Johor Premium Outlets

For SG$15 you can visit a different country (only applicable if you are already in Singapore) and save a whole lot of money too!!! You can do this by visiting Johor Premium Outlets in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Johor Premium Outlets

I have been reading about the planned opening of Johor Premium Outlets, one of the branches of the Premium Outlet Centers that are very popular in the United States, since last year, but whenever I googled it, it seemed like it was just almost about to open. I think I may have read somewhere that it finally opened early this year, but because of my hectic schedule, I just made a metal note to myself that I wanted to check it out when I had time.

When I woke up this morning at around 1030am, yaya Naling (Sofia's Nanny) and I were talking about what to do with no Sofia to tell us what she wanted to do, when I just mentioned that maybe we could try visiting the Premium Outlets in Johor. Since she was game, I just googled it, you can visit their website here, and followed the link with directions on getting there. It's very helpful, the give you directions by car and by bus, both from Singapore and from KL. I found that the easiest option was to take a bus from either Resorts World Sentosa, Swissotel The Stamford, or Royal Plaza on Scotts. A return trip which takes around 2 hours one way (including crossing Singapore Immigration and Malaysia Immigration) was only SG$15. You need to call Transtar Booking Hotline (+65 6297 9009/ +65 6299 9009) to book. I called them to inquire and the lady I talked to just told me to go to the pick-up point at Royal Plaza on Scotts for the 11:15am bus. They only had one bus today (they have more trips if more people pre-book) but she was pretty sure that if there were only two of us, we would be able to ride.

I immediately wolfed down my breakfast, dressed up, hurried yaya to do the same, caught a cab (normally it's a direct bus from our home, but I didn't want to be late!), and we got there with time to spare to grab a Warm White Mocha from Starbucks.

The bus stops at the BUS STOP right in front of Royal Plaza on Scotts so don't wait in front of the hotel lobby.

They were quite organized, because they had a list of people who pre-booked and they let them board first. The bus was a double decker bus and was probably two-thirds full.

The seats were big and comfy and were able to recline better than business class seats on older planes.

The bus even has an entertainment system (that does not work)...
hahaha... but think of the potential.

This was me getting comfortable.

In almost no time, the bus stops are the border (no pics allowed) and everyone disembarks to pass through immigration. This barely takes five minutes because there are no lines.

That's Malaysia.
The picture was taken while we were on a short bridge in no man's land.
You need to pass immigration and customs but this also barely takes five minutes.

We got there in an hour and a half because our pick-up point was the last stop in Singapore.

If you're considering driving, parking space will not be a problem.

VINCCI

The first thing I saw when we got there was a VINCCI outlet. Yay!
When I went to KL, the only shopping I did was in Vincci.

It looked like the had sale stock, and super sale stock.

I started with this pile, where I found loads of stuff.

Then I worked through these piles, where I also found loads of stuff.

Then I realized that some of these pairs were also 70% off!!!!

I was also able to get a pair of office pumps from here.

This pile was my shortlist post yaya's quality control.
Everything was so cheap I didn't have the heart to leave something out.

The loot from VINCCI 

Strappy Wedges in Black and Mustard
RM79 RM23.70 (SG$9.73 or Php333)

Strappy sandals with giant flower
RM49 RM10 (SG$4.10 or Php140)

Flower print wedges with light brown strap
RM79 RM23.70 (SG$9.73 or Php333)

Strappy sandals with animal print wedge. Rawr!!! Hahaha...
RM75 RM15 (SG$6.16 or Php210.25)

Peeptoe pumps with gold buckle
RM79 RM23.70 (SG$9.73 or Php333)

I told yaya to also get everything she liked.
Blue Sandals RM49 RM14.70 (SG$6 or Php210)
White Sandals with zipper and skulls (yaya is cool!)
RM49 RM10 (SG$4.10 or Php140)

I couldn't resist these sandals because they were only RM9.50 (SG$3.90 or Php133)
But when I was looking at my receipt I felt quite bad because it was only 50% off RM19

I love having a sister with the same shoe size, because it means I can buy everything in my size,
even if the style is the same.
Black strappy heels (not prictured separately) RM49 RM14.70 (SG$6 or Php210)

I loved VINCCI, the staff is not really helpful though, they were just standing all together and chatting!!! I asked them if they had any baskets, and they had none, but at least they offered to carry it to the cash register. I paid RM201.90 (SG$83 or Php2,830) for 12 pairs of shoes. I was in heaven!!! Hahahaha...

When we got off the bus at 12:45pm, we were told that we had to meet back at the same place at 4:15pm. That was 3 and a half hours to shop. I think we spent more than an hour in the first store we entered. 

Here are some of the other shops.

The Padini Outlet Store
This is the mother company of VINCCI, selling clothes primarily.

Samsonite, Bonia and Oroton.
I thought the stores were NOT THAT Premium...

Then we got to the High Street end where the more expensive brands were located.
Like Coach, Ferragamo, Armani, etc.
Coach is much cheaper from the Coach Outlet in Australia.

They also had a food court on that end, near the fountain, beside information.

The food court had a nice enough ambiance with handing artsy lanps.
The only problem is that you will need local currency.

It was very easy to change money because Maybank is just across the food court beside the Police Station.
They are open even on a Sunday.

You can also change small bills.
I only changed SG$20 and it was more than enough for a food court lunch for two.

We decided to go for Thai.
They also have a real Thai Restaurant but we wanted more time to shop).

Food court prices range from RM10 to less than RM15 per meal.

I ordered Fried Chicken Chop from another stall (RM8.90) because I thought my food would not be enough since I am back on my no rice diet.

We ordered Thai Green Curry Chicken.
It came with fried egg which made me happy, but there were only 3 pieces of chicken, a lot of veggies and a lot of sauce. It tasted good though. Fried Chicken Chop was a good move.

We both ordered drinks and still had money left for a white chocolate chip and macadamia cookie from Coffee Bean.
I gave yaya the last RM1 as a souvenir.

The layout of the place is pretty good, because after you work your way to the Food Court, the rest of the shops are on the second floor. It's pretty easy to shop in an organized manner which Tim (the slave) is such a fan of.

We were very happy to see that they had a play area behind the fountain.
Next time we come back with Fif, we're even bringing her swimsuit so she can get wet and yaya can watch her while I shop.

We started on the side with the more premium shops this time.

The sign of CK announcing that they had RM30 (SG$12.35 or Php420) tops was calling me to come in.

I got a knit halter top that was previously RM299.

There are also ties on the back to adjust the fit.

and I got very comfy razor back tank tops in Navy...

and in white. They were previously RM219 each.

The service in CK was so much better, because I was their only customer. They told me if I purchased at least one item (I was buying three), I could buy shoes at 70% off the marked discount price!!! I tried everything they had in my size but I didn't really like the ones they had available.

It was only in the second floor that I realized that they called the area with the more affordable shops Low Street. Hahaha.

La Senza had really good deals, 3 for RM99 on bras and 6 for RM45 for undies, but I didn't buy any since I know where to source them at factory prizes :)
The little boy in the picture kept on going to the poster of the model in the red undies. Hahaha.

They also had Charles and Keith (& Pedro on the first floor) and Cotton-On.
Charles and Keith is much more expensive than the Outlet Store in Anchorpoint Mall,
and the styles were NOT any newer.

Cotton-On was OK. I bought a bunch of frilly undies for RM5 each (around SG$2 or Php70).

I bought all the nice ones in my size because the last time the price was that low in Singapore was more than 2 years ago, and they never went that much on sale since then. I really like them because they are actually very comfortable to use and are not merely decorative.

I was also able to get this pair of sandals for my sister because they were in the RM5 (yes, you read that right!) pile.
That's only around SG$2 or Php70 when the original price was SG$45 (because Cotton-on also has branches in SG).
Can you say BLING? hahaha 

The time was actually just right to be able to shop in the stores that interest you, and browse through some that don't. We made it through the whole place in time to just go to the rest rooms (which are very clean here, compared to the border rest rooms) and finish our money in Coffee Bean.

We passed the real Thai Restaurant so I took a picture of the menu for perspective.
It was only a few ringgits more per dish so if you have time to spare, it might be better to try this.

We went to the pick-up point a few minutes early because we did not want to get left behind. The bus was already parked and some people who had the same idea as us were waiting in the comforts of the bus. The return trip took two hours because Royal Plaza on Scotts was the last drop so we had to go through the other Singapore stops.

I had so much fun, it was really a great impromptu adventure. I'm sure Sofia will want to go because she will just love the idea of going to Malaysia, so she can go to the playground. (That's why she keeps on saying she wants to go back to Brazil!)  I want to do it again... but maybe towards the end of my stay here so they have time to re-stock. Hahaha.

Johor Premium Outlets

Jalan Premium Outlets

Indahpura 81000 Kulaijaya

Johor Darul Takzim

Malaysia

Transtar Booking Hotline

Only on Saturdays, Sundays & Singapore Public Holidays

+65 6297 9009/ +65 6299 9009

Singapore Philatelic Museum

SINGAPORE SERIES

Before Sofia and I entered the Singapore Philatelic Museum, we had no idea that it was a stamp museum. Hahaha. We were just curious about it because it's in the same area as the Central Fire Station, our normal Saturday hang-out before we head to Funan DigitaLife Mall for Sofia's pottery class. We were attracted by the banners they had advertising the Bunny Exhibit (which Tintin has taken the place of in the picture below).

Singapore Philatelic Museum

We were not really able to go in to explore because we did not have enough time to kill before Sofia's pottery class, but we saw enough for me to make a mental note that we should go back to visit it properly when we had time.

We had this opportunity when we were looking for things to do during the Chinese New Year break. The timing was perfect because most of the stores and restaurants are closed, so there's nothing much to do, and most of the museums in Singapore do an Open House event during Public Holidays where admission is free and they prepare special activities for kids. I wrote about that here.

The museum had a Fun Quiz that both kids and adults could participate in. Upon completion, you get to do a lucky draw and you win corresponding prizes.

Sofia went room to room to answer her own Fun Quiz with help from mom

The exhibit was very interactive, so the kids have fun while learning, as long as they have someone with them to explain what they're looking at.

Checking out the what's behind the closed doors

The atmosphere of the museum was very playful, but at the same time I could also see adults who were enjoying looking at the exhibits.

Hopscotch: Philatelic Version
Sofia calls this playing HipHop. Hahaha

Giant Stamp Jigsaw

One of the activities for Chinese New Year was color your own Dragon Mask

Star in your own Postage Stamp
Fif and Mom doing funny faces

The second floor of the museum has an Imagine Dragons exhibit until Dec 2012 to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. They have all sorts of of dragon stamps, trivia and activities.

Kids get to dig for Dinosaur Fossils

There is a whole library of dinosaur and dragon books for kids

Kids (and moms) can enter the dragon boat and play with the drum

One of the questions in the Fun Quiz (to be found in Sun Yat Sen's exhibit room) was what were his favorite fruits that were made into stamps.

We chose Banana and Mango (the shortest words) so Fif wouldn't have such a hard time

There was also a Heritage Room, part of the permanent gallery, where they had a nostalgic display of things from the past, which I've seen recently in other countries. Maybe it's Heritage only in Singapore.

Indian Mama's Shop which I've still seen in India
It also looks like a Sari-Sari Store to me (Neighborhood Store in the Philippines)

Wooden Sandal Shop
I've visited similar places in Vietnam

Fun Quiz Time: What drum is used for the Lion Dance? Answer: Dagu (the big one)
My little girl wants to be a drummer in a rock band!

There was also a Message Me Exhibit (until March 2012) were there are interactive displays that trace back communication from the time of Egyptian Hieroglyphs to this day and age of mobile phones and email.

Shade your name in hieroglyphs

The most advertised exhibit they had was the Tintin exhibit (until May 2012). They actually did not allow photographs to be taken in this room but everyone in the room was taking photos with their iPhones and their cameras, so I also stole a shot or two (when in Rome, do as the Romans do).

A sample of Tintin stamps

Sofia's Fun Quiz that she answered all by herself
Quiz Time: In What Tintin comic did he go to China? Answer: The Blue Lotus

Our favorite freebie from this museum were the color your own Postcards.

You could get as much as you wanted so we got a lot.
Hoarder much.

The whole experience was very educational for Sofia. When we got home, she colored the postcards and immediately asked me to help her write her message to her Gammy and Lolo (my parents) and Gammy Cherrie and Lolo Boy (my mom's twin and her husband).

Sofia's postcards

I did not realize that Singapore has different stamps (I had self adhesive 1st Local stamps at home I used for joining contests) for Local Mail, as pictured in the postcards above, and different stamps for overseas. The Singpost website says that it costs 50cents to mail a postcard to the Philippines. I also found fine print somewhere that said you can use local stamps (1st Local to make up the cost of the overseas mail).

When we tried to buy overseas stamps, the place I buy stamps from in Great World City informed me that overseas stamps are 65cents (and these are the lick version). Since I'm not sure if the guy just wanted to sell me more expensive stamps (by 15 cents!!! hahaha) or if the website was just not updated (I don't know which scenario is more irritating!) we did a little experiment.

1 postcard has 2 1st Local Stamps worth 58cents while the other postcard has 1 65cent stamp
We need to check with the recipients if they ever get the postcards

Sofia loved the whole experience of writing her postcards, licking and sticking the stamps,going to the Mail Box and dropping her own mail.

The nanny had to carry her to reach the mail slot.

The Singapore Philatelic Museum is at

23b Coleman Street, Singapore

They are open on Monday (1-7pm) and Tuesday-Sunday (9am-7pm)

Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children (free for PR children)

You can read about my post on our suggested itinerary for a walking tour of the Hill Street area which includes the Singapore Philatelic Museum here.