Johor - My other hometown

Johor

My other hometown

State in the south of Malaysia, is one of the most developed state.

Johor Bahru is the state capital

Sights and Attractions

·         Desaru

Beach and resort area along the South China Sea

·         Kota Tinggi

Waterfall, the cool river water drains through a series of shallow pools, is inviting for swimming.

Batu layar (Sail rock), a beach along the coastal part of Kota Tinggi

·         Endau-Rompin National Park

Pristine jungle in a tropical rainforest, is the second largest national park in Malaysia

·         Danga Bay

The new waterfront city in Johor Bahru

Culture

·         Zapin Dance

This dance is performed in pairs and are accompanied by a traditional music ensemble

·         Kuda kepang

Kuda kepang is a horse-shaped puppet that is straddled by the performers

·         Legend of Gunung Ledang (Mount Ophir)

Famous Malaysian folklore, is a story about a princess who lived on Mount Ophir. The Sultan of Malacca had heard of her beauty and wanted to marry her but she set seven impossible conditions for him, as her way of turning his proposal down :

1. A golden bridge for her to walk to Malacca from the mountain,

2. A silver bridge for her to return from Malacca to the mountain

3. Seven jars of virgin's tears

4. Seven bowls of beatle nut juice

5. Seven trays filled with hearts of germs

6. Seven trays filled with hearts of mosquitoes

7. A bowl of the blood of the Sultan's young son

The Sultan was able to fulfill the first six requests (thus causing the ruin of the Malacca Sultanate) but could not fulfill the final request which would have required him to kill his son.

This legend has been excellently adapted in a stage musical with lavish settings in 2006 shown in Istana Budaya (National Theater).