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Guide to Johor Bahru, Malaysia
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Johor Bahru
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Johor BahruJohor Bahru
An intriguing South Asian nation sequestered from one another by hundreds of miles of the South China Sea, Malaysia is as interesting from within as it is without. Its capital (there exist provincial capitals as well), Kuala Lumpur, is one of the most advanced in the region, and the nation's landscapes appear more as dreamscapes than anything else. And, though often passed over when the country's largest and most resource-laden cities are basically one-stop shops, a visit to an unknown as drastic a change as one would normally presume. Johor Bahru, one of these "unknown" Malaysia cities, is like its larger siblings in that it boasts large commercial, trade, and transportation industries, a state it has been presented with because of its proximity and its "gateway" status between Malaysia and Singapore. The tourism industry of Johor Bahru is a fledgling when sized up against that of Kuala Lumpur, but it seems to suit the properties of Johor Bahru quite well. Diminished are the numbers of street-side vendors heckling passersby with wares in exchange for Ringgits (Malaysian currency), and traffic, apart from that which is ever present on the highways and inside the city center, is quite bearable and is often the overarching delight found by visitors en route from the bustling Singaporean capital south of its location. While international travel between Johor Bahru and foreign cities is strictly kept within the region, a few hundred miles northwest is a terminal serving both Malaysia and the world in general. With the southernmost point of the Malaysian north-south highway finding its end at Johor Bahru's doorstep, even relatively quick ground travel to the city is possible.
When to go:
Johor Bahru is only a few hundred miles from the Equator of the eastern hemisphere. Translation: hot, hot, hot. By the grace of fortunate evolutionary events, Malaysia is not conjoined with Singapore, but rather is segregated by the miles-wide Johore Strait - not so much named for the city as for the state of Johor. What you'll need to know are the basics. Malaysian and Singaporean summers bring lofty temperatures, but perhaps as a result of topographical differentiations, they rid themselves of heat in the evenings and undergo a gradual rise in degree during the day, offset by the constant activity of atmospheric currents. The shoulder seasons show little difference at midday, but are more forgiving in the early and late hours. Winters dampen the region with frequent rains.
Getting there and around:
Malaysia Airlines is, of course, the dominant carrier amongst all regional and international terminals throughout the country; within Senai International Airport, things are no different. Travelers from Europe will likely fly via Lufthansa or their own national carrier, though Malaysia's growing fleet has been making its presence known to more places every year. If you are flying into Johor Bahru, we suggest hiring a taxi, as airport-city transit can take longer than desired by bus. Renting a car deems one ripe for an omen of unlucky circumstances during one's stay. Even Johor Bahru's semi-controlled nature cannot mask the frequent erratic behavior upon streets. Attractions:
The Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque is one of Johor Bahru's most well-known sights, not only for the much of the populace's near universal desire to worship there, but also for its architecture. The grounds outside the Mosque are open to all, though unless you're a cunning character, entry is allowed solely to Muslims. Has the jumble of Malaysian startups got you down? Simpler times are accessible in Malay Kampong, a nearby village with an exclusive emphasis on ruralism.
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