Dear all, our sincere apologies for the short hiatus. During the past 4 months, team had been real busy getting on with the changes in our personal life and career.
We are back now and all geared up to provide updates on Johor Bahru again. Stay tuned!
2 comments July 21st, 2012
While the Malaysian Government has already implemented the “No Plastic Bags” rule on all Saturdays, it is still interesting to see how shoppers react with the realisation that they will not be getting plastic bags to put in their groceries.
We share a few funny quotes/incidents we have encountered.
#10 – (Lady at Tesco)“No plastic bags? Can I borrow some and return tomorrow instead?”
#9 – (Man buying some boxes of chocolates) “Can I have a rubber band instead?”
#8 – (Man at Cold Storage at Plaza Pelangi)“But I just bought some DVDs and those people can still give the black plastic bags to me!.”
DVD Plastic Bags - Probably the one kind you can get in Saturdays
#7 – (Man buying condoms at Guardian. Looks at cashier.) “.. can at least give me something to cover up?”
#6 – (Old man at Carrefour Read on…
3 comments November 5th, 2011
If you are used to the super duper speed of service in Singapore (especially at the McDonald’s branches in Singapore during peak hours), you could be running out of patience at the fast food chains in Johor Bahru.
While an average ordering time at the counter takes 20 seconds in Singapore, it takes an average of 35 seconds in Johor Bahru (based on my own estimates). While the average time for the food to be placed on the tray takes 30 seconds in Singapore, it takes twice the time at Malaysia!
I was at the McDonald’s Branch at Holiday Plaza 2 weeks ago and the customer at the front of the queue ordered various items totaling RM28.00. Time taken for the McDonald’s staff to take the order: 5 minutes!!!
McDonald's at Holiday Plaza, Johor Bahru
Queue forming up at McDonalds, Holiday Plaza, Johor Bahru
Naturally, I run out of patience and started looking over at the next counter for a possible switch. Unfortunately, the queue is equally slow.
It took another 5 minutes for the order to be served for the customer in front, and another 15 minutes to clear the next few people in front of me before it finally came to my turn. Makes me wonder if this is really FAST food.
Anyway, I ordered an Ayam Goreng set (2 piece chicken meal) and as I was ordering, I can clearly see one staff at the kitchen putting a piece of freshly cooked chicken nugget into his mouth (Mm.. it is ok for them to eat while cooking at the same time?). While waiting for the food to be placed onto my tray, I saw another sight. A McDonald’s delivery man came over to the fries counter, and with his motorbike jacket still on, he scooped the fries onto a paper basket, in preparation for his next delivery! Can delivery people handle food as well?
Fundamentally, there is a large gap in terms of the delivery processes at Fast Food chains across both sides of the causeway. At Johor Bahru, you have to manage your expectations a little and not expect the same speed of service and the stringent controls in place at Singapore.
I have another story to share. At the KFC restaurant (also at Holiday Plaza) in Johor Bahru recently, I Read on…
5 comments October 29th, 2011
