First peek into Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast

 

Over the years, I have cherished a long and enduring relationship with Desaru, a beachfront development on the south-eastern coast of Johor, that started in the 1970’s with frequent family staycations and more recently, to working in partnership with Desaru Coast, a premium destination resort in this region.

 

Front entrance into the Mandarin Oriental,
Desaru Coast in Johor, West Malaysia

I count it my privilege to witness how Desaru Coast gradually developed into an international resort destination and was thrilled when Desaru Coast was named one of TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2021, in the third annual edition of the list published on 20 July 2021.

 

Desaru Coast was curated as a premium destination resort with a portfolio of globally renowned hotels and resorts like Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas and One&Only Desaru Coast as well as the Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast and Els Club Desaru Coast.

 

Signage by Persiaran Damai, Desaru Coast

I treasure the memory of meeting with the then Group Chief Executive Officer of Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels, the master developer of Desaru Coast, at Riverside during the Ombak Festival to commemorate the official opening of Desaru Coast in July 2019 and her assurance that My Johor Stories will go a long way as a compliment to the destination.

 

What followed was the pleasure of working in partnership with these hotels and resorts on various projects and events, including the super luxurious One&Only Desaru Coast, where My Johor Stories books were placed in the villas and suites for their guests’ reading pleasure.

 

The reception desk, Mandarin Oriental,
Desaru Coast

After the global pandemic, when the borders were reopened for travel, many seized the opportunity to enjoy a welcome retreat at the resorts in Desaru Coast. Among them was one, Tan Mei Ling, who wrote me after reading a My Johor Stories book during her stay with the One&Only Desaru Coast.

 

She introduced herself and asked me to help her write a book as a precious tribute to her father. My exciting experience in this meaningful book project with the Tan family in 2023 was documented in, The Tan family’s book tribute.

 

Then when this property was rebranded as the Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast, I was delighted to receive an enquiry about My Johor Stories books. While Book One and Book Two were already sold out, I managed to arrange for a stock of Book Three, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, delivered to the Housekeeping Manager.

 

View of their signature swimming pool
Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast

Incidentally, Desaru Coast was officially declared opened in July 2019, so it was timely for me to receive an invitation in July 2026 to meet the General Manager of the Mandarin Oriental Desaru Coast for a chat over lunch at the resort.

 

This arrangement was made with Dharshini Ramu, an undergraduate from University Utara Malaysia who was doing her internship, attached to the resort’s Executive Office. A day ahead of the appointment, she sent a reminder message with a request to show that message to the security guard at the gated entrance, who should then permit me to enter.

 

I followed her instructions and when I said that my appointment was with the General Manager, the security guard directed me to the carpark to park my car.

 

Group shot: Dharshini, Shafiq, Emmi and Ros,
with me [seated] and My Johor Stories 3:
Proudly Johor, Then and Now

Dharshini, dressed in a patterned Salwar suit, welcomed me into the resort and did well to show me around as we made our way to the restaurant where the lunch was being hosted.

 

She politely waited as I took my time to pause and appreciate the charming resort, from its entrance to the front lobby and reception, to their signature swimming pool and beyond.

 

Some guests were chilling-out, seated in the shade of wide canopies by the pool and balconies while some young children were posing for photographs with their parents.

 

Adding value to the book
with an autograph

In the restaurant, we were being shown to our table when we were joined by General Manager, Fiona Hagan, and team members, Director of People & Culture, Emmi Lee, Commercial Director, Cerelle Gooding, and Director of Rooms, Sutthichai Kaewgun, better known as Khun X.

 

Over a convivial lunch of pizza and salads, I had the pleasure to introduce My Johor Stories to them while sharing some of my experiences from the early years when this destination was first developed to when the all-new Desaru Coast took shape.

 

Emmi discreetly requested her office to send over a copy of, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, and when it was delivered to our table, she said that she wanted the book to be autographed for the resort.

 

Photographs of the dusky monkeys
displayed at the Dusky Monkey bar

Among the many topics in our chat, Fiona and her team discussed ideas on how the resort can do more to create elevated experiences and exclusive escapades for guests to have meaningful and memorable moments with the resort.

 

Fiona was pleasantly surprised that I have not had the pleasure to visit the resort – until that day – and graciously offered to host my stay experience at the resort.

 

With telephone meetings scheduled after lunch, Fiona, Cerelle and Khun X had to leave the table while Emmi and Dharshini stayed with me to enjoy our dessert.

 

The landmark banyan tree in the
Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast

Emmi then invited her team from People & Culture (also known as Human Resources!) Rosmiyati Rudy and Muhammad Syafiq A. Amir Burhanuddin, to join us for dessert and have a chat with me.

 

No, we did not linger over our sweet treats as the team had to get back to work. Escorted by Emmi and Dharshini, I continued with the next part of my resort tour.

 

It was interesting to learn that the Dusky Monkey earned its name from the legendary dusky monkeys which felt so at home in this popular bar. Photographs of these monkeys, captured during their “visits,” were displayed on the bar counter.

 

The bar overlooked a section of the resort where rows of guest villas were located behind high walls. Emmi explained that the walls offered privacy as each villa was designed with its own plunge pool. She also explained that to preserve the “wow” factor, my visit into the villa will be reserved for later.

 

Panoramic view of part of the Els Club golf
course, the beach and the horizon

When I heard her brief description of their villa, I had a sudden flashback and shared with them about The Banjaran Hot Springs Retreat in Tambun, Perak, where I enjoyed an exquisite stay with spa treatment and bar experience within a limestone cave.

 

Emmi and Dharshini then led me to the resort library where the shelves were filled with a range of books. Three pairs of eyes searched closely for any My Johor Stories books and Emmi let out a shout of success when she found one copy of, My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People.

 

Lounge chairs to chill-out on the terrace

Then we headed to the resort spa. Emmi was keen to show me their landmark banyan tree which was carefully preserved when the architect, Kerry Hill Architects, designed the resort around it.

 

They led me pass the spa treatment rooms to the outdoor terrace which overlooked a section of the Els Club golf course and the beach. Lounge seats were arranged on the terrace for guests to enjoy a panoramic view and watch the sun set.

 

Our resort tour should aptly end at the souvenir shop and as we walked along a corridor, I saw a lady approaching from the opposite direction.

 

Dharshini and Dhayalini;
Can you tell who is who?

And when she was close enough, my eyes widened when I saw that she looked exactly like Dharshini – dressed in the same Salwar suit, completely similar from hairstyle to footwear – that I had to stop and check if I was seeing double.

 

By this time Emmi and Dharshini were laughing at my surprise and assured me that there was nothing wrong with my eyesight. The “double” was also laughing at my reaction so Dharshini did not hesitate to introduce me to her twin sister, Dhayalini or Dhaya in short, who was also doing her internship, attached to Learning & Development (Training department) in the resort.

 

I am sure this pair of identical twins have a lot of fun dressing up in similar outfits just to evoke some reaction from others – like me – who were confused when they saw double. After recovering sufficiently from this surprise encounter, we walked on to the souvenir shop to see a range of quality apparel, accessories and collectibles.

 

On my drive back to Johor Bahru, I thought it was indeed a very pleasant first peek into this seaside rainforest retreat. Meanwhile I can look forward to my next visit to experience the refined comfort and curated moments, promised by such a resort stay.

 

The Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast is located at Persiaran Damai, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor. For enquiries and reservations, Tel: +607 878 3400 or send email to: modes-reservations@mohg.com

Strike Gold with Big Bad Wolf Books!

 

The World’s Biggest Book Sale, Big Bad Wolf Books, opens in Johor Bahru for the seventh time, a landmark edition that coincides with the school holidays to enable families, students and booklovers to enjoy browsing around in their fun book hunts.

 

Gold coins and a cake-cutting ceremony
to kick off the book sale in Johor Bahru

To kick off the book sale, I joined the excitement at the launch event where the Big Bad Wolf Books announced a dazzling incentive for shoppers who stand to win a 10-gram Gold Bar in a Lucky Draw. The gold element was chosen to beautifully bridge the timeless value of physical gold with the priceless wealth of reading and learning.

 

While the general public may participate online via the social media platforms in the Share & Win Contest, shoppers who spend a minimum of RM110 in a single receipt will be entitled to one Lucky Draw entry.

 

The winner of the 10-gram Gold Bar will be drawn and announced live via the Big Bad Wolf Books’ official social media channels on the final day of the book sale, at 6pm on June 6, 2026.

 

A map to guide shoppers on their book hunts

Opened to the public since May 27, the book sale, located at the Paradigm Mall Convention Centre on Level Seven of Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru, was abuzz with shoppers – so early in the day – browsing around for their first picks from the millions of affordable books.

 

The launch event featured a captivating, high-energy performance by the talented children of Joyous Preschool. This special showcase by the youngsters perfectly embodied the core mission of Big Bad Wolf Books – nurturing a love for language, building confidence and fostering early childhood literacy.

 

By providing a platform for these young learners, the event highlighted the critical importance of engaging children through creative expression and foundational education during their formative years.

 

A photo memento with the
Big Bad Wolf Mascot

The launch event was officiated by Assistant Director of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Daniel Albert Wong, representing Director of the Johor State Education Department, Zulkurnain Abdul Rahman.

 

In his speech, delivered on behalf of the Director of the Johor State Education Department, he emphasized the critical link between reading and long-term talent development.

 

“Books are the fundamental building blocks of literacy, critical thinking, and future career readiness. Coinciding with the school holidays, the return of Big Bad Wolf Books to Johor Bahru provides an invaluable, accessible platform for students to expand their knowledge outside the classroom.

 

Whether pursuing academic paths or technical and vocational fields (TVET), a strong command of reading empowers our youth to innovate, adapt, and succeed. By dismantling price barriers and making millions of books accessible, we are collectively investing in the future intellectual capital of Johor.”

 

Unbelievable Deals on quality books!

In terms of long-term talent development and future career readiness, he said that there was an absolute, undeniable synergy between community-led reading habits and formal educational advancement.

 

Whether students chose an academic pathway or set their sights on technical and vocational fields, excellence always traces back to a strong foundation in reading and comprehension.

 

We live in a world driven by rapid technological innovation and evolving industries. To keep up, our future generation must know how to critically analyse information, adapt to new skills, and continuously learn.

 

Sections for Fiction books

He reminded us that, reading is the primary vehicle for that cognitive growth.

 

Adding to the hype, this edition of the book sale in Johor Bahru marked a thrilling milestone where the official Big Bad Wolf Mascot was present to meet and greet fans, for the first time in their events here!

 

As the mascot mingled among the children and book lovers of all ages, everyone could not resist getting their own photo mementoes as they interacted with the legendary character.

 

This mascot will be at the book sale throughout these school holidays to transform a traditional book hunt into an immersive, festival-like family experience.

 

Sections for Non-Fiction books

The book sale extravaganza is packed with value-driven activities curated to make book shopping the best holiday activity in the city. Among the best deals are:

 

• Maximum holiday savings—get RM5 OFF with a minimum spend of RM110, or RM8 OFF with a minimum spend of RM150.

 

• To directly bolster the education sector, students and teachers enjoy an additional 5% discount with a minimum purchase of three books.

 

• Visitors can take part in the on-ground Snap & Win contest by documenting their favourite holiday book-hunting moments and mascot encounters on social media for exclusive prizes.

 

Box Set of a William Shakespeare Collection

Also present at the launch event were Big Bad Wolf Books Business Development Manager, Ben Gasper, and representative from Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru, Adverting & Promotions Assistant Manager, Lim Wai Meng, along with educators, parents and media partners.

 

The book sale was declared open with a simple cake-cutting ceremony and the distribution of “gold coins” (chocolate wrapped in gold foil), much to the delight of the children and the young-at-heart.

 

Box Set of the Major Works of 
Charles Dickens

Without a moment’s hesitation, I joined shoppers in the book sale for my own book hunt in the sections for English Literature and activity books before checking out their Unbelievable Deals.

 

I saw parents making a beeline for the best-buys for Children’s Books while some parents sat down at the waiting area in the Kids’ Zone where their children had fun, burning up energy in a bouncing castle.

 

When I paused to look up from my book hunt, I saw that more shoppers had joined the crowd of eager book-seekers and thought that all of us stood a good chance at winning that coveted Gold Bar at this exciting book sale in Johor Bahru.

 

The Big Bad Wolf Books book sale in Johor Bahru is on from now till June 7, 2026, daily from 10am to 10pm at the Paradigm Mall Convention Centre, Level Seven of Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru.

 

For updates and sneak peeks, follow Big Bad Wolf Books on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbwbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigbadwolfbooks/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigbadwolfbooks

 

P.S. After more than three hours of happy book browsing, I left the book sale with two bags, full of books and Christmas gift ideas!

The Return of Big Bad Wolf

 

I was pleasantly surprised to receive a WhatsApp message from the Wolf team who told me that Big Bad Wolf Books will be returning to Johor Bahru and I am on their VIP list. Wow!

 

I am a book-person who have always supported Big Bad Wolf Books events whenever they came to our city and have even gone to their events held elsewhere.

 

When I received their invitation to a Media Preview for an early access to the 2026 book haul before the event was opened to the public, I did not hesitate to accept.

 

I was delighted to meet the Wolf team again and learnt that Big Bad Wolf Books, the World’s Biggest Book Sale, was making a grand return for its landmark seventh edition in Johor Bahru.

 

The Wolf will be back, and this time, he will bring more than just a wealth of wisdom.

 

A section of the book display
at the Media Preview

Running for 12 days from 27 May to 7 June 2026 at the Paradigm Mall Convention Centre, this year’s event redefines the value of reading by bridging the gap between literary treasures and tangible rewards.

 

Under the theme, “The Golden Standard of Literacy,” Big Bad Wolf Books continues its global advocacy movement to make reading affordable and accessible to all.

 

In a world of fleeting digital content, this seventh return to Johor Bahru emphasises the sustainability of the printed word as a lifelong investment.

 

A range of books for children

Parents, grandparents and educators will agree that young people need to take a break from digital content and learn to appreciate the pleasure of reading physical books.

 

I was pleased to have a first peek at some of their high-quality books designed to engage the attention of youngsters. Not only were they eye-catching, these were very creative and informative, even for adults.

 

Their pop-up books, in particular, reminded me of how I used such engaging books in storytelling sessions with my niece and nephew when they were kids.

 

Just as gold remains a timeless store of value, the knowledge found within these millions of books offers a permanent asset for the mind and soul.

 

A page from a pop-up book that
illustrates a Multilayered Forest

To celebrate the seventh edition in Johor Bahru, Big Bad Wolf Books is offering a Grand Prize that reflects the true worth of education: A 10-gram Gold Bar.

 

By spending a minimum of RM110 in a single receipt, visitors earn an entry into the lucky draw to take home this prestigious prize.

 

It is a symbolic nod to the “gold mine” of information available at the sale, where books are offered at extraordinary discounts of up to 95%.

 

To ensure the hype reaches every corner of the state, a series of high-engagement activities and exclusive deals have been curated for the 12-day extravaganza. These include:

 

Pre-Event Share & Win: Fans can kickstart the excitement online by tagging three friends and sharing the official “Gold Post” on social media for a chance to win early-bird prizes.

 

Opening Day Honours: The first 100 customers through the doors on 27 May will receive Free books on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Snap & Win: Social media enthusiasts can participate in the on-ground contest by capturing their "Golden Moments" at the sale for further rewards.

 

Instant Rebates: Shopping smart is easier than ever with tiered savings; Get RM5 OFF with a minimum spend of RM110, or RM8 OFF with a minimum spend of RM150.

 

Educational Support: In recognition of their vital role in the literacy movement, students and teachers enjoy an additional 5% discount with a minimum purchase of three books.

 

Start children young to appreciate the
pleasure of reading physical books

“Returning to Johor Bahru for the seventh time is a testament to the incredible reading culture within this city,” said Andrew Yap, Co-Founder of Big Bad Wolf Books.

 

“Our mission remains simple: to cultivate a new generation of readers by removing price barriers. By introducing the Gold Bar Lucky Draw, we want to highlight that every book purchased is a sustainable investment in one’s future,” he added.

 

So make a date with the Big Bad Wolf in Johor Bahru as all are invited to the Official Launch Ceremony, at 11:00am on 28 May.

 

To mark the occasion, a Free Voucher Giveaway will take place during the ceremony, providing even more value to the early attendees.

 

Event Date: 27 May to 7 June 2026

Event Time: 10:00am to 10:00pm daily

Event Location: Level 7, Paradigm Mall Convention Centre, Johor Bahru

 

For updates and sneak peeks, follow Big Bad Wolf Books on: https://www.facebook.com/bbwbooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigbadwolfbooks/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigbadwolfbooks

 

P.S. If you see me there, browsing around for my pick of books, come on over to say, “Hello!”

Tribute to Datuk Dr Badrul Hisham Kassim

 

When I read the news about the passing of Datuk Dr Badrul Hisham Kassim from a Facebook post by a mutual friend, Edey Suresh, with a photograph of them together, I was deeply saddened.

 

At my book launch event, December 2022;
Dr Badrul [First row, second from Left]

Without a moment’s hesitation, I reached Edey to ask him for more information. And learnt that Dr Badrul bravely battled on but he lost to that dreadful disease.

 

My deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the family of Dr Badrul. No words can comfort especially at the loss of one who was as special as Dr Badrul.

 

I echo the words of Edey who said that Dr Badrul was one who carried himself as thoughtful, kind and always approachable… he was one who chose to listen first.

 

I last met with Dr Badrul as the CEO of Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) in December 2022 when he honoured me with his presence at the book launch of, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the third and final instalment to complete the trilogy of My Johor Stories. The launch of this book was delayed due to the global pandemic.

 

Book Three of My Johor Stories,
delivered to IRDA in 2023

Soon after my third book was launched, IRDA ordered a stock of Book Three, continuing the friendship and support for My Johor Stories started by previous IRDA Chief Executive, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, who specially ordered Book One (launched in 2017) and Book Two (launched in 2018) from MPH Publishing to present as IRDA corporate premium items.

 

Looking back, I first met with Dr Badrul in 2015 when he was then the Johor Tourism Director, on an introductory walkabout at the Johor Bahru heritage quarter, escorted by none other than our Johor cultural activist, Mr Tan Chai Puan.

 

While I was busy working on the first volume of My Johor Stories, Dr Badrul went on to become Yang Dipertua, Majlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru Tengah. We met again at several community events including one exciting event at Legoland Malaysia Resort in 2017.

 

Me [Right] chatting with Dr Badrul
at the Grants Programme event, Oct 2022

When the economy reopened after the global pandemic and lockdowns, people were still reluctant to gather. As such, the Downtown Johor Baru Grants Programme was initiated to bring life back into the city. In October 2022, this Grants Programme was launched with the grantees in a simple event.

 

My Johor Stories and I were among the grantees who met with Dr Badrul and it was my pleasure to share with him, the plans for a My Johor Stories Heritage Walk in Downtown Johor Bahru. These Heritage Walks, which kicked off in January 2023, gained much interest and participation continued regularly into 2024 and 2025.

 

It is my privilege to honour the memory of Datuk Dr Badrul Hisham Kassim with these precious recollections. Rest in Peace, Dr Badrul.

Thanks for the gift of a comma

 

Readers of My Johor Stories are aware that I have been away from Johor as I have not been posting pieces on Johor for a while. Instead, I shared a series of stories in my Travelogue that took readers on a virtual trip with me in and around Sydney, Australia.

 

This time away to me, was the comma, a long-awaited pause in my sentence. A gift presented to me by my siblings, for me to have a change in my daily routine.

 

[The comma is a punctuation mark used to separate parts of a sentence to clarify meaning and adds a pause or ‘breathing space’ to make a complex sentence more readable.]

 

This time-out was a timely break from my regular routine of work and family commitments. Just time away to do something different. After all, I did have a very eventful 2025, and that January 2026 marked exactly 10 years since dad left us.

 

Time away has let me take stock of the past five years where I completed a total of six book projects, leading Heritage Walks, giving talks and promoting My Johor Stories in my pop-up book stores while juggling family and domestic responsibilities.

 

There were three books in the trilogy of My Johor Stories where the first book went to the Number One spot in the MPH Non-Fiction Bestsellers list in the first week of its launch and was counted among the Best of MPH at the end of 2017.

 

Following the success of My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage, I worked on its sequel, My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People, published in 2018.

 

Then came the global pandemic which delayed the publication of the third and final instalment of My Johor Stories. With the support of MPH Publishing Kuala Lumpur, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, was finally published in 2022.

 

I am grateful for the support of hotels and resorts who bought My Johor Stories books and placed them in their better rooms, suites and villas for guests’ reading pleasure.

 

It was a wonderful way for guests to read about Johor and then go out to explore more of Johor. And it was through reading my book in a resort that started me on my next book project.

 

Soon as the borders were reopened and people were able to travel again after the pandemic, families took the opportunity to spend time at resorts in Johor’s beautiful Desaru Coast.

 

While relaxing in a resort in Desaru Coast, a member of the Tan family read My Johor Stories, and recognized names of people documented in my book. They were the same as what her father, a retired lawyer in Johor Bahru, wrote in his memoirs.

 

After his retirement, he moved to Singapore and was encouraged to write about his most memorable court cases. His daughter, who read my book then had the idea to document her father’s story along with his memoirs in a book as a tribute to him for the benefit of his family and grandchildren. And she reached out to me.

 

This, I was later told, was because his oncologist said that he did not have much time left. This info was the impetus which compelled me to work with the Tan family to write this tribute book without any delay.

 

I did not meet the members of the Tan family but only communicated by email and WhatsApp to exchange information, documents and photographs as we worked on this book project with a sense of urgency.

 

In addition to compiling, writing and proofreading, I also connected them with the printer to help with the printing of this book for private distribution within their family.

 

It was good to finally meet the Tan family members when they came to collect the books, as I already got to know them from their names and writing about this family.

 

We were sad that her father did not live to see the book titled, Tan Kiah Teck – A Kampung Boy’s Search for Truth and Justice. It meant a great deal to this family to have his words documented for future generations to hear his voice through this book.

 

In a Tan family gathering on Christmas eve 2023, this book was presented to family members and a copy was placed in the niche where his remains were interred.

 

Then in March 2024, I received a query about how to get a copy of a book that documented the life and ministry of Colleen Redit, a missionary in India whose ministry in Madras (now Chennai) India, started with rescuing women and children.

 

Over the years, the scope of her mission work expanded and I had the privilege to document her life story and work in a book, titled, Realising a Vision through Faith: The Autobiography of Colleen M. Redit, published in 2013. [This book was distributed among the churches and now available online through amazon.com]

 

As I was reminded about this – which was in fact, my very first book project – I decided to put into action, the plan to compile and document the story of our own assembly and its work in Johor Bahru, that was planted more than 50 years ago.

 

Cockatoos that come to rest on trees
close to the balcony at Concord, Sydney NSW

From reading through old record books in chronological order, I was able to get a sense of the work of the assembly since the early years and I took time to list out the names of the guest speakers, invited to share in the pulpit ministry.

 

Over the next few months, the manuscript was slowly stitched together, the cover design completed and the book given a title, Milestones on our Journey in Faith – Johor Bahru Gospel Chapel. By the end of June 2025, this book was ready for distribution among assembly members, both past and present.

 

Meanwhile back in 2024, there was talk about the Centennial Celebrations of our alma mater, the Johor Bahru Convent – the only Convent School in this city – planned for August 2025. Among the ideas proposed for the year-long celebration were a fund-raising dinner, a Convent Fun Run, Centenary Celebration T-shirts and the publication of a 100-Year Anniversary Souvenir Book.

 

Spotted My Johor Stories books in the book
case in Malcolm's house; Book One is missing
because it was a Bestseller and already sold-out!

I was invited to join online meetings with the Fund-Raising Committee to learn more about their proposed plans and ideas where all proceeds will be channeled to the school fund for building maintenance projects.

 

I saw the urgent need to work on this book project for the school, especially with the fund-raising activities in view and the desperately limited time ahead. And if this book should be ready for the Fun Run and dinner celebration in August, we had to start on the project like – yesterday!

 

Working with a small but dynamic Book Team, we met regularly online and through our discussions, agreed to keep production costs low and create a book that will celebrate the school’s work over the decades through the successes and achievement of the alumni.

 

On the way to Burwood, 
Sydney NSW

The Team worked in tandem to carry out various tasks and because this Souvenir Book will be sold to alumni and distributed widely, we also applied for the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and got it approved for the book.

 

Keeping to strict deadlines and working closely with the printer, this Book Team managed to get the books ready for the Fun Run, held a week ahead of the dinner celebration at end August 2025.

 

The work was not over yet as the Team coordinated the sale and distribution of these Limited Edition books to alumni who preordered and required delivery by courier to destinations locally and abroad.

 

Dinner with Uncle, Auntie, Gillian,
Michael, Malcolm and Yeen at 
La Cocina Spanish Restaurant
Crows Nest, Sydney NSW

So here I am, having completed six book projects in the past five years. It was a great deal of work but it was worth the effort.

 

I am pleased with how these books have benefited others and even today, I am delighted to receive an email with a query, asking me where he can get My Johor Stories books! [From MPH bookstores nationwide or online from mphonline]

 

I was more than due for a pleasant change, a comma in my sentence, in a different place, with another arm of our widespread family located around the globe.

 

“Good to see you on this side of the world,” said Eva. “I hope you had a fabulous time,” she added. I replied, “Yes, I did, thank you.”

 

I did so with the help of cousin Malcolm, my very able tour guide, who gave me various experiences at different destinations in and around Sydney.

 

Gelato treat after dinner together;
Crows Nest, Sydney NSW

I was pleased to share my experiences documented in a Travelogue (for me to recall and reminisce!) and by reading it, I took my readers who included relatives and friends, on a virtual tour.

 

One of the comments I received from a school friend went like this: “Such interesting experiences, Peggy! Can I engage Malcolm and Auntie Polly to be my guides if ever I go down to Sydney?”

 

Another friend who visits Sydney regularly said: “It is good you can share all these experiences and places with me. There are still many places I have not been to in Australia.”

 

Yet another said: “Thanks for your stories filled with so much fun and excitement. Above all, precious time with your cousins, Auntie Polly and Uncle Steven… Am sure you will bring back with you, treasured and enriching memories!”

 

Dinner with Malcolm, Yeen and family
at Delhi Palace, Strathfield, Sydney NSW

Indeed! My stay happened to coincide with the Chinese New Year season so it was a different experience for me where family still gathered for feasting but with the (thankfully!) absence of “bombing” explosions from firecrackers and fireworks.

 

I am deeply grateful and blessed by the generous hospitality of my hosts, Malcolm and Yeen, who let me share their home and to Gillian and Michael for my glamping stay with them at Dee Why. Words alone cannot express how much I appreciate it.

 

In addition to Auntie Polly and Uncle Steven who shared with me exciting experiences in Dee Why and nearby Collaroy, I also had the pleasure to explore country towns with Alex and Dex, and had the company of Ben who escorted me around Cockatoo Island and in climbing The Rocks. Whew!

 

So Thank You all, for this precious gift of a comma, a breathing space, before I continue writing my sentence.

 

#MyJohorStoriesTravelogue

#MyJohorStoriesFebruary2026