Kota Iskandar is Johor's 13th administrative centre. Set in a land area of 320 acres, the buildings here spot two distinctive architecture styles, Moorish-Andalusia and Johor Malay. Johor, by the way, derived its name from the Arabic word for 'diamond'. The State Legislative Assembly Hall, or known in Johor as the State Parliament, in Bangunan Sultan ... continue reading »

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Johor Bahru campus is no longer just an institute of higher learning. For the past few years, the university management has been promoting UTM as an eco-tourism destination. I'd say their efforts have been rather successful as the campus has received thousands of visitors to date. With a total land size of ... continue reading »

This quaint little house turned show gallery is actually also the retail store of Johor's artist community who goes by the brand, JOHO, the slang for Johor. I understand that the conception of P.O.R.T. in Ipoh was inspired by JOHO, with the common belief that artists have to help themselves by creating a platform to promote ... continue reading »

Brand-conscious fashionistas would have already shopped at Johor Premium Outlets, a shopper's paradise in Kulaijaya, Johor, currently with a total of 120 brand name outlets, spanning over 100,000 square feet. Opened since 2011, the phase two of JPO was launched on Nov 15, with an additional of 40 outlets, from the 80 outlets in the first ... continue reading »

Only 17 months old, this resort, a short drive from Renaissance Johor Bahru, is actually an investment property, where some owners lease their units to the hotel for a guaranteed annual return. Hence, besides being a resort, it is also a hotel and residence. There are a total of 193 units of suites, consisting of studio, ... continue reading »

This unique boutique hotel sports a Balinese decor, with all fittings imported from Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia. The owner, Johar Arif, who owns JA Residence Hotel in Johor Bahru town centre, and whose initials now form part of the name of this establishment, had initially planned to construct this large villa for his own family. But while ... continue reading »

When touring a city, there's no escaping the exploration of local food. Seafood is definitely one of the most famous cuisines in Johor. One of our dinners was at this seafood restaurant that goes by the name '6 Corner' in a seafood village, just at the fringe of the Straits of Johor , looking out to ... continue reading »