Still under development, this marina will eventually include a super yacht basin for really massive yachts and some of the more expensive apartments which are being built around the perimeter will have their own marina section with private berths adjacent to their buildings. Security is excellent, it is one of the places we now have on our list for leaving the boat when we fly home for a while.

 We had been a bit undecided about joining yet another rally but we have not been disappointed so far.

Our private ferry service. 

 

We were treated to a high speed personal water taxi to another marina where we had a wonderful 8 course dinner, waited on at table and entertained by a mixture of local dancers and a high quality professional band with some excellent singers and no karaoke! The only downside was that we were not allowed to bring in booze as this Muslim country takes its abstemious laws seriously …for official functions. However, we were allowed to visit a neighbouring bar prior to the meal where we were given what was advertised as a cocktail reception but actually turned out to be as much Tiger beer as we could drink, sponsored by the brewery!

  

The following day we had our free rally guided tour of the area, including a visit to the old town of Johor Bahru across the river which is being given a facelift to capitalise on its tourist potential including this imposing palace used as a headquarters by the Japanese when they invaded Singapore in the war.  The State of Johor still has a sultan as do the other 8 states of Malaysia.  

 

Next the far reaching new development  beyond the marina that was started in 2006. The whole of this area, known as Iskandia, is envisaged as an international metropolis and liberal trade port much like Hong Kong. It covers nearly 222,000 hectares, 3 times the size of Singapore.  The regional government has been moved to some splendid buildings close to the marina and there is construction going on everywhere. Most of the infrastructure is in and now the buildings are going up helter-skelter. There are great plans for business, education, science, industry and tourism.

The immediate buyers of the new property being built here are the citizens of Singapore who can buy at a fraction of Singaporean prices but still commute to work in an hour or so. Singapore seems to have been bypassed by the recession and Malaysia also seems to have plenty of money to invest.

In Singapore I passed this building site that must be one of the

largest construction sites anywhere.

The new Iskandia Parliament building, the skylight at the top is in the shape of a pineapple, an important product here. Housed in a glass case high up over the entrance into the chamber is a copy of the Koran.

Clearly there is confidence that plans will succeed as some well known brands are committed to coming here…including my old school Marlborough College, which is due to open a school here next year for all age groups at eye watering fees. Amongst others, Newcastle and Southampton Universities are opening departments here and for an entirely different clientele there will be a Legoland site.

So far Malaysia has been a real eye-opener. We knew that it was more developed than Indonesia but had not realised to what extent it has developed. One of the things they have definitely got right in this region is their landscaping which is to a very high quality with, for instance, all the roundabouts and many of the road verges planted with a range of beautiful plants in intricate patterns. There are trees and greenery included everywhere even on the separation lanes of the dual carriageways. Compared with Indonesia the local supermarkets are full of a bewildering variety of both western and local produce such as ice berg lettuces (flown in from California), about 20 different sorts of local fish, huge varieties of local fruit, veg and salad items….and smoked salmon from Norway if you could afford it. Best of all for us is that cheese can be bought relatively easily, in Indonesia this was often impossible or involved a hunt through every shop in town.

If anyone is interested in retiring here one can apparently get Visas easily (Geezer Visas) by proving one has enough money to live. The cost of living is a fraction of European prices with cheap food and much cheaper medical services. Health tourism is already growing fast. My only reservation would be the climate….unending heat and humidity, but of course everyone has air conditioning here, except us poor cruisers.