First peek into Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast

 

Over the years, I have cherished a long and enduring relationship with Desaru, a beachfront development on the south-eastern coast of Johor, that started in the 1970’s with frequent family staycations and more recently, to working in partnership with Desaru Coast, a premium destination resort in this region.

 

Front entrance into the Mandarin Oriental,
Desaru Coast in Johor, West Malaysia

I count it my privilege to witness how Desaru Coast gradually developed into an international resort destination and was thrilled when Desaru Coast was named one of TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places of 2021, in the third annual edition of the list published on 20 July 2021.

 

Desaru Coast was curated as a premium destination resort with a portfolio of globally renowned hotels and resorts like Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas and One&Only Desaru Coast as well as the Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast and Els Club Desaru Coast.

 

Signage by Persiaran Damai, Desaru Coast

I treasure the memory of meeting with the then Group Chief Executive Officer of Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels, the master developer of Desaru Coast, at Riverside during the Ombak Festival to commemorate the official opening of Desaru Coast in July 2019 and her assurance that My Johor Stories will go a long way as a compliment to the destination.

 

What followed was the pleasure of working in partnership with these hotels and resorts on various projects and events, including the super luxurious One&Only Desaru Coast, where My Johor Stories books were placed in the villas and suites for their guests’ reading pleasure.

 

The reception desk, Mandarin Oriental,
Desaru Coast

After the global pandemic, when the borders were reopened for travel, many seized the opportunity to enjoy a welcome retreat at the resorts in Desaru Coast. Among them was one, Tan Mei Ling, who wrote me after reading a My Johor Stories book during her stay with the One&Only Desaru Coast.

 

She introduced herself and asked me to help her write a book as a precious tribute to her father. My exciting experience in this meaningful book project with the Tan family in 2023 was documented in, The Tan family’s book tribute.

 

Then when this property was rebranded as the Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast, I was delighted to receive an enquiry about My Johor Stories books. While Book One and Book Two were already sold out, I managed to arrange for a stock of Book Three, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, delivered to the Housekeeping Manager.

 

View of their signature swimming pool
Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast

Incidentally, Desaru Coast was officially declared opened in July 2019, so it was timely for me to receive an invitation in July 2026 to meet the General Manager of the Mandarin Oriental Desaru Coast for a chat over lunch at the resort.

 

This arrangement was made with Dharshini Ramu, an undergraduate from University Utara Malaysia who was doing her internship, attached to the resort’s Executive Office. A day ahead of the appointment, she sent a reminder message with a request to show that message to the security guard at the gated entrance, who should then permit me to enter.

 

I followed her instructions and when I said that my appointment was with the General Manager, the security guard directed me to the carpark to park my car.

 

Group shot: Dharshini, Shafiq, Emmi and Ros,
with me [seated] and My Johor Stories 3:
Proudly Johor, Then and Now

Dharshini, dressed in a patterned Salwar suit, welcomed me into the resort and did well to show me around as we made our way to the restaurant where the lunch was being hosted.

 

She politely waited as I took my time to pause and appreciate the charming resort, from its entrance to the front lobby and reception, to their signature swimming pool and beyond.

 

Some guests were chilling-out, seated in the shade of wide canopies by the pool and balconies while some young children were posing for photographs with their parents.

 

Adding value to the book
with an autograph

In the restaurant, we were being shown to our table when we were joined by General Manager, Fiona Hagan, and team members, Director of People & Culture, Emmi Lee, Commercial Director, Cerelle Gooding, and Director of Rooms, Sutthichai Kaewgun, better known as Khun X.

 

Over a convivial lunch of pizza and salads, I had the pleasure to introduce My Johor Stories to them while sharing some of my experiences from the early years when this destination was first developed to when the all-new Desaru Coast took shape.

 

Emmi discreetly requested her office to send over a copy of, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, and when it was delivered to our table, she said that she wanted the book to be autographed for the resort.

 

Photographs of the dusky monkeys
displayed at the Dusky Monkey bar

Among the many topics in our chat, Fiona and her team discussed ideas on how the resort can do more to create elevated experiences and exclusive escapades for guests to have meaningful and memorable moments with the resort.

 

Fiona was pleasantly surprised that I have not had the pleasure to visit the resort – until that day – and graciously offered to host my stay experience at the resort.

 

With telephone meetings scheduled after lunch, Fiona, Cerelle and Khun X had to leave the table while Emmi and Dharshini stayed with me to enjoy our dessert.

 

The landmark banyan tree in the
Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast

Emmi then invited her team from People & Culture (also known as Human Resources!) Rosmiyati Rudy and Muhammad Syafiq A. Amir Burhanuddin, to join us for dessert and have a chat with me.

 

No, we did not linger over our sweet treats as the team had to get back to work. Escorted by Emmi and Dharshini, I continued with the next part of my resort tour.

 

It was interesting to learn that the Dusky Monkey earned its name from the legendary dusky monkeys which felt so at home in this popular bar. Photographs of these monkeys, captured during their “visits,” were displayed on the bar counter.

 

The bar overlooked a section of the resort where rows of guest villas were located behind high walls. Emmi explained that the walls offered privacy as each villa was designed with its own plunge pool. She also explained that to preserve the “wow” factor, my visit into the villa will be reserved for later.

 

Panoramic view of part of the Els Club golf
course, the beach and the horizon

When I heard her brief description of their villa, I had a sudden flashback and shared with them about The Banjaran Hot Springs Retreat in Tambun, Perak, where I enjoyed an exquisite stay with spa treatment and bar experience within a limestone cave.

 

Emmi and Dharshini then led me to the resort library where the shelves were filled with a range of books. Three pairs of eyes searched closely for any My Johor Stories books and Emmi let out a shout of success when she found one copy of, My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People.

 

Lounge chairs to chill-out on the terrace

Then we headed to the resort spa. Emmi was keen to show me their landmark banyan tree which was carefully preserved when the architect, Kerry Hill Architects, designed the resort around it.

 

They led me pass the spa treatment rooms to the outdoor terrace which overlooked a section of the Els Club golf course and the beach. Lounge seats were arranged on the terrace for guests to enjoy a panoramic view and watch the sun set.

 

Our resort tour should aptly end at the souvenir shop and as we walked along a corridor, I saw a lady approaching from the opposite direction.

 

Dharshini and Dhayalini;
Can you tell who is who?

And when she was close enough, my eyes widened when I saw that she looked exactly like Dharshini – dressed in the same Salwar suit, completely similar from hairstyle to footwear – that I had to stop and check if I was seeing double.

 

By this time Emmi and Dharshini were laughing at my surprise and assured me that there was nothing wrong with my eyesight. The “double” was also laughing at my reaction so Dharshini did not hesitate to introduce me to her twin sister, Dhayalini or Dhaya in short, who was also doing her internship, attached to Learning & Development (Training department) in the resort.

 

I am sure this pair of identical twins have a lot of fun dressing up in similar outfits just to evoke some reaction from others – like me – who were confused when they saw double. After recovering sufficiently from this surprise encounter, we walked on to the souvenir shop to see a range of quality apparel, accessories and collectibles.

 

On my drive back to Johor Bahru, I thought it was indeed a very pleasant first peek into this seaside rainforest retreat. Meanwhile I can look forward to my next visit to experience the refined comfort and curated moments, promised by such a resort stay.

 

The Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast is located at Persiaran Damai, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor. For enquiries and reservations, Tel: +607 878 3400 or send email to: modes-reservations@mohg.com

Moonierena for Chinese-Muslim cuisine

 

If you often drive along Johor Bahru’s Tebrau Highway, you may have noticed how residential properties that border the road at Taman Melodies and Taman Kebun Teh were gradually being turned into commercial use.

 

Facade of Moonierena restaurant by night

Passers-by observed as a three-level bungalow steadily took shape here, paying much attention to its stylish architecture and building façade that featured arched windows and doorways, completed in a calming cream colour.

 

I was among those who were curious about this building, so when I received an invitation for a preview of the premises at the soft opening of Moonierena Restaurant, I did not hesitate to accept.

 

I drove slowly, careful not to miss the entrance to the slip road that runs parallel to the Tebrau Highway. And when I turned into the slip road, I was directed to the open carpark located adjacent to the building.

 

A separate wing of the dining hall
on the ground level

As I paused to admire the building façade, I thought that diners will agree with me that convenient carparking is a plus point to any restaurant.

 

I was still admiring the Moorish inspired Islamic architecture when I was warmly welcomed inside to the cool, air-conditioned interior.

 

From the lobby, a glance around gave me the impression of opulence created by elaborate ornamentation that featured panels of complex geometric patterns and arabesques in Islamic inspired trellis designs.

 

The horseshoe arches I saw outside were repeated in a series of smaller arches indoors, bordered by intricate designs throughout the ground floor and around the balcony in the upper-level dining hall.

 

A shimmering cluster of beautiful butterflies
in the chandelier, hung from the upper floor

When I looked up, my eyes locked onto the chandelier, a centerpiece that hung from the ceiling of the upper floor that showed off a shimmering cluster of lights in the shape of beautiful butterflies.

 

The furniture and fittings, designed in wood, cane and cream-coloured fabric, were a perfect foil for the charming, earthy theme in the decor throughout.

 

There were separate wings in the ground floor dining hall that accorded more privacy for small groups or families, and a choice of private dining rooms that were named Moon and numbered as 666, 777, 888 and 999.

 

The wide staircase with handrails

I guessed the rooms were named after Moonierena but I did not have the opportunity to find out more about the inspiration for such a name.

 

When I was invited to my table located upstairs, I was pleased to step onto the lighted staircase designed with handrails and was told that an elevator was also available for the convenience of those who were physically challenged.

 

The elevator was also a plus point because their event hall was on the third and top level of this building so it will be more comfortable and helpful for moving both, people and equipment for events.

 

While I was seated at a balcony table that overlooked the dining hall downstairs, I saw that the indoor section of the upstairs dining hall has some tables that enjoyed more privacy created within archways and cosy alcoves, separated by panels of geometric patterns.

 

More privacy within archways and cosy alcoves

From where I was seated, I observed as a music entertainer prepared to present live music entertainment, playing on his violin.

 

When I looked through the glass window panels, I saw that there was also an outdoor dining space arranged in a wide corridor that overlooked the Tebrau Highway.

 

As more guests arrived and were shown to their tables, we were served a chilled and refreshing welcome drink before the start of the event programme. This included a brief video presentation followed by an introduction to the owners and the executive chef, and a tour of the premises.

 

Outdoor dining section that
overlooks the Tebrau Highway

Then we were introduced to the inspiration behind this restaurant, Madam Lera. Her dining experience of Xinjiang cuisine during her travels was so memorable that she wanted to share the taste of bold spices, rich aromas and deep layers of flavour of this Chinese-Muslim cuisine with the people in Johor.

 

With a tagline which reads as, Where culinary art meets unforgettable flavours, I was more than keen to sample the much-touted cuisine served here.

 

After the words of welcome from their Chinese-Muslim business partner and Chef Harun from Xinjiang, guests were invited to visit the event space on the third level of the building.

 

A section of the event hall
on the top level of the building

At the top of the staircase, the outdoor section of the top floor event space boasts of a decorated gazebo which presented an ideal spot for photo mementoes.

 

Designed with glass walls and interesting lighting, the bright and airy indoor event space is best suited for hosting special occasions like engagement or wedding receptions, and graduation or anniversary celebrations.

 

Then it was time to savour the food. While there was a tasting menu with items from appetizer to dessert, the items served were not according to the list and the fish dish was changed from Steamed to a Fried version of fish. I understand that it was a soft opening event so it was not uncommon for this to occur.

 

Inside a private dining room

It was encouraging to know that Madam Lera wishes to present Moonierena as a destination where everyone, especially Muslim diners, may enjoy genuine Chinese cuisine and the true taste of Xinjiang with complete peace of mind and without compromise in taste and authenticity.

 

The restaurant aims to offer casual dining from a quick-service menu of ala carte dishes that included dim sum on the ground level of the restaurant.

 

Meanwhile diners in the upstairs dining hall or in private dining rooms will savour items from a Xinjiang cuisine menu, rooted in Chinese-Muslim heritage.

 

Enveloped in such elegant and opulent ambience with live music entertainment from a talented violinist, it was indeed a pleasant first dining experience at Moonierena.

 

Moonierena Restaurant is at No. 375, Tebrau Highway, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor. Opening hours (soft launch), from 12.30pm to 3pm and from 5pm to 11pm. For enquiries and reservations, Tel: +6011 5920 2084

Dine in New Village nostalgia

 

“Come for a meal, stay for the vibe,” this thought crossed my mind when I had my own experience at that corner coffeeshop called Medo.

 

Entrance into Restoran Medo

This name in Chinese language simply translates into the word for “taste.” Whether it was spelled, Medo or Mido, it is quite a common name for Chinese restaurants.

 

With its façade designed in wooden planks and a wide window that was flipped opened outwards, the motorcycle parked under the window seemed to imply that this was someone’s home.

 

The window-frame, decorated with Chinese couplets painted on Red paper, along with ‘sheets of paper’ postered on both sides of the wall that bordered the main entrance, exuded a nostalgic charm.

 

Traditional vending instruments... spot
the sheet of paper for the tikam-tikam game

Looking closer, I saw that these sheets of paper were in fact traditional vending instruments for small toys like plastic guns, yoyos and fix-it-yourself polystyrene planes, priced at a princely sum of only RM3 a piece.

 

Another sheet of vending instrument was pasted with small squares of tear-off tickets in a popular game I recognized as tikam-tikam.

 

This, I believe, was one of the earliest gambling games that children were tempted to spend their precious pocket money on, with the hope to tear-off a ticket that won them a grand prize.

 

More of the traditional vending
 instruments to sell small toys

The sight of this tikam game gave me a flashback to that familiar provision shop opened next to our grandfather’s house at No. 154 Jalan Ngee Heng, where I observed children playing this game.

 

No, we were not allowed to spend money on this game as (we were told!) the whole idea was to encourage children to spend money while there were probably only a few “winning” tickets in the entire game.

 

The nostalgic charm of this kopitiam continued indoors where the windows were wide open for natural light to pour in.

 

Vertical metal rods were the simple security grille in the windows but to keep the air-conditioning effective, sheets of transparent acrylic were fitted across the open windows.

 

Check out the window and 
old-fashioned ways for ventilation

Above the windows were louvred wooden slats and further above, were rows of square wire mesh that bordered the entire wall.

 

Back in those days where people lived without ceiling fans or air-conditioning, these methods were applied for better ventilation.

The exposed wooden planks and beams have their own rustic charm, something that I remembered from visiting houses in New Villages when our parents were based in Masai for work.

 

That was when I learnt the phrase, chu kia, Teochew and Hokkien dialect for, small houses. These were humble homes in the villages, many of which did not even have concrete floors but only bare red earth.

 

Old-fashioned electrical switch
above a kuda calendar on the wall

I liked that the wall décor in Medo included kuda calendars, traditional calendars that earned its name from the horse illustrations featured on the dates when horse races were held.

 

I was pleased to see that even the old-fashioned electrical switch on the wall was consistent with the rustic charm in their interior decoration.

 

It was just ahead of lunchtime so I watched as customers arrived in pairs and groups or families, to choose their seats.

 

I saw that the wooden tables and stools also matched the décor, as were the round marble-topped tables, wooden cabinets and decorative artifacts.

 

Enter here to a modern
toilet facility in Medo

While they may have done well to keep the décor simple, I observed that there was room for more decoration to further enhance the New Village vibe.

 

Meanwhile, my friend and I took our time to look at the photographs in the menu to pick our choice of items to order. And when I had a question, a helpful staff came over to answer my query.

 

Their menu – I discovered – has non-Halal versions of popular kopitiam favourites that range from rice and noodles to kaya toast and sandwiches, as well as hot and cold beverages.

 

After we had finished our meal, we lingered as I had to check out their washroom. And was pleased to see that it was (thankfully!) a modern toilet facility.

 

Restoran Medo, a non-Halal kopitiam with indoor and outdoor dining areas, is located at No. 70 Jalan Permas 10/7, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, 81750 Masai, Johor. Open daily from 7am to 6pm. Closed on Tuesday.

 

Note: Read The Legacy of New Villages documented in My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the third and final instalment that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories books.

 

This book is available from MPH bookstores nationwide and online from mphonline. In Johor Bahru, this book is available from JARO, shortform for Johor Area Rehabilitation Organization at Jalan Sungai Chat, Johor Bahru, Johor.

Strike Gold with Big Bad Wolf Books!

 

The World’s Biggest Book Sale, Big Bad Wolf Books, opens in Johor Bahru for the seventh time, a landmark edition that coincides with the school holidays to enable families, students and booklovers to enjoy browsing around in their fun book hunts.

 

Gold coins and a cake-cutting ceremony
to kick off the book sale in Johor Bahru

To kick off the book sale, I joined the excitement at the launch event where the Big Bad Wolf Books announced a dazzling incentive for shoppers who stand to win a 10-gram Gold Bar in a Lucky Draw. The gold element was chosen to beautifully bridge the timeless value of physical gold with the priceless wealth of reading and learning.

 

While the general public may participate online via the social media platforms in the Share & Win Contest, shoppers who spend a minimum of RM110 in a single receipt will be entitled to one Lucky Draw entry.

 

The winner of the 10-gram Gold Bar will be drawn and announced live via the Big Bad Wolf Books’ official social media channels on the final day of the book sale, at 6pm on June 6, 2026.

 

A map to guide shoppers on their book hunts

Opened to the public since May 27, the book sale, located at the Paradigm Mall Convention Centre on Level Seven of Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru, was abuzz with shoppers – so early in the day – browsing around for their first picks from the millions of affordable books.

 

The launch event featured a captivating, high-energy performance by the talented children of Joyous Preschool. This special showcase by the youngsters perfectly embodied the core mission of Big Bad Wolf Books – nurturing a love for language, building confidence and fostering early childhood literacy.

 

By providing a platform for these young learners, the event highlighted the critical importance of engaging children through creative expression and foundational education during their formative years.

 

A photo memento with the
Big Bad Wolf Mascot

The launch event was officiated by Assistant Director of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Daniel Albert Wong, representing Director of the Johor State Education Department, Zulkurnain Abdul Rahman.

 

In his speech, delivered on behalf of the Director of the Johor State Education Department, he emphasized the critical link between reading and long-term talent development.

 

“Books are the fundamental building blocks of literacy, critical thinking, and future career readiness. Coinciding with the school holidays, the return of Big Bad Wolf Books to Johor Bahru provides an invaluable, accessible platform for students to expand their knowledge outside the classroom.

 

Whether pursuing academic paths or technical and vocational fields (TVET), a strong command of reading empowers our youth to innovate, adapt, and succeed. By dismantling price barriers and making millions of books accessible, we are collectively investing in the future intellectual capital of Johor.”

 

Unbelievable Deals on quality books!

In terms of long-term talent development and future career readiness, he said that there was an absolute, undeniable synergy between community-led reading habits and formal educational advancement.

 

Whether students chose an academic pathway or set their sights on technical and vocational fields, excellence always traces back to a strong foundation in reading and comprehension.

 

We live in a world driven by rapid technological innovation and evolving industries. To keep up, our future generation must know how to critically analyse information, adapt to new skills, and continuously learn.

 

Sections for Fiction books

He reminded us that, reading is the primary vehicle for that cognitive growth.

 

Adding to the hype, this edition of the book sale in Johor Bahru marked a thrilling milestone where the official Big Bad Wolf Mascot was present to meet and greet fans, for the first time in their events here!

 

As the mascot mingled among the children and book lovers of all ages, everyone could not resist getting their own photo mementoes as they interacted with the legendary character.

 

This mascot will be at the book sale throughout these school holidays to transform a traditional book hunt into an immersive, festival-like family experience.

 

Sections for Non-Fiction books

The book sale extravaganza is packed with value-driven activities curated to make book shopping the best holiday activity in the city. Among the best deals are:

 

• Maximum holiday savings—get RM5 OFF with a minimum spend of RM110, or RM8 OFF with a minimum spend of RM150.

 

• To directly bolster the education sector, students and teachers enjoy an additional 5% discount with a minimum purchase of three books.

 

• Visitors can take part in the on-ground Snap & Win contest by documenting their favourite holiday book-hunting moments and mascot encounters on social media for exclusive prizes.

 

Box Set of a William Shakespeare Collection

Also present at the launch event were Big Bad Wolf Books Business Development Manager, Ben Gasper, and representative from Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru, Adverting & Promotions Assistant Manager, Lim Wai Meng, along with educators, parents and media partners.

 

The book sale was declared open with a simple cake-cutting ceremony and the distribution of “gold coins” (chocolate wrapped in gold foil), much to the delight of the children and the young-at-heart.

 

Box Set of the Major Works of 
Charles Dickens

Without a moment’s hesitation, I joined shoppers in the book sale for my own book hunt in the sections for English Literature and activity books before checking out their Unbelievable Deals.

 

I saw parents making a beeline for the best-buys for Children’s Books while some parents sat down at the waiting area in the Kids’ Zone where their children had fun, burning up energy in a bouncing castle.

 

When I paused to look up from my book hunt, I saw that more shoppers had joined the crowd of eager book-seekers and thought that all of us stood a good chance at winning that coveted Gold Bar at this exciting book sale in Johor Bahru.

 

The Big Bad Wolf Books book sale in Johor Bahru is on from now till June 7, 2026, daily from 10am to 10pm at the Paradigm Mall Convention Centre, Level Seven of Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru.

 

For updates and sneak peeks, follow Big Bad Wolf Books on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbwbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigbadwolfbooks/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bigbadwolfbooks

 

P.S. After more than three hours of happy book browsing, I left the book sale with two bags, full of books and Christmas gift ideas!