Pasir Gudang

Pasir Gudang is a port town and manufacturing hub in Johor, Malaysia. Generally industrial in nature, Pasir Gudang does hold a colourful kite festival in February and the local track circuit is a favourite spot for gearheads in Johor. The Tanjung Puteri golf course is also one of the largest courses in the state.

The name Pasir Gudang originated from the existence of a sand mine at Kampung Ulu. Sand or 'pasir' in Malay was stocked in sand pits or 'gudang', to be exported to Singapore, hence the name 'Pasir Gudang'.

Other than sand, the areas surrounding Pasir Gudang were mainly used by plantation owners to grow catechu and black pepper, along with pineapples. Upon the introduction of rubber to Malaysia, large estates around Plentong were opened by British and Singaporean cultivators. During the 1970s, the state government took over former plantation estates, converting them into industrial and housing areas and cementing Pasir Gudang as a hub for heavy industry. The mass of chemical factories means that the air quality sometimes worsens noticeably, taking on a hint of burning plastic. Johor Port was also established in 1977, in direct competition with the trading port of Singapore.

• Binary Park, Bandar Baru Seri Alam 81750. Park.
• Bukit Layang-Layang, Kawasan Perindustrian Pasir Gudang. Park
• Kite Museum, Bukit Layang-Layang. 9AM-5PM. Kites, also known as wau. Displays both traditional and modern kite collections. RM3.
• Sarang Buaya, Kawasan Perindustrian Tanjung Langsat. Crocodile farm.
• Seri Alam Park, Bandar Baru Seri Alam, 81750 Masai. Park.
• Sungai Johor Bridge, Lebuhraya Senai-Desaru. Landmark bridge.
• Tanjung Langsat Mangrove Recreational Park, Kawasan Perindustrian Tanjung Langsat. Mangrove park.

Binary Park, Bandar Baru Seri Alam 81750. Park.

Bukit Layang-Layang, Kawasan Perindustrian Pasir Gudang. Park

Kite Museum, Bukit Layang-Layang. 9AM-5PM. Kites, also known as wau. Displays both traditional and modern kite collections. RM3.

Sarang Buaya, Kawasan Perindustrian Tanjung Langsat. Crocodile farm.

Seri Alam Park, Bandar Baru Seri Alam, 81750 Masai. Park.

Sungai Johor Bridge, Lebuhraya Senai-Desaru. Landmark bridge.

Tanjung Langsat Mangrove Recreational Park, Kawasan Perindustrian Tanjung Langsat. Mangrove park.

• Amigos Horse Riding, Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort, +60127966806. 7AM-7PM. Horse riding school.
• Coastal Paddle, Telok Kabong, +6586615077.
• Johor Circuit, +60 7 2521313. The track alternates bike and car racing in turn. Bikers will require full-face helmets, leather gloves and leather jackets for basic safety. Saturday night sprints are popular, where car enthusiasts race their cars down a straight stretch of 300m in a display of power and speed. Bikes RM60/h, cars RM80/h.
• Pasir Gudang Extreme Park, Jalan Mawar Biru, Kawasan Perindustrian Pasir Gudang, 81700. Skating park.
• Pasir Gudang Public Library, L1/11, Kompleks Pusat Bandar 81700, +6072517912. Library.
• Plentong Go Kart.
• TS Wonderland Waterpark, Lot 6015-C Jalan Ciku Utama 2 Taman Kota Masai. Indoor water theme park with multi-storey slides.
• Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort, Jalan Tanjong Puteri 1, Tanjong Puteri Resort 81700, +6072711888. Golf course.

Amigos Horse Riding, Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort, +60127966806. 7AM-7PM. Horse riding school.

Coastal Paddle, Telok Kabong, +6586615077.

Johor Circuit, +60 7 2521313. The track alternates bike and car racing in turn. Bikers will require full-face helmets, leather gloves and leather jackets for basic safety. Saturday night sprints are popular, where car enthusiasts race their cars down a straight stretch of 300m in a display of power and speed. Bikes RM60/h, cars RM80/h.

Pasir Gudang Extreme Park, Jalan Mawar Biru, Kawasan Perindustrian Pasir Gudang, 81700. Skating park.

Pasir Gudang Public Library, L1/11, Kompleks Pusat Bandar 81700, +6072517912. Library.

Plentong Go Kart.

TS Wonderland Waterpark, Lot 6015-C Jalan Ciku Utama 2 Taman Kota Masai. Indoor water theme park with multi-storey slides.

Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort, Jalan Tanjong Puteri 1, Tanjong Puteri Resort 81700, +6072711888. Golf course.

• Galeri Coklat, 19A, 19B-B2, Jl Ah Siang, Tanjung Puteri (about 30 m northwest of the major T-junction comprising Jl Lingkaran Dalam, Jl Ibrahim Sultan and Jl Tanjung Puteri, +60 7 221-8873. 08:30-17:30. This shop-cum-museum is run by a leading Malaysian supplier of cocoa-related products. The museum and shop are found side by side in one big room on the ground level of a modern, 3-storey building. Here, you can purchase a wide range of chocolate products (both chocolate sweets and beverages) under the brand name "CacaoRich". You can also have free samples of the shop's chocolate drink. The cocoa and chocolate museum is straight ahead of you as you enter the door. Admission to the museum is free.
• KiP Mart Masai, Jalan Persiaran Dahlia 2, Taman Bukit Dahlia, 81700, +60137043433. Supermarket.
• Kompleks Pusat Bandar Pasir Gudang. Fairly standard shopping mall.
• Mydin Mall Taman Rinting, Jalan Rinting, Taman Rinting, 81750 Masai. Supermarket.
• Tesco Seri Alam, PTD 111515, Jalan Rinting, Masai, 81750, +6073885164. 8AM-11PM (Sunday-Thursday), 8AM-1AM (Friday-Saturday). Supermarket.

Galeri Coklat, 19A, 19B-B2, Jl Ah Siang, Tanjung Puteri (about 30 m northwest of the major T-junction comprising Jl Lingkaran Dalam, Jl Ibrahim Sultan and Jl Tanjung Puteri, +60 7 221-8873. 08:30-17:30. This shop-cum-museum is run by a leading Malaysian supplier of cocoa-related products. The museum and shop are found side by side in one big room on the ground level of a modern, 3-storey building. Here, you can purchase a wide range of chocolate products (both chocolate sweets and beverages) under the brand name "CacaoRich". You can also have free samples of the shop's chocolate drink. The cocoa and chocolate museum is straight ahead of you as you enter the door. Admission to the museum is free.

KiP Mart Masai, Jalan Persiaran Dahlia 2, Taman Bukit Dahlia, 81700, +60137043433. Supermarket.

Kompleks Pusat Bandar Pasir Gudang. Fairly standard shopping mall.

Mydin Mall Taman Rinting, Jalan Rinting, Taman Rinting, 81750 Masai. Supermarket.

Tesco Seri Alam, PTD 111515, Jalan Rinting, Masai, 81750, +6073885164. 8AM-11PM (Sunday-Thursday), 8AM-1AM (Friday-Saturday). Supermarket.

• Restoran Selera Sambal, 25 Jln Pengkalan 5, Kampung Pasir Puteh. Ayam penyet.
• Tanjung Langsat Food Court, Jalan Ipil 1, Kawasan Perindustrian Tanjung Langsat. Food court.

Restoran Selera Sambal, 25 Jln Pengkalan 5, Kampung Pasir Puteh. Ayam penyet.

Tanjung Langsat Food Court, Jalan Ipil 1, Kawasan Perindustrian Tanjung Langsat. Food court.

• Kedai Makan Rahmat, 3 Jln Pantai, Kampung Pasir Puteh. 10:30-15:30. Famous for their deep fried fish, or siakap goreng, which are fried with their scales on, keeping the flesh inside tender. The restaurant is built on top of stilts extending over the shore of the Johor Straits. RM30.

Kedai Makan Rahmat, 3 Jln Pantai, Kampung Pasir Puteh. 10:30-15:30. Famous for their deep fried fish, or siakap goreng, which are fried with their scales on, keeping the flesh inside tender. The restaurant is built on top of stilts extending over the shore of the Johor Straits. RM30.

• Coffeetrap Restaurant, 7,11 & 15 Jln Permas Jaya, +60 7 3861991. Open daily. A sidewalk alfresco dining outlet with live music from early as 7:30PM. The best dishes are lamb shank, grilled salmon, chicken chop with gravy. Popular with locals and expatriates from early as 12PM Fri-Mon and 3PM Tue-Thu, with happy hour promotions until 9PM. Fresh fruit juices and vegetarian dishes are also available. RM40 for dinner and drinks.
• Restaurant SPOA, Kg Pasir Duteh Telok Kabong.
• Todak (Orang Asli) Restaurant, 1 Orang Asli, Telok Jawa, Masai, +60 7 386 3696. 11:00-23:00. Set on a breezy wooden boardwalk right on the Straits of Johor, the restaurant is famous for its seafood and crab platters. The tables are moodily lit with red lights, covered with red plastic and matched with red chairs.

Coffeetrap Restaurant, 7,11 & 15 Jln Permas Jaya, +60 7 3861991. Open daily. A sidewalk alfresco dining outlet with live music from early as 7:30PM. The best dishes are lamb shank, grilled salmon, chicken chop with gravy. Popular with locals and expatriates from early as 12PM Fri-Mon and 3PM Tue-Thu, with happy hour promotions until 9PM. Fresh fruit juices and vegetarian dishes are also available. RM40 for dinner and drinks.

Restaurant SPOA, Kg Pasir Duteh Telok Kabong.

Todak (Orang Asli) Restaurant, 1 Orang Asli, Telok Jawa, Masai, +60 7 386 3696. 11:00-23:00. Set on a breezy wooden boardwalk right on the Straits of Johor, the restaurant is famous for its seafood and crab platters. The tables are moodily lit with red lights, covered with red plastic and matched with red chairs.

There are next to no drinking holes to be found in Pasir Gudang. Even the seafood restaurants may not necessarily serve beer or any form of alcohol. The Tanjung Puteri golf resort has a couple of lounges open to the public. Permas Jaya also has a bar or two.

• Johor Bahru
• Desaru - go further east on the E22 for beach resorts on the South China Sea.
• Sepang - for more time on the racing track.