Uncovering the History of Johor [March 2019]
Desaru Desaru is a beach area on the east coast of Johor, popular with locals and expats alike. Apparently Desaru means ‘Village of Casuarinas’, since ‘desa’ means village, and ‘ru’ means pine tree or casuarinas (my thanks to Rene Marene for explaining this to me). There are many resorts, new and old, here with an emphasis on water parks for children. The sea here is not ideal for swimming but local surfers do make use of it during the monsoon season (Oct-March). Both the Fruit Farm and Crocodile World are nearby and make good distractions for children.
Crocodile World, near Desaru [August 2016]
Desaru Fruit Farm [April 2016]
Lotus Resort, Desaru [August 2016]
Gunung Pulai This is the highest peak in Johor, popular with those in Johor Bahru looking for a hike and those wanting a less stressful walk through the forest and a bathe in the river.
Gunung Pulai Recreational Park [March 2017]
Johor Bahru Being our home town, Johor Bahru (JB) will have quite a few links. I already have a webpage with links to the culture and history of JB, so please also use the following link The culture and history of Johor Bahru.
Exploring Johor Bahru Old Town [August 2015]
Johor Bahru’s soon to be famous banana fritters! [April 2016]
The Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple, Johor Bahru [April 2016]
Johor Zoo [March 2017]
A deeper look into Johor Bahru [July 2017]
Exploring Kangkar Tebrau [February 2018]
The Figure Museum in Johor Bahru [March 2018]
Johor Weaving Gallery [October 2018]
The Crown Arch, Johor Bahru [February 2019]
Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque [September 2019]
Johor Lama While Johor Barhu means ‘new Johor’, Johor Lama means ‘old Johor’. It was the site of one of the most important forts of the Old Johor Sultans along the Johor River. Not only is it a scenic location, the fort area still shows signs of ancient earthworks and houses a delightful museum. You can also arrange boat trips up the Johor River to visit the local fishing communities or investigate the mangrove forrests.
Kota Johor Lama [May 2016]
Retracing the Old Johor Sultanate along the Johor River [January 2019]
The making of ‘The Hidden History of Johor Lama’ [May 2019]
It’s a wrap! [July 2019] includes Kota Kara, Kota Sayong, and Bukit Seluyut.
Kampung Pendas Laut Few traditional fishing villages exist in Johor, but this is one of them. In the mornings, you can buy freshly caught fish here and later dine in one of the seafood restaurants.
The Fisherman’s Friend [May 2020] River life.
Kota Tinggi Kota Tinggi can be thought of as the old capital area of Johor during the reign of the Johor Sultanate. It houses a newly renovated museum displaying the history of Johor and many important tombs of Sultans are located nearby along the Johor River. It is more well known for its waterfall but I have not visited this.
Exploring the Old Johor Sultanate in Kota Tinggi [September 2018]
Kota Tinggi Museum [March 2019]
The Great Malaysian Road Trip - Day 1 [July/August 2020]
Kukup This is a delightful fishing community with a unique Park-and-Ride system. A short boat road takes you into the mangrove forrests of the Kukup National Park. An ideal day trip from Johor Bahru.
A day trip to the southwestern tip of Malaysia (Kukup) [August 2015]
Pulau Kukup Johor National Park [April 2017]
Mersing A stopping off point for people taking boats out to the islands off the east coast of Johor.
Tips for ferries from Mersing to the offshore islands [June 2020]
Muar This is the royal city of Johor and has some interesting colonial architecture by the Muar River, and beautiful mosques either side of the river. River cruises are available but tend to be limited. This town is full of history, so check out the link Muar - the Royal Town of Johor to learn more.
A day trip to Muar [July 2016]
Muar - the Royal Town of Johor [February 2019]
Pagoh This was an important town for the forerunners of the Sultans of Melaka in the 15th century, so mostly of interested to historians.
Makam Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah, Pagoh [February 2019]
Parit Karang Laut When the Portuguese sacked Melaka in 1511, Sultan Mahmud Shah fled south to Muar and landed here at Parit Karang Laut. Today this inlet is a sleepy bit of the coastline, just north of Muar, known for its seafood restaurants and sunset views.
The retreat from Melaka to Muar in 1511 [February 2019]
Penyabong A sleepy fishing kampung on the northeast coast of Johor with a beautiful coastline. No golden sandy beaches here, more like sandy mudflats. This means that the sea is shallow and excellent for swimming and snorkelling around the many small islands. Plenty of opportunities for discoveries too if you are interested in marine ecology.
A trip to Penyabong [Augut 2016]
A day out in Penyabong [March 2017]
A day at the beach in Penyabong [March 2017]
A shooting assignment in Penyabong [October 2017] Check out Teluk Sari, Pulau Mawar, and Gunung Arong.
Penyabong in monsoon season [December 2018]
Return to Penyabong [June 2020]
The Great Malaysian Road Trip - Day 1 [July/August 2020]
Off to the seaside! [March 2021]
Pontian On the west coast of Johor, near to Kukup. Locals love this place for food but I never stopped for long there. It was in the heart of pineapple growing plantations, so there is a Pineapple Museum although I have never met anyone who has visited it.
Pontian with the Malaysian Red Crescent [May 2019]
Senggarang Just south of Batu Pahat, Senggarang is one of several quaint small towns along Route 5 on the west coast. It is known for its tecoma trees which produce pink and white bloosoms in late March/early April.
It’s tecoma time in Malaysia [March 2021]
Sungai Melayu 201 This is another fishing village and can provide boat rides along the river and a visit to a floating mussel farm. Only a few miles from Johor Bahru city centre but feels like another, more ancient, world.
Sungai Melayu Eco Tourism [July 2016] River life.