 | Johor Bahru Tourist Traps | Tips 1 - 10 of 12 |  |
Popular Tourist Traps | Miscellaneous Tourist Traps Tips | All Tips (12) Opposite of the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque is a small zoo.
Sitting high on a bus, I could see all the cramp cages where the animals are kept. So it is a rather sad sight.
If you have been to Singapore zoo, you will not enjoy this zoo. So best avoid. |
There's not much tourist traps in JB. Things are cheap. Just beware of those stalls near the customs selling fruits (esp. durian), food, etc. You will be forced to buy if you approach them and just have a look. Force method is shouting or even threaten at you if you do not buy. Leave a Comment |
Bringing in cigarettes to Singapore is a chargeable offence. Unofficially, you may bring in one packet of cigarettes to Singapore for personal consumption. Otherwise, you'll get a hefty fine for smuggling cigarettes.
Pirated VCD,CD,CDROM and DVD's are also illegal to bring in. I know the price is cheap but you're risking.
At the moment as of Oct 2004, bring in eggs to Singapore is also an offence. So keep up with the updated regulation. Leave a Comment |
If you need a taxi to get anywhere in JB or Johor, take a walk through this underpass. The prices of taxis on the other side would be the local prices whereas if you take taxis direct after customs clearance, you'll pay like a tourist! ; ) Leave a Comment |
At our stop at a batik factory, we were able to see a "culture show". This show showed us traditional Malaysian music. The people were dressed in traditional clothes and played a couple different songs. I knew from the begining that this was just a tourist trap. When they were finished, they asked everybodyfor tips and then led the crowd in the store which sold batik with raised prices. The whole thing was an act to get the tourists money.
The music was good, I just wish I could have experienced it under different circumstances. Leave a Comment |
At our stop at a pewter factory, we were able to see a "culture show". This show showed us traditional Malaysian dancing. The people were dressed in traditional clothes and performed a couple dfferent dances. I knew from the begining that this was just a tourist trap. When they were finished, they asked everybodyfor tips and then led the crowd in the store which sold pewter with raised prices. The whole thing was an act to get the tourists money.
The dancing was good, I just wish I could have experienced it under different circumstances. Leave a Comment |
Batik is a traditional South-East asian way of designing fabric, usually silk. What they do is put hot colored wax on the fabric and let it air dry so it stains the fabrics in whatever design they intend.
Unfortunately, Batik has become a way for the locals to rip off tourist. Many Johor Bahru day tours will take you to a batik factory but the batik is massed produced and the prices are raised for these tourists.
If you are in Johor Bahru and you want to buy Batik, look for the stores that are not on the tourist trail. You can probably find some downtown which are actually made by families in their houses are small shops, not in the large tourist traps. Leave a Comment |
I took a day tour of Johor Bahru. It was a 5 hour tour which left from Singapore. The bus took us to the border where we had to get off and meet on the bus on the Malaysian side. Our first stop was at a batik "factory". What it really was was a "get the tourist's money" handicraft store. At this factory we saw our first Malaysian culture show which was traditional music.
Our next stop was at the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque. This is a beautiful mosque which resembles European architecture. It is a magnificent site.
Following the mosque we stopped at a "traditional" Malaysian house. The family just happend to put on culture shows so we saw our second one, this time it was dancing. Another "coincidence" was that there was a pewter factory behind the house. So they showe us the different things we could buy.
I hate tour for these kinds of reasons. It got us from Singapore to Johor Bahru, showed us one site that I wanted to see, but for the most part tried to get our money. I should warn you that these tours are tourist traps but if you want, take one anyway. It can be easier if you have a family.
If you do not like these kinds of touristy things, take a cab and go by yourself. Like I should have done. Leave a Comment |
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I wanted to go back to the hotel, which is The Puteri Pacific Hotel, which is in the city centre. I was at the area where Hyatt Hotel is, which isn't too far. I waved for a taxi and it stops. I opened the door, told him where I wanted to go and he replied with RM10.00. I then said 'What?'. I was puzzled but I asked him about the meter and he said that he doesn't want to use it.
I then waved for another cab a few minutes later and the same thing happened. By then, I was too tired and decided that I would just get in and pay the amount. This time was RM12.00.
I couldn't complain to the driver because I was in his taxi and was afraid if something might happen if I were to argue. Haha... I did talk to the hotel and they were not surprise as this is a common thing in Johor Bahru. I disagree though.
It's not that I'm being cheap but it's ridiculous to pay an unfair amount just for a short distance and what is wrong with using the meter? What is the use of the machine anyway?
Just be careful and try not to get into a taxi with an 'attitude' driver. |
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If you wanna take taxi in JB, don't expact the taxi driver will run according to the meter...... I don't how it happens but this has been practiced for years, the locals used to it and the government never do anything.
If you insist to take taxi (there are a lot of place in JB can only arrive with taxi), ask around the locals, may be they can tell you the fair price that taxi driver charged. Leave a Comment |
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