Sunday, 11 June 2017

Visit Johor tourist spots by train (From New Straits Times website 10th November 2014)

By SIM BAK HENG

JOHOR BARU: THE state wants foreign and domestic tourists to start using trains to visit places of interest in Johor.

This is in view of the 11 Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) train stations in the state, with each located either near or a short distance away from numerous tourist attractions.

State Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said tour operators are encouraged to come up with packages that incorporate train rides.
“Singaporean tourists can, for instance, take the train service from Woodlands to Kluang to enjoy Kluang coffee. From the Kluang train station, they can also visit some of the eco- or agro-tourism destinations in Kahang or Ayer Hitam.

“For those disembarking at JB Sentral, various tourist attractions are within walking distance such as the Heritage Walk near Jalan Tan Hiok Nee.

“They can even take a connecting bus service to Legoland and Sanrio Hello Kitty theme park in Nusajaya.

“At the Kulai train station, it is just a short distance away to the Johor Premium Outlets.
“If one intends to go to the Endau-Rompin National Park, the Bekok station is an ideal stop,” he said.
Tee said taking trains would offer an exciting and unique experience for tourists, as the rail tracks usually cut through rural areas, which offer verdant and rustic scenery along the way.
He noted that most people are not exposed to trains as a mode of travel, although it is a popular mode of transport overseas.

“Travelling by trains will become a trend in future. I hope KTM Bhd will increase its frequency to cater to the needs of the people,” he added.

“This is also a viable option for those coming from districts outside Johor Baru but want to travel to Singapore,” Tee said, adding that the train service provides a cheaper alternative, as it is the only mode of transport not subject to toll charges and vehicle entry permit fee at the Causeway.

“Train service and facilities have improved over the years. More importantly, there will be no traffic congestion which means travellers will arrive at their destinations on time,” he said.

Let’s travel to the jungles of Johor (From New Straits Times website 21st January 2015)

JOHOR BARU: Trekking into the jungles is neither meant for the novice nor the faint hearted as one could easily lose the way or come face to face with dangerous wild animals.

However, the route to the jungle is made much easier with the 3P travel programme (Student Tourism Programme) rolled out by Tourism Malaysia Johor in conjunction with Johor National Park Corporation and Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB).

This writer recently sampled the 3P programme that took a group of student visitors to the lush rainforest of Taman Negara Endau Rompin.

It was certainly an unforgettable experience even for any novice. It was also a learning trip where visitors were exposed to the many hidden heritage of the jungle.

The main objective of the programme is to encourage students to visit places while studying and get exposed to valuable information, recreational activities and see for themselves the flora and fauna conservation at the national park.

This writer joined the group under the 3P travel programme themed “Learn, Discover and Explore Johor 2015/2016”. The journey to the Selai entrance of the national park that cuts across two states - Johor and Pahang - started with a train ride from Johor Baru Sentral terminal to Bekok.
From Bekok, the group continued the journey on a 4x4 vehicle to the Selai entrance of Taman Negara Endau Rompin.

LEARING ABOUT THE LIVING FOREST

Among the interesting itineraries of the programme were a night walk, light trap, jungle trekking to Takah Pandan, mini explorace, sketch and water based activities with the group members divided into teams.

Apart from that, numerous group activities like jungle survival lessons that required participants to build a shelter, boil water in a leaf, cook rice in bamboos and start a fire.

LEARNING ABOUT THE JUNGLE

Edzuar Zar Ayob Azari, Tourism Malaysia’s director for Johor, noted that the 3P programme is not something new as it has been ongoing since year 2000 but the activities then were more towards elocution, quizzes and so on.

Now it is more oriented towards learning of Johor’s natural heritage.
“Anchored on three core aspects of learning, discovering and exploring, we hope that the participants will be able to dwell deeper and learn of the unique places and the packages offered during the programme,” he said.

IDENTIFYING THE RIGHT PRODUCT FOR EACH TOURISTS

Edzuar noted that the 3P travel programme would also take students and undergraduates to islands as well or other places according to their requirements.
“We are looking into ways to promote the places associated with legends in Johor, like Gunung Ledang, as places of interest for tourists where those keen on extreme sports could scale the mountain and those who love nature could enjoy the sight and feel of the verdant landscape,” he said.
Edzuar pointed out by this way the public would understand better and learn more on the tourism packages available in Johor that include programmes like Homestay, Agro Tourism, Back to Nature and others.

THE REMARKABLE FIRST EXPERIENCE

One of the participants Habibah Bachok said Taman Negara Endau Rompin boasts its own uniqueness where many of the rare flora and fauna could be found.
“Though it is my first experience, I’m excited and thankful for the opportunity to enter a jungle and get a feel of the jungle.

“Here, I not only learned of the animals that live here but also learned how to use the blowpipe, jungle survival that include making traps and shelters, learning of the names of the jungle trees and flowers,” said Habibah adding that the most challenging part was trekking upwards to Takah Pandan Waterfalls due to the difficult terrain.

The 3P programme provides an opportunity for students and undergraduates to learn to travel to new places and expand their horizon. – Bernama

Residents paint murals to promote tourism (From The Star website 9th March 2015)

by kathleen ann kili

LABIS: The local community has come together to paint murals on walls of a row of wooden old shoplots as an effort to promote tourism at the Bekok town here.

The mural-painting effort was part of the Bekok Transformation programme, which was initiated by the locals and supported by Labis MP Datuk Chua Tee Yong.

The transformation programme committee secretary Tien Thong Sin said that the residents took about five days to complete a mural depicting the town’s popular Sungai Batang Waterfall along Jalan Wijaya here.

“This is just the first phase of the mural-painting activity, as we are planning to come up with more murals in the next few months which will involve another row of wooden shoplots along Jalan Gunong,” he told StarMetro recently.

He added that the community decided to liven up the town especially the structure of old shoplots, which had been around for over 60 years.

Apart from attracting tourists to throng the town, Tien said that the community hoped to attract locals who have left the town to pursue an education or career in more developed cities to return for holidays.

“We want our people especially the younger generation to visit their hometown and contribute to its economy.

“Besides encouraging creativity among youths, we also hope to recruit more volunteers and create job opportunities for locals through the programme,” he added.
Tien said the committee also launched a photography contest, which was open to the public, for the programme.

“The competition is open to members of the public and the only criteria set is that the photograph must be taken within Bekok such as the iconic Sungai Batang Waterfall, the Bekok train station, quaint kopitiams (popular hangout spot among locals).
“Winners will walk away with cash prizes of up to RM1,000 and a certificate and participants have until May 31 to submit their photos,” he said adding that those interested could log on to their Facebook page “Labis Ecotourism” for more details.

Noodle stall with a lot to offer (From The Star website 16th April 2016)

by foong pek yee

BEKOK: A noodle stall that operates from a house porch in Bekok New Village here is visible from far.
Bekok, located within the Labis parliamentary constituency, is about 10km from the Jalan Yong Peng-Segamat main road.

It is difficult to miss the big and colourful mural at the side of the house – the stall’s landmark for those who are not familiar with the village.

The 55-year-old shop called Lao You Ji (old friends in Chinese) is famous for its handmade noodles.
And the mural was drawn by the shop owner’s wife, Yong Chiew Lin, 50.
Her paintings also form part of the stall’s decor.
Yong said she had never been to an art class.

“I just like drawing since young and will draw whatever comes to my mind,” she added.
That goes the same for her murals.
Yong said she had decided to draw murals after seeing the art in towns and cities.
Juggling between helping at her husband’s noodle stall and household chores daily, which takes up more than 12 hours, has not stopped her from pursuing her hobby.
The stall opens between 6am and 3pm daily.It is a husband and wife business and they do not have any helpers.
“It is household chores after we close shop for the day” she said.

Yong said she draws to relax, and will do it daily.
Besides drawing, she also likes to do crochet. She crochets items such as phone covers and pouches and puts them up for sale at the noodle stall.
But she said it has never crossed her mind to put up her paintings for sale.


Opportunities in a small town (From The Star website 21st March 2016)

by foong pek yee

EKOK: The preparations for his daughter’s wedding were going smoothly, except for one thing.
There was no place to house relatives or guests of the Chai family at Bekok New Village in Bekok, Johor.

Many had come from far and would have to stay for a night or two.

The predicament, however, turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the bride’s father, Peter Chai.
“I saw the potential of a homestay business in the village, and started planning for it,” said Chai, recalling the incident that happened 12 years ago.

But it was only in 2011 when Chai finally became the proud owner of Bekok Homestay.
The 53-year-old has expanded his business from one shophouse to three units.
The expansion is timely because tourism, especially eco-tourism which Bekok has much to offer, is increasingly popular, nowadays.

“Bekok is famous for durians and there are waterfalls nearby. Tourists also come for jungle trekking and to experience life in a village,” he said pointing out to the many attractions in and around the village he grew up in.

For nature lovers, Bekok’s location at the western entrance to Endau Rompin National Park makes it ideal.
Apart from that, a new road joining Bekok to Paloh, Kluang is in the pipeline.
Chai said Bekok’s tourism would also benefit from the construction of the road as it would cut the travelling distance between Bekok and Paloh to 16 km compared to the 45km on the trunk road.
“Tourists from Bekok can go to Mersing, a popular tourist destination, via Paloh and vice versa,” said Chai on the importance of connectivity.

Bekok, located within the Labis parliamentary, is about 10km from the Jalan Yong Peng-Segamat main road.
It is also easily accessible by train.
The Bekok Homestay, located along Jalan Stesen in Bekok, is in front of the Bekok railway station.
Chai said the peak season for his homestay business was during the year-end school holidays and festive seasons.

“Many young people who return to the village for festive seasons or even over the weekends opt for homestays, these days.
“This is especially for those with children because their ancestral houses usually does not have enough room to accommodate all of them,” he said.

Chai said his wife Sam Yock Kuan, 49 and one of his daughters Chai Siow Wei, 28, were running the business for him.

He meanwhile continues to work in Singapore from Monday to Thursday and returns to Bekok over the weekend to manage the business.
The father of five - a son and four daughters - Chai said the homestay business was also part of his retirement plan.

Despite many young people having left the village to cities to earn a living, Chai is optimistic that tourism and other related business would give the village a new lease of life.
Besides developing the area, he said concerted efforts to promote tourism there was also important.
Chai cited the Bekok Festival organised by Labis MP Datuk Chua Tee Yong last year, which had help promote the town and bring in more business.

Chai is also in the midst of completing his museum, located at his homestay.
This was his effort to help educate the younger generation of Bekok’s history.
“This is the place to be proud of and also for tourists to have a memorable holiday,” he said.


Coffeeshop a meeting point Bekok (From The Star website 30th April 2016)

Many villagers never miss going to their favourite coffeeshop in Bekok New Village, except maybe on the first day of Chinese New Year.

The almost 80-year-old Chop Nam Kye coffeeshop in Labis, Johor is very much part of their life.
“They were mostly rubber tappers in the good old days and they would get their first cup of coffee here before proceeding to the estate.

“Most of them had since retired but the routine of rising early and going for their cup of coffee stays,” said shop owner Mah Chin Hoong who opens for business at 5.30am daily.

He said Bekok is still a predominantly agriculture area and many villagers continued to come for a cup of coffee before going to work in the farms.

Mah, 64, is the second generation running the shop after taking over from his father Mah Yap Kee.

Continuing his father’s work routine, Chin Hoong wakes up 4.30am to get ready to open the shop an hour later.

This shop in Bekok New Village is famous for its coffee and handmade kaya bread.
“We continue to provide the same taste and aroma over the decades and this brings back fond memories of the good old days,” said Chin Hoong of his shop where the majority of patrons are regulars.

The fondness for the shop is not confined just to the elderly folk in the village though.
He said children who grew up in the village and are working outstation now, including Singapore, would visit the shop when they returned for holidays.

Some, he added, also packed the coffee powder and kaya to take back.
On how to make a cup of good coffee, Chin Hoong said it involved a combination of factors; from the coffee beans, milk, temperature of water to the cup used.
“Experience counts when coming up with the same good cup of coffee consistently,” he shared.

Chin Hoong’s 57-year-old wife Lim Yee Nee is a teacher in Bekok and helps her husband at the shop after school.
Lim said the shop is more than a place to come for a cup of coffee and kaya bread.
“It is also a place for us (villagers) to meet, exchange ideas and share our ups and downs.”
Lim said the Chinese traditions which continued to be observed in the village have kept the villagers close to each other.
For instance, she said the tradition called “Pak Ka Mai” (literally translated to rice from a hundred families in Cantonese), which was observed in the run up to Chinese New Year is a meaningful practice.

The coffeeshop was the collection point, with the villagers given a week to deposit their bags of rice there.
Lim said the rice was then mixed together before they were repacked and distributed back to the villagers shortly before Chinese New Year.

On the long-term plans for the business, the couple who have three children, said their eldest daughter, Mah Ji Xian, 24, is helping out in the shop.

The shop is also seeing more business these days, thanks to Labis MP Datuk Chua Tee Yong who has been making efforts to put Bekok on the tourist map.

Chin Hoong said his shop had seen an increase of about 20% in business on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays after the Bekok Festival last year to promote the interesting places and eateries in Bekok.
Good coffee and kaya bread aside, Chop Nam Kye, with its traditional decor and long history is certainly charming in its own way and worth visiting.

Waterfall, good food and other attractions draw the crowd to Bekok (From The Star website 8th June 2017)

by foong pek yee

LABIS: Some 400 cyclists had an enjoyable time in Kampung Baru Bekok here.
It was also a family outing for many as it was the start of the second week of the two-week school holidays.

Labis MP Datuk Chua Tee Yong was there to flag-off the event.
The participants rode to the nearby Sungai Bantang Waterfall where they had a splashing time in the scenic area.

Village chief Saw Geok Choo, 64, said the waterfall is among several top tourist attractions near the village.

The increasing interest in eco-tourism, she added, had continued to draw tourists to the village where the Bekok train station is located.

“There is a very old tree near the waterfall and it takes at least 15 people to join hands in order to circle the tree,” she said of the huge tree which is believed to be more than 100 years old.
According to Saw, about 2,000 tourists thronged the village over last weekend.
The village is known for among others, its good coffee and bread at the Nan Kai coffeeshop, beautiful murals, bee rearing in a farm called Happy farm and a museum.

Saturday, 10 June 2017

Accommodation in Bekok

Being a small town, Bekok doesn't have any hotels operating here. But there are some home stays for visitors to choose from:

Bekok Homestay

Guided tours of Bekok

Bekok town is a wonderful destination for 1 day or 2 day family trips. It is a good place for visitors to experience the Kampung life and also outdoor activities.

Guided tours can be engaged at:

Bekok guided tours



Sungai Bantang Waterfall

This park was opened back in 1989.  It is a wonderful destination for families to come and have picnics. It is currently managed by the Segamat Forestry department. The facilities available here are parking area, toilets, camping area, picnic area etc.

It is also a great destination for nature lovers. There are jungle trekking trails here for adventurers to explore this natural forest.

Getting to Sungai Bantang Waterfall
It is located 8km away from Bekok town. The roads leading there are tarred and well maintained.

Sungai Bantang Map


Friday, 9 June 2017

Getting to Bekok

By Car


From Singapore
-If you are coming from Singapore direction, take the North-South Expressway(E2). Exit at the Yong Peng Selatan exit (exit 242), then head up north on the Federal route 1 .  From here, it is a 40 minute drive to Bekok town. Along the way, you will pass by Yong Peng and Chaah town.

After you pass Chaah town, watch out for the sign that shows the exit to Bekok. At the junction, take a right turn onto Jalan Bekok (J150). From this junction, it is a 15 minute drive to Bekok town.

Singapore to Bekok by Car- Click to Enlarge


From KL/Ipoh
-If you are coming from KL direction, take the North-South Expressway(E2). You can take the Yong Peng Utara exit (exit 241), then head up north on the Federal route 1 . From here, it is a 40 minute drive to Bekok town. Along the way, you will pass by Yong Peng and Chaah town.

After you pass Chaah town, watch out for the sign that shows the exit to Bekok. At the junction, take a right turn onto Jalan Bekok (J150). From this junction, it is a 15 minute drive to Bekok town.
KL to Bekok by Car - Click to Enlarge




By Train

Since there is a small train station in Bekok, you can take a train to bekok.

From Johor Bahru Sentral station, it is 3 hour train ride to Bekok Station.

From Kuala Lumpur Sentral station, it is a 3.5 hour train ride to Bekok Station. But you will have to get off at Gemas Station and switch trains.

Please refer to the KTM website for the latest train schedule:

http://www.ktmb.com.my









Welcome to Visit Bekok!

Our website seeks to provide useful information to visitors to the wonderful town of Bekok. We will provide information on accomodation, transport, food, activities to do and so on.
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