Short Getaways in Melaka, Johor and Negeri Sembilan
Just a stone’s throw from Kuala Lumpur are three amazing states, Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan
that make up the southern section of Peninsular Malaysia.
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Short Getaways in Negeri Sembilan
Moving out of KL, down towards Melaka and Johor is Negeri Sembilan (translated: ninth state). Negeri Sembilan is a small state often overlooked by tourists but definitely worth giving the place a chance.
Home to Malaysia’s Minangkabau culture which is still preserved and practiced till today, Negeri Sembilan is known for its beaches, nature parks and palaces.
The Minangkabau culture is strong through the state’s architecture with its rooflines that resemble the horns of a buffalo. This form of architecture can be clearly seen at the Negeri Sembilan Museum as well as the Sri Menanti Palace as well as the wooden houses built in the village.
Not far from Seremeban, in Rembau, lies Wet World Air Panas Pedas. This is the only water theme park in Malaysia which has a natural hot spring spa pool. The naturally hot water contains minerals that is said to have healing properties; The 3D art gallery is really cool. Paintings are found on all corners of the building with spots for you to stand and post and to take pictures to get that perfect shot.
Since the beaches and nature parks are more the attraction here, if you’re a hiker, you should check out Gunung Angsi which stands at 825m high. It is one of the most hiked mountains in the state for both locals and neighbouring states. It is considered one of the toughest mountains to scale and for those who aren’t familiar with the trails are bound to get lost without a guide. Apart from Gunung Angsi, there are other nearby mountains which are good to hike which include Broga Hill, Gunung Tampin, Gunung Telapa Bad Gunung Datuk and Gunung Berembun; Port Dickson beach is the busiest and most frequented beach for city dwellers and famous for the Cape Rachado Lighthouse which is believed to be the oldest lighthouse in the country. It cost RM1 per person and is an easy 15 minute walk to get to; Pantai Bagan Pinang is perfect for windsurfing, kayaking as just lazing about on the white sandy beach; Jeram Toi Waterfalls is where you can picnic and experience the sheer power of water in the natural pools around.
There are a few eco-friendly resorts in Negeri Sembilan to choose from! The Shorea is a pretty high-end resort nestled within lush forest.
Short getaways in Melaka
Moving a little more down south will take you to a little historical state called Melaka. The UNESCO World Heritage City of Melaka carries so much history which reflects in its buildings, cultural heritage and yummilicious food. As you drive into Melaka from Kuala Lumpur, you can already see the building of A’famosa on your left built in 1511 by the portugese and current home to the famous A’famosa water park. Going there you have an option to stay at the hotel or even rent a fully furnished bungalow which even have private pools! However, these bungalows are a bit rundown compared to when they first launched the property.
Passing the Ayer Keroh toll towards the historical city of Melaka, you will already find so much this little state has to offer such as the Melaka Zoo & Safari, Ayer Keroh Recreational Forest where you can , Mini Malaysia which displays miniature traditional houses of Malaysia, Butterfly Farm and even a crocodile farm.
In the city centre of Melaka, top tourism destination include Jonker street which is famous for its antiques and souvenir shopping, cultural shows and amazing food (be sure to try the chicken rice balls and ikan bakar!), St Francis Xavier’s Church which was once the largest church built by the Paris Foreign Missionary in the Malay Peninsular. All of these places are a stone’s throw away from each other so you can walk about and explore the place by foot or even hop onto a trishaw (beca pronounced beh-cha)
Melaka may be known for its rich culture and heritage but that’s not all there is to offer. Even though it’s on the Straits of Melacca, you can still find crystal clear water and white sandy beaches on pulau besar which is great for day trips.
Short Getaways in Johor
Heading to the tip of the country, home of the Southern Tigers (Malaysia’s top football team), is Johor Darul Ta’zim. Just 400km from Kuala Lumpur, Johor is the 3rd largest state in Peninsula Malaysia. Johor Bharu is the state capital and on the board of Singapore, you can literally see Singapore off the coast which is pretty cool. This city is a great place for shopping and dining (try the Laksa Johor and otak-otak) and some sightseeing too such as the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, Sultan Ibrahim Building, the Royal Abu Bakar Museum which carries a large collection of treasures and art for the royal family which is definitely worth a visit.
In Muar, Bandar Maharani is a cool place to visit as well as Bangunan Sultan Abu Bakar, The Custom House, Masjid Jamek Sultan Ibrahim, District Police Office and Courthouse have so much architecture which will leave you noticing the presence of the British back in the day.
Want some fun in the sun, we all know Malaysia is all for that but may we say that Johor has some of the most breathtaking beaches you have ever seen? Johor has plenty to offer all you nature enthusiasts, beach lovers, water sport addicts and hikers!
One of the best beaches to start with would be Desaru Beach which is also known as the Village of Casuarinas. Here is where you can do everything from fishing to swimming, horse riding, snorkelling, kayaking, jungle trekking, windsurfing, go-karting and even golfing. Desaru is rated the most popular beach in Johor, so expect the crowd. Bare in mind though, during the monsoon season, the water can be quite the pull but hey, perfect for surfers, ey?
Other beaches in Johor include Tajung Balau, Danga Bay, Teluk Sengat and Air Papan Beach. If you wanna hit the islands, from the Mersing and Tanjung Gemuk Jetties you can visit the seribuat archipelago which carries 60 islands such as Pulau Besar, Pulau Sibu and Pulau Rawa but the most popular island would be Tioman, a popular beach frequently visited by both Malaysians and Singaporeans alike. Here, you will find so much happening which also includes the Juara Turtle Project where you can volunteer with turtles just like you can at our Perhentian Turtle Project in Perhentian, there is lots of amazing dive spots and not to mention, Tioman is a duty free island!! Cheap booze and smokes! LOL!
Are you more of a jungle person? Don’t worry! Johor has lots of green to offer (for now), which includes one of Malaysia’s few remaining lowland forests, Endau Rompin National Park which you can trek, climb and raft, Kota Tinggi Waterfalls, Tasik Biru in Kangkar Pulai and Orchard Valley. If you wanna go on a good hike, one of the most historic mountains to climb would be the legendary Gunung Ledang. For other amazing trails and views, climb up Gunung Pulai, Gunung Ophir and Gunung Muntahak. These will surely leave you breathless but the views are breathtaking.