| Page Views: 3,975 Last Visit to Johor Bahru: - | Johor Baru - The Southern Gateway to Malaysia by chiabh - last update: Apr 14, 2009 |
Johor Baru or Johor Bahru Johor Baru (or commonly known as JB) is the capital of southern Malaysian state of Johor Darul Ta'zim... JB was formerly known as Tanjung Puteri... JB is the southern gateway to Malaysia from Singapore across the Causeway...
The State of Johor Darul Ta'zim
The word "Johor" originated from the Arabic word Jauhar meaning gem or precious stone... Johor in it's early days was known as Ujong Tanah (or Land's End) as it lies at the southern end of Peninsular Malaysia... The southern most tip of mainland Asia is at Tanjung Piai in Pontian district, on the south western region of the state...
Modern Johor history began in the early 16th century with the foundation of the Sultanate of Johor by the son of Sultan Mahmud Shah, the last Sultan of Malacca, who fled from the invading Portuguese in Malacca... During its peak, the whole of Pahang and the present day Indonesian territories of Riau archipelago and part of Sumatra Island was under Johor's rule... Currently, Johor lies between the states of Pahang, Negri Sembilan and Melaka in the north... The Island Republic of Singapore lies to the south...
Johor is one of the nine states with a hereditary ruler, the Sultan, who is the Head of State... The head of the state givernment is the Menteri Besar (or Chief Minister), an elected representative and appointed by the Sultan o the advice of the Prime Minister fo Malaysia... Johor is the only state with its own military force called the Johor Military Force (JMF)... The JMF is considered a private army of the Sultan of Johor...
The state is divided into 10 districts viz Johor Baru, Muar, Segamat, Mersing, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Pontian, Ledang and Kulaijaya... Main entrance to the state from Singapore is thru the Causeway (from Woodlands) and Second Link (from Tuas)... The railway (KTM) passes thru JB to Singapore via the Causeway... For sea access, the main ferry terminal are at JB International Ferry Terminal (for Riau islands), Kukup Ferry Terminal (for Batam), Tanjung Belungkor Ferry Terminal (for Singapore) and
Muar Ferry Terminal (for Sumatra)... The airport that serves Johor is the Sultan Ismail Airport (or commonly known as Senai Airport) which is about 34km from downtown JB...
Johor has attractions for tourist with various interest...
For sea lovers, there are beaches and tropical islands...
JB itself have 2 beaches in Stulang Laut and Lido beaches... Others included Punggor beach in Batu Pahat, Penyabung, Air Papan and Teluk Buih beaches in Mersing, Teluk Mahkota, Teluk Endau and Tanjung Balau in Desaru and Teluk Ramunia in Kota Tinggi...
For islands, there is the mangrove island of Pulau Kukup... In the South China Sea on the east coast of the state are 3 cluster of islands... The northern cluster comprises of Pulau Harimau, Mensirip, Gual, Rawa, Hujong, Tengah and Besar... The Sibu group of islands make the southern cluster and includes Pulau Tinggi, Apil, Mentigi, Sibu Besar, Sibu Tengah, Sibu Kukus and Sibu Hujong... The eastern cluster comprises of Pulau Penmanggil, Dayang and Aur... Accessibility to the above islands is from the Mersing Jetty and Tanjung Leman staging point... |
| the istana besar cum museum... |
|  | For nature lovers and eco-tourism...
There is the lowland forest of Endau Rompin National Park, the legendary Gunung Ledang and the swampy wetland of Pulau Kukup... Recreatinal forest include Gunung Pulai (in JB), Soga Perdana (in Batu Pahat), Gunung Lambak (in Kluang) and Gunung Panti (in Kota Tinggi)...
The Endau Rompin National Park covers parts of north Johor and southern Pahang and is noted for its indigenous fan palm which is taller than a man, the 248 million old rock formation and the legendary waterfalls... Other educational facilities are an arboretum, and exhibitilon gallery and an entno botanic park...
Gunung Ledang is located in the Muar district... The legend of Gunung Ledang has been made into a muscial... It is about a pretty and smart princess who spurned a marriage offer by a Malacca Sulatan with her ingenuity and brevity... This attacts a srings of tourist fro day trips, picnicking, camping or summit scaling... Tales of supernatural encounters make the forest even more myteriosu and appealing...
Pulau Kukup has one of the world's longest reserves of mangrove swamp and is being developed into a wetland sanctuary... It is one fo the RAMSAR sites in Malaysia...
There are also many heritage sites in Johor... Historical buildings are made up of palaces, former residence of prominent figures, places of worship and pre-war houses... These inludes the Istana Besar, Royal Sultan Abu Bakar Musuem, Istana Bukit Serene. The Sultan Ibrahim Building (all in JB), Perigi Batua Pahat, Kite Musuem (in Pasir Gudang), Pineapple Musuem (in Pekan Nanas) and Bugis MUseum in Pontain...
Shopping in Johor includes the usual shopping malls in JB viz City Square, Pelangi Plaza, Plaza Kota Raya, Plaza Angsana, Holiday Plaza and the many supermarket and departmental store like Jaya Jusco, Giant, Carrefour and Tesco... There is also shopping for ceramic pottery in Ayer Hitam or textile in the the textile town of Tangkak, Bazaar Kota in Kota Tinggi and the many Pasar Tani (Farmer's Market) and Pasar Malam (Night Market) in all the major towns...
If you are in JB, have you visited the following:
Danga Bay Waterfront
Dataran Bandaraya
Istana Bukit Serene
Istana Besar
Johor Art Gallery
Royal Sultan Abu Bakar Musuem
Street of Harmony
Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque
Sultan Ibrahim Building
Zoo Johor
Some of these tourist attractions are given as tips in my Johor Baru page... |
| austin hill golf resort... |
| | Golf Courses in Johor |
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chiabh's Johor Bahru Travel Tips
 Comments for chiabh about Johor Bahru | | | | |
StevenSoh Tue Dec 2, 2008 10:50 UTC
Ponderosa course looks in good condition. Clubhouse is nothing to shout about. Front desk staff unfriendly & unhelpful. The club manager is one arrogant bastard. Recommendation : DON'T BOTHER PLAYING HERE. YOU ARE NOT WELCOME. | nana66 Thu May 22, 2008 03:50 UTC
what a usefull page I had from you, I been there once but not sure the address, tks | cheekymarieh Sun Jul 8, 2007 14:40 UTC
Hoping to sample some of the restaurants you mention when I visit next month. Thanks. very helpful. |
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