Johor! It has always seemed like a state to stop by to eat and refuel before heading down to Singapore. It never seemed to hold much interest for me, despite having a nice waterfront. I went on a trip to ISKANDAR MALAYSIA last week and was surprised to see that there’s a lot of interesting developments going on.
…like the first LEGOLAND in South East Asia!
Well, it’s not finished yet, ETA would be next year but here’s the spot where it’ll be at.
However, there’s an interactive showcase called Iskandar Malaysia Information Center (IMIC) at Danga Bay Convention Center where you can see what LEGOLAND and other ISKANDAR MALAYSIA developments would look like.
The place is deceptively fun!
You can discover your inner child (everyone has one) by playing with the LEGO bricks available there and build something interesting.
Play virtual golf.
Sit in a motion simulator.
Get some Wii Boxing!
See your mug on a variety of virtual backdrops. You can save it to a USB port attached to the kiosk or post it to your Facebook account. Nifty.
Kids won’t be left out too, with interactive learning touch screen programs.
There’s even a large rocking boat that will bring you to Tanjung Piai, Ramsar, one of the largest wetlands in the world…virtually, that is.
We were famished by the time we landed and the people at ISKANDAR MALAYSIA brought us to all the authentic Johor food places. We were whisked away as soon as we landed to one of the authentic stalls in JB for some lontong kering. This is at Warong Saga – it’s one of those places that you need a local to bring you to. You’ll be hard pressed to find it yourself. 🙂
We also had some really awesome mee rebus tulang gearbox for lunch. You just have to try this if you’re ever in Johor. They have the best tulang gearbox I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. You’re given a short straw to suck out all the bone marrow too!
ISKANDAR MALAYSIA is also changing the landscape of Johor in more practical ways. They’re building a lot of highways and roads to ease traffic congestion and ensure a more optimal route throughout the city. I’m quite impressed at the number of highways they are building in a such a short amount of time.
The marina is also another captivating place. We went there for a nice, cold glass of iced lemon tea to cool down and walked around the area.
The marina is meant to dock leisure yachts and ships and there’s also a place to get your very own sailing craft…if you have the cash that is.
The marina is set to be a hotbed of activity – there are plans to turn it into a vibrant community with lots of condominiums.
This is the showroom of IMPERIA Puteri Harbor by the marina, the highest condominium in Johor – it’s already sold out and the waiting list is 200+ people strong so there’s a looooong wait for an opening.
It’s a nice place though – every unit will have a balcony with a sea view and it seems like the perfect place for a holiday home.
There is also vast tracts of lands being turned into gated communities and high end houses in East Ledang. I’ve been to some of the show houses at Melody Park and it’s AMAZING.
Just look at this and tell me you don’t wish you live here.
There’s lot of different variations and themes too – modern, English, classic, whichever way you want you interior décor to be like, you’ll find it no trouble to get there.
EduCity @ ISKANDAR MALAYSIA is home to several renowned Ivy League universities which has set up their campuses there.
The beauty about this place is that the universities only have ONE faculty there – the best of the best e.g. Newcastle University has a medical faculty for all those interested in going into that field.
There’s also Marlborough College which Kate Middleton graduated from. Yes, that’s the Duchess of Cambridge’s alma mater. I’m so going if they manage to get her to come and officially open this college for them. 
ISKANDAR MALAYSIA aims to turn Johor into a destination in its own right instead of just a transit point for people going to Singapore and I think they’ve done a really good job. There’s just something for everyone and one of the much anticipated openings is the Johor Premium Outlets (JPO) which is a HUGE retail space for designer labels.
The interesting bit about JPO is that they’re making plans to have sales at certain times e.g. Coach having 50% off at 3 pm on Thursday. I can imagine the amount of people queuing up or even camping way ahead of time for this!
ISKANDAR MALAYSIA is also doing a lot of CSR initiatives like their PRISMA housing areas – it’s for married couples earning below RM 3,000 and it doesn’t look like any of the low cost housing areas I’ve been too. These are comfortable apartments with great facilities. There are also 1,500 units for OKUs with specially designed living areas to cater to them. Yes, the photo above is an ACTUAL SHOT of the place.
It looks way better than my apartment…ISKANDAR MALAYSIA sure knows how to do things right. I mean, look at the picture above! Does that look like a low cost public housing unit to you? I’ll love to live in that place but I’m not eligible. 😡
They also have a pilot project going for green buildings which aims to provide self sustaining units with solar power, water recycling and other technology.
Looking at what ISKANDAR MALAYSIA has done to Johor in just a few years, I have very high hopes for the state. Invest. Work. Live. Play. is their mantra. Education, health, entertainment, infrastructure, they’ve got it all covered.
Personally, I’m waiting for LEGOLAND to open so I can go for the awesome rides that’s going to be there. I’m a huge fan of amusement parks. 🙂
I love LEGO! Got Ed to source Star Wars Death Star 10188 for me at the mo.
Yeah, I love them too!
I played with them a lot as a kid – LEGOs rocks! I would build all kinds of complicated stuff to compete with my sister and somehow sabotage will occur. T_T
Memories indeed. 😉
Nice! When is Ed coming back?
I think I’ve heard of iskandar before in my geography class
Wow! I can’t remember anything I studied from my high school days. 🙂
University was better, more retention since it’s more recent. Heh.
Ya, Iskandar Malaysia is involved in a lot of development projects. 🙂
LEGO!!!
damn, they’re quite expensive 🙁
Yeah, I even have a couple of LEGO games on my iPad. 😀
Legoland sets to be pretty interesting though and I think their entrance fee will be very competitive. 🙂
I love the houses!
Yeah me too!
They’re beautiful eh?
Most of them costs upwards of RM 700,000 though – it’s a really nice gated community which is close to the coast. 🙂
lego land is like a dream come true! can’t wait to have a chance to get there.
Indeed!
It’s like revisiting our childhoods. Heh!
I would love to go to Legoland when it opens next year. 😀
I’ve heard about JPO. Do you know what brands will be there? How cheap will it be? 🙂
Hey there Diana! 🙂
Hmm…that’s a good question. I don’t know the full list of anchor tenants for Johor Premium Outlets yet but all the major labels will be there.
It’ll be quite a lot cheaper than retail, that’s for sure. 😀
Man that’s cool. The marina is nice. Johor Baru changed a lot.
Yeah, I love the marina too! There’s a lot of development going on there courtesy of Iskandar Malaysia.
It has changed a lot! I went there twice earlier this year and it gets better and better each time.
It’ll be awesome when Johor Premium Outlets and Legoland opens. 🙂
its like my child hood coming alive! didnt realise that lego blocks were so expensive till recently.
Yeah, it is, I remember buying them in my 20’s – Lego Mindstorms, interesting stuff actually, works like an electronics kit. 🙂
It would be fun to see a Legoland in Malaysia though – would love to go for the rides. 😀
haha just hope it just doesnt snap like how lego sometimes work.
Haha! I seriously doubt that will happen bro. 🙂
All sold out? Hmmmm….I don’t think I can afford one, anyway…but the houses look so nice. My daughter grew up playing Lego…and we had a horrifying experience when she stuffed a small piece into her nose. Don’t remind me. Tsk! Tsk! Muahahahaha!!!!
Yeah, the IMPERIA Puteri Harbour condos are all sold out.
There are still really nice houses Iskandar Malaysia built in East Ledang though, those are still available.
The photos up there are mostly from the show houses there. 🙂
I grew up with Legos too! Heh! That must have been scary looking back. The smaller ones are easy to swallow (or stuff up noses). 😉
Nice take on Iskandar and the Legoland. Personally, I cannot wait for the park to open as it would bring back memories for me. Also, I do hope it is managed well.
Thanks David! 🙂
Yeah, I wasn’t familiar with Iskandar Malaysia until this trip to JB. I was surprised to see that they are involved with so many aspects of life there.
I can’t wait for Legoland to open too! It’ll be fun to go for the rides. 🙂
i’m a huge fan of amusement park too especially the roller coaster ride ! up ’till now , i never missed a chance to ride it at all countries i hve been 😀 . btw did you know that there’s a new rollercoaster ride at Fuji-Q japan ? they said its the world’s steepest rollercoaster !
Nice! Yeah me too, I love riding rollercoasters and visiting amusement parks. I like things like these – bungy jumping, skydiving etc. I want to do a BASE jump too. 🙂
Thanks for the write-up and pictures….i m looking forward to the Premium Brands Outlet soft opening on Dec 2. We will head to the Danga Bay CC today to take a look at the developments. There was an article on ST a few weeks ago, understand Johan Cryuff will open an academy there. Lots to look forward to!
I played LEGO since i was 2…that was around early 70’s. Now since its build near to my home in SETIA ECO GARDENS…i’m very eager to bring my kids there….
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YEEssssssssssssssss,
I come and watch and embracing the whole overall Nusajaya, Iskandar Malaysia
for A NEW Freshlook and freshkon wih my eyes plus blue & brown colour contact lenses.
Ciba Vision gambateh and jia you, and come out with quality and competitive products.
Thanks for all parties involvement and participation and effforts.
MALAYSIA BOLEHHHHHH…………!!!!!!!!!!:-p)))))))){}[]”::pppppp}}}}}}}}
Thnkx.
Can i know am i can get legoland ticket at IMIC on ths saturday ?