A trip to Johor without the jam, shopping and greasy supper
13 Jul 2023|78,796 views
Singaporeans love going to Malaysia. We love it so much that the checkpoints have been perpetually jammed up ever since the borders reopened - especially in the evenings and during the weekends.
The typical agenda of a trip to Malaysia, or rather the Johor Bahru (JB) area, often includes a shopping spree at the malls, grocery runs, and the affordable yet extremely tasty food. But when Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) reached out with an invite to drive its Defenders to a resort in Desaru with the promise of an off-road experience, it was clear this isn't your typical JB run…
Setting off for Malaysia on an early weekday morning has its perks - no traffic jams!
Going to Malaysia on a weekday morning?
To the ones who adore JB as the perfect supper spot, the thought of entering Malaysia at daybreak would come off as an odd choice. However, if you have plans that commence early in the morning, like the decision to visit a quaint cafe that's chock-full of character, it all makes plenty of sense.
No proper parking area? No problem for the Defenders!
An actual tree house for a cafe!
After meeting up at the JLR showroom, we set off in a convoy of Defender 90s and 110s (including the 75th Anniversary Limited Edition Defender 110), along with a few other support vehicles for our breakfast destination.
A consequential benefit of starting the drive on an early weekday was the almost-empty immigration checkpoints that made border crossing to Malaysia a breeze. After a short stint on the expressway and some sections of twisty b-roads, we arrived at the Rainforest Tree House Cafe. True to its name, this cafe is situated in an actual tree house! This drive is getting off to an adventurous start!
Behind the wheel of a Defender, it's not about where you can go, but where you want to go
There's no such thing as taking a wrong turn in a Defender
After breakfast, we were well on our way to the Anantara Resort in Desaru. But instead of staying on the paved, twisty roads (which the Defenders handled well), we took a detour off the roads. The first off-road driving activity of this trip was a simple one that saw us driving on dirt roads that cut through oil palm plantations.
Dirt roads are gobbled up as though they were paved roads without much fuss
As expected, these dirt roads are no concern for the capable Defenders - the cars handled the uneven and low-grip road surfaces as though it was just a bumpy stretch of tarmac. If there was an entirely off-road route that could lead us to where we want to go, I reckon it would have been alright to stay on the dirt path the whole time. In fact, the Defenders look just right with the mud and dirt splattered on their bodywork!
From cutting through oil palm plantations...
To restroom breaks along the beach, we were gradually moving away from civilisation
Kick back, relax and take in the beauty of nature
Remember how I said that this wasn't your typical JB run? The entire time that we were driving towards the resort, the one thing I noticed was how we seemed to be getting further and further away from civilisation. Indeed, as we pulled up to the resort in the afternoon, I realised the area was pretty much a cluster of resorts and hotels.
Just take in the sights at the beautiful Anantara resort
While it might sound boring to some, the scenic view, amazingly great food, and luxurious resort facilities meant that this was a prime location for one to get away from the mad rush of the urban jungle to get some rest. Who says that a short trip to JB must always end with a car boot full of shopping bags?
If you are looking for a relaxing trip, I would definitely recommend checking out the resorts in Desaru's coastal region - the sights at the beach were breathtaking to say the least!
On the next day, before heading back to Singapore, the convoy headed to Tangga 7 hill for a more challenging off-road experience
It's time for some real off-roading!
Spending more time relaxing at the resort would have been enjoyable, but we have an exciting activity lined up. On the way back to Singapore, we stopped by the Tangga 7 hill for a trickier off-road experience. And due to the morning rain, the slopes were all muddy and slippery, adding to the challenge.
Inclines and declines on loose, dirt roads were non-issues to the capable Defenders
Unlike the previous dirt road, the Tangga 7 hill included some rather narrow paths along with slippery slopes with inclines up to 15 degrees. Despite having road-biased tyres installed, the effective all-wheel drive system on the Defenders is able to send power to the correct wheels, allowing us to keep going without worry. On the way down, the Hill Descent Control function made it easy for beginners like us to keep the speed safely in check. Having cleared the Tangga 7 hill with relative ease, it was clear that the Defenders can handle almost anything thrown at them, and they do so without the need for an experienced driver - the car is simply that clever.
With Tangga 7 hill conquered, all that was left was the drive back to Singapore that was mostly on the expressways, and this was where the versatility of these cars shone through. Unlike traditional off-roaders, the steering feel was tight and the stability of the Defenders were excellent at highway speeds despite their ground clearance, resulting in an assuring drive.
Great food, great scenery, excellent drive and a couple of muddied Defenders, JLR sure knows how to have a good time in Malaysia!
And that was the extraordinary short Malaysia getaway experience that I enjoyed - no shopping malls, no Lok Lok supper, just some nice off-roading with seriously capable cars and a relaxing stay at a beach-side resort. Thank you JLR for opening my eyes to a different side of Johor.
Singaporeans love going to Malaysia. We love it so much that the checkpoints have been perpetually jammed up ever since the borders reopened - especially in the evenings and during the weekends.
The typical agenda of a trip to Malaysia, or rather the Johor Bahru (JB) area, often includes a shopping spree at the malls, grocery runs, and the affordable yet extremely tasty food. But when Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) reached out with an invite to drive its Defenders to a resort in Desaru with the promise of an off-road experience, it was clear this isn't your typical JB run…
Setting off for Malaysia on an early weekday morning has its perks - no traffic jams!
Going to Malaysia on a weekday morning?
To the ones who adore JB as the perfect supper spot, the thought of entering Malaysia at daybreak would come off as an odd choice. However, if you have plans that commence early in the morning, like the decision to visit a quaint cafe that's chock-full of character, it all makes plenty of sense.
No proper parking area? No problem for the Defenders!
An actual tree house for a cafe!
After meeting up at the JLR showroom, we set off in a convoy of Defender 90s and 110s (including the 75th Anniversary Limited Edition Defender 110), along with a few other support vehicles for our breakfast destination.
A consequential benefit of starting the drive on an early weekday was the almost-empty immigration checkpoints that made border crossing to Malaysia a breeze. After a short stint on the expressway and some sections of twisty b-roads, we arrived at the Rainforest Tree House Cafe. True to its name, this cafe is situated in an actual tree house! This drive is getting off to an adventurous start!
Behind the wheel of a Defender, it's not about where you can go, but where you want to go
There's no such thing as taking a wrong turn in a Defender
After breakfast, we were well on our way to the Anantara Resort in Desaru. But instead of staying on the paved, twisty roads (which the Defenders handled well), we took a detour off the roads. The first off-road driving activity of this trip was a simple one that saw us driving on dirt roads that cut through oil palm plantations.
Dirt roads are gobbled up as though they were paved roads without much fuss
As expected, these dirt roads are no concern for the capable Defenders - the cars handled the uneven and low-grip road surfaces as though it was just a bumpy stretch of tarmac. If there was an entirely off-road route that could lead us to where we want to go, I reckon it would have been alright to stay on the dirt path the whole time. In fact, the Defenders look just right with the mud and dirt splattered on their bodywork!
From cutting through oil palm plantations...
To restroom breaks along the beach, we were gradually moving away from civilisation
Kick back, relax and take in the beauty of nature
Remember how I said that this wasn't your typical JB run? The entire time that we were driving towards the resort, the one thing I noticed was how we seemed to be getting further and further away from civilisation. Indeed, as we pulled up to the resort in the afternoon, I realised the area was pretty much a cluster of resorts and hotels.
Just take in the sights at the beautiful Anantara resort
While it might sound boring to some, the scenic view, amazingly great food, and luxurious resort facilities meant that this was a prime location for one to get away from the mad rush of the urban jungle to get some rest. Who says that a short trip to JB must always end with a car boot full of shopping bags?
If you are looking for a relaxing trip, I would definitely recommend checking out the resorts in Desaru's coastal region - the sights at the beach were breathtaking to say the least!
On the next day, before heading back to Singapore, the convoy headed to Tangga 7 hill for a more challenging off-road experience
It's time for some real off-roading!
Spending more time relaxing at the resort would have been enjoyable, but we have an exciting activity lined up. On the way back to Singapore, we stopped by the Tangga 7 hill for a trickier off-road experience. And due to the morning rain, the slopes were all muddy and slippery, adding to the challenge.
Inclines and declines on loose, dirt roads were non-issues to the capable Defenders
Unlike the previous dirt road, the Tangga 7 hill included some rather narrow paths along with slippery slopes with inclines up to 15 degrees. Despite having road-biased tyres installed, the effective all-wheel drive system on the Defenders is able to send power to the correct wheels, allowing us to keep going without worry. On the way down, the Hill Descent Control function made it easy for beginners like us to keep the speed safely in check. Having cleared the Tangga 7 hill with relative ease, it was clear that the Defenders can handle almost anything thrown at them, and they do so without the need for an experienced driver - the car is simply that clever.
With Tangga 7 hill conquered, all that was left was the drive back to Singapore that was mostly on the expressways, and this was where the versatility of these cars shone through. Unlike traditional off-roaders, the steering feel was tight and the stability of the Defenders were excellent at highway speeds despite their ground clearance, resulting in an assuring drive.
Great food, great scenery, excellent drive and a couple of muddied Defenders, JLR sure knows how to have a good time in Malaysia!
And that was the extraordinary short Malaysia getaway experience that I enjoyed - no shopping malls, no Lok Lok supper, just some nice off-roading with seriously capable cars and a relaxing stay at a beach-side resort. Thank you JLR for opening my eyes to a different side of Johor.
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