My Travel Tips : Top 4 Places to Visit in Desaru, Johor!

Last weekends I had some fun with some girls in Desaru courtesy of Johor Tourism. As a Johorian, I have really fond memories of Desaru because it is my family favourite beach holiday destination! After so many years, I'm glad I have chance to revisit Desaru again!

In fact, Desaru has developed so much actually, I can't recognize the place anymore.. however those memories lingering on my mind remains forever :)

Desaru is located approximately 88 kilometers east of Johor Bahru (JB), on the South China Sea and now it's only 45 mins drive from JB through the new expressway. From Kuala Lumpur, it took about 4.5 to 5 hour drive to Desaru.

I'm going to share 4 places to visit in Desaru, Johor! 

First thing first, let's check out the accommodation I'm going to stay in Desaru. We had a short 3 days 2 nights stay in Desaru courtesy of Tiara Desaru Seaview Residence (TDSR) which is the first condominium in Desaru that provides hotel service to buyer & residence. The main town Penawar is abou 5 mins drive away where there are restaurants, banks, grocery and police station nearby. With 24 hours gated guarded security, tenants can stay without any worries.

With 10 acres of land, TDSR build only 579 units to ensure the quality living of tenants at the best conditions. I was very impressed that there are a total of 4 pools within TDSR and the one in the picture is the main pool which is also opened to the public. Besides pools, there are also gym, tennis court, bicycling, garden and beach side cabana BBQ area and private beach! 

I stayed in 1 room apartment where we have a huge living room and bedroom! There is a dry kitchen with fridge and kitchen cabinets. A little different feeling from staying in hotel cos the space here is huge and it feels like home! Great for gathering with families and friends!

In our living room, there is sofa, TV and nice balcony with pool view. And yes all the rooms are equipped with air-conditioned! 

The room has huge space, I think can fit like 4 double bed! I love spacey bed room with plenty of natural light. 

There are 2 bathrooms in this unit and the toilet also super huge! Look at the space! Although the WIFI service is not available at the room during our stay, we were told it would be ready by Q1 of 2017.

Besides the main pool, there are 3 more private pools that are located between each condo blocks! 

Happiness overload because pool is my favourite hangout area! 

The private beach is just 5 mins walk from the condominium.  

The first place you need to visit in Desaru is definitely the beach. Desaru has 22km of beach and if you want to enjoy clean and unpolluted beach best to stay at accommodation that has private beach! 

The private beach at Tiara Desaru Seaview Residence is really clean and private! In case you are wondering, there is also black sand at the beach too. Scenery of tiny marine creatures such as baby crab and hermit crabs crawling over the unpolluted beach can be seen if you are lucky!

And if you are looking to invest for a beach home in Desaru, you might want to consider TDSR. We were told it is now open for sale from RM500k. Long term leasing also available from RM1,600 and daily homestay RM250. 

Tiara Residence Desaru Seaview
Jalan Tanjung Jump, Bandar Penawar, Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia
http://www.tiaradesaru.com/

Next I would recommend you to check out the Desaru Fruit Farm.

With 180 acres Tropical Fruitland, Desaru Fruit Farm is awarded the “Best Agro- Tourism site” in Malaysia 2006 and Innovative Tourism Attraction – Agro Tourism Conservation by Malaysia Tourism Awards 2010. They are more than 100 fruits and vegetables plantation in the farm for you to discover and learn! 

Let's try out our tropical fruits at the Fruit buffet! I really love this because their fruits are so sweet and juicy because it was harvested daily. And depends on seasons, different fruits are being served. Unfortunately we missed out the durian season! 

Lunch served are cooked with tropical fruits. It's really unique & refreshing. My favorite are stirred fry shredded papaya with seafood and deep fried squid with dragon fruit sauce.

After a scrumptious lunch, we went for an Agro Educational Tour at the fruit farm with Steve ; the son of the fruit farm who acted as our guide. 

We have fun hands on activities at the fruit farm such as harvesting dragon fruit.

This fruit farm is really different from the rest I visited because it's well planned with proper signage and sharing from guide. The farm is really clean and easy to walk! If you plan to visit, please don't forget to wear a cap/hat to cover yourself...

Besides learning about the fruits, there is also a small mini petting zoo at the farm. Lots of cute  rabbits to play with! You can buy carrots to feed them too! 

Meh meh.... Super curious goat looking at visitors! 

Others animals available at the farm. 

Just before we left, we were told there is a Go Kart Ride we can try.

Racing in the farm

Desaru Fruit Farm

Nearest Bidder, No 1, River Pollution Desaru, Kota Tinggi, 81900, Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia

http://desaruff.com/
Price for this is Tour + Lunch + Fruit Fiesta Buffet for Adult is RM58.30 while for child (3-11 years old) is RM50.90 including of GST.

Next sightseeing you can consider visiting is the Desaru Crocodile Farm which the Largest Crocodile Farm in West Malaysia where there are more than a thousand crocodiles are kept as pet. 

This lady introduced herself as the 3rd generation owner as the crocodile farm is passed down to her by her grandfather. She is really knowledgeable and passionate about his father favourite pet i.e crocodiles.

So many crocodiles are rear at this farm and all of them are rear as pet not for commercial use.

The huge pool at the middle of the farm. Looks calm but not really lah... cos gor hundreds of crocodiles in the pool.

This one here is 155 years old and it's one of the oldest crocodiles at the farm. Looks at the huge head. Scary eh....

Desaru Crocodile Farm
Teluk Sengat, Kota Tinggi, Johor, 81920, Ayer Tawar 2, Johor, Malaysia
Entrance fee is RM8 for adult and RM4 for children.

So we have a visit to Fruit and Crocodile Farm, what's next?

Why not to Malaysian largest Ostrich Farm?

There are a total of 100 of ostriches in this farm. The farm is clean and the birds are really gentle and friendly.

Are you looking at me ?

You get to have the opportunity to get close and personal with the ostriches like this. Buy them some food to feed, they will come close to you.

This largest bird on earth is even taller than me :(

Chickaboo... say cheese to my camera! 

Oval egg, oval face :P

This huge ostrich egg looks as big as my face... 1 ostrich egg is equivalent is 24 chicken eggs. We were told this egg is really healthy to consume as it has lower cholesterol compared to chicken egg.

1 ostrich egg is about 1.2kg and it can withstand up to 130kg weight on sandy ground.

To open an ostrich egg, you need to use a drill to open because the shell thickness is 2-4mm. 

Guess what the ostrich shell egg can be made into lamp decor! This ostrich farm has restaurant offers ostrich egg omelette, satay (bbq ostrich meat)....

Desaru Ostrich Farm
EMR 15, Teluk Ramunia, Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia.

Office Number: +607 826 5846
Opening Hours: 10:00am - 06:00pm (Daily)Entrance Fee is RM12 for adult and RM8 for kid

And one of the most memorable dinner I had in Desaru was in Seafood Restaurant in Lotus Desaru Beach Resort & Spa. From the outer look of the building it seem like a fairy tales concept whereby the building looks like a Castle from the Fairy Tales story line which the children and also the parents were enchanted with the concept.

Seafood Restaurant is located next to the beach. Super huge dining hall and I believe can fit more than 100 people at one time.

 I don''t usually think hotel food is nice but this seafood dinner is really superb! Fresh and cooked to perfection. Thanks Lotus Desaru for the dinner!

Bessides that there is also a waterpark in Lotus Desaru Resort. For patron living in this resort, they have fee entry to the waterpark.

It also features water play areas, such as water slides, splash pads, spray grounds (water playgrounds), lazy river, or other recreational bathing, swimming, and bare footing environments.

 Lazy river is a water ride found in water parks, which usually consists of a shallow (2½ ft. to 3½ ft.) pool that flows similarly to a river. There is generally a slow current, usually just enough to allow all too gently ride along lying on rafts. And best of all, it’s free & fun.

Lotus Desaru Beach Resort & Spa

Address: Lot 1854, Jalan Desaru Bandar Penawar, Kota Tinggi Johor Darul Ta’zim, 81930 Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia 

Phone: +60 7-884 2800

http://lotusdesaru.com/

Desaru has so much to offer besides being a beach holiday destination. All the farms (Fruit Farm, Ostrich Farm and Crocodile Farm) we visited provided really interesting educational tours and it would be great destination for family. There is also a new golf club that is newly opened ELS Club Desaru Coast which offers 27 holes of championship golf designed by Ernie Els. Not only that, we were told that Hard Rock Desaru Hotel would be opened by fall of 2017. Woohoo... Desaru going to be a really happening travel destinations in next few years! See you again Desaru!

These Melaka Hotels Pamper Your Eyes While Giving Retreats!

Melaka trip with my BFFs :)

Melaka is one of the top destinations in Malaysia. This historic state always ready to give the best retreats amidst the historical, cultural, and natural environment. And in fact of my favourite weekend  getaway city!

Another retreat comes from Melaka Hotel. Specifically, these amazing hotels that spread in the strategic spots of Melaka that ready to pamper your eyes by the lovely looks. Have you stay in any of these hotels below ?

 The Gingerflower Boutique Hotel

Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock 

This hotel is housed on the restored Peranakan shophouse in Melaka with the architecture influenced by Peranakan and Dutch culture. The interior is nicely decorated with the touch of European style. There are 13 guestrooms available in contemporary style, complemented with coffee table, coffee/tea maker, AC, TV, Wi-Fi, minibar, and safety box. The bathroom is nicely designed with marble coated and features hair dryer.

This Melaka boutique hotel provides lobby cafe within dining area sets on natural and minimalist setting, both indoor and outdoor. There are also book rental, board games, and bicycle rental provided to ensure more pleasant time in this quiet and warm hotel. The Gingerflower Boutique Hotel is located close to Melaka River and Jonker Street, promising you the best view and experience while traveling in Melaka.

1825 Gallery Hotel 

Jalan Bunga Raya 27,29, & 31 

This hotel is embracing the royal colonial inspired by the antiquity with the elegant white building showing the influence of British and Chinese culture. Decorated side by side with the antique furniture, the lobby is so tempting with the wooden floorboard, brick walls, and small ponds. The 3-star Melaka Hotel presents 42 guestrooms that look so pleasant with the unique furniture alongside with the modern amenities comprise AC, cable TV, Wi-Fi, desk, coffee/tea maker, and opulence dark themed bathroom. 

The Deluxe room is presented with private balcony. If you dream about the memorable stay with 1825 Gallery Hotel, book the River Suite Room that enhanced with the wide balcony overlooking the historical Melaka River and the bathroom with the wide marble bathtub that also has the window overlooking the river. Additional facilities are available as instance garden and shared lounge or TV area. 

Da Som Inn Hotel 

Jalan Tukang Emas (Goldsmith Street) no.28 

Claimed as an art specialty boutique hotel, Da Som Inn brings the guest to feel the old time back to the year of 1611. This is the well-maintained old hotel with the Dutch settlement area showing the unique 200 feet long and thick wall underground sewerage pipes. The hotel embraces warm, cozy, yet homey experience inside the open-air old building. The guestrooms are well-designed spring on the classic nuance, complemented with desk, Wi-Fi, AC, ceiling fan, TV, desk and chair beside the window, refrigerator, and the bathroom. There is also the Deluxe Quad Room with 2 double beds that are really comfortable for the family of 4. 

The hotel serves the guest with varied breakfast, also free flow of coffee, tea, water, milk, juice, and biscuits that you can sample while relaxing at the open air seating area. There is a cafeteria that can be used also as the lounge with some books available to read. Da Som Inn Hotel is located in a strategic location, within several minute walks to the top tourist spots in Melaka, including the Jonker Street Night Market and Jonker Walk. 

The Settlement Hotel 

Jalan Ujong Pasir 

This hotel is reborn from 4-storey government building of the year 1960s that is situated on the fringe of the Portuguese Settlement. The Settlement Hotel now embraces the rich heritage of Melaka with the unique combination of multicultural influence. Stepping into the hotel, the guest will get the majestic welcome from the 350-year-old Sultan Bed that is placed on the front porch. The floor is tiled with century old tiles from the Palembang mosque in Sumatera, showing more appealing view inside the hotel.

There are 45 guestrooms inside the residence block as the accommodation. The room features AC, TV, in-room safe, Wi-Fi, minibar, and coffee/tea maker. The bathroom is complemented with bathtub, hairdryer, and toiletries. For the more private yet exclusive retreat, this hotel presents 4 private villas that are scattered on the 35.000 square feet garden and lawn. The private villas deliver more memorable stay since its were designed inspired by Malay traditional wooden house. Some facilities you can enjoy on The Settlement Hotel, for example, traditional spa village, rooftop garden, and restaurant.

Which hotels in Melaka is your favourite one? I miss Melaka nyonya food and taking picture in Klebang sand dunes a lot... I shall plan a retreat trip to Melaka soon! Anyone wants to come along?