Sri Menanti
About 50km away from Seremban is the royal town of Sri Menanti, which boasts of a palace built in the 1890's without a single nail being used in its construction. It ceased to be a royal residence in 1931, when a new palace was constructed for the ruler. Presently, the old timber palace serves as a museum.
Port Dickson
About 30 km south of Seremban lies Port Dickson, a popular weekend spot for Malaysians especially from Kuala Lumpur. The town itself serves as a vital stop where travellers purchase supplies and merchandise on their way to the 16 km long beach.
Malacca
Malacca has been accorded 'Historical City' status. It is steep in history, having gone through several centuries of peace and war starting with the founding of the Malacca Sultanate in the early 15th century whose empire ultimately was much larger than present-day Malacca. It was overrun by Portuguese seafarers in 1521, who lost it to the Dutch in 1641, who in turn traded it with the British in 1824 for the latter's territorial possessions in Indonesia.
Visitors to Malacca will be amazed at the number of relics left behind by the conquerers. On St Paul's Hill lies the ruins of St Paul's Church, a chapel built in 1521. St. Francis Xavier, known as 'Missionary of the East' used to conduct mass in the church during his visits to Malacca. Upon his death, his body was initially laid to rest in St Paul's but was later taken to Goa, India. On the slopes of St Paul's Hill is another Portuguese relic, the A Famosa, which was part of a larger fortress built by the Portuguese but later destroyed by the English when they took over from the Dutch. With the Dutch came the Stadhuys and Christ Church, full of old engraved tombstones, highlighting the hardships faced by early European settlers in the Far East. The Stadhuys today houses the Malacca Museum with its many unique exhibits and collections of the past. Other worthwhile sites to visit include Bukit China (China Hill), built by followers of the Chinese Ming princess Hang Li Po;; St Peter's Church; St John's Fort as well as the grave sites of legendary Malacca warriors.
Malacca, not surprisingly, has many antique shops, most notably along Jonker Street where bargain hunters can find items ranging from wooden bullock carts to Victorian clocks and early gramaphones. Parallel to this street is Heeren Street or Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock with its Peranakan (Baba Nonya) house decorated in a gorgeous blend of Chinese, Malay and European styles with its special heavy wooden furniture. One also finds the oldest Chinese temple in the country, the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, founded in 1645.
The sea front esplanade has been transformed with the reclamation of land. The area has become a business district hatched out of the sea featuring a shopping complex, a private hospital and a luxurious hotel to serve the surrounding business area.
On the outskirts of Malacca town lies the industrial town of Ayer Keroh. Here there are numerous tourist attractions spread out along either side of the main road. Visitors can find the crocodile farm, butterfly park, a feng shui garden, Mini Malaysia Garden, Malacca Zoo and a 18-hole Ayer Keroh Country Club.
Muar & Pagoh
At the Malacca-Johor border sits a pretty town called Muar. It is considered a cultural center where the Johor ghazal music concerts and the 'kuda kepang' trance dances are held. En route to Muar, visitors can make a detour to visit the legendary Gunung Ledang (Mt Ophir) popular with hikers and naturalists, and also the Sungai Kesang, a hot sulphur spring. Approximately 26 km from Muar is another small town called Pagoh where the remains of two Malacca Sultans can be found in an old fort. At a nearby graveyard stand 99 tombstones; marking the graves of an entire village killed 500 years ago by a single spear. Legend has it that the spear was tossed by a jealous lover, into the chest of the bridegroom, removed and tossed again, eventually killing all who were present at the wedding.
Ayer Itam
Astride the old trunk road that runs south to Johor Bahru (the state capital) and not far from the North-South Highway, is a small crossroad town called Ayer Itam. The town is a popular stopover for tourists on their way between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Dimly-lighted coffee shops and rows of heavily laden street stalls become 'a drinking hole and a shopping centre for weary travellers looking for last minute souvenirs and local food products.
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru, the state capital of Johor, is connected to Singapore via the Causeway built over the Straits of Tebrau in 1922, and a second more recent link. It serves as the gateway for Singaporeans visiting Malaysia, especially on weekends for shopping and entertainment. The huge exchange differential makes it an ideal shopping paradise for Singaporeans seeking products from daily provisions to branded items. Many also come specially to patronise the numerous nightclubs, discos, hostess clubs and karaoke lounges. The urban landscape of Johor Bahru has changed much over the years although visitors can still find remnants of the old city behind Jalan Ibrahim which harbours many old shophouses where Chinese and Indian traders parade their wares ranging from spices and joss sticks to tailored suits and the latest electronic products. One will also discover the cheaper Chinese restaurants and Indian 'banana leaf' cafes.
Visitors can also appreciate the architecture of Bangunan Sultan Ibrahim; the Istana Besar (Grand Palace) which now houses the museum showcasing the golden age of Johor; the Sultan Abu Bakar Mosque built in 1892; and Istana Bukit Serene, now the residence of the present Sultan of Johor. There are also several good handicraft centres such as the Perbadanan Handicraft Centre and the Mawar Gift Shop.
Kota Tinggi
The small quiet town of Kota Tinggi is famous for its waterfalls which thunder down 36 meters into the icy-cold pool below. On the outskirts of the town at Kampung Makam is the cemetery of the 17th century sultans of Johor. Not far from Kota Tinggi is Desaru, famed for its beaches and resorts located in a wide bay south of Tanjong Penawar.
Mersing
Further east from Kota Tinggi is the town of Mersing, small but dotted with numerous cheap inns and budget hotels. It is the staging point for ferries to the popular Tioman Island Marine Park. One can also see large bustling fishing boats landing their catches. In early May, during the annual festival of Kayu Papan in Mersing, visitors are able to witness the 'kuda kepang' trance dance
Pekan
Pekan is a pleasant town midway between the southern coastal border of Pahang and Kuantan, the state capital. It is situated at the mouth of the Pahang River, which at this point is gentle and sylvan and graced by numerous little boats. At one time the state capital, Pekan is till today the royal town. Worth visiting are the two white marble mosques with their riot of golden domes. The town also houses the state museum.
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