A Surprise Encounter at IVAT

I was on my way to the toilet in P06, IVAT, at noon of 12 September 2025, when someone suddenly called out and chased after me. He asked if I remembered him. Honestly, I didn’t. So I told him so.

Then he explained that he used to be in my class. At first, I thought he had mistaken me for someone else, since I was never a lecturer at UTM. But then he mentioned the microprocessor class, and it finally clicked. I used to help my supervisor take over that class whenever he was unavailable.

He also mentioned a classmate’s name that I remembered clearly, which confirmed it. He told me that he graduated with his degree back in 2018, and now, since 2023, he has been working as a staff member at IVAT, FKE, UTM. What a full circle moment!

He even said he still had my number. I asked him to text me so that we could arrange a proper meet-up later, maybe even with my supervisor, to catch up. He also shared that when he told his old coursemates he met me, they immediately sent their regards.

Before we parted, I asked him to take a selfie with me. Just so I can remember faces better next time. Age has made me realize that I need to document more of these little moments.

Until then, I’ll treasure these surprise encounters. It’s always a joy to reconnect with graduated students and see where life has taken them.

Meet Up with a Lab Mate

On the afternoon of 27 August 2025, I had the chance to reconnect with one of my old lab mates from the 2011 to 2013 days. He now works at a public university in Semarang and happened to be in Skudai for a meeting earlier in the day. Later tonight, he’ll be heading to KL for another meeting tomorrow. Such a packed schedule!

The last time I saw him was before Covid-19, probably around 2019. A lot has changed since then. He looks noticeably slimmer now, thanks to cutting out sugar and carbs from his daily routine. A lifestyle shift that really shows.

Picture taken from my friend phone.

Picture taken from my phone.

It felt refreshing to catch up after all these years, sharing updates on life and reminiscing about our lab days. Encounters like these remind me how important it is to pause and reconnect. At the end of the day, it’s good to know that we are both still here, well, and moving forward with life.

Until then, here’s to more chances to meet old friends and create new memories.

Meeting with old matriculation friend after his work

Captured on the evening of 20 May 2025, this moment marked a meaningful reunion with an old matriculation friend after his work commitments [1]. He was in UTM to evaluate Master's students from the Biomedical Engineering programme at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering (FKE) during the evening session.

Our previous meeting was on 11 December 2023.

His significant weight loss is clearly visible in this photo. I regret not documenting his last visit, but seeing his transformation now is a reminder of how unexpected changes can lead to blessings. With his improved health, he is now eligible to perform Hajj (Haji) next week, truly a blessing in disguise.

Until we meet again, may you continue to care for your health and well-being.

Reference:

[1] https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=YTfSPYIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Activities on last day of Ramadhan 1446/1447

This is taken on the noon of 30 March 2025. Where I managed to spare time to help out my girlfriend. 

Selfie before leave my girlfriend house for iftar.

2 things that I give her. A pack of 4 ply tissue with 300 pulls and a mesh bag size 20 cm x 13 cm (to safely store the tissue inside bag). Also 2 packs of zero sugar white coffee. Which I forget to take its picture. 

The gifted bags from her personal collection. 

This is because I am helping out her cleaning up for Aidil Fitri celebration. Also I provide service of cutting off the supplied kelapa pandan (coconut) fruit until peeling the flesh inside it.

The cutting process.

The look of the scrapped kelapa pandan (coconut) fruit flesh.

Chopped nicely the kelapa pandan (coconut) fruit for consumption. 

Selfie to commemorate our last day iftar in 2025.

On our desert time.

Until then, have a fun fulfilling last day of Ramadhan. 

The look of kitten to stray cat in lab

This is taken on the noon of 2 December 2024. Where I noticed 3 kittens to this stray cat after my trip to the toilet. By the time I come nearer to take clear picture, 2 of the kittens already run away. Leaving the black ones with its mother.

I used to help feed the stray cat in the lab area. Especially when one of the lecturer who feed the stray cats was on maternity leave. Which I make sure to clean the feeding plate before put on new food for them.

Until then, have fun in feeding the stray cat in your area moderately.

Breakfast and lunch date with good girlfriend

This is taken on the noon of 31 May 2024. Where after months of scheduling, we finally able to meet for both breakfast and lunch date. 

Continuation of the date for lunch session.

Close up of my order: Irish Chocolate drink and banana split. 

Close up of my lontong kering dish. I add on ayam masak rendang.

The overall breakfast food of lontong kering.

Until then, have fun in enjoying good food with good companion.

Early dinner date with my girlfriend

This is taken on the evening of 31 May 2024. Where we are having coffee break. After a long walk to digest the early dinner eaten earlier.

We managed to come across 2 properties booth at level near Starbucks lot in Paradigm Mall. Which is a good thing. As my girlfriend is looking to buy a house.

Our early dinner. We arrived just when then shop was setting to receive customers. 

My girlfriend wanted to order meat. However the meat dishes is not ready yet. As they just received the meat stock. And it is not yet processed. Regardless, my girlfriend able to feel full after all theses 4 dishes. And she does not need to order meat after the meal is finished. 

Until then, have fun in enjoying good food with good companion. 

Activities and harvest on Friday

This is taken last 24 November 2023. 

Starting with breakfast at Anjung Desa in Taman Universiti. Which we happens to sit beside Dr. Fuad with his wife. Where he is left 3 more years to retire at 2026.

The pretty look of blooming pink rose flowers.

I use the skin of the banana heart to put in the pink rose flowers.

The barter trade on the noon. We give Dr Shukri 2 sisir/sikat pisang awak and we get some corns from him.

My harvest portion for the day.

Until then have fun in harvesting your own crops.

Joining high tea for farewell of STF principal

This is taken on the noon of 23 September 2023. Where I was invited by my friend to be photographer of her high tea event. Which is to celebrate the STF (Sekolah Tun Fatimah) principal. Where she is moving to TKC (Tunku Kurshiah College).

The event is in Grand Bluewave Hotel in JB (Johor Bahru).

Selfie in the car.

Event preparation process.

My make up look for wedding dinner

This is taken last evening of 11 November 2022. I was invited on behalf of my Mum. Relatives on my father's side.

The look of food during the dinner.

It was a good and nice event. Happy to see the bride and groom beaming with smiles. No pictures much taken of the bride and groom. Since the screen was quite far and I am located also quite far from the path. 

Selfie with my gorgeous Auntie that invited me. Despite we are same age. Her mother is same level with my later grandmother. The last time we meet is during my 4th brother wedding in 2011. Which means we have not seen each other for 11 years.

Breakfast date with my ex-labmate 2011 till 2014

This is taken this morning. Manage to spare time to have breakfast with my ex-labmate 2011 till 2014. We have not meet I think for almost 4 years since 2015. He is a lecturer in Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Indonesia [1].

Accompanying him to meet one of lecturer in School of Electrical Engineering (SKE), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) [2].