Johor Coastal Trip 3 (JB)

Tg. Piai Resort, Johor from the road.

On 20 Jan 2009 we bid goodbye to Tg. Piai Resort staff, particularly, Pn. Julia, for being such a gracious host. I felt at home there, so much that I helped to water the hundred of potted plants that seemed wilting for want of water. I just couln't stand the sight of beatiful plants wilting away. The staff watered them once a day and by evening, they became almost lifeless. Anyway, Tg. Piai Resort, you will see me again some day, insyallah.

Watering the potted plants at Tg. Piai Resort.

I drove bac k to Pontian to take the secondary road to Johor Bharu where Najidah and I stayed for 2 days at my niece's home where my oldest sister, Zawiyah lives. Chom's (Umi Kalthum Samsu) house always become our port of landing evertime my siblings and I go visiting my sister there. Along the way, we followed the brown signage indicating Muzeum Nenas and wished to see what's in store there. Unfortunately, there was no sign informing visitors that the muzeum was closed or something like that. We couln't find the entrance and guessed that it was under renovation. So, don't waste your time. We moved on to Pekan Nenas and stopped to buy the renowned Pekan Nenas pineapples for my sister in JB. But I can tell you here, the sweetness of the pineapples there cannot beat Nenas Sarikei! I miss Nenas Sarikei!! I must go and buy some when I go to Kuching again.

The road is good and I enjoyed driving. At JB we decided to visit the interesting places first before we stopped for the night at Chom's house at Jalan Mariamah. Our first stop was Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, perched majestically on the hill facing the Straits of Tebrau and Singapore.

Sultan Abu Bakar Mosques from the back entrance.

One of the minerets of Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque, Johor.

The walkaway towards the main building of the mosque.

There, we bought 2 pieces of water colour paintings from the senior citizen artists. What attracted us most was talking to En. Ariffin Abdul Ghani, 69, a former lawyer who suffered Larynx cancer or cancer of the throat, the result of his smoking habit, and was operated on. He was not able to speak but used sign language and wrote it on paper when we couldn't understand what he was saying. He specialised in painting birds on silk. Najidah bought one piece at RM10.00 and I bought a bigger piece of Sulatan Abu Bakar Mosque at RM 20.00. To me, the price is so low but he is doing it to occupy his time and to meet and interact with people. I admire his ability to paint, an ability which I don't have. Another retired artist that we met was Hj. Zakaria, who specialised in water colour scenery. I watched him painting his piece from memory with ease without even a thought and wallah! one piece of scenery is ready for you - beautiful and real. How lucky they are for having such talent. According to him, his art keeps him going. He speaks fluent Korean too and conversed with Korean tourists with ease. Visit Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque in JB and you will not miss them. They are stationed there everyday.

This is another learning for young people. Be prepared for your old age. Whatever talent you have, nurture it so that you can use it when you are retired - to get you out of being bored, lonely and depressed.

Our next visit was the Grand Palace and the Royal Abu Bakar Muzeum. The entry to the Royal mUzeun, including the Muzeum Cina, is RM5.00. We spent quite a while inside admiring the royal rooms and the exhibits. Of course it was in a much smaller scale compared to the Hermitage Muzeum in St. Petersburg, Russia and in other countries I have visited. But the difference is, the modest grandeur didn't go to the expense of the people as in Russia, France etc. The Royal Muzeum is one of the oldest buildings and has commanding view in JB. Sultan Abu Bakar laid the foundation stone in 1864 and it was completed in 1866. It has been enlarged and renovated a few times. Today the Palace is till used but only for State ceremonies. Unfortunately, photographing is not allowed as in many other muzeums throughout the world.

In front of the main building of the Palace.

The Muzeum Cina, next to the main Palace, exhibiting the Chinese collections.

Najidah at the entrance of the Grand Palace Muzeum, overlooking Selat Tebrau and Singapore.

Danga Bay is something new, which formerly known as Pantai Lido. I lived in JB in 1970 for over a year and JB has changed tremendously. The JB I knew was more friendly, laidback and simple but now it is so complicated, busy with traffic jams and empty spaces before, now taken over by tall buldings. I dislike the new JB! Anyway, at Danga Bay we were pleased to see the traditional Johor Malay houses there though they are actually restaurants. The design of these houses couldn't be found anymore, not like the traditional Malacca houses which we can see still intact as personal houses. Top pic is Rumah Muar.

Rumah Kota Tinggi

Rumah Keluang

Rumah Pontian.

The Royal burial ground is another attraction - modest but clean, serene and well-portioned.

In front of the Royal Mousoleum, JB.

Royal burial ground in JB. Systematically portioned, clean and green.

The Royal Mousoleum in JB.

Najidah having breakfast with my sister, Zawiyah (at the background).

Zarif, Chom's youngest son, a college student, getting ready to go with his father to his stationeray shop in town. Learning the skills of managing a shop.

Jaafar, Chom's husband, retired. Runs his own stationery shop to occupy his time and training his son for business skills.