Johor Bahru the southern most town in Peninsular Malaysia is the main entry point for tourists arriving from neighboring Singapore. Most visitors pass through this town and head north for the likes of
Malacca,Kuala Lumpur and Penang. However, Johor Bahru does some have sights and attractions that are worth seeing. Architectural pride of place has to be given to the Sultan Abu Bakar mosque which undeniably ranks amongst the loveliest in Malaysia. It took eight years to build and the intricate architecture was designed by Tuan Haji Mohammad Arif; the building was completed in 1900, a few years after the death of Sultan Abu Bakar, the ruler it was named after.
The Islamic Centre nearby is a very recent building but it too is a fine piece of architecture. Along Jalan Tun Dr Ismail you cannot miss the imposing Istana Besar - Big Palace - which was built in 1866 by Sultan Abu Bakar, who was often referred to as ’’The Father of Modern Johor.’’ Part of the place forms the venue for royal ceremonies, investitures, receptions and state banquets but there are plans to convert part of it as a royal museum. Joggers and picnickers find the gardens of the Istana Besar an ideal place. The Sultan Ibrahim building on Bukit Timbalan continues to dominate the J.B. - as Johor Bahru is affectionately called by most locals - skyline. Despite the development of high rise buildings, the square tower of the Bukit Timbalan is still one of the town’s great landmarks. First opened in 1940 today it houses the State Secretariat as well as State offices. Along Jalan Muhamadiah you will come across the Royal Mausoleum which has been the burial place for the Johor royal family ever since the change of the state capital from Johor Lama, which is now a quaint hideout on the banks of the Johor river. The Mausoleum is not open to the public but you can see some very impressive Muslim tombs in the grounds surrounding it. Another architectural attraction is Istana Bukit Serene which is the current residence of the Sultan of Johor. The palace gardens are a delight but are out of bounds to visitors - still you can admire them from afar. Shopping in J.B. can be a thoroughly interesting pastime. If you like one-stop shopping centers then the place to head for has to be the Holiday Plaza where there is a wide range of goods. Just for good measure the complex also houses a cinema, a night club, and a number of fast food and hawker stalls, so you won’t go wanting for entertainment or food for that matter. Although J.B. lacks the variety of traditional shops to be found in places like Penang and Malacca you will still come across Chinese traditional medicine sellers, sealmakers, back street sundry shops, spice haunts and other places selling eastern treasures. T
here are goldsmiths, places selling Indian silks, furniture shops, stores trading in batik, tailors and a few establishments selling curios. J.B. Craftown Handicrafts Center in Jalan Skudai is another great place to head for if you are interested in buying the likes of hand-drawn batik materials and paintings, oil and water colour paintings, songket, straw mats, souvenirs and trinkets. Over in Jalan Waterfall, the Johor Rehabilitation Organisation (JARO) has a shop where visitors can purchase soft dolls, baskets, and a range of handicrafts made by handicapped people. If you want to pamper your palate J.B. will not disappoint you. Local specialities include Laksa Johor and lontong which you will find at roadside stalls. Laksa Johor is a must. A variety of herbs and spices are used to make the gravy which is a rich brown in colour and very, very, spicy. Santan or coconut milk, fried coconut, onions, cucumber, chilli, lime are among the other ingredients of this tasty dish. Lontong which is glutinous rice made into compact cubes served with curry is something special too. The hawkers’ center near Kompleks Tun Razak and the Tepian Tebrau stall are both good areas for Malay stall food. If you fancy inexpensive Chinese fare head for the Taman Sri Tebrau hawkers’ centre where you will come across the likes of prawn mee, curry laksa, assam laksa, wan tan mee, mee Hailam and fish ball soup. Chinese restaurants in town include the Ming Dragon at the Holiday Plaza, the Tong Ah in Jalan Ibrahim and the New Hong Kong in Jalan Sultan Ibrahim. Indian restaurants include the Kerala in Jalan Ibrahim and Granee’s Banana Leaf and Pub, located in Jalan Segget. Grab the chance to try a fiery banana leaf curry, a very hot, spicy, preparation served on banana leaves instead of a plate. Along Jalan Kolam Air there is an outdoor stall by the name of Capati Corner, which is another popular haunt for lovers of Indian food. If you enjoy seafood head for the sea-front along Jalan Skudai where you find a large number of eateries to dine and wine. The Midland Garden is also located along the sea front of Jalan Skudai and among the house specialities are sea bass, pomfret and sea perch. Steamed fresh fish, sweet and sour crabs, sotong and prawns feature among the seafood dishes on offer at the J.B. Seafood Restaurant at No 10, 2½ miles, Jalan Skudai. The major hotels include the Pan Puteri Hotel, Hyatt Regency, Holiday Inn in Jalan Dato Sulaiman a short drive from the town centre, the Merlin Inn in Jalan Bukit Meldrum, the Rasa Sayang in Jalan Dato Dalam, the colonial style Straits View Hotel and the Tropical Inn in Jalan Gereja.
The town’s layout is easy to grasp: from the causeway Jalan Wong Ah Fook and Jalan Tun Abdul Razak divides it east-west. To the east are areas such as Taman Pelangi, Taman Century and Taman Sri Tebrau where entertainment facilities are widespread, to the west is the older part of town housing the Royal Mausoleum, Bukit Serene Palace and the Taman Utara Golf Club. The word Johor is believed to be derived from the Arabic word Jauhar - Precious Stones - reputedly accorded by Arab merchants who traded in this part of Malaysia. In olden times, because of its location, Johor was also called Hujung Tanah or Land’s End ... the capital of Malaysia’s Land’s End, has its fair share of modern touches but also holds on to its past, making it well worth a visit.