and will not need an organising committee to coordinate the
logistics and activities.
So when friends visited from
abroad for a brief stopover, small groups would gather for a meal and catch up
on each other, often held in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, and sometimes in Johor
Bahru.
Welcome back to Johor Bahru!
There
was no formal organizing but arrangements were made through telephone messages
for who were available to join and small groups would gather for meet-ups.
Like
many of our schoolmates, I was honoured to be part of the celebrations for
their wedding anniversaries, their children’s weddings and also, in welcoming
the arrival of their grandchildren.
Many
may have risen to senior ranks in successful careers but I often tease those
who have become proud grandmothers by addressing them as, “GM.” Even if they
did not have that particular rank in the office, there were indeed, a GM at
home.
Over
the years, we walked alongside friends who went through seasons of poor health,
the series of treatments followed by rehabilitation and recovery while some
simply lost their battles. Sadly, most of our meet-ups these days were in
attending the funeral wakes of each other’s parents and for our dearly departed
schoolmates.
In
recent years many school friends visited Johor Bahru again but these were
whirlwind visits mainly for family events, a family emergency or to cast their
vote in the Johor elections. Yes, they have not changed their addresses and used
this as a good reason to visit Johor Bahru again, even if it was just to cast
their vote.
Enjoyed a sumptuous dinner - assam pedas
was so good, we even packed a takeaway!
Then
when construction of the dual-track electric railways was in progress, there
was much excitement about the prospect of travelling between Kuala Lumpur and
Johor Bahru more conveniently.
Friends
based in Kuala Lumpur looked forward to having an experience on the Electric
Train Service (ETS) and started to plan a staycation in Johor Bahru that
involved revisiting familiar and new sites, and enjoying favourite comfort
foods.
While
I am familiar with their Johor Bahru must-visit destinations for favourites
like Tan Kee Ice Kacang at the ground floor of Menara TJB and Hua Mui kopitiam,
I was determined to introduce them to taste something new during their stay
here.
Just
days ahead of the arrival of Emma, Ramlah and Mastura, I received a proposed
itinerary from Emma for their Thursday to Monday, five-days-four-nights
staycation.
After
a quick review, I added more details and sent it back to her. I was aware of
Emma’s desire to visit the JDT Stadium at Iskandar Puteri, mainly because her
grandson is a superfan and smiled in agreement when she indicated that we must
dine with our friend, Mr Wong’s Café Caffe, now relocated to Taman
Universiti.
I
assured them that this itinerary was not “set in stone” and subject to change
if they were suddenly struck by any bright ideas or deep desires to see or do
something else.
Sign in the Kampong Kastam, Larkin
As
I coordinated the logistics and volunteered to drive, Lee Fung wondered how so
many of us could fit into my car. I did not hesitate to reassure her that it
was possible and very comfortably too.
On
that afternoon, I was at JB Sentral to welcome our friends on their arrival by
ETS and took them to check-in to their accommodation, arranged in Danga Bay.
I
meet with Emma more often than with Ramlah and Mastura, and have shown her much
of the new developments here so she reminded me to take the others to Iskandar
Puteri to show them Kota Iskandar, the new state administrative center.
Outside the JDT Stadium, Iskandar Puteri
On
the first day, while we were heading off to Iskandar Puteri, it was unanimously
agreed to first, take a drive through Kampong Kastam in Larkin, in fond
memory of Audrey, whose family used to live in the staff quarters here.
As
we drove pass those old houses, none of us could recall which house it was but
all the houses seemed to look smaller than before. [Later I shared this with
Audrey’s family and was told that “their house” there, has now been
demolished.]
It
was fun to show our visitors new sites like the Sunway Puteri Hills as well as the
old within the Heritage Quarter. But the precious quality time together must be
in our chit-chats over meals and the chill-out afternoons in the comfortable
homes of Bee Choo at Taman Eco Botanic and Wei Leng in Century Gardens. 
At Kota Iskandar, outside the
Sultan Ismail Building
No,
we did not spend every waking moment together as we had agreed that our
visitors would have a “Free Day” to visit with their relatives and other
friends here.
No,
I did not do a My Johor Stories Heritage Walk with them but it was refreshing
to explore the Heritage Quarter together in a leisurely way and experience a
chance encounter on the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk. Soon after we came out of
the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum, we paused in front of a new café.
From
the balloons and bouquets displayed outside, I guessed that MeeTUp was a
new café opening but was unaware that it was in fact, their official launch on
that very morning.
A photo memento of our chill-out time
with Bee Choo in her lovely home
Emma
confessed that the poster displayed outside with photos of a few signature
dishes, especially the roti, caught her eye while Ramlah admitted that
she was just very hungry. My eyes, however, looked through the glass-paneled window
and spied the tops of tall-backed chairs that were trimmed in gold…
Suddenly
the front door opened and a lady, beautifully dressed in an elegant sari,
approached us and introduced herself as Dr Su, short for Dr Suhanya, the café
owner. She graciously welcomed us in to taste their plant-based menu and
specialty Darjeeling teas.
I
was pleasantly surprised when Dr Su said she was familiar with me, told me that
we met at a Rotary JB Sentral club event and she also has my book. I was more
than happy to know that she was familiar with me and has my book, but regret
that I just could not remember so many individuals who met me at so many events.
At the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk
By
then, we had arrived at a consensus to go in. And when we did, soon realized
that we had become accidental guests at their launch event, officiated by YB
Kartiyaini Jeyapalan, Member of the Johor State Legislative Assembly for Skudai,
Johor.
Yes,
the roti was soft and fluffy and their Masala Tea was simply delicious. Dr Su
was a gracious host but it was impossible to have a good chat with her that day
so I agreed to arrange a meet-up [pun intended!] again, at a mutually agreeable
date and time.
After
that surprisingly interesting meal, we piled into my car again. I took them on a
tour of the city sights in daylight (we already saw it by night!) and gained a
clearer view of the city skyline, now with overhead train tracks between
Woodlands and Johor and mall-to-mall, JB Sentral to RTS Terminal skywalks,
recalling names of original sites and reminiscing about the Johor Bahru we used
to know.
View of the train tracks between
Woodlands and Johor, in the Straits of Johor
Among
the many topics in our chats, was the next reunion gathering planned for 2027, another
milestone celebration with several proposed ideas including a staycation with
dinner party in Johor Bahru and a road trip, possibly to cities in the North
and/or to an Asian destination abroad.
As
we brainstormed about possible venues in Johor Bahru, there was an undeniable
thread of excitement that wound around us as thoughts blossomed in anticipation
of the next gathering of school friends here and to making more memories
together.
On the return trip by ETS from
Johor Bahru to KL Sentral
While
family commitments, health or advancing age may deter many from favorably considering
to meet again, these are also the very same reasons to try to meet again.
As
our friendships were renewed during this recent staycation in Johor Bahru, the
prospect of another reunion gathering next year, certainly spurred us on in
anticipation of yet another time of catching-up and making more memories
together.
For
us who are still in Johor Bahru, we just look forward to welcoming others back
to our hometown – now a bustling metropolis with many old landmarks replaced by
new structures – and seeing a wider circle of school friends again, some whom I
know, were already planning to travel back to Johor from near and far. So it is farewell for now, until we meet again in 2027.
