MERSING, Johor State, Malaysia

	MERSING, Johor State, Malaysia
	Phone code: 07, $1=RM3,762 , April 2000

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Mersing is a small town on the East coast of peninsular Malaysia. It is visited mostly because this is the port for the Tioman island and other small offshore islands. It is possible to do some trekking in nearby forests. Travel agents and Guest Houses offer day-tours that include visit to rubber plantations, palm oil plantations, etc. Other popular one-day tour is to visit and snorkel around 4 or 5 of the offshore islands.
The town is small enough to walk around. No need for taxi. There are no rickshaws or bus service in town. Taxis for out-of-town destinations. Taxi stn is next to city bus stn.
The beach in Mersing is not for swimming. It is dirty (plastic bottles, junk), shallow and muddy. According to the tour info staff the nearest beach for swim is 10km N: "Air Papan" 15RM by cab, ow.

i	METIC (Mersing Tourist Information Center): Jalan Abu Bakar, near the jetty (jetty=pier=port) T:7995212 F:7993975, M-Th 8-13:00,14-16:30, F8-12:00, 14:45-16:30, Sa8-12:45. Simple map is free
Exchange Cash: Bank: $1=RM3,762 , Money changer 3,760, T/C: Bank: 3,765, Money changer 3.700 no commission (some moneychangers charge RM5 com at the same rate. Shop around!)
$1	Public Bank: at 1st roundabout
$2	Bank BBMB and MAYBANK: on Jl. Ismail. T/C com.RM5+RM0,15/check
$3	Moneychangers: Gold shop on Jl. Abu Bakar cash US$=RM3,76; 100yen=RM3.43 TC $1=RM3.70 no com.
ta	Giamso Travel agent: 20m ahead same side of Jl Abu Bakar cash $1=RM3.70; GBP1=RM5.80 ; AZ$=2.1; DM=1.,70; 100yen=3,30 T/C same rate RM5 commission/transaction.
$a	ATM at Bank BBMB and at Maybank, both on Jl. Ismail
M0	Post Office: Jl. Abu Bakar at the 2nd roundabout
M1	Telephone: Jl Dato Timur behind Merdeka Hotel
P	Police: Jalan Sultan. Walk E on Jl Abu Bakar. Turn right after the post office.
H	Hospital: E end of Jalan Ismail
Hp	Pharmacy: on Jl. Abu Bakr next to Bank Islam. Some others in town.
s	Supermarket:Gendung Harian: opp Country Hotel, off Jl Apa Bakir.
s	Department store: "Parkson": on Jl. Ismail
m	Market: 70m E from city bus stn. Fish, vegetables. Mornings only.
la	Laundry: at the bridge. (there is only one bridge in town, easy to find)
ph	Photo shop: 49. Jl Abu Bakar and many others in town.

Transport

T	Train station: NO train stn in Mersing
B1	EXPRESS bus station: at R&R Plaza, near the jetty. to KL: 11:30(via Rompin) 12:00, 22:00 dur5.5-6.0h RM16.60 =via Kluang to K. Terengganu:* 12:00, 22:00 dur 6h, RM18.80 via Kuantan (RM10.40,150min) and Cherating to Johor Bahru (RM7.60), 12:30 dur3.0h to Singapore (RM11) 12:30 dur3.5h
B2	Passing by Mersing: hop on at Malaysia restaurant: to Singapore around 12:00 and 13:30 RM11:30 to Kota Bahru around 21:30 RM25.20 dur 10h to Kuantan around 14:00 RM10.40 Taxi to Melakka RM140/4p
B3	City bus station: next to taxi stn by the river. Turn left (N) from Abu Bakar at the 2nd ra. to Johor Bahru dep:8:30, 14:00. RM5.50 to Kota Tinggi: approx. hourly 7:00-17:00 RM4.75 to K(e)luang: hourly btw 7:00-17:00 RM5.50 dur:2.5-3.0h and change here for Melakka - RM7.50,3h to Tanjung Leman (boat to Sibu island) take local bus to Tengaro, from there by taxi (RM15-20). Boat to Sibu approx owRM20 . Taxi direct toTanjung Leman RM50/cab dur 1h.
F	Jetty: on Mersing river, near to the sea. boats to Tioman island.Schedule can be changed. to Tioman: passanger boat - slower ferry 11:30 duration 2h From Tioman to Mersing dep 8:00 (have to stay on Tioman overnight if you want to use this service) ow RM25 rt(open ticket) RM50 speedboat - 7:30, 13:00 duration 1.5hrs. From Tioman 10:00,15:30 ow RM30 rt RM60 - not open ticket but can be changed if there are seats available. To Singapore (info from Mersing tour.info) :every day. dep. around 13:00 dur approx 3h. ow200RM , (from Singapore dep 9:00) Itdoes not run during monsoon. For info you might ring Berjaya Tioman Beach Resort. T4191000 to Pulau Besar (not to confuse with the other Besar island offshore Melakka), dep 12:00 (from P.Besar 10:00) ow RM25, rt RM50 to Pulau Rawa. Private island owned by the resort. Accommodation from RM100 (sb,f,d) dep12:00 (from P.Rawa 10:00) Book ahead boat fare might be included in the accom. fare. to P.Tinggi & P. Sibu : from Tanjung Leman

Local Transport

rb	Rental Bicycle: at Comfort GH RM8/24h
Travel agents: Many around town; along Jl. Abu Bakar, Jl. Ismail and at R&R Plaza(next to the jetty)
ta1	Travel agent: At the first roundabout(ra) next to restoran Malaysia
ta2	Sun&Sand Holiday: at Embassy Hotel 3. Jl Ismail T:7994995 F7995279

Entertainment/Festivals/National Holidays

c	No info at this moment.

@ Internet @

@1	NASA: 2nd ra, next to Seaview restaurant, 2F. Open till there are customers around (almost 24hours) drink, movies(free) at 21:00.RM3/hour Highly rec
@2	Cyberworld: next to KFC on Jl. Abu Bakar M-F 9-18:00, 20:30-02:00 SaSu8:30(flexible)-18:00,20:30-03:00 RM4.0/hr, RM2.50/30min
@3	Cyber Cafe: Plaza R&R. 9:00-18:00 RM5/h, RM3/30min

Accommodation

LOW

MIDDLE

HIGH

HOTEL CODE

There are 3 backpacker style hostels, some rent-a-room style hotels (only 2 rooms in a family's house) and many chinese style hotels.
	h1	Comfort GH: 60-2 Jalan Abu Bakar T7996911. sb dr10, f sb d20 C4 The dorm has 10-12beds partioned by 2beds. The only double room is rented as dorm. Good atmosphere. Tours Rec
	h2	Omar's Backpackers' Hostel: Jl. Abu Bakar easy to find: walk E along Jl Ismail. On the right side after the 2nd ra. T7995096 F7994434 mobile0197744268 dr8 (4bed,balcony) sb,f d20 (the 2 d rooms diveded by partitions).K C4 Friendly Omar organizes 1day boat tours to the beautiful offshore islands. Rec
	h3	Sheikh: next door to Omar's, simular. sb CW f dr8, d20. C3
	h4	East Coast Hotel: 43A Jl Abu Bakar (small sign,easy to miss) f,sb, d15 C3. Quiet. Rec
	h5	Tiara GH: Jl Abu Bakar only 2 rooms. a/c or f, sb s8, d16 C3
	h6	Mersing Hotel: (not to be confused with M. Inn H) Jl Dato Mohd Ali. behind 2nd ra, after post office. sb,f,d18 , ab,f, d25, ab,a/c s/d35. C3
	h7	Embassy Hotel: 3 Jl Ismail, f,ab,d28, a/c, ab d40 C3 reported: noisy
	h8	Country Hotel: Jl Dato Mohd Ali, f sb d18, a/c, ab HW d35 C2-3

Food

	r1	Medina: at the 2nd ra. local Malay style, cheap
	r2	R&R Plaza: This shopping center has 3 local restaurants. also Indian food. cheap
	r3	Seaview: 2nd ra Chinese,
	r4	outdoor restaurant: at evenings at the 1st ra. local Very popular with young locals.lively

Sight

S1	Endau Rampin National Park: Waterfall, jungle, trekking (rainforest) 3day/2night tours including accom in tents, meals approx 480RM/p. 1 day trip also possible, thought not running at the moment.
S2	Islands: 1day tour by Omar or Comfort GH price, 60RM/p Omar's: approx 7 hours visiting 3 or 4 islands Picnic lunch, snorkelling equip., boatride included.