Johor shares a border with Singapore. As you sail through the Straits of Johor, the Singapore Coast Guard monitors your every movement closely. We are approaching the Second Link Bridge, which is 25 metres high. Our vessel, Sedna, is 23 metres high from the mast to the waterline. I have the camera ready for the photoshoot as we sail under the bridge. Our destination is Puteri Harbour, a picturesque waterfront marina lined with apartments, restaurants, and shops.
Puteri Harbour sparkles with life after dark, as vibrant rain lights adorn the trees surrounding the restaurants. We often dined out with fellow yachties, sampling a variety of cuisines, and returned in the morning for a refreshing cup of coffee. After spending the last three months eating Indonesian food, we were excited to eat Western food again. The Sail Malaysia Rally hosted a delightful welcome dinner and masquerade party. We had a fantastic time enjoying the wonderful dancing and the food was excellent. A heartfelt thank you from all of us to everyone involved.
One of our days was spent supporting the sailing clinic. The ladies who were joining us work in the hospitality industry, and they were looking forward to a sail in the harbour. It was a beautiful morning with a light breeze, great weather for the ladies. We introduced them to some sailing terminology and showed them the ropes. We enjoyed supporting the sailing clinic and introducing them to sailing and thankful they enjoyed their time aboard Sedna!
Johor History: Sail Malaysia organised a tour that took us to the Old Johor Fort (Kota Johor Lama), a historical gem built in 1540 during the reign of Sultan Aladdin Riayat Shah 2. (pictured). Mark and I, always eager to delve into the history of the places we visit, found this tour particularly fascinating. The fort, strategically positioned for overseeing ship movements, fell to the Portuguese in 1587. The entire fort was razed, and all its assets, including weapons, were seized. It was such a shame that nothing was nothing left. Many exhibits are replicas.
We also spent some time at the crocodile farm. Visitors can witness feedings and can hold a baby crocodile. Additionally, you can purchase chickens to feed the crocodiles. During one tour, we visited the Fishing Museum (Muzium Nelayan Tanjung Balau), which showcased the local fishing history, traditional boats, equipment, and geology exhibits. We found it to be incredibly interesting, and the exquisitely made and painted wooden boats particularly captured our attention.
