MUSINGS OF COFFEE AND SHOPPING CENTRES IN SUBANG JAYA

Wednesday, 30 January 2008

MUSINGS OF COFFEE AND SHOPPING CENTRES IN SUBANG JAYA

By Sarawakian

A sip of hot coffee from Uncle Lim’s at Subang Parade on a rainy day while waiting for my friend who was again late, gave me time to think of what else I could write for SJ Echo.

Maybe it was the caffeine kicking in or maybe it was the rainy weather plus the coffee and the lovebirds near me that I decided to pen down what I thought about shopping and more coffee in Subang Jaya.

Subang Jaya, in fact, has so many shopping opportunities. From malls to hypermarkets to even quaint shops in SS 15, SS 14, and Taipan, USJ. For this purpose, and maybe because I am a mall rat, I think I will air some smiley thoughts on what I think of Subang Jaya’s three shopping centres.

These three are indeed very close to our hearts. Subang Parade, Summit Subang and Sunway Pyramid, all starts with an “S” Hmmmm…I wonder whether there is another meaning to it

. Anyway, I think we are such a lucky township to be able to enjoy these three shopping centres and their coffee offerings!

Subang Parade is one of the oldest. I grew up with it when I moved in, in the early 90s, to Subang Jaya, for a good seven years before the other two came along. Its evolution to what it is now is quite something. I thought it would die but it has come back even stronger. Yes, Coffee Bean, Dome, Uncle Lim’s and then now, Gloria Jean’s to give me a fix and its proximity to the KTM makes it ever the more convenient. I like their cosy chairs and their multi-coloured car parks and the huge red pillar in the middle denoting their Guest Services. I also saw the standees saying Parkson and HSL there won the Best Department Store and Best Electrical Store categories in their respective category at National Level. I also saw that the Coffee Bean there has the best Malaysian Barista. She was 2^nd runner-up in the last international competition and it was also the highest ranked Malaysian cafe..

Sunway Pyramid is, if you ask me, one of the most ingenious ideas to ever come up. Come on, we should be proud that even Egypt came to Subang Jaya! They had “the” cinemas in the whole Subang Jaya. Better than Summit Subang’s, I might say, as it does not look as cluttered. Now, they have Friendster Café adding to their coffee family of Uncle Lim’s, Gloria Jean’s, Starbuck’s and Coffee Bean. I find Friendster Café interesting. Maybe someone will come up with a Facebook Café soon. Now, what I am proud of is that Sunway Pyramid has a cool system for finding car park bays It has an indicator above each bay and it is red when occupied and green when unoccupied. I find it of great help but I also encountered some dodgy ones which gave false indications. I think they are the first in Subang Jaya to have such high tech stuff. We should be very proud.

I take another sip of my Uncle Lim’s coffee and ordered my 3 quarter boiled eggs. Not that my mind is scrambled 3 quarters with my musings but I was getting excited. Not “that” excited but with the excitement of writing again after such a long time.

Now, Summit Subang. Last time, it was called Summit USJ but I am not sure. I call it Summit Subang. This is one of my favourite haunts. It is close enough for me from USJ and also has many a store for my “favourite movie providers”! I also love the bowling alley as the people there are very nice and not so snooty like the ones at Sunway Pyramid’s bowling centre. I also love the fact that there is Black Canyon Coffee and Starbucks. Black Canyon’s Thai style coffee is not too much my palate though but I now see an Uncle John near McDonald’s. I wonder what is the “hoo haa” about Uncle this and Uncle that. Hmmmm…wonder why there is no Auntie “something”.

Yes, I love Subang Jaya. I love the three shopping centres. Each is different. Each has an allure which I will always cherish. For some quiet, serious time I say Subang Parade. For some action and entertainment, I say Sunway Pyramid. For some quick, don’t bother to dress up but get all the good stuff place, I say Summit Subang.

There is always something new. There is always something to look forward to. I see Big Apple’s poster splattered on the boards covering what used to be Delifrance in Subang Parade. What is this with “donuts”? I seriously do not know. Sunway Pyramid has a J Co’s and I think after the “kopi” war,”donuts” are next. Hmm…I wonder if Summit Subang will have a “donut” and “kopi” too. I am sure as I smile now to the thoughts of what “kopi” can be interpreted as.

Musings of coffee and shopping centres. I am inspired. Till next time, maybe I will write on a pool centre or even the Rainforest Music Festival or even my travelling adventures on Air Asia and MAS. I love this coffee…need more…and where is my friend again? I wait but it is good. More coffee.