AOR Day 2 │ Relief Stint Begins • Sayang Tomyam • Dede Moda Restaurant!

Financial Advisory Morning

I woke up at 7:20am, the room still quiet. Half an hour later, I stepped out while Cat chose to sleep in. Breakfast at Lengkuas Restaurant was simple and peaceful — just moi, a quiet dining room, and a slow start to the day.

Breakfast and the Drive to the Branch

By 7:50am, I was already heading down to the lobby. Lengkuas wasn’t busy, so I enjoyed a light spread with coffee before wrapping up at 8:15am. Then it was off to the basement to pick up the loaner car. The drive to Alor Setar branch was smooth and uneventful, and twenty minutes later, I arrived.

Settling In

The branch was already open when I walked in. We exchanged greetings, said hello to an old friend, and settled into my workspace. An hour later, work began — steady and focused — carrying me right through the morning.

Lunch at Sayang Tomyam 3

By lunchtime, I was ready for a break. We took a short stroll to Sayang Tomyam 3, where I found a surprise: Oxtail Soup on the menu. Paired with a plain omelette, rice, and Iced Nescafe, my first Alor Setar lunch came to RM23.50 (≈ USD6/EUR5).

Afternoon Errands & Round Two

With a bit of time left, I hopped into the loaner car and crossed the road to a Petronas station before getting the car washed and vacuumed. I returned to the branch by 2:00pm, where a fresh group of applicants awaited. Work continued nonstop until 5:00pm.

Drive Back to the Hotel

At 5:30pm, I left AKPK Alor Setar. The mid week traffic was gentle, the sun low and warm, and the roads calm. A few shoplots, a glimpse of paddy fields, and soon Grand Alora Hotel appeared ahead — a quick, easy glide into the evening.

Dinner at Dede Moda

Back at the hotel, I reunited with Cat. After a shower and short rest, we headed out at 7:00pm for dinner at Dede Moda, the Chinese restaurant right beside the hotel. It offered a fun mix of Hong Kong café classics and Malaysian comfort dishes — simple, fast, and fuss free.

What We Ordered

Our picks for the night:

• Fried Wanton Mee with Egg Gravy
• Claypot Lou Shu Fan
• Citrus & Plum Iced Tea
• Jasmine Tea with Jelly & Lychee
• French Toast with Ham & Cheese

All for RM46.50 (≈ USD11/EUR10) — friendly prices and solid portions.

Closing the Day

After dinner, we stopped by the convenience store next door for munchies before heading back to our room. After the exertion of yesterday and today, we hoped for an early night.

Stay tuned for another day of financial advisory!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:
Grand Alora Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/qGrn4YxvbCC5C1U28
AKPK Alor Setar - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jvdmLnx1u94b2G5B7

AOR Day 1 │ Grand Alora Hotel • Restoran Lengkuas • An Evening Drive!

A Good Friend

Right after collecting our grey goblins from Carousel A, we met the airport staff holding the keys to a small loaner car — a favour from my good buddy Yus from the Alor Setar branch. Someone else had betrayed us earlier by withholding a vehicle meant for us, but as if guided by the hands of God, this assignment to Alor Setar placed us exactly where we needed to be, giving us the chance to deal with that betrayal on our own terms. With keys in hand, we loaded our bags, fixed the phone and camera holders, keyed in our destination, and set off.

Arrival at Grand Alora Hotel

Twenty minutes later, the quiet Sunday afternoon drive brought us to Grand Alora Hotel, our home for the next four nights — fully covered by Human Capital. Check in was smooth, the staff friendly, and our room exactly as requested: two twin beds, so no fighting for covers.

Room Review

We already knew what to expect from online reviews, and most of them proved true. The room was clean, comfortable, and spacious, with a calm atmosphere perfect after a long day. The location was another plus — eateries, supermarkets, and stalls nearby made it easy for Cat to explore while I worked. At RM240 (USD59/EUR51) a night, it offered solid value with only minor issues that didn’t affect our stay.

Late Lunch at Lengkuas

After a quick shower, we headed to Lengkuas Restaurant for a late lunch:

• Nasi Goreng Kampung
• Mee Goreng Mamak
• 2 Iced Lemongrass Lychee

All for RM52(≈ USD13/EUR11), cheaper than our Subang Airport breakfast.

The Drive to Butterworth

With an important errand ahead, we keyed Nasi Kandar Jamal Mohamed Telekom, Butterworth into Waze and began the drive south. The sky was still bright, Alor Setar glowed with early night energy, and the paddy fields stretched out in soft fading light. The highway carried us into a cool dusk, smooth and quiet, with small towns appearing like warm islands along the way. By Butterworth, night had fully settled, and the glow of elevated roads and terminals guided us to our destination.

Meeting Our Friend

We arrived at Nasi Kandar Jamal Mohamed, ordered drinks, and waited. Turn up he did — right on time. Within half an hour, the errand was settled cleanly and calmly.

Return to Alor Setar

The drive back north was peaceful. Light traffic, cool air, and long quiet stretches made the journey reflective. Towns flickered by, paddy fields turned into silhouettes, and the road felt gentler than before.

Supper & Rest

We reached the hotel at 9:20pm, took a quick potty break, then headed to the food court for:

• Nasi Ayam Berempah
• Maggi Mee Goreng
• Blackcurrant Mojito
• Apple Juice

All for RM24 (≈ USD5/EUR6). By 10:30pm, we were back in our room, ready for a well deserved rest.

Closing

It was a tumultuous yet oddly fulfilling start to our Alor Setar adventure — a day of kindness, betrayal, smooth roads, warm meals, and meaningful purpose.

Stay tuned for the next video as I begin my relief stint at Alor Setar branch.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Sultan Abdul Halim Airport - https://maps.app.goo.gl/LUpvUKHoyYJTjiMG8

Grand Alora Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/qGrn4YxvbCC5C1U28

Nasi Kandar Jamal Mohamed - https://maps.app.goo.gl/orrawcoZaxV7v9m36

AOR Day 1 │ KLIA to Alor Setar • FY1672 • Work Trip!

Our Unexpected Sunday Trip

Our little adventure began without warning. One moment we were enjoying a quiet Sunday morning, and the next we were grabbing our things and heading out at 9:45am toward Subang SkyPark. Since it was Sunday, Brendan could drive us. The roads were calm, the air cool, and the whole ride carried that light, exciting feeling that only surprise trips can bring. Half an hour later, we reached the airport, ready for whatever came next.

A Slow, Easy Start at the Airport

Our Firefly FY1672 flight was set for 1:40pm, so there was no rush at all. Check in was smooth and relaxed. We watched our grey goblins disappear down the conveyor belt, then stepped outside for our usual airport ritual — Starbucks.

For two hours, we enjoyed our drinks, a curry puff, and a pastry for RM60.25 (≈ USD15/EUR13). It was one of those calm airport mornings where time moved slowly and the day ahead felt wide open. Hunger returned halfway through, so I walked over to Bungkus Kaw Kaw for a small packet of nasi lemak to keep us going.

Heading to the Gate

By 12:30pm, we packed up and went into the Departure Hall. Security was easy, the crowd light, and everything moved at a gentle pace. We found seats at Gate 6 and waited comfortably for boarding.

Boarding the Propeller Plane

At 1:30pm, we boarded. Walking across the open tarmac felt raw and exciting — the sun, the heat, the smell of jet fuel, and the sight of the propeller aircraft waiting for us. We climbed the steps, settled in, and at 1:50pm, the plane lifted off.

The propellers roared, the cabin vibrated, and the low altitude flight gave us a sensory rich experience where the clouds felt close and the landscape stayed in view.

Why We Were Flying to Alor Setar

This sudden trip began a few days earlier when Human Capital contacted me about a staffing emergency. The Alor Setar branch needed relief support because a Financial Advisor was going on maternity leave, and their planned replacement fell through at the last minute. Even though I had left operational work years ago, they asked if I could help.

I agreed. Arrangements were made quickly, and I was assigned to support the branch for the first week of August — with more visits expected later.

Touchdown in Alor Setar

We landed right on time at 2:55pm. After a quick potty break, we headed to Carousel A, where our grey goblins appeared right on cue. With bags collected, we stepped out into the warm Alor Setar afternoon — the official start of this unexpected assignment.

Closing

That wrapped up the first part of our journey. Stay tuned for the next episode, where we pick up a loaner car from my good buddy Yus.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

Subang Skypark - https://maps.app.goo.gl/FiYoYd8fXygEWErU7

Sultan Abdul Halim Airport - https://maps.app.goo.gl/LUpvUKHoyYJTjiMG8