First it was Sri Melaka. Our favourite Nyonya restaurant. My husband and I spent many evenings there. In fact, not a week went past without us visiting Sri Melaka. The exception was when we were out of town. And, it was Sri Melaka that we visited when we returned from wherever. Quite longingly, I might add.

The fusion of Chinese and Malay/Indonesian cuisine was consistently good – Sri Melaka Fried Mee, Nyonya Fried Rice with Salted Fish, Sweet and Sour Fish, Ice Kacang and Cendol. All yum. The atmosphere was just right – not too busy, not overly loud and not too big a floor area. That was the Sri Melaka we frequented in Petaling Jaya New Town. A 10-minute drive from where we used to live.

It was there we celebrated my mum’s 70th birthday. Helium-filled balloons tied to chairs. Banners and buntings all over the eatery. My nieces and nephews were teenagers. Some were toddlers. Now, one is a mother and two are fathers. Hmmm… It was there my husband and I had peculiar run-ins with vendors, who tried to sell us items we didn’t want and had no use for.  It was there I bawled my eyes out after I discovered my mum’s passport did not have the requisite six months to travel abroad. We were due to fly to England in three days.

The branch closed, and moved to occupy a much larger footprint in Amcorp Mall, about a km away. It lost the cosy feel and the food was less consistent, particularly in terms of portion size. Still, it continued to be the venue for birthdays, Mother’s Day and family get-togethers. My mum and I had regular lunch dates there as she enjoyed the Sweet and Sour Fish and Spicy Brinjal with Salted Fish dishes. Sri Melaka closed after more than 25 years in business. We’ve been loyal customers for about 20 of them. Our memories remain.

Then, it was Impiana Resort Cherating. It began as a one-night stopover during a tiring return journey from Terengganu. It quickly became a regular retreat. Impiana desperately needed a facelift. The rooms were old and worn, and the handrails were rusty and wobbly. Despite that, we especially liked Impiana’s suites. They were spacious with massive sea-fronting balconies. Ideal to sit and take in the view, stare blankly, read or just be. It provided an almost stillness to our then, ‘little crazy, every-minute had to be accountable’ work week.

The coffee house, where morning breakfast was hosted, overlooked a beautiful pond with water lilies. It was home to birds, a few turtles and frogs. Sparrows skipped on tables and chairs. Picked on morsels of food left or dropped by guests. A National Geographic moment happened when water lilies opened their buds to the morning sun. Breakfast wasn’t too shabby either. There was always a delicious spread of local delicacies like Chicken Rending, Roti Canai and Roti Jala. Kaya or coconut jam was available every time. I have kaya jam only during holidays, and devour the yummy goodness by slathering it on Roti Canai, muffins, cupcakes, and other edible surfaces.

Impiana was dotted with palm trees, and it had a ‘as far as your eyes can see’ milky white sandy beach. We walked either to Club Mediterranean to our right or to Chendor Beach to our left. We also strolled along the different floors of the hotel, and near its distinctively bright blue swimming pool when it was too hot to be on the beach.  During those various walks we were fortunate to see hornbills, families of wild boar at dusk and at night foraging for food and baby turtles released into the sea. Impiana closed in 2016 after 22 years for a redevelopment. Our memories live on.   

After Impiana, our home away from home, Legend Beach Resort Cherating stopped operations in 2019. We first discovered Legend in 1995. Since then, we visited and stayed in one of our preferred rooms on the fourth floor almost every year. Just like an annual pilgrimage. Stopped for a few years when the service level dropped. Tried other hotels. Liked them but for no reason at all, returned to Legend, our old favourite.

We’ve had dinners right on the beach at the privately owned Golden Beach Restaurant, until it closed. We spent one rainy, flooded but cool and memorable Christmas there. We were always accommodated and served Roti Canai and Dhal at breakfast. Plus, kaya jam, of course. We loved the long walks on the white sandy beach, mostly devoid of people. Legend wasn’t the best or nicest hotel, but it was special to us. The building is still standing. As are our many happy memories.