Smart Moves:

Life in Johor Bahru for an Aussie expat

When did you first move to Singapore?

My husband and I moved here 25 years ago. We love it and have considered it home ever since. When we arrived in 1993, Ngee Ann City was still being built and Suntec was a construction site. Taxis had no seat belts in the back, and a bell rang when they broke the speed limit! We’ve lived in Balmoral Road, the East Coast, Pandan Valley, Serangoon Gardens and Kovan Road, so we have covered most of the island.

Why did you decide to move to Johor?

Our daughter had been weekly boarding at Marlborough College Malaysia since 2015, and we were travelling up repeatedly for various school functions, sporting events and social occasions with friends. When my husband had a career change, we decided to move into Malaysia. Education is so important, and finding the right school is vital. Marlborough is the perfect fit for Reilly, and with the amount of time we spent there, it was a big factor in choosing to cross the causeway. We gave our daughter the choice to continue as a weekly boarder or to become a day student. She chose the latter but is still open to going back to weekly boarding or utilising the school’s new flexi boarding option, which boards three days a week. For now, she loves being at home and we love having her with us – well, most of the time!

What are the pros of living in Johor?

I love our home! We have more space, a plunge pool and a yard, all at a very affordable price compared to Singapore. My three rescue cats are also so much happier and chilled out. It’s quiet and so relaxing. I feel like I’m on holiday. We live in Leisure Farm, a gated community about 15 minutes from Marlborough. We love it, but I’m sure places like East Ledang and Horizon Hills have similar setups. Everyone looks out for each other’s kids. We have Whatsapp groups for school runs. I’ve met some really lovely people this way. We also have access to a recreational club with a gym, pool and wellfrequented bar and restaurant. Sunday roast, anyone?

Speaking of costs, do you mind if we talk specifics?

A five-bedroom house in a gated community with a small pool and a fenced backyard shouldn’t cost more than S$2,500 a month. This includes a gardener! A car is also much more affordable and petrol is a lot cheaper. Groceries are more affordable as are household services like carpet cleaning and aircon servicing. We had some large paintings framed that cost us RM600 (about S$200). The quality of the framing would have been closer to S$1,000 in Singapore.

Oh, envy! Are there any downsides?

After 25 years in Singapore, I knew my way around pretty well. Now I listen to Google Maps a lot! And with new roads popping up all the time, even Google can lead you down the wrong path. I’m also slowly getting used to the fact that things take a bit longer here. There is such a thing as “JB time”, their own version of Little Britain’s “Computer says no!”

Driving in JB can add a few grey hairs. The Tuas Link and the Woodlands Causeway can be very challenging during peak hours and on the eve of public holidays and weekends. However, we have a Whatsapp group for that too, so we can continually communicate about traffic. If I time it right, I can leave my house and be on Orchard Road in 45 to 50 minutes. As for traffic, one does have to have patience, combined with some basic defensive driving skills. There are a lot of bikes, and many drivers love to tailgate.

What about daily life, like grocery shopping or grabbing coffee with a friend?

Maybe I’m still in the honeymoon period, but I am loving it. We have decent grocery stores such as Jaya Grocer, Tesco and Giant, and great little businesses selling artisan breads and gourmet meats, plus new salons and florists. I’ve even located a fabulous bootcamp! There is also a Parkway (Gleneagles) hospital here. Fortunately, I’ve not needed to use it, but I hear good reports.

JB, especially Iskandar, is growing fast and providing so much more for residents. According to our friends here, we arrived at a great time. We even have a huge IKEA at Tebrau, which is a 25-minute drive. It is enormous and has more products than IKEA Singapore. It’s also slightly cheaper… am I allowed to say that?

Coffee with a friend usually involves visiting one another’s houses and sitting out on the patio overlooking the pool. There are a few new coffee places, including Starbucks, popping up that are close to Marlborough, too.

Tell us more about your gated community.

We live in Leisure Farm Resort at Bayou Creek. As residents, we have access to different precincts, which makes for some excellent running and walking routes. The kids love to play in the streets on their bikes. Our home is two-storey, five-bedroom house with a pool and a backyard. I even have two decent-sized kitchens. My friends laugh as it’s very well known that I’m not one to cook. The universe is clearly talking to me.

Does anyone in your family commute to Singapore for work?

My husband is scaling back from full-time employment, so his work can largely be done from home. Business meetings in Singapore can be arranged between 10.30am and 3.30pm to avoid the rush hour.

Is your daughter’s school nearby?

With a cheeky little shortcut, we can be at school within 15 minutes. Reilly ( pictured) is very involved in sports and fitness at Marlborough, so her school day often starts at 6am and ends late. The families living in Leisure Farm all pitch in and help one another with school runs. Some days I pick up only my daughter, other days I may have three extra kids in tow. Occasionally, I may even get a lie-in!

How does she like attending school at Marlborough?

Have you got an hour? My husband is British and attended Marlborough UK, so our plan was to eventually enrol our daughter there. When the school opened here, we decided to enrol her here first, and we’re so happy we did. The boarding aspect of the school is fantastic; we’re very impressed. Academically, Reilly is doing really well compared to her old school. She loves her Beaks – that’s what they call the teachers – and the facilities are top class. She has a huge group of friends. The teachers at Marlborough are amazing, and their pastoral care is excellent. I honestly can’t fault the school. Our daughter loves it!

Do you have many expat neighbours?

Yes. We have wonderful neighbours who have been so helpful in answering my hundreds of questions. Many of the kids attend Marlborough and live nearby. Reilly’s best friends live five minutes away. We always have kids around and many of her Singapore-based schoolmates stay with us during the week to avoid the causeway traffic. There is that old saying, “It takes a village to raise a child.” In some ways, I see it happening here, and I love this approach for our daughter.

What is your advice for anyone considering a move to Johor?

Contact me! I’m happy to talk or to put your readers in touch with the right people to help.

To contact Tania about life in Johor Bahru, email monica@expatliving.sg. For more on Marlborough College Malaysia, visit www.marlboroughcollege.my. For more on Leisure Farm, visit leisurefarm.com.my.