The 'A' to 'Z' of JOHOR

Aw Pottery and Air Hitam
Air Hitam is a pottery lover's haven to browse around the cluster of shops for a wide variety of ceramic products. Aw Pottery is a short drive away in Macap, renowned for landscaping, home and garden deco, and Aw's impressive award-winning creative ceramic art displayed in the Aw Museum. Pottery Making Workshop that demonstrate the art of pottery making can also be arranged.

Aw Pottery is situated at 83km of the Kampung Macap main road in Simpang Rengam. Open daily from 9.00am to 5.00 pm and up to 6.00pm on Sunday's and Public Holidays. Tel : 07 - 7541 480 & 07 - 7541 476 or Fax : 07 - 754 1475



Bananas
Sudut Mawar serves only superior quality, whole, ripe and unblemished bananas from species like 'pisang tandok', 'pisang nipah', 'pisang nangka', and the "king" of bananas, 'pisang rajah' - deep fried to perfection. Taste the natural sweetness and fragrance of fried pisang rajah in the uniquely Johorean way of dipping it in a spicy dark sauce.

Sudut Mawar is within the Mawar complex, opposite the Sri Gelam football feild along Jalan Sungai Chat, close to Dataran Johor. Open daily from 12.00 noon to 6.30pm except Public Holidays.



Chinese Unity
With a rich story dating back to the 1800's, Johor Ancient Chinese Temple is believed to be the first Chinese Temple in Malaysia to be named after a State. This unique temple represents Chinese solidarity in Johor Bahru as it houses five deities worshiped by five Chinese dialets groups under one roof: "Zhao Da Yuan Shuai" (Hainanese), "Hua Guang Da Di" (Cantonese), "Gan Tian Da Di (Hakka), "Hong Xian Da Di" (Hokkien) and "Yuan Tian Shang Di" (Teochew). The unity of these Chinese dialect groups is further expressed by the temple's annual tradition of a 3-day religious ceremony with exciting street parades from the 20th day of the first month in the Lunar Calendar.

Johor Bahru's Ancient Temple on Jalan Trus is open daily from 7.30am t0 5.30pm. On religious festive days, 1st and 15th day of lunar months, it is open from 6.00am to 6.00pm.



Danga Bay
The Vision City of the South, is by far the most popular destination for locals and visitors to Johor Bahru. For relaxing evenings cooled by balmy sea breezes to a backdrop of the setting sun, there's just no better place to e. Take a gentle stroll on paved walkways or ride the tram. As night falls, bask in the romantic ambience of a million lights reflected on the shimmering sea. From playgrounds, paddle pool, kid's carnival, skateboard rink, shopping arcade, exhibitions and fairs, cafe and restaurants to "live" music entertainment at the beach club, there's just something for everyone to enjoy.

Danga Bay, a 3km long recreational park, is located along Jalan Skudai on the shores of the Straits of Johor.


Eco Resorts
Enjoy educational agro-eco tours with interesting recreational facilities in Johor's agro-eco resorts. Some resorts are commercial farms that also provide accommodation in chalets, dormitories or tents, catered meals and fun activities in day-trips and farm-stays. From hill to resorts to organic farms, it just gives you more reason to better appreciate Nature.



Fisherman's Museum
Explore Tanjung Balau where fishing boats are moored in a picturesque experience of Malay fishing villages. Then visit the nearby Fisherman's Museum to see fascinationg traditional fishing equipment and get a glimpse of the livelihood of the local community.

The Fisherman's Museum in Tanjung Balau is approximately 2 hours drive from Johor Bahru via Kota Tinggi. For enquiries, contact South East Johor Development Authority (KEJORA). Tel : 07 - 822 1601 or Fax : 07 - 822 1600.



Golf Resorts
Golfers can enjoy the choice of 30 golf courses in the State with 13 in and around Johor Bahru city. Take your pick from a number of world-class golf resorts that hosts golf events as well as family activities, team-building programmes, theme parties barbecues and weddings.



Haji Wahid's Mee Rebus
For generation, Johoreans have enjoyed this lip-smaking fragrant dish of yellow noodles drenched in thick dark gravy, garnished by ku-chai, bean sprouts, sliced green chilly, topped by "pendaram", a special crispy condiment and a slice of lime. Reputed to be the best in the country, this humble dish is also proudly served in official State functions to meet the discerning tastes of our nation's leaders and their foreign guests.

Enjoy the authentic taste of Hj Wahid's mee rebus at the ground floor Food Court in Plaza Angsana. Daily business hours are from 11.00am to 10.00pm.


Island Resorts
The islands in the Mersing Marine Park are well forested, fringed by fine white beach, colorful coral reefs and an underwater ecological system that is teeming with diverse marine life. Each of the Park's 13 islands has it's own distinctive charm and attraction and offers idyllic island vacations for sheer relaxtion and sea sports to a backdrop of natural beauty, traditional lifestyle and legendary myths.



Johor International Convention Centre
PERSADA, a convention center of international standards, is designed with sophisticated ambience and the latest hi-tech equipment and the choice for discerning event organizers for hosting Domestic, Regional and International Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions. Events held at PERSADA enjoy value-added facilities and services including 5-stars accommodation in the adjacent Puteri Pacific Hotel.

Johor International Convention Centre - PERSADA JOHOR. Tel : 07 - 219 8888. Website : www.persadajohor.com



Kite Museum
Bukit Layang-Layang or Kite Hill, Pasir Gudang is home to Kite Museum and the site for the annual International Kite Festivals. The museum showcases an exciting collection of breath-taking kites including traditional wau's as well as of modern kites, the chronology of International Kite Festival and audio-visual presentations on kites. Kite Making Workshops that demonstrate the art and precision of kite making can also be arranged.

The Kite Museum located on Bukit Layang-Layang, Pasir Gudang is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9.30am to 5.00pm with Friday prayer break from 12.30pm to 2.45pm; on Tuesday, wednesday and weekends from 8.00am with an hour lunch break. For enquiries and group visits Tel : 07 - 251 3720/21/22 of Fax : 07 - 251 5260. Entrance fee: Adult RM2.00. Children aged 7 to 12 years RM1.00 only.



Laksa Johor
As its name indicates, Laksa Johor is a noodle dish unique to Johor. It is made of spaghetti and rich spicy fish gravy, topped with cucumber curls, bean sprouts, onion-rings, fragrant leaves and a sprinkling of crunchy chai-poh or preserved turnip. Add a dish of sambal belacan, a fragrant spicy prawn paste for that extra kick!

Savour Johor's very own Laksa Johor at : Nina's at Lot 1.02, Level 1 of Plaza Pelangi. Daily business hours from 11.00am to 10.00pm. Tel : 07 - 332 2525


Mawar Gallery of Gracious & Famous Ladies of Johor
A slice of Johor's rich history is lovingly preserved and due recognition given to the gracious and famous lady achievers from Johor. Inspired by the vision, foresight and wisdom of Her Majesty the Sultanah of Johor, DYMM Sultanah Zanariah, the Gallery aims to preserve Johor's history for younger generations. Believed to be the first of its it's kind in Malaysia, the Gallery is a precious gift from Her Majesty to her people to create a sense of pride and loyalty for the State and to inspire the young to excel and achieve more for the nation's development.

Gallery Mawar is at 888 Jalan Sungai Chat, Johor Bahru. Ent5rance fee is by purchase of a RM5.00 souvenir booklet. Open daily from 10.00am to 4.00pm except Wednesday. Advance reservation for group and guided tours is recommended. Tel : 07 - 221 4100/01




Nyonya Specialties by true-blue Peranakan or Straits-born Chinese in recipes handed down through generations will tantalize your tastebuds. Enjoy "ju-hu-char", fried dried cuttlefish with slivers of turnip and "tau-kua", beancurd wrapped in bitter salad leaves and dipped in spicy sauce, as well as curry laksa, rojak, fried "kuey-teow", prawn noodles, popiah and "lor bak" or chicken meat rolls. You can expect familiar favourites like Ayam Buah Keluak, Ayam Chili Garam, Gulai Udang, Chicken Pongteh, stuffed Sambal Fish, Spicy Assam Chicken, lady's fingers, brinjals and "pai tee" hats eaten with a dash of chili sauce. Then cool down with delicious creamy chendol topped with durian!




Otak-Otak
"Otak" is a local specialty of creamed fish and prawns blended with spices like lemon grass, chilles, shallots, tumeric and coconut milk wrapped in lenght of coconut leaves and toasted slowly over burning coals to bring out its unique fragrance. "Stick" otak-otak comes to lenghts of coconut leaves while otak-otak from Muar also comes prepared in frozen packs to buy home. These are ready to serve when thawed and steamed for 15 minutes.






Pineapple Museum
The pineapple is a symbol of prosperity to the Chinese because its name "ong lai" literally spells "welcome good fortune". Pineapple grows best on fertile organic peaty soil abundant in Pontian and Pekan Nenas, Johor's 'Pineapple Town' is one of the world's largest commercial producers of pineapples. The Pineapple Museum provides a wealth of information on the pineapple industry in Johor.

The Pineapple Museum is located at 52km Jalan Johor, Pontian. For enquiries and group yours. Tel : 07 - 686 8750 & 07 - 687 1249, Fax : 07 - 687 0607 or contact the Johor Agricultural Department on Tel : 07 - 235 5506.



Quintenssential Attraction
Johor is only a causeway away from Singapore and a more attractive currency exchange rate is a definite draw for visitors to enjoy more variety and quality with better value for your money!




Rail Coffee
The coffee shop in Kluang Railway Station has been serving its classic blend of fragrant coffee since 1939. Bread slices and buns are still toasted over a traditional charcoal fire for the timeless taste of roti kahwin, two slices of toasted bread held togather by slabs melting butter and a generous spread of kaya.

Kluang Rail Coffee Shop in luang Railway Station is open daily from 7.00am to 12.00pm and from 2.30pm to 6.00pm. Closed for lunch and on Thursdays. Its Johor Bahru outlet at Plaza Kotaraya is open daily from 7.30am to 10.00pm and from 10.00am to 10.00pm on Sunday's.






Sumptuous Seafood
Kukup Laut is a fishing village with homes built on stilts at the edge of the sea. Take an adventurous walk through a maze of raised walkaway to experience this unique fishing village and remember to give way to bicycles, motorcycles and other pedestrians. After an invigorating walk, sit down for a succulentseafood meal in any of Kukup's seafood restaurants that stand on stilts above the sea. And while you savour your meal, enjoy balmy breezes and panoramic views of the sea.

Sumptuous seafood at New Kukup Restaurant at No 1. Kukup Laut in Kukup, Pontian. For reservation, Tel : 07 - 696 0216 or Fax : 07 - 606 9796.




Tanjung Piai Ramsar Site
Tanjung Piai and Kukup Island in Johor National Park are covered in luxuriant mangrove forests and the only places in Malaysia where mangroves trees grow up tp 30ft. Concrete and wooden paths meander around the Park and lead to observation towers where you can enjoy breath-taking views of forest, sea and natural coastal greenery. Numerous shelters or gazebos offer quiet spots to rest and reflect while biardwalks, creatively woven around the forest, provide a comfortable walk for you to reach the Southern-most tip of Mainland Asia!

For enquiries and group reservations to visit Tanjung Piai National Park, contact Johor National Park Corporation on Tel : 07 - 223 7471 & 07 - 224 2525 or Fax : 07 - 223 7472. Entrance fees apply for Adult, Children and Senior Citizens, but is FOC for children below 12 years. Website : www.johorparks.com



Ultimate Durian Kampung
Tropical fruit season is the best time to enjoy the pungent smelling yet smooth and satisfying taste of local durians. Segamat boasts of the best quality durian kampung and even has a fruit-trading center dedicated to the King of Fruits at Dataran Durian!


Variety and Quality in Shopping Choices
Shop in air-conditioned comfort or browse in open bazaars, where there's something for everyone in the variety of quality merchandeise and services in the city's many shopping destinations. Johor offers some of the best shopping options that range from branded boutitiques, department stores, arcades, hypermarkets to flea markets are the colourful pasar malam or night markets and pasar tani or farmars' markets.



Wantan Noodles by Ho Seng Kee
The Ho family's self made egg noodles, sauces, wantan skins and special recipe for dry-tossed noodles is uniquely Johorean. Since pre-war days, they have been serving the ultimate wantan noodles that are tossed realy "dry" in varying degrees of chilly spiciness to your taste, topped with slivers of "char siew" and a sprinkling of spring onions.

Mee Ho Seng Kee is served at Restaurant Huo Lin, 187 Jalan Harimau, Taman Century in Johor Bahru. Open daily from 10.30am to 3.00pm except Tuesdays. This is a non-halal restaurant.



X'citing Malay Legend on the fairy princess of Gunung Ledang, home of the legendary Puteri Gunung Ledang continues to be a romantic enigma that thrills our modern generations. At the height of 1276 meters, Gunung Ledang is the highest point in Johor that attracts jungle trekkers and mountain climbers for adventure sports and Nature studies.


Yong Peng's Crystal Peanuts
Discover peanuts brittle, locally known as "fah sung thong" (Cantonese) or "tau th'ng" (Teochew), freshly made from superior quality, crispy and crunchy peanuts at Crystal Peanuts. Peanuts are toasted and baked in Crystal Peanut's secret recipe to archive the finest quaity peanut brittle joined in a delicate web of wispy sugar crystal! Hygienically and attractively packed, these exceptional hand-made local delicacies are certainly a joy to give a receive.



Zon Johor Bahru
Enjoy the advance of best value for your money at the only city duty-free zone in Southern Malaysia! You can fly, drive or arrive and depart by sea through the Zon Ferry Terminal, stay at the Zon Regency Hotel by the sea, shop at the Zon Mall and enjoy endless excitement at the zon with a day trip or weekend getaway that promises fun and relaxation with entertainment and services that please and pamper.



For enquiries contact JOHOR TOURISM ACTION COUNCIL, Suite 5-4, Johor Tourism Information Council (JOTIC), No. 2 Jalan Ayer Molek, 80000 Johor Bahru. Tel : 07 - 224 1432 / 07 - 224 9960 / 07 - 223 4935. Fax : 07 - 223 7554. E-mail : info@johortourism.com.my / azlin@johortourism.com.my Website : www.johortourism.com.my

Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque

"This mosque on a hill-top combines neo-classical Western and Islamic architecture, and is regarded as one of the most beautiful in Malaysia."
The Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque is regarded as one of the most beautiful mosques in Malaysia, with its amazing combination of Western neo-classical and Islamic architecture.

This mosque can accommodate about 2,000 worshippers at any one time. The mosque is strategically located on top of a hill on Jalan Abu Bakar, overlooking the Straits of Tebrau.

Sultan Abu Bakar mosque was named after the late Sultan Abu Bakar, the "Father of Modern Johor", who laid the foundation stone in 1892. Construction of the mosque was completed in 1900, a few years after his death. Today, the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque is listed as a protected heritage monument by the Department of Museums and Antiquities.

For more information on Johor Bahru, please contact the Johor Tourist Information Centre (JOTIC) at +607-2249960.

Sultan Abu Bakar Royal Museum

"The museum occupies the Istana Besar (Grand Palace) which was specially commissioned in 1864 by the Father of Modern Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar."

The museum occupies the Istana Besar (Grand Palace) which was specially commissioned in 1864 by the Father of Modern Johor, Sultan Abu Bakar. Completed in 1866, the Grand Palace incorporated some of the Sultan's creative ideas in its architecture.

In the early 1990s, Johor's present ruler, His Majesty Sultan Iskandar, decided that members of the public should be given the opportunity to view the Royal Family's collection in a proper museum setting. His Majesty consented for the Grand Palace to be converted into a museum but concurrently it still serves the traditional royal and state ceremonial functions. Sultan Iskandar officially declared the museum open on May 11, 1990.

Housed within the museum are vast arrays of treasures, works of art, antiquities and furniture belonging to the Royal Family. The picture gallery features past and present rulers of the Sultanate and their consorts. There is also a large collection of their personal memorabilia, an impressive array of Orders, Decorations and Medals in the gallery.

Other rooms within the Grand Palace display silverware, crystalware, gold and silver jewelry, priceless vases, furniture, traditional Malay weapons, the State Regalia, a numismatic collection, silver trophies and other family treasures within their natural setting.

The museum is open from Saturday through Thurday, from 9.00a.m. until 5.00p.m. For more information, please call (607) 2230555.

BANGUNAN SULTAN IBRAHIM

Sultan Ibrahim Building is Johor's state secretariat building, where state government departments are housed. It is located at Bukit Timbalan in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The building was constructed between 1936 and 1939. It was officially opened by the late Sultan Ibrahim of Johor a year later. In 1942, when the Japanese occupied Malaya, its Japanese Imperial Army used it as a fotress and a command centre to spy on the British activities in Singapore which was attacked days later. The building was also partly damaged during the Japanese invasion. The damaged part is still visible today. Its architecture combines colonial and Malay architecture with its Saracenic design and tower making it a landmark in Johor Bahru. The building was designed by the renowned British architecture firm, Palmer and Turner which was also responsible for designing the Johor Bahru General Hospital now known as Hospital Sultanah Aminah as well as several prominent landmarks in Singapore. The building houses the Menteri Besar's (Chief Minister) office and State Assembly hall.

It was also the tallest building in the country during the pre-Merdeka era. In Johor Bahru itself, it stood unchallenged as the tallest building in the town until the completion of the Merlin Tower in the 1970s.

Welcome to Johor, Malaysia (Selamat Datang ke Johor)

Johor's Name

Johor in its early days was known s Ujong Tanah (a Malay term meaning Land's End). The present name of Johor is reputed to have been derived from the Arabic word "Jauhar which means previous stone. The English equivalent for precious stone is "Jewel". The Malay name "Johor was coined as it sounded like "Jewel".

The State

The state of Johor lies at the southern end of Peninsular Malaysia. It occupies a land area of 18,841 sq.km and is the 3rd large state of the country after Sarawak & Pahang. Owing to its position, travellers often know Johor as the "Southern Gateway to Malaysia". Johor, has another unofficial accolade; the "Southern-most Tip of the Mainland Asia". The southern-most tip Tanjung Piai in Pontian, is the south-western region of Johor.

Geographically, Johor is surrounded by the states of Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang on the north, the Straits of Malacca on the west, the Straits of Johor on the south and the South China Sea on the east. The island Republic of Singapore situated in the south shares the Straits of Johor and is linked to Johor via the causeway (Johor Bahru - Woodland) and the 2nd Link (Tanjung Kupang - Tuas). Johor has ten districts: Johor Bahru, Pontian, Batu Pahat, Muar, Segamat, Kluang, Mersing, Kota Tinggi, Ledang and Kulai Jaya. The Capital of the state of Johor Bahru. If you are in Johor for the first time, we suggest that you find out which district you are in, and decide which other districts you would like to visit.