Travel: Malaysia - Johor

[ahkeong]

JR:

Any suggestions on where to do shopping in Johor? Have been to Tebrau City. Quite a nice place to shop actually. Also been to City Square in JB but it is now having renovation. Anyone been to Bukit Indah? How is it compared to the others?


Now that the exchange rate is quite ok....

bukit indah very similar to tebrau jusco.. except its smaller

if wanna find jusco, there is taman U and Permas Jaya as well

[eyktay]

Anyone been to both Tioman & Sibu Island before?

I googled & seems like Sibu Island Resort (http://sibuislandresort.com.my/) seems rather interesting.

Few questions:
1) Tioman or Sibu has more fishes when snorkel?
2) Any reviews abt Sibu Island Resort?
3) Any tips to share re parking at Tanjung Leman?

MTIA!

[Laura02]

Hi! What a coincidence! I was just planning to go to Pulau Sibu too, then I read the reviews on the Internet and decided to to to Pulau Besar instead. There are a few islands off Mesing, including Sibu, Pulau Besar, Pulau Rawa, and, of course Tioman. I think they ae all in a marine conseervation park, so there is lots to see while diving or snorkeling. A friend who goes there to dive told me that it depends on the dive site. But el niño caused coral bleaching over SE Asia several years ago, so the corals are not as colourful as they were.


I’m going over the National Day weekend. How about you?

[eyktay]

Nice! I'm planning during October's PSLE Marking Days.


Pulau Besar? What resorts are there? Suitable for 3yos?

BTW, why did you decide on Pular Besar than Sibu? Care to share pls?

[Blessed Homemaker]

I’ve been to Sibu and Pulau Besar several years ago. Nice beach but the chalets were very basic. Then again, that was so many years ago. However, do note that the corals were dying then, not sure if they revive over the years.

[eyktay]

Blessed Homemaker:

I've been to Sibu and Pulau Besar several years ago. Nice beach but the chalets were very basic. Then again, that was so many years ago. However, do note that the corals were dying then, not sure if they revive over the years.

Thanks for your sharing! Means Tioman & Sibu's corals are all dying? I thought Sibu's will be better cos it was less visited....no?

Anyway, till date, I called Sibu Island Resort & emailed them, no confirmation of my reservations.....

[Laura02]

I chose Pulau Besar because my cousin recommended it, but it was years since he went. And another more recent traveller commented that he found the resort more clean in Pulau Besar.


Overall, it’s was OK. The sea is not as clear as up north in Trengganu, fewer corals, fewer coral fishes, even fewer sea urchins! But they take marine conservation more seriously up North. So while they frowned on taking a few sea shells home up North, in Besar they didn’t bat an eye.

I was told that overall, coral bleaching affected swathes of M’sia, Indonesia, Phillipines. Google coral bleaching and SE Asia and you’ll get the story. It’s scary really. My uncles remember snorkeling off St. John’s island in the 50s, and said the corals there were really abundant and beautiful then. I remember snorkeling off Tioman in the 80s. Crystal clear waters - I doubt if it’s still crystal clear now. One report said that at the rate the corals are dying, there may not be much left by the middle of this century.

The place is standard M’sian fare. There’s lots of mozzies, sand flies, houseflies, ants, cockroaches, a grasshopper or two … And housekeeping standards are not as rigorous as in S’pore 3star hotels. But it’s OK la, clean enough.

Overall, it’s good for a relaxing long weekend doing nothing but sitting by the beach, dozing in the shade, enjoying the sea breeze.

[Laura02]

Airconditioning! Now I remember it. I didn’t choose Sibu because the resort did not offer aircon in the room. But maybe you’ve found one that does.

Yes, we stayed in Aseania Resort and it does have aircon in the rooms. No TV, no kettle, no hair dryer, no shampoo or tooth brushes, but they provide an aircon and hot showers in each room. Not all resorts provide hot showers.
Actually, its not really hot without aircon because there’s a lovely sea breeze. But the mozzies come in too. The mozzies also come into the room when the aircon is on, but I fancy there are fewer.
Oh, btw, Aseania provides free flow of coffee and tea and a kettle at the dinning area. I guess they just wanted to discourage guests from eating and drinking in the rooms because the ants come if there’s food.

[Vevey]

With a 3yo? Think better stick to tioman berjaya resort, jmho. Sibu was really rustic when we went years ago w/o kids. Parking at leman was ok.

Have u considered pangkor island? Just went w kids last dec, highly recommended! Not sure abt snorkelling though.

[Cuppamocha]

Normal, I drive to City Sq, KSL or Sumtera Mall with wifey and kids. City SQ and KSL target Singaporeans. Things are not that cheap.

Driving in JB is relatively safe, but don’t be too adventurous to venture to alleys. Stay on main roads should be ok.