Malaysia III
by prudence on 12-Apr-2010
We spent the weekend in Malaysia. Desaru Beach, to be precise, courtesy of a convenient package.
Very easy. Very pleasant. The Pulai hotel's biggest assets are its position on the long, lovely Desaru beach (which it very sensibly has not built out onto), and its nice big pool (best enjoyed when the hotel's smallest residents are off doing something else). See pictures here.
This excursion is even better if you stay in Changi Village the night before. You can then have a nice seafood dinner at the Long Island Seafood and Noodle Bar, and masala dosa for breakfast at Dynamic Dining.
Anyway, here's a quick review of our weekends-in-Malaysia-from-Singapore, in case anyone's interested in the practicalities.
Johor Bahru: DO go -- we enjoyed our weekend there. If you can avoid it, DON'T go at the weekend. It doesn't make it any better if you come back early Monday morning. DON'T get the No. 160 bus. I'm not sure what is the best way to go, but this isn't it. (See also Nigel's post.)
Melaka: DO consider Luxury Tours -- we found them to be a very efficient way to get over the Second Link. You can just buy the bus trip -- you don't have to buy the accommodation package. DO think twice about travelling at Chinese New Year -- although it was quite good fun to be part of the vast crowds enjoying the long weekend. (See also Nigel's post and my post.)
Desaru Beach: DO get the little ferry to Tanjung Belungkor. DON'T go to the wrong terminal, as we did... The ferry to TB leaves from the Changi Ferry Terminal, NOT the Changi Point Ferry Terminal. The former is a short taxi-ride from Changi Village. There's almost certainly a bus, but we didn't have time to find out, having realized we were in the wrong place just 10 minutes before we were supposed to be checking in. From Tanjung Belungkor, it's just a short ride through millions of palm oil plantations to lunch, beach walks, swimming, Margaritas, and so on.
Very easy. Very pleasant. The Pulai hotel's biggest assets are its position on the long, lovely Desaru beach (which it very sensibly has not built out onto), and its nice big pool (best enjoyed when the hotel's smallest residents are off doing something else). See pictures here.
This excursion is even better if you stay in Changi Village the night before. You can then have a nice seafood dinner at the Long Island Seafood and Noodle Bar, and masala dosa for breakfast at Dynamic Dining.
Anyway, here's a quick review of our weekends-in-Malaysia-from-Singapore, in case anyone's interested in the practicalities.
Johor Bahru: DO go -- we enjoyed our weekend there. If you can avoid it, DON'T go at the weekend. It doesn't make it any better if you come back early Monday morning. DON'T get the No. 160 bus. I'm not sure what is the best way to go, but this isn't it. (See also Nigel's post.)
Melaka: DO consider Luxury Tours -- we found them to be a very efficient way to get over the Second Link. You can just buy the bus trip -- you don't have to buy the accommodation package. DO think twice about travelling at Chinese New Year -- although it was quite good fun to be part of the vast crowds enjoying the long weekend. (See also Nigel's post and my post.)
Desaru Beach: DO get the little ferry to Tanjung Belungkor. DON'T go to the wrong terminal, as we did... The ferry to TB leaves from the Changi Ferry Terminal, NOT the Changi Point Ferry Terminal. The former is a short taxi-ride from Changi Village. There's almost certainly a bus, but we didn't have time to find out, having realized we were in the wrong place just 10 minutes before we were supposed to be checking in. From Tanjung Belungkor, it's just a short ride through millions of palm oil plantations to lunch, beach walks, swimming, Margaritas, and so on.