Johor Bahru: The Southern Gateway To Malaysia
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru, also known as Johor Baharu, is the capital of the state of Johor, Malaysia. It is located at the southern tip of West Malaysia and is only separated from Singapore by the Johor Strait. It is the southernmost city in Eurasia.
All year round, with the best months from May to September. Although the summer is hot during the day, there are showers in the afternoon and the monsoon at night is very cool. Most Malaysian businessmen are on vacation from December to February, so business activities should avoid this period.
Recommended play: 2 days.
Overview
It is located at the southern end of West Malaysia and is only separated from Singapore by the Johor Straits and the southern-most city in Eurasia, and its prosperity is second only to Kuala Lumpur. It is the second largest city in Malaysia. Due to the exchange rate, many Singaporeans come here on weekends for fuel, shopping and leisure.
Culture
Malaysia is a democratic country with a Constituent Monarchy. There are 32 ethnic groups in the country, comprising mainly of Malays (majority), Chinese and Indians. As of the end of 2007, the total population of Malaysia was 27.17 million, of which about 66.1% were Malays, about 25.1% were Chinese, about 7.5% were Indians, and about 1.3% were other races.
Travel
Because Malaysia is located near the equator, it has a tropical rainforest marine climate, and there are no obvious four seasons. The temperature difference in a year is extremely small. The average temperature is between 26 and 34 degrees Celsius with abundant rainfall throughout the year.
Traveling in Malaysia is basically suitable all year round. Although it is hot during the day, there are showers in the afternoon and the monsoon at night is very cool (on average 26 degrees Celsius).
Major Local Festival
Thaipusam Festival
2023 public holiday: 05/02/2023 (following Monday will be a public holiday) *long weekend holiday*
During Thaipusam, you will see penitents pierced with silver needles and wearing huge shackles “Kavadi”, you will see them dancing “in pain and joy” to Indian music on the streets, and you will watch to the most devout faith in the world. Thaipusam is a Hindu festival on which devout believers make atonement, devotion and thanksgiving. There are many ways for worshippers to sacrifice, such as shaving their heads, doing deeds, piercing their whole bodies with silver needles, or carrying huge shackles and parading from one Indian temple to another Indian temple to express their unswerving loyalty to the gods. Faith, pray for the blessing of the gods.
In order to participate in this festival, they will strictly observe the precepts one month ago, abstain from sex and meat, and on the day of the festival, they will purify the body and soul through the suffering of the flesh, so that the soul can be sublimated.
Chinese Lunar New Year
2023 public holiday: 22/01/2023 – 23/01/2023 (following Tuesday will be a public holiday) *long weekend holiday*
There are more than one-third of the Chinese population in Malaysia, and the Chinese Lunar New Year is an important event in Malaysia. After the baptism of Malay and Indian culture, the local traditional Chinese New Year adds a strong Malay flavor. However, traditional customs are still deeply rooted in the hearts of local Chinese, such as family reunion, New Year’s Eve dinner, New Year’s Eve money given by elders, dragon and lion dance, etc.
Hari Raya Puasa
2023 public holiday: 22/04/2023 (following Monday will be a public holiday) *long weekend holiday*
Devotees must fast from sunrise to sunset throughout the month, refrain from eating or drinking, and gather in prayer as a sign of devotion. When it is time to break the fast after sunset, it can be seen that a large number of Muslims are pouring into restaurants to enjoy their first meal. Various restaurants also cooperate to extend their business hours until the early morning. During this period, tourists can see the special scene of the restaurant’s full popularity after dark!
Vesak Day
2023 public holiday: 03/06/2023 (following Monday will be a public holiday) *long weekend holiday*
Wesak Day is an annual event in the Buddhist world, symbolizing the birth, enlightenment, and nirvana of the Buddha. On this day, devout believers from all over Malaysia will gather in large and small temples across the country to offer flowers and incense, as well as customary activities such as chanting scriptures and prayer ceremonies; after night, there will be a series of grand events in various cities.
Eid al-Fitr
2023 public holiday: 29/06/2023
Strictly speaking, Eid al-Fitr is not a Malay New Year, but an important day in the Hijri calendar. But because they celebrate Eid al-Fitr in much the same way that Chinese celebrate Lunar New Year and Indians celebrate Deepavali, generally Malaysians refer to Eid al-Fitr as “Malay New Year” (although they all know this is incorrect). ). Eid al-Fitr is scheduled on October 1 of the Hijri calendar, but because the Hijri calendar has only 354 or 355 days in a year, the Gregorian date of Eid al-Fitr is earlier every year.
National Day
2023 public holiday: 09/08/2023
National Day (Merdeka Month Celebration) is celebrated by all Malaysians. There will be a grand parade by government officials and royals, and there will be various exhibitions to showcase the country’s history. In addition, there will be fireworks tours and other celebrations. National Day is August 31 (Merdeka Day).
Lantern Mooncake Festival
The Lantern & Mooncake Festival is a festival that symbolizes the peaceful celebration of peace and abundance. In modern times, more and more people will appreciate lanterns and enjoy different styles of mooncakes. In Malaysia, mooncakes can be tasted throughout the month, and there are many lantern festivals around.
Deepavali
2023 public holiday: 12/11/2023 (following Monday will be a public holiday) *long weekend holiday*
On Deepavali, Hindus get up early in the morning to take a bath and put on festive costumes. Some men, women and children hold flowers, some betel nuts and bananas, and they come to the Hindu temple. They use these things to make offerings to the gods. Kneel down and pray, praying for God’s blessing. During the festival, every household is brightly lit and filled with cigarettes, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, evil over righteousness and wisdom. During the festival, Indian families not only visit relatives and friends to share delicacies, but even open their doors to welcome visitors from different religions and ethnicities to celebrate together.
Arrival & Departure
Changi Airport
Singapore’s main airport and the most important regional hub, large and comfortable, the entire airport has three terminals (T1, T2, T3), between which are transferred by air trains and shuttle buses. Changi Airport is regarded as the most beautiful airport in the world. It not only has leisure places such as gardens, swimming pools, cinemas, but also themed amusement facilities. In addition, Changi Airport is also a good place for shopping. There are many duty-free shops for cosmetics and perfumes, which are cheaper than the urban area.
Address: Singapore Changi Airport, Airport Blvd, Singapore, 918146
Website: http://www.changiairport.com/
How to get there
MRT: MRT Green Line. The MRT station is located in the basement of Terminals 2 and 3 and can be reached from the arrivals and departures hall via handrails or direct lifts, and the one-way fare is less than SGD 3 (including a SGD 1 deposit, which is refundable), to the city center The time is about 30 minutes.
BOOKMYTAXI.MY is the easiest way to book a private taxi or cross border transfer to Changi Airport from Malaysia or vice versa. We offer fixed prices, upfront pricing and the most affordable rates. Book my taxi with us and experience professional service from our highly trained drivers.
Senai International Airport
Senai International Airport (JHB) is located in the north-northwest direction about 35 kilometers away from the Singapore – Johor Causeway. AirAsia, Firefly and Malaysia Airlines are now supported for routes, and only direct purchase or booking of domestic flights to eastern and western Malaysia is supported. The newly refurbished airport is much cleaner, with shops, restaurants, currency exchange, and free WIFI.
How to get there
BOOKMYTAXI.MY is the easiest way to book a private taxi or cross border transfer to Senai Airport from Singapore or vice versa. We offer fixed prices, upfront pricing and the most affordable rates. Book my taxi with us and experience professional service from our highly trained drivers.
You can also read on our public transportation guide from Singapore to Senai airport.
KTM Train
KTM travels between Singapore and western Malaysia across the Singapore – Johor Causeway, passing through the city of Johor Bahru. Trains depart from the Woodlands checkpoint, 700 metres from the Causeway. If you are travelling from Singapore to Malaysia, you will need to be checked at an immigration checkpoint in Singapore, then cross the railway and be checked at an immigration office in Malaysia before you can board the train. Cross border train services between Singapore and Malaysia is currently suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cross border KTM Tebrau Shuttle train services will resume from 19th June 2022 onwards, and you can read more about KTM Tebrau Shuttle online reservation guide, or get to know more about Tebrau Shuttle timetable.
Self-Driving
There are several major highways in the city of Johor Bahru, including the Pasir Gudang Highway which connects both sides of the city and the Tebrau Highway which connects the Lebuhraya Utara Selatan Expressway with the Malay Peninsula) and Jalan Tun Abdul Razak Highway. In the West of Pasir Gudang Expressway, it is connected with the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link (Linkedua, Second-Link) and Singapore’s Tuas industrial area at Gelang Patah area. At the same time, Tambak Johor, Singapore – Johor Causeway in the city is connected with Woodlands in Singapore.
If you do decide to self-drive in Malaysia, read on about our FAQ for driving in Malaysia and the things to take note during your vacation.
Local Transportation
Johor Taxi
BOOKMYTAXI.MY acts as a window connecting passengers with thousands of taxi drivers in entire Malaysia. Passengers from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, Kuantan and many other towns in Malaysia can book their rides on the website. To book a taxi from Singapore to JB, the passengers have to select their pick-up and drop-off location in Singapore along with the location for disembarkation in JB (e.g., Singapore to JB Senai Airport or Singapore to JB City Centre Terminal). The final pricing will be displayed on screen. All you need to do is make your payment using credit card or cash.
Johor Bahru City Taxi
Taking a taxi (called a taxi for Chinese in Singapore and Malaysia) is one of the very cheap options for traveling in Johor Bahru, although drivers often refuse to use the meter, you must insist that they use it. The city of Johor Bahru has stipulated that the meter must be used since 2010. If your driver insists on refusing to use it, in order to avoid disputes over the price of the car at that time, it is better to change a car as soon as possible. The starting fare for a taxi in Johor Bahru is RM3 for two kilometers; then 10 sen (in Malaysian currency) per 115 meters.
Johor Bahru City Bus
You can choose to use the bus to get around the city. But sometimes you have a problem, that is, you can’t find clearly marked bus stops. Don’t panic at this time, you just need to follow the local crowd and wait on the side of the road. The main bus station in Johor Bahru is City Square at Jalan Wong Ah Fook. Here you can take routes to various places in Johor Bahru and some routes to the suburbs of Johor Bahru. The last bus is at 23:00, and the fare depends on the distance. You can also go to Larkin Sentral Bus Terminal if you are preparing to travel to other Malaysian states/cities. Interstate bus services operates from this main terminal.
Local Currency & Exchange
The currency of Malaysia is Ringgit RM, the exchange rate is about 1 US Dollar = 4.3 Malaysia Ringgit. It is not recommended to exchange a large amount of ringgit at the airport. Tourists only need to exchange a small amount of change at the airport, enough to pay the travel expenses. Airports, shopping malls and hotels have foreign currency exchange centers (generally only accept banknotes)and every mall has a Money Changer, but the rate of Money Changer in the city center is slightly lower. Most hotels impose an additional fee when they accept currency exchange. Traveler’s checks must be exchanged at the bank.
When traveling to the outskirts, be sure to bring enough cash and change. It is not cost-effective to exchange ringgit at the airport. There are many more cost-effective exchange points in the city.
If you are starting from Kuala Lumpur to other cities, it is best to exchange enough money in Kuala Lumpur before setting off, because the exchange rate of other cities is lower than that of Kuala Lumpur, and old money and damaged money are not charged.
Credit Cards and UnionPay
UnionPay cards can be used in 6 banks under the local network MEPS – Hong Leong Bank, Maybank, Public Bank, RHB Bank, CIMB, People’s Bank (PBC). Bank Rakyat) and three foreign banks, Standard Chartered, HSBC and Citibank, have withdrawn cash from ATMs. UnionPay cards can be swiped in several shopping plazas in the city center. You need to check whether there is a UnionPay logo at the door or at the cashier, or ask the clerk. But its not everywhere you can swipe UnionPay cards, if it is UnionPay Visa or Mastercard, you can swipe it everywhere, and you can use the Visa or Mastercard channel.
In other cities in Malaysia, there are far fewer places where UnionPay cards can be swiped than in Kuala Lumpur. You need to ask the clerk or pay attention to whether there is a UnionPay logo in the window or at the cashier. If it is UnionPay Visa or Mastercard, you can swipe it anywhere, and you can use the Visa or Mastercard channel.
The use of credit cards is relatively common, and many stores can swipe cards, and most of them do not have a minimum credit card consumption. Except for some small shops, it is best to prepare a little cash.
Tipping
Tipping is not mandatory in Malaysia. In hotels and restaurants, tipping is not necessary because a 10% service charge has been added to the bill. If the bill states that there will be an additional service charge (Service Charge), you can tip about 10%. Passengers may tip hotel staff and luggage porters as appropriate. There is no need to tip hotel doormen and taxi drivers.
Precautions For Entry and Exit
- At the time of customs clearance, the immigration at the airport will check whether the amount of cash carried by the passenger is sufficient to cover the expenses during their stay in Malaysia. In this regard, the Malaysian side has no specific limit on the amount, but it is understood that the basic reference standard is at least 1,500 ringgits (about 500 US dollars). This is the “standard” set internally by the Malaysian side in combination with its living consumption level. Special reminder to visitors to Malaysia whose sponsors are Malaysian citizens or enterprises, in order to take precautionary measures, they still need to carry a sufficient amount of cash for future reference.
- The airport authorities have stricter entry checks on Chinese tourists (individual passengers), especially women under the age of 30. If the person is found to come to Malaysia frequently in a short period of time, the person will be refused entry. In addition, a passport is required to travel from West Malaysia to East Malaysia. The Malaysian Immigration Department has the right to refuse entry to foreigners with criminal records, incapacity and false declarations of the purpose of coming to Malaysia.
- Daily necessities carried by foreign tourists; goods with a total value of not more than 250 US Dollars per person (the total value of the goods brought by the flight attendants does not exceed 50 US Dollars per person) (including 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco leaves; 1 liter of alcoholic beverages; appropriate amount of perfume) enjoy duty-free treatment. Cameras, video cameras, cassette recorders, binoculars, sports equipment, laptop computers, mobile phones or other similar equipment for foreign tourists’ own use must be declared and brought back when leaving the country.
- Tourists who bring US$10,000 or more (RM34,000 or more) into or out of Malaysia must fill in Customs No.22 to declare to the customs. This amount includes cash, coins, bank drafts, checks and traveler’s checks. Visitors can request forms at customs checkpoints at entry and exit. This is an international measure to eliminate overseas money laundering.
- Tourists must also declare the agricultural products they bring. Customs must inspect items to ensure that they do not contain pests and fungi that threaten the local ecology.
- Toy guns that look like real guns are prohibited from being brought into the country. Dangerous weapons (eg katana), fireworks (eg firecrackers). Pornographic publications and pirated CDs are also prohibited items.
- Drug smuggling is a very serious crime in Malaysia. Possessing or dealing in drugs is punishable by death.
Travel Tips
Cell Phone / Calling Card
There are three major mobile communication service providers in Malaysia, namely Maxis, DIGI and Celcom. The famous AirAsia TuneTalk cooperates with Celcom. At airports, railway stations and roadside, you will see large and small purchase points, but try to buy at the counter, it is more convenient to recharge, and you can recharge in major convenience stores and even small grocery stores in urban areas. These cards are all one-way charges, and there is no domestic long-distance call in Malaysia. Even if the pre-stored call charge is 0, you can answer the call. There is a free call fee when buying a card. When opening the number, you need to ask the staff or clerk to help you change it into English and open the Internet.
Hotlink card Maxis’ Hotlink card signal and Internet access are relatively stable, and the coverage is wide. In addition to the airports, telecommunication agent outlets everywhere in the city, 7-11, 99 Speedmart and other chain supermarkets, there is also the headquarters building of Maxis next to KLCC.
You may also read about the list of recommended prepaid sim cards with data plan to use in Malaysia.
Getting online
Free WIFI service is provided in cafes, hotels, fast food chains, and some inns; you need to get the password from the clerk. There is a WIFI wireless network in the shopping mall, you can connect to it without a password, but the signal is very weak. Or look for Internet cafes to surf the web, mostly near schools or business districts, ranging from 3-10 ringgits per hour, and some can include nights. Some youth hostels or Guest Houses also have internet corners for a fee.
Malaysia uses a British standard three-phase flat plug to connect to a stable power supply (220-240 volts, 50 Hz).
Places Not To Be Missed
Johor Bahru Old Temple
Johor Bahru Old Temple is located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia with a history of more than 100 years and is one of the oldest buildings in Johor Bahru. The ancient temple building is based on the architectural design of southern China and has a strong Chaozhou architectural style. The roof is gradually increased in height. The roof of the gate of the front yard is short and the roof of the hall is high to highlight the importance of the hall. There are five gods enshrined in the ancient temple. On the 21st day of the first lunar month every year, the ancient temple of Johor will hold an annual grand tour of the gods.
The Temple is a place with cultural heritage, historical significance and very good Feng Shui treasure. It’s great! It is very lively, popular and there are many people !
Legoland Malaysia
The first Legoland theme park in Asia and the sixth Legoland theme park in the world opened on September 15, 2012 in Nusajaya, Johor, Malaysia. This is a wonderful world full of unlimited fun, both for adults and children. , Legoland Malaysia will be a place with a lot of fun elements in the journey.
Legoland Malaysia covers an area of more than 93,000 square meters. There are more than 40 kinds of amusement facilities, performances and attractions in the park. It is mainly divided into seven themed areas, including the entrance, Legoland, Lilliput, and Adventure Land. , Fantasyland, LEGO Kingdom and LEGO Technic Park.
There are many lovely large-scale dolls in the park, which are made of Lego bricks, and people can’t help but keep pressing the camera shutter, like the grandfather holding the toilet at the toilet door, and the painter holding the palette. , or Malaysian women in headscarves, etc., are very distinctive. There are 15,000 Lego models in the park, which are estimated to be composed of more than 50 million Lego bricks of different sizes.
Jalan Wong Ah Fook
Jalan Wong Ah Fook Street is a major one-way street in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, located in the central business district of Johor Bahru and is also one of the busiest roads in the city. Within the center of Jalan Wong Ah Fook, there are City Square shopping mall, Komtar JBCC, characteristic local shops and famous curry fish head restaurant nearby. On weekends, there is a night bazaar where you can experience all the local cultures and food.
Desaru Coast
Desaru is a coastal resort area in the South-Eastern Johor state – within the small town of Bandar Penawar. The integrated resort concept materialized in 2019 with the opening of The Els Club Champion Golf Resort, Waterpark Adventure, The Westin Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel & Anantara Resort & Villas; the entire Desaru coast line had been transformed and become a favorite weekend destination/staycation for the likes of Singaporean and Malaysians.
You can reach Desaru coastal resorts via self-driving or booking a private taxi service from BOOKMYTAXI.MY. Passengers from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Kuantan and many other towns in Malaysia can book their rides on the website. To book a taxi service from Singapore to Desaru, the passengers have to select their pick-up and drop-off location in Singapore along with the location for disembarkation in Desaru (e.g., The Westin Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel or The Els Club). The final pricing will be displayed on screen. All you need to do is make your payment using credit card or cash.
You can now also book a ferry ride from Singapore’s Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to the coastal town of Desaru.
Sibu Island
Sibu Island is located at the southernmost tip of Malaysia and is a small island west of Johor. The island is full of lush tropical plants and long golden sandy beaches. There are many rock holes along the coast, which are formed by the impact of seawater brought by the long-term monsoon, which gives the island a rugged beauty. Offshore, the bottom is a fascinating coral reef, which contains many beautiful underwater creatures. The island is full of lush tropical plants and long golden sandy beaches. There are many rock holes along the coast, which are formed by the impact of seawater brought by the long-term monsoon, which gives the island a rugged beauty. Offshore, the bottom is a fascinating coral reef, which contains many beautiful underwater creatures. You may also find some wrecks of shipwrecks, ancient Chinese merchants…
You will have to take a boat ride from Tanjung Leman Jetty (Mersing district) to the tropical island.
BOOKMYTAXI.MY is the easiest way to book a private taxi service to Tanjung Leman Jetty. We offer fixed prices, upfront pricing and the most affordable rates. Book my taxi with us and experience professional service from our highly trained drivers.
If you would like to have a leisure drive up for the island vacation, we also offer a self-driving guide from Singapore to Tanjung Leman jetty.
Tioman Island
Tioman Island is located on the east coast of Malaysia and is known as the world’s top leisure island. Legend has it that the island was also the palace of a dragon girl, the picturesque Tioman Island is sunny, and because of its beautiful scenery, the Hollywood musical “South Pacific” has also been filmed here.
Tioman Island is well developed and has various facilities such as water sports, accommodation and dining. The waters around Tioman Island are blue and clear, and there are colorful sea fan corals, stone pines, sea hares and other marine life on the bottom, so there is also the nickname of nature aquarium. Moreover, the visibility of the sea water here is more than ten meters, and the warm and clear seabed makes it the best choice for diving enthusiasts. Swim with hordes of tropical fish for fun. In addition to diving, there are also water sports such as windsurfing, jet skis, banana boats, etc. to choose from.
If you don’t play in the water, you can also go hiking in the virgin jungle. The virgin jungle on the island is full of wild vines, apes and large lizards, and it has a Jurassic Park visual sense. In addition, the granite formations on the island make it an excellent place for rock climbing. Adventurous lovers of thrills can climb the fabled Gunung Nenek Semukut cliff or Longhorn Rock.
You will have to take a boat ride from Mersing Jetty to the tropical island.
BOOKMYTAXI.MY is the easiest way to book a private taxi service to Mersing Jetty. We offer fixed prices, upfront pricing and the most affordable rates. Book my taxi with us and experience professional service from our highly trained drivers.
To reach Mersing jetty, another affordable option would be to take a public bus service from Johor Bahru to Mersing. The journey time will definitely take longer but it’s an alternate form of adventure for the backpackers.
Having been to a lot of Southeast Asia island trips, the requirements for islands are getting higher and higher. I have always disliked places with many people. Naturally, Tioman Island is the best choice
And Finally …
We’ve explained a few of the different transportation options that can be found in and around Malaysia and Singapore. We’d like to offer you an opportunity to try our private taxi service. Our top priority is always our customers and we pride ourselves on our professional and knowledgeable drivers. Get started or finish off your adventure in one of our many luxurious private taxi. If you don’t know the area well, our drivers are more than happy to help point out popular locations and entertainment opportunities.
You can reserve our private taxi anytime, 24/7 and for added convenience – Book online now to reserve a private taxi or WhatsApp +6011-2183 8820 for any inquiry.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!
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