The longer one spends away from home, the stronger the yearning for familiar comforts, especially cuisine that may not be readily available elsewhere. Even if it is, it might not quite capture the authentic taste.

Datuk Lee Chong Wei and his family embarked on a trip to Paris to commemorate the 100-day countdown to the Paris Olympics, coinciding with his son's 11th birthday. Originally slated to return to Malaysia on Friday (April 19), Chong Wei found himself extending his stay due to unforeseen circumstances.

His return flight was indefinitely postponed, leaving him stranded in Paris due to flooding in Dubai, the connecting hub.

"My original plan was to depart on Friday, but the flooding in Dubai disrupted our travel route."

Speaking to Timesport, Chong Wei revealed his unsuccessful attempts to secure an alternate flight home amidst widespread cancellations. Amidst his Parisian predicament, his thoughts naturally gravitated towards the flavors of Malaysian cuisine, a sentiment many can empathize with.

"Stuck in Paris. I'm craving Nasi Lemak."

For Malaysians, the longing for home-cooked favorites intensifies when stranded in foreign lands for extended periods.

Earlier in the week, the United Arab Emirates experienced unprecedented rainfall leading to widespread flooding, causing disruption to numerous flight schedules.

Chong Wei mentioned that his rescheduled flight to Malaysia was set for Monday (April 22).