A Weekend Rendezvous in Johor

Recently we were in Johor for a weekend rendezvous with my nephew Iman and his wife who live in Kota Tinggi. Our road trip via the North-South Highway began in Shah Alam around 8.00 am, with B at the wheel. We reached Nusajaya about four hours later. The coastal road would have been more interesting, but we wanted to arrive by midday, so all along the way it was just lalang and jungle, rubber and teak wood trees, oil palm trees, plus other vehicles using the long, boring highway stretch.

Driving along the N-S highway (CNB 2013)

At Nusajaya we made for the Legoland water park soft launch, meeting up with Iman and Shila. (For lunch we had KFC, compliments of B, thank you). B and I also went into the main park. A very heavy downpour later caused all activities to stop. (More on Legoland in another posting after this).

The entrances into Legoland Malaysia (CNB 2013)

After this Iman took us to Johor Bahru (JB) for the best asam pedas in Johor, according to him. I have no problem agreeing with him, but then I found the fish asam pedas we had, much more pedas than it is masam. There was also puyuh goreng/fried quail and the freshest ikan goreng/fried fish, mixed vegetables and ulam/herbs, plus sambal tumis udang with petai/stink beans.This 'Restoran Anisofea Asam Pedas Johor Asli' is located in Taman Mt Austin. (There is a write-up on this restaurant and its asam pedas in the New Straits Times, 6 September 2012).

Iman, Shila, B & I at Restoran Anisofea (AB 2013)

After this early dinner Iman guided B so that we followed him back to his home in the Kota Tinggi district. Mostly along the way, oil palm plantations dominate the landscape and Iman is manager of one of these. In 2006 when Iman got married here, his mother (my sister) CY and I had the opportunity to do some sightseeing in this historic enclave of Johor, so this time around I'd hope to visit new sites as well as revisit some.

Movie screen grab of KL Gangster 2

Kota Tinggi is 40 km northeast of JB and the town clings to the fast and wide Sungai Johor. In the evening we went into Kota Tinggi town, to the Heritage Mall - not to shop but to see the Malay movie KL Gangster 2 Prequel. What a way to end the day - with a lot of on-screen violence! But very interesting for the poetic garbles of a (not so) minor gangster (Sofi Jikan), and the eye candy in protagonist Aaron Aziz.

The next day (Sunday) Iman took us around the Kota Tinggi district (aka 'The Historical Tourism District'/'Daerah Pelancongan Bersejarah') to experience and enjoy its history, sights and sounds.        

(To be continued ...)