Before i begin my story, i need to warn you of the length of this review. This is simply because i’ve come to like this small and unique town located down south of Malaysia. Here it comes…

The name Kluang derives from the Malay word ‘keluang’ which means a type of flying fox or rather a type of fruit bat. These used to be plentiful in the district decades ago. They have almost completely disappeared due to the combination of hunting and destruction of their natural habitat. I was told by a local friend that pictures of bat can still be seen on road signages and boards. Kluang is a town located roughly in the middle of the state of Johor in Malaysia. The population of Kluang district is considered small but has now exceeded 250,000 residents with more than half are centralized in the town itself.

Kluang had a very interesting World War 2 history when the Japanese soldiers once relocated their headquarter from Kuala Lumpur to Kluang in 1942 and later used the airbase to launch air attacks on targets ranging from Singapore to Sumatra.

Me and a worker (maybe the boss) of Kluang RailCoffee

The famous Kluang RailCoffee outlet

Worker preparing the food and drink

Roti bakar, Coffee, etc

The shop and its patrons

Highlights:
Kluang Railway Station
One of the charming places to visit in Kluang is the Kluang Railway station. The railway is surely the main highlight of this town as it cuts the town into two halves when the train passes through Kluang town. This will lead to temporary closure of the road to the town for the the train to pass. It is a common saying among local residents that when the trains approach Kluang Railway station, the entire Kluang town stands still. The station itself withstood the test of time and should be of interest for those who have passion for nostalgic photographs.

Kluang Station Coffee
It is widely claimed that the famous coffee shop at Kluang Railway Station, serves the best coffee in Malaysia (plus the shop’s specialty “Roti Bakar” - toasted bread with half boiled eggs). This local dish is available for breakfast between 7.00am and 12.00noon and for afternoon tea between 2.30pm and 6.00pm. The coffee shop now has expanded into franchise business and more outlets are available in major cities including Kuala Lumpur.

Tong Fong Cafe
Also worth taking note is an authentic coffee shop located in no. 56, Jalan Lambak by the name of Tong Fong Cafe (a.k.a. Eastern Cafe) which was very popular with the British soldiers during the heydays when Malaya was still under British rule. The operator is a second generation descendant of the owner and the coffee shop has been operating since 1954. Good coffee amidst nostalgic environment where orders are still being shouted from patrons to the back of the shop where each cup of beverage is being concocted the old traditional way, retaining the original flavours. Coffee can still be ‘doggie-bagged’ via used milk tins with a raffia string as loop for the dainty finger. It is worth a visit for visitors and regulars.

Gunung Berlumut & Gunung Lambak
Gunung Berlumut and Gunung Lambak are popular with jungle trekkers like me.

Machap
The area of Machap (on the road between Simpang Renggam and Air Hitam) is well known for its pottery and porcelain

Best Way to Get Around:
Car: This is your best option as the town is small and easy to move around.

Taxis: They can be scarce and difficult to locate when you need one. Mind you…you need to bargain with them as they don’t use their metres.

A signboard at Gunung Lambak. Take note of the bat picture on top

Me at Gunung Lambak

One of the smaller ponds found up at Gunung Lambak

Canberra is often described by Australians who haven’t been there as a boring town, full of politicians, bureaucrats - and not much else. But those who go there find beautiful galleries and museums clustered around a lake and cupped in bushland.

One of only two capital cities in the world that have been built to a premeditated design, Canberra is rather eerily symmetrical. Placed about its nice, planned combinations of straight and curving streets are the old and new Parliament Houses, the National Gallery, and the National Museum.

The ACT is 80km (50mi) from north to south and is about 30km (19mi) wide. It is landlocked within the mountainous terrain of southeastern New South Wales, 305km (190mi) from Sydney by road. Canberra and its surrounding suburbs are in the northeast of the territory, while the Namadgi National Park occupies the whole southwestern area. The population grew from 50,000 in 1960 to 100,000 in 1967 and has soared to more than 300,000 today.

Canberra is arranged around the artificial Lake Burley Griffin. In the peculiarly named central business district, Civic, on the northern side of the lake, are the shops, businesses, university and suburbs such as Reid, Braddon, Turner and Acton. Parliamentary and other administrative buildings are located to the south of the lake, surrounded by suburbs such as Parkes, Barton, Forrest, Deakin and Yarralumla (home to the prime minister, when he deigns to tear himself away from Sydney, and the governor-general). Canberra is also surrounded by the satellite towns of Woden, Belconnen and Tuggeranong.

Canberra’s airport is about 7km (4mi) southeast of the city. Interstate buses arrive at the Jolimont Centre, which is in the centre of Civic. The railway station is in Kingston, on the south side of the lake. Most shops and restaurants are in Civic and Manuka, also just south of the lake, with a few cafes sprinkled through the inner suburbs. Each satellite town has its own charming mall. Civic is also the centre of Canberra’s nightlife, which is somewhat more lively than its reputation suggests.

Getting Around
Public transport in Canberra means the ACTION bus service (popular tourist buses covering most sights include Nos 33, 34, 40 and 80), which runs regular routes throughout Canberra and is a relatively cheap way to get around. ACTION’s Flexibus evening service will, incredibly, veer off the set route to go as close to its passenger’s destination as possible. They will also come and collect you if you call (13 17 10). The airport is 7km (4mi) southeast of the city centre. A shuttle minibus runs to the Jolimont Centre in town and to various hotels.

Another good way to see Canberra is by bicycle; Canberra has an excellent network of bike paths.