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The Kelamah River Memorial
Gememcheh, Negri Sembilan |
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| Gemas Railway Museum, Negri Sembilan |
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Buloh Kasap Broken Bridge (1926)
Segamat, Johor |
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Kota Jail, Ayer Molek
Johor Bahru, Johor |
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Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Street
Johor Bahru, Johor |
" Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things & good people will be drawn to you "
Visiting historical landmarks off the beaten path in Gemencheh & Gemas Railway Museum (Negri Sembilan), Buloh Kasap Broken Bridge, Kota Jail Ayer Molek & Tan Hiok Nee heritage street of Johor Bahru (Johor), accompanying my younger brother & sister to state government offices in Skudai & Johor Bahru, a down the memory lane visit to my hometown in Pontian Kechil (Johor) savouring the Pontian style tomato wanton noodle, small eats in old coffee shops, food courts & wet market, overnight stay in Country Garden Danga Bay (watching beautiful sunset overlooking the Johor Straits & Singapore island coastline), a purposeful & short staycation visit (KM-style of keeping it short & sweet travel) in my home country, Malaysia in the May Day May Day month of 2025 ! A great outcome indeed for my group of three prior to my forthcoming visit to Sumatra (Acheh, Medan, Lake Toba, Dumai, Pekanbaru, Bukit Tinggi & Padang), Indonesia commencing May 22 > June 6 2025 with my travel buddy, KF Wong.
My 1st time visit to these iconic & historic landmarks in the state of Negri Sembilan & Johor, Peninsula Malaysia in May 2025, these touristy places have a rich history & undertones in my home country:
- The Kelamah River Memorial, Gememcheh, Negri Sembilan
- The Gemas Railway Museum, Johor
- Buloh Kasap Broken Bridge, Segamat, Johor
- Kota Jail, Ayer Molek, Johor
- Tan Hiok Nee Heritage & Culture Street, Johor Bahru
Expenses incurred (3 days, a group of 3): Rm262 (US$60) per pax
Hotel (2 nights): Rm296 @ Rm99 per pax (triple sharing)
Petrol & Toll: Rm176 @ Rm88 per pax (twin sharing)
Food: Rm72 per pax
Entrance fee: Rm3 per pax
Travel Itinerary: Subang Jaya > Taman Equine > Gemencheh > Gemas > Segamat > Danga Bay, Johor Bahru (approx 393km)
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Kuala Lumpur > Gemencheh >
Gemas > Segamat > Danga Bay,
Johor Bahru (393km) |
Travel Itinerary (Return Journey): Danga Bay, Johor Bahru > Pontian Kechil > Batu Pahat > Taman Equine > Subang Jaya, Selangor
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Danga Bay > Pontian Kechil > Batu Pahat
> Taman Equine > Subang Jaya (372km) |
Tuesday May 13 2025 (Day 1) - picked up by brother Weng's car at 06.30 in Subang Jaya & sister Mei in Taman Equine for our leisure drive via the main trunk roads / North-South expressway, stopovers in Gememcheh, Gemas & Segamat for some sightseeing / lunch & arriving in Country Garden Danga Bay for hotel check-in at 16.30, a long day indeed !
1) Freeport A'Famosa Outlet, Jalan Kemus, Sempang Ampat, Alor Gajah, Melaka - a brief stopover along the way, charming shopping center with outlet stores, eateries & a courtyard with fountains & a windmill, an impromptu visit, arrived early at 09.15, officially opening time is 10.00 ! KIV for a future visit !
2) Tugu Peringatan Jepun Australia - a historical landmark, a serene memorial park in Gemencheh dedicated to honoring the sacrifices of Australian soldiers in World War 2.
3) Gemas Town, Negri Sembilan - Gemas is a small town near the Negri Sembilan-Johor state border, Gemas is separated into Gemas Lama & Gemas Baru, Gemas Lama is located at the border of Johor state while Gemas Baru is situated in Negri Sembilan state, The town is located approx 165km from Kuala Lumpur, it is the meeting place of Malaysian west & east coast rail lines operated by Malayan Railway (now KTM), for this reason, Gemas is comparatively busy for a town of its size, Gemas railway station was erected in 1922 & is still in operation today.
4) Gemas Train Station, Negri Sembilan - built in 1922, the station is the meeting point / railway junction connecting the West Coast Line (Padang Besar - Woodlands Train Checkpoint) with the East Coast Line (Tumpat - Gemas), this old train station was closed in 2015 & a new KTM Komuter Seremban Link station was built next to it, part of the old station is now converted into a railway museum.
5) Gemas Railway Museum, Negri Sembilan - part of the old Gemas Railway Station (the original structure was well preserved since 1906) now houses a small museum & a cafe; outside, visitors can view a diesel locomotive & other track equipment highlighting the station's historical significance.
6) Jungle Train (Gemas, Negri Sembilan > Tumpat, Kelantan) - the East Coast Line from Gemas, Negri Sembilan was built between 1910 & 1931, it connected to Thailand via a bridge over the Golok River in 1954.
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| Jungle Train Map (Gemas > Tumpat) |
7) The Buloh Kasap Bridge (1926), Buloh Kasap, Segamat, Johor - a historical bridge in Malaysia made famous during World War II, located in Federal Route 1 in the town of Buloh Kasap, Segamat District, Johor, the bridge is built across the Muar River which flows pass Buloh Kasap, also known as Jabatan Putus (Broken Bridge) due to parts of its span being destroyed during the war, the Allied soldiers demolished a part of the bridge to stop the advance of Japanese soldiers from moving forward to Singapore, after the war ended, the bridge was replaced but in 1964 due to a severe flood, the wooden bridge was badly damaged & temporarily replaced by a bailey bridge while a new bridge was being constructed next of it, resulting the old bridge was left in disrepair until today !
8) Segamat Town, Johor - situated in the south central Peninsula Malaysia, lies along the Segamat River & the Kuala Lumpur - Singapore railway, surrounded by oil palm estates.
9) Monument Segamat, Johor - located adjacent to Dataran Batu Hampar (Rock Garden) & in front of Royal Villa & Castl of Segamat.
10) Dataran Batu Hampar (Rock Garden), Jalan Buloh Kasap, Kampung Gubah, Segamat, Johor - located in front of Segamat Castle, equippped with playground, picnic & jogging facilities.
11) Castle of Segamat, Istana Hinggap, Segamat, Johor - a beautiful castle but not opened to public visit !
12) Istana Hinggap - a royal villa in Segamat, Johor, located along Jalan Buloh Kasap, it was built by Sultan Ibrahim for use whenever he visits Segamat for hunting trips, today the Istana Hinggap continues to act as a royal retreat.
13) Dataran Segamat (Segamat Square), Johor - a prominent public square in the heart of Segamat District, Johor, known for its iconic clock tower & well maintained oopen space serving as a central gathering point for locals & visitors.
14) Downtown Segamat, Johor
15) Noodle lunch in a local coffee shop in downtown Segamat, Johor, each savoured a palate of wanton noodle (Rm6 = US$1.40) + herbal drink + a plate of assorted Hakka yong tau fu (Rm6).
16) Hotel Accommodation (2 nghts): my group's two nights stay in Country Garden, Danga Bay by Lions Bay, room tariff Rm144 per night (US$32.70, studio unit, triple sharing, fully furnished).
17) Spectacular panoramic views of Johor Straits & Singapore island coastline overlooking the Lido Beach, Country Garden, Danga Bay, Johor Bahru, what a happy traveler & overnight stay (2 nights weekday) feeling for our group of 3 on this short vacation in Johor Bahru, Johor !
18) Pantai Lido (Lido Beach), Country Garden Danga Bay, Johor Bahru
19) Night view of Country Garden Danga Bay, Johor Bahru - a starry starry night, picturesque & spectacular coastline !
20) Evening stroll in Pantai Lido (Lido Beach), Country Garden Danga Bay, Johor Bahru, a very pleasant walk along the beach & waterfront area.
21) Commercial Street, Country Garden, Danga Bay, Johor Bahru - locals & tourists flocked here for food & shopping.
22) A panoramic view of suburban Johor Bahru city as viewed from our studio unit on the 11th floor (City View) of Country Garden Danga Bay Condominium.
23) Food Street, Country Garden, Danga Bay, Johor Bahru, Johor - underneath our hotel, so super convenient for outdoor eating, rain or shine !
24) Small Eat / Dinner in Sister Kuey Teow Soup (Food Street), Bay Point, Persiaran Danga Perdana Country Garden, Danga Bay, Johor Bahru, Johor, ordered from menu ie a plate of egg fried rice (Rm12 = US$2.70), bitter gourd / pork meat rice vermicelli soup (Rm12) & pork meat ho fun soup (Rm12).
25) Beletime Danga Bay, Ground Floor, Bay Point Persiaran Danga Perdana Country Garden, Danga Bay, Johor Bahru, Johor - window shopping in Beletime mall & Aeon Supermarket after an evening stroll & a dinner !
