THE 12 WONDERS OF JOHOR

THE Johor government has identified its 12 tourism icons. State Tourism and Domestic Trade Committee chairman Hoo Seong Chang said these were places of interests that tourists should not miss when they visit the state.

Kota Iskandar is the new administrative centre of the Johor state government.

Gunung Ledang is a popular spot for field trips and motivation camps.

The Kluang Rail Coffee is famous for its coffee and toast.

Danga Bay is a recreation park and waterfront city which includes a marina.

"Some of the districts have already set up information centres while others are in the process of doing it. At the information centres, tourists will be given maps which will point the way to local attractions," said Hoo.

The 12 icons are:

The Sultan Ibrahim Building

Located at Bukit Timbalan, the former state secretariat building combines colonial, Saracenic and Malay architecture. Its square tower is one of the city's landmarks.

State assembly sittings were held there for 69 years before the opening of the state's new administrative centre in Kota Iskandar on June 18.

It was constructed between 1936 and 1939 and officially opened by the late Sultan Ibrahim a year later. The building was used by the Japanese Imperial Army as a fortress and command centre during the Japanese Occupation.

Royal Abu Bakar Museum

Built by Sultan Abu Bakar in 1866, the museum has an extensive display of cultural treasures and art collections. Among the attractions which will delight visitors are the ceremonial regalia, personal memorabilia, antique furniture and cultural artifacts belonging to the royal family.

Kota Iskandar

Formerly known as the Johor State New Administrative Centre, Kota Iskandar is the new administrative centre of the Johor state government. It is named after Sultan Iskandar and is the first phase of the Nusajaya development project.

Much thought had been put into its design. Various architectural concepts and themes were incorporated into the designs of the Johor State Assembly building, the menteri besar's office building and the state government and state secretary's offices.

Within its proximity are other attractions such as the Medini and Puteri Harbour.

Danga Bay

Scheduled to be completed by 2011, Danga Bay is a recreation park and waterfront city which will feature a marina, an international convention centre, a boutique hotel, a budget hotel and an office block .

The massive project covers over 562ha of waterfront land at the estuary of three rivers -- Sungai Danga, Sungai Skudai and Sungai Melayu.

Tanjung Piai

Situated at the southernmost tip of Asia, Tanjung Piai is at the forefront of the tourism industry in Johor.

The park was declared a Ramsar site in 2003 and is home to many species of mangroves, birds and wildlife like mudskippers, mangrove crabs, macaques and Brahminy Kites, also known as the red-backed sea eagle.

Pulau Rawa

Johor has more than 70 islands, many of which are popular tourist destinations, but Pulau Rawa springs to mind if you want some peace and tranquility.

It is a coral island located off the east coast, about 16km by boat from Mersing town. It is popular with locals as well as tourists from Singapore, especially those who want to escape the concrete jungle and enjoy pristine, sandy beaches and activities like snorkelling and scuba diving.

Visitors to Pulau Rawa can also island hop to neighbouring islands such as Pulau Aur, Pulau Tinggi and Pulau Pemanggil.

Pulau Sibu

It is not surprising why this little gem of a place is among the "12 wonders of the state". Friendly deer and beautiful peacocks roam freely outside chalets designed to offer guests a kampung ambience and let them reflect on the simplicity of life.

For snorkelling, there is a cluster of islets such as Kukus and Lima, near Sibu Besar, which is a coral paradise teeming with fish of many colours, shapes and sizes. There are also activities such as jungle trekking, archery, obstacle course and fishing.

The island is located on the eastern coast, facing the South China Sea.

Taman Negara Endau-Rompin

The 48,905ha national park is home to a variety of animals, including the rare Sumatran rhinoceros, birds, reptiles and amphibians. It is common to come face to face with a tiger or to find their tracks criss-crossing your path.

The park offers accommodation such as chalets, dormitories and camp sites at its headquarters in Kampung Peta, as well as Kuala Jasin.

Gunung Ledang

Also known as Mount Ophir, Gunung Ledang is a 1,276 metre high mountain located between the Muar-Malacca border. It has a clear trail leading to the peak, and is a popular destination for school field trips, motivation camps and character-building activities.

Desaru

It is easy to be disarmed by the charms of Desaru, also known as the Village of Casuarinas. The breathtakingly beautiful beach resort is a popular destination for Singaporeans, who flock at the beach and golf courses for a weekend getaway.

Located about 80km from Johor Baru, the retreat offers a pristine stretch of sandy beach, and activities like windsurfing, canoeing and other forms of watersports.

Kukup

A small fishing village in the district of Pontian, about 40km southwest of Johor Baru, Kukup is popular with tourists for its quaint atmosphere, refreshing sea breeze and cheap seafood. The homestays, which offer modest but neat and affordable accommodation, re-introduce one to a simple, uncluttered lifestyle.

For city slickers, the fishing village is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Kluang

Founded in 1915, Kluang used to be the administrative capital for central Johor. The main railway line linking north Malaysia to the south passes through Kluang, which helped the district grow and prosper.

Kluang Rail Coffee comes to mind at the mere mention of the town. Located at the Kluang Railway Station, one can see patrons making a beeline for that uplifting cup of coffee to go with toast.

SOURCE: JOHOR STREETS, NST, 23 JULY 2009