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 Johor, also known as Johore,
is the southern gateway into the Peninsular Malaysia and
is linked to Singapore by road and rail. Its proximity
to Singapore has made it a popular destination among
Singaporeans as well as other international tourists
visiting the island republic whereby visitors can do
their shopping here and also try out the different types
of Malaysian cuisine and admire its tourist attractions.
Johor is the only
state in the country that boasts of a beautiful coastline
stretching along the Straits of Malacca to the South
China Sea and the eight districts which made up this
modern southern state are Johor Bahru, Pontian, Batu Pahat,
Muar, Mersing, Kota Tinggi, Kluang and Segamat. The
state is endowed with many natural attractions that
Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque provide numerous opportunities
for a wide range of outdoor recreational and leisure
activities and this place is packed with tourists from
Singapore during the weekends.
When in Johor Bahru, the
capital city of the state, take time off to tour the city or
shop around. Interesting spots and famous places of
interest commonly visited by
tourists are the Royal Museum,
the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, the Grand Palace, the Johor
Art Gallery, the Mawar Handicraft Centre and Dataran
Bandaraya built in 1994 to commemorate Johor Bahru's
declaration as a city. Souvenir and handicraft stores
and modern shopping complexes all offer a multitude of
items at reasonable prices.
 Those who yearn for jungle
adventures will find the Endau Rompin National Park in
the north eastern border of the state to be a haven for
unspoilt nature. The park is home to many unique
and endemic varieties of tropical plants and visitors
have reported occasional wildlife sightings. The
popular Kota Tinggi waterfalls, 56 km north of Johor
Bahru is a refreshing spot for picnics. A drive through
the large tracts of oil palm and coffee plantations in
Kluang makes a pleasant and eye-opening experience. Head
for Kukup, a picturesque fishing village on the
southwest coast and visits its fascinating fish farms.
Round off your trip by stopping at the town to taste the
fresh and delicious seafood
Kukup fishing village
offerings. Or visit the
mangrove swamps of Tanjung Piai to see among its main
attractions which are its unique and exotic aquatic
life.
Johor's premier beach resort
is at Desaru, a magnificent 25 km stretch of sandy beach
flanking by South China Sea. The resort has three hotels
and is just the right place to unwind and indulge in a
host of watersports adventures such as fishing, snorkeling, windsurfing, boating, canoeing,
swimming and jungle-trekking. Off Johor's eastern coast, amid the clear blue waters of the South China Sea are
the islands of Pulau Rawa, Pulau Sibu, Pulau Aur,
Pulau Besar and Pulau Pemanggil. All these idyllic
islands have plenty of accommodations and offer excellent scuba
diving, snorkeling, wind-surfing, sailing and other
activities.
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