There's a suburb near Johor Baru that offers good food and 'Instaworthy' recreational spots, writes Hanna Hussein
ISKANDAR Puteri is best known for hosting the country's first international theme park since Sept 15, 2012, which is also basically THE main tourist draw in the southernmost part of the peninsula.
With many development projects carried out throughout the years, Medini — the central area where Legoland Malaysia is located — has become one of the fastest growing suburbs near the state capital of Johor Baru.
However, Iskandar Puteri has more than just Medini and Legoland. Another of its township that is picking up pace is Eco Botanic City.
A new 2-in-1 residential-commercial development by Eco World, Eco Botanic City is a 109.3ha green township that is located in the northern part of Iskandar Puteri and less than 5km from Medini.
Its thriving commercial area is a trendy destination for young tourists, especially as backfrops for social media posts.
PICTURE PERFECT
My sister has been talking about this place ever since she learnt that it is a great spot to take photos for her Instagram.
The township's commercial hub Eco Galleria reminds me of the legendary Raffles Hotel in Singapore, with its all-white deco and colonial-themed architecture.
Inspired by high streets in the United Kingdom, the three-storey Eco Galleria Plaza has both retail and dining outlets, as well as a private university.
Since it is still new and not many shops are open, there is no crowd, which makes it the best place to visit for photo shoots.
Hanim and I explore every nook and cranny of the plaza to get the best angles for her #OOTD (outfit-of-the-day) shots, but I mainly enjoy taking indoor shots of the plaza architecture.
My favourite is definitely the black-and-white chequered floor tiles, which give the building a distinguished characteristic, as well as its symmetrical corridors.
Just across the Eco Galleria plaza is a U-shaped row of shophouses that also feature colonial-era architecture, much like the Old Market Square of Kuala Lumpur.
Being a great place for photo shoots, the boulevard is livelier compared with Eco Galleria. This is because most of the shophouses are already open with a lot of interesting cafes and restaurants, which are well worth visiting for their food and drinks.
EATING TIME!
If you love food and are up for cafe-hunting, well, Eco Boulevard may become your favourite hunting ground.
We head to Hua Mui kopitiam in the boulevard for lunch, which is quite a popular branch apart from its main establishment in Johor Baru.
Originally located in Jalan Trus in JB City Centre, the kopitiam has been operating since 1946 and I have actually visited the original restaurant a few times. Today, there are at least seven branches of Hua Mui all over the state.
This family-owned coffee shop is known for serving quite an extensive set of Hainanese cuisine, and if you are still not familiar with Malaysian Hainanese delicacies, its most famous dish is chicken chop!
Hainanese chicken chop is a fusion of Eastern and Western cooking created many years ago by migrants from the smallest southernmost province in China, when they came to Malaya to work as chefs in British families.
Hainan people were creative and innovative when adapting to the British palate. They basically coated a piece of chicken (usually the thigh) in flour and deep-fried it till golden brown, which is crispy on the outside and tender inside.
A special gravy is then poured over the chicken and served along with sauted vegetables and french fries.
At Hua Mui, its signature Hainanese chicken chop is served with potato wedges and savoury sweet brown mushroom sauce. And the price is also affordable at RM18.90.
But my favourite is the Hua Mui Mee, a unique dish similar to Cantonese-fried noodles, but with darker gravy that has a mild-sweet kicap taste and lighter than the typical heavyHokkien Mee. Having it with cili potong on the side really gives the dish an extra kick.
We also order the typical Hainanese breakfast set, which comprise the butter-kaya toast and half-boiled kampung eggs.
The star of our lunch is definitely Kopi Gu You, an interesting cup of coffee with piece of butter floating inside (Gu you means cow fat or butter in Hokkien or Hainanese dialect).
Okay, this is definitely different from the buttercream coffee that we usually drink in hipster cafes in Kuala Lumpur.
Kopi Gu You is rich as it is made from kopi kampung, and the butter gives it a creamy taste, which is surprisingly delicious.
STRETCH AND GO
Another interesting cafe in Eco Boulevard is the Drawing Cafe, where customers can paint while sipping a cup of Joe.
Opened by a Korean painter, this quaint little cafe offers a "Sip & Paint" package, which customers can express their imagination on paper using a brush and palette.
It's actually a perfect thing to do for dating couples, or even those in a group outing. Priced below RM100, the package includes design paper, acrylic paint, brush, palette, water bottle, apron and a classic cup of coffee or tea.
But even if you're not up for any activity and just want to chill and enjoy a cuppa, the cafe is quite an "Instagrammable" place as it features a small gallery-like ambiance.
Not too far away from the commercial centre is a gated residential community and the houses there are luxurious!
There is the Aristo Clubhouse for residents and although non-members like me and Hanim are not allowed to use its facilities, we can park our car and enjoy the huge public park next door that has massive lakes and beautiful gardens.
It's a terrific spot to spend a day with children because the park has several playgrounds, besides a jogging track along the lakes.
PARK AND STAY
In the evening, when the sun sets, the best place to chill out is Puteri Harbour.
The night vibe in the area is amazing, with the chime of musical fountains and people riding their rented bicycles and scooters along the waterfront. The place is buzzing with activities and the visitors are always having a great time.
Well, there is a plus point for staying at a hotel in Puteri Harbour, where finding a parking spot is quite a challenge. The Trinidad Suites Puteri Harbour gives us the benefit of free and safe parking.
Another plus point is that our room is overlooking the beautiful harbour, where all the luxury yachts are docked.
The hotel is actually a great pick for small families as it offers spacious studios, and is even better for big families who can choose to stay in its two- or three-bedroom suites.
Our two-bedroom deluxe suite is ideal for a family of four to five. My sister and I share the master bedroom with my toddler, which comes with a comfortable king bed, while my parents take the other room with two single beds. Both rooms also have their own bathrooms.
The suite is very homely, with a huge sofa in the living room, a dining area, a kitchenette equipped with an oven, and even a washing machine.
Although I feel the hotel is quite basic (if you are looking for top-notch five-star accommodation, this is not for you), the facilities are sufficient and convenient for holidaying families. There is also a gym and swimming pool that with an awesome view of the harbour.
The swimming pool is also one of the hotel's best features; during weekdays, there aren't many guests, so me and my family have the whole area to ourselves.
Our stay comes with a nice breakfast buffet at the hotel restaurant called Kembali Kitchen.
FAST FACTS
Trinidad Suites Puteri Harbour
Persiaran Puteri Selatan, Puteri Harbour, 79000 Iskandar Puteri, Johor
TEL
07-283 0488
WEBSITE
STAY
The hotel has 202 studio rooms and apartments, ranging from the studio executive (twin) to studio premier (king), one-bedroom deluxe, one-bedroom executive, one-bedroom duplex, two-bedroom deluxe, two-bedroom executive, two-bedroom premier and three-bedroom premier. Its suites are fully furnished, so you can have everything you need during your stay.
EAT
Kembali Kitchen is the only restaurant and this is where breakfast is served.
DO
Take a dip in the swimming pool overlooking the harbour and workout in its fitness centre.
GO
Dataran Mahkota, Mall of Medini, Iskandar Malaysia Studio, Legoland Malaysia, X Park Sunway Iskandar are some attractions that are less than a 15-minute drive from the hotel.
HIGH
Great view and family friendly.
LOW
It's basic, but it has everything you need.
Order Hainanese cuisines with additional price reductions using GrabFood Promo Code.
