Monday 28 April 2014

Kota Tinggi Kiang Kee Bak Kut Teh

Kota Tinggi Kiang Kee Bak Kut Teh

Thursday 17 April 2014

Danga Avenue One food hub launched

Danga Avenue One food hub launched

There are more than 15 tenants offering local and international food

DANGA Avenue One, at Country Garden Danga Bay (CGDB), was launched last Saturday.

There are more than 15 tenants at the commercial street, including Kenny Steam Disher Restaurant, 'M' Espresso Sporting Club, Food Channel, Tsim Sha Tsui, Restoran Madam Jean Pan Mee, Matterhon @ Danga, I Love Yoo!, Juice Baby, Tea Garden Restaurant, Kani Palace, Taang Shifu, Dining Room and Cheers Up.

Customers have a choice of snacks, Chinese food, Japanese food, steamboat and barbecue-style food, fried rice, nasi ayam penyet and other food.

The tropical concept landscape provides for a lovely setting for alfresco dining.

Country Garden Malaysia senior marketing executive Karen Thay said: "The first phase of construction for CGDB includes the commercial street which was completed in July last year.

"The whole CGDB commercial area will span an area of 6ha."

Thay said two other commercial streets would be launched after Danga Avenue One.

"More tenants will be moving into Danga Avenue One too. It will be a food sanctuary for locals and Singaporeans," she said.

Thay said the tenants, who included local and Singaporean industry players started operating last month.

The food and beverage outlets are opened daily between 10am and 10pm. Outlets that provided alcoholic drinks operate between 10am and midnight. CGDB is in Jalan Skudai.

For details, visit: www.countrygardendangabay.com.my.


More tenants will be moving into Danga Avenue One.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Tuesday 15 April 2014

Using Orang Asli settlements to promote tourism

Using Orang Asli settlements to promote tourism

Johor will focus on promoting Orang Asli settlements here to boost the eco-tourism industry.

Johor Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said the way of life of the Orang Asli could become a tourist attraction.

"Orang Asli culture can be very interesting for tourists to explore," Tee said during a recent trip to the Endau-Rompin National Park.

"The trees in the park which are over 100 years old are an attraction for nature lovers.

"Apart from promoting the Legoland theme park and Johor Premium Outlets, the Orang Asli settlements can also become a product that will capture the interest of local and foreign tourists.

"Everyone, including the media, can play a role in promoting the culture-based tourism industry in Johor," he said at Kampung Peta.

Tee thanked the members of the Johor Media Club (JMJ) who had initiated the tour.

He said the activities planned by the media with the Orang Asli community of Kampung Peta had received positive feedback from everyone involved.

He also thanked the medical practitioners of Regency Johor Specialist Hospital (RJSH) which supported the event by providing medical checkups, medication and treatment to the villagers.

Kampung Peta committee member Awang Kudi, 52, said the villagers appreciated the support given by JMJ and RJSH.

"We are grateful to the visitors for coming all the way here to give us free medical checkups.

"Most of the villagers work as rubber tappers and tour guides for tourists who come to the Endau Rompin National park," he said.

Participants from JMJ and RJSH also went on a jungle trek to the Kuala Jasin, Upeh Guling and Kuala Marong area.


Datuk Tee Siew Keong and Johor Media Club president Mohamad Fauzi Ishak (in blue) distributing groceries from Econsave to the Kampung Peta villagers.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Back-to-basics island getaway

Back-to-basics island getaway

MINIMALIST: Tourists are drawn to Pulau Besar’s unspoilt beach, pristine waters, and simple way of life

CITY folk who want to enjoy the tranquility an island can offer will find Mersing a glittering gem.

The drive to Mersing from Johor Baru takes about two hours.

At Mersing, one will see a row of shops along Jalan Abdullah in the Mersing Kanan area. The shops sell food products made by the locals, such as Abdullah Ishak, 24, who works at Perusahaan Keropok Haji Puteh, owned by his family.

"I started working after I finished my secondary education. I have always aspired to be a businessman.

"The price for keropok lekor varies according to the market price of fish such as sardines, wolf herring, and sea bream which are used to process the fish snack," he said.

State Tourism, Domestic Trade, and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said Mersing town has the potential for a shopping destination.

"Tourists can drop by for a shopping excursion before taking the ferry to the islands. I hope the locals will take the opportunity to offer more quality products to tourists," he said during a two-day working visit to Mersing and Pulau Besar recently.

Pulau Besar is accessible from the Mersing jetty, and the jetty is a 20-minute walk from Mersing Kanan or five-minute ride on a motor vehicle.

The journey to Pulau Besar takes about 30 minutes by speedboat and an hour by ferry.

The island has about 40 residents, most of them are pensioners.

There are three resorts on the island -- Aseania Beach Resort Pulau Besar, D' Coconut Island Resort and Mirage Island Resort Pulau Besar.

The island was also featured in a Swedish reality television series Expedition Robinson.

Visitors will be mesmerised by the clean beach and pristine water surrounding the island, making it an ideal getaway for those who enjoy basking in the sun.

Standing on the jetty, one can delight in the sight of fishes swimming in the sea.

The 165.4m jetty was upgraded recently with an allocation from the Federal Government under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Motor vehicles are prohibited on the island.

The island has a dimly lighted walkway which is romantic at night.

There are fruit bats hanging on the coconut trees on the island.

When the weather is fine, star-gazers can look up and find a sea of twinkling stars dotting the night sky,

Other recreation activities include jogging, beach volley ball, jungle trekking, snorkeling, kayaking and cycling.

The island also has a large hammock, wooden swings and buoy swings for children.

Rastam Osman, 91, rejoiced when the old jetty was upgraded.

"It used to be a wooden jetty that needed to be repaired frequently.

"Boats can now dock at the jetty, even during low tide, making it convenient to load and unload goods onto and from the boats," he said.

Another islander, Norhaida Amir, 19, who lives here with her husband Mohd Nor Ramli, 22, said the upcoming Sultan Iskandar Marine Park information centre on the island, a project under the East Coast Economic Region, will provide job opportunities for youths.

Holidaymakers Oliver Boehm, 46, and his wife Agnes, 42, said they were drawn to the peace and beauty of the island.

Another tourist, Kirsten Elen, 26, from Belgium, vacationing in one of the resorts, said she felt rejuvenated.

"Although there is Internet service, there is no television in the resort so visitors spend most of their time outdoors," Kirsten said.


Crystal clear waters surround the island.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

Monday 7 April 2014

Big plans in pipeline for Pulau Besar

Big plans in pipeline for Pulau Besar

The authorities are upgrading a stretch of road and building an information centre on the tiny island

A FOUR-kilometre stretch of road in Pulau Besar will soon be upgraded, together with the construction of Sultan Iskandar Marine Park information centre, by the middle of the year.

The two projects, costing RM10 million, are under the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).

During a working visit to the island recently, State Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism Committee chairmain Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said the road upgrade, which will cost RM6 million, will include repairs to a pedestrian bridge and the installation of street lights.

He said the RM4 million information centre will be built next to the main jetty on the island.

Meanwhile, Mersing district officer Mohd Nasir Abd Salam said the projects will be managed by the Mersing District Council and monitored by a consultant appointed by the state government and ECER.

Nasir said the road will be widened by 1.3m to 2.6m.

"Decorative street lights will replace the old lamp posts as the island is a tourist attraction," he said.

Nasir said the information centre will have a police post, clinic, and meeting room for government agencies. "A big aquarium will also be built as another attraction on the island," he said.

He said the island had a population of about 40 villagers and most of them are pensioners. It is about 30 minutes away from the Mersing jetty by speedboat and takes about an hour by ferry.


Wider roads with decorative street lights are part of the RM6 million facelift for Pulau Besar

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~