Learn.....Johor Bahru, capital of the Malaysian state of Johor, sits at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. With a causeway across the Straits of Johor connecting it to Singapore, it’s a gateway for exploration of that island nation. On the Johor Bahru's waterfront is Istana Besar, a royal palace built by Sultan Abu Bakar in 1866 that now houses the Royal Abu Bakar Museum....border crossing.

Learnt.....These days it is better to stay in Johor and travel to Singapore for day trips due the cost of accommodation in Singapore. Johor has excellent transportation links into the interior at minimal cost. Beware of touts at Larkin Bus Terminal. If you can, walk out into the street or use UBER.

Learn.....Mersing is a coastal town in southeast Malaysia. It's known as the departure point for ferries to offshore islands like Pulau Tioman and Pulau Rawa. The town center is home to the ornate, Hindu Sri Subramaniam Temple. Nearby, the hilltop Masjid Jamek Bandar mosque offers panoramic views....more.

Learnt.....It’s most likely you will be in Mersing to catch a ferry to the islands. Because the ferries run according to the tides, you should check the departure times well in advance. There is one per day and it could be early in the morning or late afternoon. This will determine the need for accommodation....more.

Learn.....Tioman Island lies off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, in the South China Sea. It's a nature reserve, ringed by beaches. The area is known for its dive sites, which have corals, sea fans and sea sponges, as well as shipwrecks. The island is covered in tropical rainforests, home to butterflies, lizards and monkeys. On the east coast, the Juara Turtle Project is a hatchery that protects and studies sea turtles....links.

Learnt.....From Mersing the ferry will call at a number of piers on Tioman Island. Tekek is the largest but still just a village. Apart from snorkelling at the marine park just north of Tekek and calling at the duty free shop, there is little else to do so for just lazing around the ideal location is across the island at Juara Beach....more.

Learn.....Malacca is a Malaysian state on the Malay Peninsula's southwest coast. The capital, Malacca City, has a colonial past seen in its preserved town center, the site of 16th-century, Portuguese St. Paul’s Church. It's also home to Christ Church, built by the Dutch in the 18th century. Next to Christ Church in Red Square is the Stadthuys, the Dutch-era town hall now housing a museum of Malaccan history and ethnography....links.

Learnt.....Malacca (Melaka in Malay) is easily reached by air or road. There is an international airport and a regular national coach service to and from Melaka Sentral. The nearest railway station however is in Pulau Sebang (30km). Most tourists head for the Old Quarter, a UNESCO heritage site so steeped in history....more.

Learn.....Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia. Its modern skyline is dominated by the 451m-tall Petronas Twin Towers, a pair of glass-and-steel-clad skyscrapers with Islamic motifs. The towers also offer a public skybridge and observation deck. The city is also home to British colonial-era landmarks such as the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building....links.

Learnt.....Kuala Lumpur has an extensive transport network including road rail and air although curiously KL International Airport is a long way south of the city. In the city there is a good service by bus, metro and monorail. The best option for accommodation is to be near one of the main hubs e.g. Plaza Rakyat for Chinatown....more.