🇲🇾Johor Bahru | In 24 hrs
JB basically sits on the equator so constant tropical weather can be expected year round although monsoon season tends to hit around the end of the year (Nov-Feb), but then again with climate change, who knows?
Getting There:
- Driving (either via Tuas or Woodlands checkpoint)
- SMRT Bus from Woodlands Interchange (911 is fastest)
- Train from Woodlands Checkpoint (need to book wayyy in advance)
Getting Around (Gmaps):
- Grab AppÂ
Payment:
- Cash Preferred (MYR)
- Card accepted in some shops
- Tips not expected
To do
JB is quite developed and has lots of hot and trendy activities for very reasonable prices but if you only have a day to spare then you could find a mall that has all the things you want to do consolidated in one place.Â
Right as you cross the border from Singapore, City Square will be there. The layout is somewhat confusing and the most straightforward way to enter the mall would be through the huge Cotton On at the end of the link-bridge. All the familiar restaurants and bubbletea stops can be found here but it would be best to go out and explore other options.
Tip: Stop by Eureka Popcorn on the way back and pick them up in bulk; the best flavours are curry, seaweed, and tomato.Â
About 3km away from City Square, you will find KSL City. Each floor of the mall categorizes its shops and you will find hair salons on one, nail parlours on another, and massage & spas. As you arrive there, you should make an appointment first then explore their numerous food and shopping options while waiting (or you could try your luck catching toys in the claw machine).Â
Note: At the basement pop up food stores, there's a coffee place outside of Lotus supermarket that serves the best Kopi
Slightly out of the way but a great way to do something exciting to break up the monotony of shopping.Â
Tip: Set up your phone on a tripod if you want to record the experience, or bring a gopro
To Eat
Be prepared to queue as they are crowded throughout the day, every day. Their signature dish the Hainanese Chicken Chop was okay but the dish that truly made the wait well worth it was the Ayam Merah with Blue Pea Rice. They also have seating on two floors and you can watch as they use a manual pulley system to send food between the two floors of their restaurant.Â
Just round the corner from Restoran Hua Mui is the most adorable bakery with queues going on for miles. I have personally never had the patience to stand in the hot sun for their baked goods but someday I will get to it.
Would recommend going with more people so you can order more things to try.Â
While not as popular as Hiap Joo, this bakery also has a large variety of snacks and baked goods and the interior is extremely adorable and holds an old school charm to it.Â
Bring lots of people so you can try their chilli crab (with mantou of course, theirs are huge), whole steamed fish, la la, etc.Â
Another seafood restaurant that I have yet to try but you can dine with a view of Singapore across the Straits so...
The home for unique & authentic travel
