2D1N Johor Bahru Trip: For a Stress-free Experience, Take Public Transport

Yes, you've read that right. 

I usually go to JB about twice a year over the last few years during the hols (here's a breakdown of attractions I love, one if you're coming through Tuas, and one for Woodsland. We're no stranger to the traffic conditions in JB, but it's never a pleasant affair to have to circle around the parking compound praying for someone to leave soon, or to take a wrong turn on the highway, or to have to join in the horde of cars at the causeway. But c'est la vie... right? 

But I recently concluded a trip to JB with my friends in the final week of 2017, which was also the peak season for Singaporeans traveling to Malaysia, using nothing more than bus rides and Grab rides. I can finally for certain now: public transport is the way to go for a stress-free JB experience!

For about $1.50, you can take SMRT buses 160, 170 and 170X across the causeway. The buses can be boarded at Jurong East Interchange, or at the bus stop opposite Kranji MRT Station ("Opp Kranji Stn"). We advise Kranji station, because it's 20 minutes to the causeway, as opposed to 40 minutes at Jurong East. We reached Kranji station about 7.30 in the morning and made it through customs in good time. The buses run impressively frequent: at least one 160, 170 or 170X will pull up to the bus stop every 3 to 4 minutes. The dedicated bus lane in the causeway also meant that we sped past the lines of cars queuing in regular lanes. We were a lot less stressed about the causeway experience on a bus, and probably crossed into Malaysia in better time. The bus wasn't packed too, like I feared. At one point, it was only the five of us in the bus. We did have to get off the bus at the Singapore and Malaysia customs and reboard afterwards, but for a day trip (or even for two days like we did), you really don't have a lot of luggage. 

The only delay occurred at the Malaysian Checkpoint, where you should check with the bus conductor to confirm that the bus you're boarding will go to JB Sentral (Buses at certain frequencies may not!). But the buses arrive frequently even on the Malaysian side, and we waited perhaps 5 minutes for the next bus. Once arrived at JB Sentral, take the escalator up to the second floor (there is also a cellphone store where you can also get data plans from as low as RM10), and cross over the connecting bridge to JB City Square. From there, it's a 15-minute walk to the hip area where Ya Wang, Chaiwalla, and an assortment of brunch places are located. Or you can simply Grab your way over in inclement weather. 

Breakfast was Restoran Ya Wang, to which I'd cultivated an unhealthy sense of love for. Unlike past experiences, this time was different: there were no stress over parking, or of the weaving and dodging I associated with the area's crowded narrow streets. It seemed strange to my friends to have a full roast duck for breakfast, but no one complained as the food arrived. We loved the Special Beancurd Pot and the signature Herbal Roasted Duck.  

I really wanted to bring my friends to Chaiwalla. As it only opens 11.30am, we cooled our heels in the interim at Faculty of Caffeine. There were numerous cafes within walking distance to one another, but FOC was the only one that opens in the morning. (We couldn't help feel that it's a little ironic that most brunch places here aren't open for brunch.) It turned out for the best, because the lattes here were the best I've had in Malaysia and rivaled even what we could have found in Melbourne. In a country where most lattes and iced lattes come pre-sweetened with sugar, it's a rare joy to find such a good strong cuppa. I don't know if they double-shot our lattes, but I approve of the strength. Good for them and their world-class barista.  

Pic by R

After marveling at Galleria @ Kotaraya, the new shopping mall that opened up along Jalan Trus, we doubled back to pick up our drinks at Chaiwalla before calling a Grab ride to KSL mall, and a 20 minutes ride costed ... wait for it ... RM8. I picked up a nifty tempered-glass iphone screen protector for RM5, and an assorted range of car accessories. The prices were so reasonable, even N, who's from Thailand, couldn't help but purchase some iPhone accessories too.  

Chaiwalla

Taman Sutera Utama was where we decided to stay for a night. We headed to J Hotel, an affordable adobe with one of the best reviews of all hotels in the area, and we had a pretty comfortable stay there. Taman Sutera Utama seemed like quite a happening area, with most restaurants, bars and cafes within a comfortable walking distance, and two malls in close proximity: Sutera Mall, and Paradigm Mall. Paradigm Mall is the newest addition to the area, and I hear there's a cinema as well as indoor skating rinks. (I'm keen to explore more on my next visit!)

The biggest draw of staying at J Hotel for us was its walking proximity to Escape Room Johor Sutera Mall: located on the top floor of said mall, it costs RM33.80 per pax for a 45-minute game. I've written a review of the escape room here. The escape room opens from 11am to 11pm, and we certainly went for as many as our brains could handle in the two days that we were there. 

Another big attraction in the area was Restoran Pekin, where we enjoyed a grand dinner. The best gauge of a restaurant is being able to execute simple dishes well, and Restoran Pekin shined that day. The food was just as good as I remembered. The vegetable dish 清炒奶白 (plain stir-fried bok choy) was brimming with smoky wok hei, and the unassuming-looking Crabmeat Tofu came with generous chunks of crabmeat over a savoury sauce, and I couldn't get enough of it over plain rice. 

The skin of the Suckling Pork was crackly and crisp, and I half-wished we sprung for the full sized one instead of half... 

Even the traditional Chinese dessert 芋泥 (Yam Paste) was spectacular. The presentation was unlike any I'd seen; it was shaped to look solid, with a glistening surface that made it looked like jelly, and surrounded by a pool of interlacing milk-colored and transparent liquid. But taste-wise, the dessert was as traditional as they come, and richer than any that I'd had.  

Post-dinner, we went to Thai Massage and Spa, and the massage place was luckily able to accommodate three of us without having to make a prior booking. It was good, and it'll be interesting to compare with the many others in the area. 

Foo Soon Bak Kut Teh is located just a stone's throw away from the massage area, and based on the good reviews online, we had it for breakfast the next day. We adored the Dry Bak Kut Teh, the Minced Meat Tofu, and the Sambal Kangkong. The Bak Kut Teh Soup, on the other hand, would probably give it a miss. It wasn't as herbal or as fragrant as we thought it should be. Maybe it'll be better in the evening, when the pork ribs have been simmering in the soup for the better part of the day. 

And perhaps we had ordered too much for breakfast? Mea culpa. This is a chronic problem with me. 

Because we were so stuffed from breakfast and had time to spare for the morning, we ended up going back to the escape room two more times before wistfully departing from Utama Sutera. Best customers of the month? Almost, but not quite, because our stellar success rate stands at a stellar 33%, and the wall of fame is chocked-full with winners that looked half our age. Darn it. 

There are many cafes in the area, but we had Lequa cafe's cakes, which we knew was a mistake as soon as we took our first bite. They were stale, and contrary to their Tripadvisor reviews, we can't in good conscious recommend this to anybody.  


We finally made our way to Restoran Tian Lai for lunch. Out of everything we ate over these two days, this restaurant was unanimously everybody's favourite. I ordered my usual selection of dishes, all of them as impressive as I remembered. The crowd favourite remained the Salted Egg Crab, so don't miss out on that!

  
Bukit Indah Aeon Mall is about 20 minutes away by car, and we spent a relaxing afternoon there. There's a cinema, as well as several other shops and restaurants in the area. The bus stop to Singapore is the one across Blackball (at this exact coordinate as a matter of fact... you're welcome!) This is the bus schedule for the buses that bring you back to Singapore (either to Jurong East or Boon Lay), and I recommend catching no later than the 840pm bus, which would deposit you in Jurong East around 10.30pm. One dinner at Dragon-I (get the liu sa bao!) later, and our holiday has officially ended.