SHOPPING IN BATU PAHAT? WHERE SHOULD I GO?

Of course in Batu Pahat we have shopping mall. But, shopping mall is not the only thing that i want to share with all of you. We have four main shopping mall here which are:

Square One Shopping Mall

Batu Pahat Mall

The Summit Parade

Carrefour Batu Pahat

For now, the most popular shopping mall is Batu Pahat Mall. To go there, you can refer to this map:

Batu Pahat is rich with market which can be categorized into two which are Farmer's Market or PASAR TANI, and Night Market or more known as 'PASAR MALAM' to the locals. Both market selling quite the same thing. However, for Pasar Tani, most of the sellers sell vegetables, fruits, fishes, chicken and food. For example, in Parit Raja which located at 26 KM from Batu Pahat and 12 KM from Ayer Hitam, Pasar Tani will be held on Monday and Thursday started from 8.00 AM until 12.00 PM.

PASAR TANI ATMOSPHERE

 

For those who don't know what Pasar Malam is, don't get me wrong. Pasar Malam in Batu Pahat is not a market selling nasty things but more to daily needs such as foods, cloths, accesories, toys, vegetables, and many more. it just held from 4.00 PM to 9.00 PM, depend on the location.


PASAR MALAM ATMOSPHERE

 All Batu Pahat people love PASAR so much and anybody cannot deny that. As, locals can buy foods, clolths, shoes, and other at affordable and cheaper prices. Besides, consumer also can bargain the price to get lower price. Pasar is best Malaysian's culture ever!

UNFORGETTABLE MEAL EXPERIENCE IS WHAT BATU PAHAT CAN OFFER YOU..

Poison Noodle

Do you dare to eat something called Poison Noodle? If yes, Batu Pahat is famous for its Poison Noodle. Is it really poison??? No. It just a name given to make it unique than other kind of noodle.  Just looking at the image above surely tempting your desire to eat it. Am I right?

Poison Noodle or more known as Mi Racun for the locals was popular since 1970. The other name for Poison Noodle is Tomato Noodle. The gravy is made up of tomato sauce and mutton soup. the taste is just like Bandung Noodle and Stewed Noodle but it's more "tomato-ey". For those who craving for spicy food, this is your best choice when you come to Batu Pahat. You can try Poison Noodle for only RM4.00. But, it depends on the certain restaurant you going. For me, the best place to enjoy this Poison Noodle is at a restaurant at Jalan Rotan Tunggal, Taman Seri Jaya.

Beriani Rice

Besides Poison Noodle, Batu Pahat also famous for its Beriani Rice. The uniqueness of Batu Pahat's Beriani Rice is, it is sweeter compared to other town. However, the sweetness not come from sugar or honey, but the spices itself that brings out the difference flavour but still delicious. For those who try it for the first time, I am sure you want to order another plate!

Briyani Rice can be considered as Batu Pahat icon. Briyani Rice is available at most restaurant in Batu Pahat. So, it's not hard to find it. One restaurant that I can suggest is Restoran Bariani Power which located at Taman Soga. The price for Meat Beriani Rice is RM7.00. This is the restaurant's address:

Restoran BP Bariani Power
No. 18, Jalan Tukas Dua,
Taman Soga, Batu Pahat.
Tel: 07-438 8987, 012-712 0987
 GPS coordinates: N 1 50.212 E 102 56.068.

Bariani Power Restaurant

 

HEAVEN OF 'KEREPEK'

'KEREPEK' or chips is very popular especially in Johore. Batu Pahat is the the heaven for 'kerepek' lovers. However, what is  'kerepek' actually?

'Kerepek'  is refer to a traditional malay snack which being thinly sliced and fried until it became very crisp. 'Kerepek' is made up of many ingredients and named based on the ingredient used to make it. One of the most popular 'kerepek' is KEREPEK UBI whether it spicy, salty, corn flavour, tomatoes flavour, black pepper flavour and others. This specialty made Batu Pahat unique as from my observation, Batu Pahat is the King in 'kerepek' industry in Malaysia.

One of the 'kerepek' brand that popular in Johore is Azhar Food. Azhar Food is a brand under Azhar Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd which located at RU51, Jalan Besar Sri Bahrum, 83100 Rengit, Batu Pahat, Johor.

Azhar Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd.

 The common ingredients to make 'kerepek' are tapioca, banana, sweet potato, sukun, and yam. Each 'kerepek' have their own unique flavour and once you take a bite, guarantee they will addicted to it. The crunchiness of 'kerepek' will make you crazy to eat more and more.

'Kerepek' ready to be sold

This kind of snack is very affordable and there so many choices for consumer to choose. Don't missed to buy 'kerepek' when you come to Batu Pahat as from what i know the price is cheaper than other places especially when you buy 'kerepek' as wholesale. Try the original 'kerepek' here!

THE BEST WAY TO GO TO BATU PAHAT

The nearest highway exits to Batu Pahat are at Tangkak, Pagoh, Yong Peng, and Ayer Hitam.

TANGKAK TO BATU PAHAT

If you exit from Tangkak, you need to go to Muar first before you reach Batu Pahat. It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach Batu Pahat if you drivie a car. However, for usual bus, it may take until 2 hours.

Tangkak to Batu Pahat

 PAGOH TO BATU PAHAT

Meanwhile, if you exit the highway from Pagoh, locals usually used Parit Sulong way to go to Batu Pahat, if you see Maktab Rendah Sains MARA on the left side of the road, it is mean you are on the right way. Pagoh to Batu Pahat may take around 45 minutes by car.

Pagoh to Batu Pahat

YONG PENG TO BATU PAHAT

From Yong Peng, you can reach Batu Pahat for about 25 minutes by car. You can see a water park named Wet World on the right side of the road if you from Yong Peng. However, if you used bus to go Batu Pahat, it may take until 45 minutes for you to arrive here.

Yong Peng to Batu Pahat

AYER HITAM TO BATU PAHAT

Lastly, it is easier for you to used this way because you just need to straught to reach Batu Pahat. If you driving a car, you will need around 1 hour, and for bus, 1 hour and 30 minutes. It depends on your speed.

Ayer Hitam to Batu Pahat

WHERE IS BATU PAHAT?

The capital of the district Batu Pahat is located at 1°51′N 102°56′E. It is 239 km from Kuala Lumpur. The next nearest town is Muar which is 50 km northwest of Batu Pahat. The town of Kluang is located about 52 km to the northeast. Johore Bharu is located about 70 to 100 km to the southeast of the town.

The district itself borders the districts of Segamat and Ledang to the north, Kluang to the east, Muar to the west and shares a border in the southeast with the district of Pontian. The coast of the Straits of Melaka lies to the south.

WHY BATU PAHAT?

Batu Pahat or Batu Penggaram is one out of eight districts in Johore. The name, 'BATU PAHAT' came from a legend during 15th century when the Siamese army attacked a place that chiselled stone at Kampung Minyak Beku to get clean water supply during their retreat. during that time, they being chased by Melaka army under the leadership of Tun Perak, the famous Bendahara (Prime Minister) of Malacca Empire. In year 1946, the Siamese army under the leadership of Laksamana Awi Di Chu had conquered Batu Pahat before attacking Malacca.

Other story, after Portuguese conquered Malacca, it was believed that the granite stone used to built A Famosa came from Batu Pahat river estuary. Therefore, Batu Pahat got its name from the 'craved stone' at the estuary.

Before this, Batu Pahat is known as 'Bandar Penggaram' which means 'town of salt-makers'. Bandar Penggaram was opened on 1 January 1894 by Dato' Muhamad Salleh Bin Perang, Dato' of Bentara External Johore under the order of Sultan Abu Bakar, Sultan of Johore during that time.