The end of the year is fast approaching and many of us are struggling to clear our annual leave before it is too late.
After all, why leave money on the table right?
If you have been cracking your head thinking about what to do with your off days and don’t want to travel too far out of Singapore, maybe you want to consider a trip to Johor Bahru (JB).
Now, now, before you roll your eyes and say that JB is boring and you have visited all the malls like KSL to do your shopping and Holiday Plaza to do your nails and hair, think again.
You may want to book a visit to Forest City in JB and explore a new area.
Of course, transport there is also convenient, with a new travel option just created between Singapore and JB’s Forest City.
Here is what you need to know before you plan your next JB getaway to Forest City.
There Is a New Travel Option Between Singapore and JB
Calling all the people who want to head to JB for a getaway but hate queuing at the immigration counters and battling throngs of people just to get your passport stamped.
You may want to explore the FC1 bus service which just launched on 15 December 2023.
The bus is serviced by Causeway Link (aka the yellow buses you may have seen ferrying hordes of people from Kranji MRT station to Woodlands Checkpoint and then onwards to JB).
In a Facebook post by Causeway Link earlier this week, the bus operator announced that there was “another travel option” for more seamless connectivity between Singapore and JB.
The Bus Passes Through the 2nd Link
Westies may rejoice more upon reading the post.
After all, the bus service will ply between Singapore and JB via the 2nd Link, so it’s an additional convenience for you instead of going up north to use the Causeway.
The bus service promises “spacious seatings” and comes equipped with air-conditioning from the 2nd Link to Forest City and back.
We have to say that the latter point about air-conditioning makes the bus trip a lot more appealing instead of squeezing with tons of sweaty people.
You Can Utilize the Park and Ride Service
If this is not convenient enough for you, you can even choose to alternate between driving your own vehicle and taking the bus.
Causeway Link announced that it has a Park and Ride scheme which allows you to park your vehicle at Forest City and board FC1 from there.
Prices for the Travel Option Are Affordable
Now, on to the important bit. Is this new bus service going to break the bank?
No, it is not. A ride from Singapore to Malaysia costs SGD 4.50, and a bus ride from Malaysia to Singapore costs RM 4.50.
While you may cringe at the same numerical value for the cost of the bus ticket despite different currencies used for a trip there and back, at least the favourable exchange rate will lessen the pinch when you eat and shop at Forest City.
What are you waiting for? It’s time to book a trip to see the ghost town, which was famed for not having people, especially during the pandemic.
For those who don’t know much about what Forest City is, basically, it is a housing complex in JB which was built by the Chinese property developer Country Garden.
The atas complex was intended to house many people, integrating work with high-end lifestyles back when it was built in 2016.
Yes, this housing project was part of China’s famed Belt and Road Initiative which aimed to connect China with many other areas around the world.
The metropolis promised to marry housing, commercial and office space together, offering people the convenience of “one-stop shopping”, where you can work, play and stay in the same area.
Unfortunately, the execution does not always follow the intention of the planners.
The developers of Forest City faced severe debt issues during the construction and only a fraction of the grand plans could be launched.
As a result, those who bought residential apartments in the area were faced with limited amenities and recreational options instead of the luxurious convenience they thought they were getting.
Given the grand debts of Country Garden (rising up to multiple billions), it seems that full completion of the project is unlikely in the near future.
Those who bought apartments there described the area as a “ghost town” as less than one per cent of the available space was occupied in its initial stages.
Not even the grand sea view can cancel out such loneliness and lack of convenience.
While you may think that the developers managed to cope together a rescue plan to save the failing metropolitan project, the truth is far from that.
The sad fact is Country Garden’s financial outlook has worsened, almost a decade later. Earlier this year, it suspended trading in multiple onshore bonds as the company prepared to undertake measures to save itself financially.
While the initial idea to have the rich Chinese assets flowing into Malaysia through property buying fell flat on its face, perhaps this new link between Singapore and Malaysia can perk things up a little.
Singaporeans who visit the area for a weekend trip may find themselves renting some apartments in the area to enjoy an atas getaway at a lower cost.
The influx of tourists with this convenient travel option could also bring life to the commercial shops in the area, saving Forest City before it goes down for good.