 Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is a vibrant and exciting commercial city,
offering a host of sporting events, a pulsing nightlife,
outstanding shopping and accommodations, and a wide array
of fine restaurants. The city also contains a number of
cultural and historical attractions, including the Sultan
Abu Bakar mosque, the imposing civic space of the Dataran
Bandaraya, the State Secretariat Building, and most
notably the Royal Abu Bakar Museum in the Grand Palace.
Johor Bahru is linked to Singapore via its 1,056-meter
causeway, a dramatic road, rail, and pedestrian link
across the Straits of Johor. Royal Abu Bakar Museum
Said to be one of the finest museums in the world in
terms of its ambience and its dazzling display of
cultural treasures, the Royal Abu Bakar Museum occupies
the Istana Besar, or Grand Palace, built by Sultan Abu
Bakar in 1866. The museum was founded in 1990 by Johor's
present ruler, His Majesty Sultan Iskandar, and its
collection consists of the treasures of the Royal Family.
In addition to an extensive art collection, the museum
displays the ceremonial regalia, personal memorabilia,
furniture, objets d'arts, and cultural artifacts
accumulated by the Royal Family over the course of its
reign. Its hours are 10am to 6pm daily, except on Fridays
when the museum is closed. Admission is as follows:
non-Malaysians, US$7.00 (adults), US$3.00 (children under
12); Malaysians, RM5.00 (adults), RM1.00 (children under
twelve and schoolchildren in uniform). For further
information, contact the Abu Bakar Royal Museum Johor,
Istana Besar, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor. Tel: 07-220351.
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Muar
Muar is a picturesque town along the western peninsular
coast. Also known as Bandar Maharani, Muar is in many
ways a smaller version of Malacca, its more famous
neighbor. Muar is particularly renowned for its
outstanding cuisine, with many
restaurants as well as food stalls serving irresistible
local delicacies. Mersing
Mersing is a pleasant fishing town, known primarily as
the departure point for some of the most beautiful islands in the South China
Sea--including the legendary Pulau
Tioman.
Mount Ophir
The legendary beauty of Mount
Ophir has made it one of Johor's most popular attractions
for hikers and birdwatchers. The mountain offers several
nature trails to its summit, some lovely waterfalls, and
modern facilities for camping and picnicking.
Pontian
and Kukup
These two tiny fishing villages along Johor's
southwestern coast offer some of the best fresh seafood
in the region. The houses, as well as the restaurants,
are built in traditional style on stilts at the water's
edge.
Tanjung Piai
Tanjung Piai, situated in the midst of an extensive area
of mangrove forest, provides visitors with an glimpse of
the richness of Malaysia's coastal fauna as well as an
experience of traditional kampung life. Multi-coloured
mangrove crabs, beady-eyed mudskippers, and crab-eating
macaques abound here.
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