Johor Bahru (also Johor Baru or Johore Baharu, but universally called just JB) is the state capital of Johor in southern peninsular Malaysia, just across the causeway from Singapore. A bustling city but one with little of interest for the casual tourist, it is a significant regional transport hub and manufacturing hub
Declared a city only in 1994, Johor Bahru is a rapidly growing city. Latest census figures indicates that it is fast becoming Malaysia's second largest city, with a population of over one million. Given its relatively large land space, the town is not as dense as other cities around Malaysia.
Due to its proximity to Singapore, it suffers from unavoidable comparison with its neighbour. Recent clean-up initiatives like greening the city and covering the open sewers that until a few years ago ran through the center of the city have made it a more pleasant place to live. Though appreciably less organised and more messy when compared to the glitz of Singapore, shopping and eating in the city can be a real adventure, with many shopping complexes and a wide variety of food establishments offering budget to fine dining.
Johor Bahru is probably more well known as an industrial city rather than a tourist-friendly town. Many of the world's top electronics manufacturers have at least one plant in Johor Bahru, and after the tough times after the 1997 economic crisis the town is stirring to life again.
PLACE TO VISIT
Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque. Overlooking the Straits, this state mosque was finished in 1900 and opened by the then Sultan Ibrahim. A combination of Moorish and Victorian architecture, visiting hours are between 10am and 6pm from Saturday to Thursday except during congregational prayers.
Sultan Abu Bakar Royal Palace Museum, Jalan Skudai. Definitely Johor Bahru's top attraction, this is the opulent former residence (Istana Besar or Grand Palace) of the Sultan of Johor, which is still used on special occasions but is open to the public as a museum the rest of the time. Dating back to 1866 but extended and refurbished many times since, the scale of the palace is suitably grand and the furnishings inside veer from French rococo to dining chairs built from crystal glass via Japanese pottery and oil paintings of the Sultan on his favorite motorbike. Open Sat-Thu 9 AM-4 PM. Entry US$7 for foreigners, RM5 for Malaysians.
Sultan Ibrahim Building. Built in 1940, the building is located on Bukit Timbalan and houses the State Secretariat and the offices of the state government. The building blends the cosmopolitan architecture of Renaissance style, with an overlay of Anglo-Malay influence.
Johor Zoo, across from the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque. A run down zoo that provides a dismal diversion to western tourists.
Saleng Zoo, Kulai (along the way from Jalan Skudai all the way past Senai town). A private zoo which surprisingly has been reasonably well maintained.
Orchid Valley Located in the Pulai area along Jalan Johor-Pontian road. Relatively run down.
Haji Ali House Located in Jalan Lurah 16, Kg Kempas
WHAT TO DO
Golf Courses - Johor Bahru is reasonably well known for its golf courses. During the height of the country's boom, there is almost a golf course planned every 3 months. Here are some of the best in Johor Bahru.
Royal Johor Country Club probably the most expensive club in Johor Bahru. It is also the first course in this city.
Tanjung Puteri Resort one of the largest courses in Johor Bahru and boasts of many awards. Very well designed courses and attracts a fair amount of visitors.
Leisure Farm easily accessible by Singaporeans via the second link.
Pulai Spring Resort Partly owned by a Singapore company and hence a popular joint among the Singaporeans.
Water sports - Danga Bay There have been some addition recently to Danga Bay. You can rent a paddle boat to explore the area.
Stulang Laut You can find some windsurfing activities around this area.
Dan's Nasty Frogmen Dive Base at Sea Gypsy Village on Pulau Sibu There are boat dives & Try Scuba Dives daily, morning & afternoon. Scuba diving is taught from the age of 8 years starting with Scuba Rangers. There are also morning & afternoon snorkeling excursions to uninhabited islands. Sailing is availble using Solsa sail boats plus paddle skis, kayaks & boogie boards for hire. Taxis to Tanjong Leman are easily available, depart at 7AM for the 9AM boat. You can depart Pulau Sibu at 5:30PM or 8:30PM, the resort will order a taxi to Johor Bahru for your return trip. Sea Gypsy Village operate a bus service from Johor Bahru daily at midday to connect with their 2PM boat, guests are on the island by 2:30PM.
Downtown Divers, Unit 102 Festive Street Mall, Danga Bay, downtowndivers. Established in early 2007, this was the first professional dive centre in Johor Bahru. Provides a range of scuba diving equipment, education and experience.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Senai International Airport (IATA: JHB), formally Sultan Ismail International Airport (Malay: Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Sultan Ismail), is located 28 km to the north-west of Johor Bahru. Senai has expanded aggressively and flights to most Malaysian and Indonesian destinations are considerably cheaper than from Singapore. The airport is compact but recently renovated and fully equipped with shops, a restaurant (landside only), WLAN access (ask for free login at information desk), etc.
Domestic flights are provided by Malaysia Airlines (Level 1, Menara Pelangi, Jalan Kuning, tel: +60-7-331 0036,) with direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, and the low-cost carrier AirAsia (Call centre Tel: 1-300-88-99-33, which provides cheaper direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Tawau, Palembang, Macau and Jakarta.
By Road - JB is at the southern end of the North South Expressway, the toll highway which runs the length of Peninsular Malaysia. Those accessing the city can exit at Skudai, Kempas, Jalan Pasir Gudang or Johor Baru exits.
JB is also at the southern extremity of the Federal Route One, the main trunk road which runs the length of Peninsular Malaysia's West Coast states. Federal Route Three or the East Coast Road also links JB with the East Coast towns of Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu via Kota Tinggi and Mersing. The West Coast's coastal road can be accessed from Pontian.
By Bus - All buses except CW-3 use the Causeway. There's a pattern to the madness: Singaporean-operated buses (SBS, SMRT, SJE) can only stop at one destination in Malaysia, while the Malaysian-operated Causeway Link buses can only stop at one destination in Singapore. Terminals aside, all buses make two stops at Singapore immigration and at Malaysian immigration, which gives you the opportunity to hop on (esp. on those line buses where you can pay with an ez-link card). At both immigration points, you must disembark with all your luggage and pass through passport control and customs, then board the next bus by showing your ticket. On the Malaysian side, the bus stop is to your left as you exit the immigration post. Figure on one hour for the whole rigmarole from end to end, more during rush hour.
By taxi - Only specially licensed taxis are allowed to operate across the border. The rules seem baffling at first, but boil down to this: Malaysian taxis are only allowed to go to the designated terminal in Singapore, and Singaporean taxis are only allowed to go to their terminal in JB.
The "basic" direct taxi service from the Singapore Taxi Terminal at Queen Street (in Bugis) to the Johor Bahru Taxi Terminal at Pasar Bakti Kotaraya II costs S$10 per person or S$40 per car departing from Singapore, and RM 10/40 from Johor Bahru. The main advantage of doing this, as opposed to just taking the bus, is that you don't need to lug your stuff (or yourself) through Customs at both ends; you can just sit in the car.
By train - The KTM Johor Bahru railway station is located about 5 minutes walk directly north from the Malaysian checkpoint. Train tickets leaving from JB are half price those leaving from Singapore.
KTM trains from Singapore into Malaysia also cross the Causeway, but on separate right of way and are thus immune from the traffic jams. On the flip side, Malaysian immigration is conducted at the Tanjong Pagar station in Singapore, but you will be required to disembark with all your luggage and pass through the Singaporean checkpoint at Woodlands. Trains are also very slow (the trip takes an hour) and very infrequent with only half a dozen services daily, but at RM2.90 one way to central Tanjong Pagar the price can't be beat.
By boat - JB's ferry terminal is called the Johor Bahru International Ferry Terminal and is located in "The Zone" duty free complex (locally referred to as "Duty Free") in Stulang Laut, 2 km east of the Causeway. Ferries go to Batam and Bintan in the Riau Islands of Indonesia. Getting there/away: Causeway Link bus No. 22. They can be caught at the Komtar Shopping Complex in the centre of the city.
