June 2025
For this June holidays, we decided to take a road trip into Malaysia with the grandparents-in-tow. It was our first time driving in June, so we weren’t sure whether we would be caught in a jam. We chose to drive in via Tuas Checkpoint around 9:30am on a weekday, and to our surprise, there was no queue at all. The crossing was quick and painless!
Dim sum at Ta Si Xi
But by the time we crossed over, our bellies were rumbling. So we made a stop at Ta Si Xi (大四喜) in Eco Botanic for dim sum. The food was really good — hot, fresh, and not overly oily. And there were so much variety. Their crispy prawn rolls were a hit, and the siew mai were juicy and well-seasoned. The kopi deserves a special mention — strong and fragrant!
Playtime at Toppen: Kiddy Cart & Super Dino Land
Next up: Toppen Shopping Centre. We’d heard that Toppen is one of the most family-friendly malls in JB, so we wanted to take a look. Once we arrived, we headed straight to KF Kiddy Cart – the kids had such a great time at the Mid Valley Southkey outlet on a previous trip that we figured, why not try it here too?
Oddly, we couldn’t buy tickets from Klook this time (they only showed the Midvalley South Key outlet). But buying it at the counter was straightforward — we choose 5R for RM110 and split it between two kids. The kids had a such a blast zipping around in their race carts on a track that spans two storeys high. Definitely one of their favourite moments of the day!
After that, we made a quick stop at Super Dino Land — a small dino-themed indoor playground located in the ground floor atrium of Toppen. It’s definitely on the more compact side, but there was enough to keep the little ones happily entertained for about an hour.
Inside, there’s a ball pit, a duck ride, a unicorn carousel, a kinetic sand station, and the highlight for our kids — a magnetic fishing game that had them hooked (pun intended). It’s not a big attraction, but perfect for a quick play break between meals and shopping.
We also noticed Toppen’s huge rooftop area, which includes a splash zone and play spaces, great for water play and burning off energy — though we didn’t try those this time. Something to bookmark for our next visit!
Lunch at Restoran Teck Sing
Lunch was at the well-loved Restoran Teck Sing on Taman Sentosa. We tried their signature paper-wrapped chicken, and it lived up to the hype — tender, aromatic, and full of flavour. We also really loved the sambal kangkong! Prices were very reasonable for the quality and portion sizes.
2 Nights Stay at DoubleTree by Hilton JB
After lunch, we headed over to DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru to check in. The signature welcome cookie was a sweet post-lunch treat.
We had booked connecting rooms for convenience, but only one was ready at 3 pm, which was a letdown. After a busy morning out with the kids, we were hoping to settle in right away. Still, once both rooms were sorted, they were clean and comfortable — just what we needed for a two-night city stay.
Dinner that night was at Makan Kitchen, the hotel’s in-house buffet restaurant. It turned out to be a great choice: a generous spread of local and international dishes, live cooking stations, and plenty of variety for both adults and kids. Best of all, we didn’t have to head out again after a long day.
Buffet Breakfast & Swimming
After a good night’s rest, we made our way down to the hotel’s breakfast buffet, which had a nice range of Western and Asian options. Besides the standard fare like cereals, pastries, egg station, waffles and pancakes, yoghurts and fresh fruits, they also had served up nasi lemak, kacang pool, dim sum, naan and curries.
I was really glad that they even had a coffee station featuring Kluang Coffee. So relieved to not have to drink those diluted, tasteless machine coffee.
Then the kids wanted to swim, so we spent the morning at the pool. It’s not huge, and there was no kids splash zone, but being situated at Level 13, it has a great view and just enough space for a relaxed splash.
Up close with animals at The Hidden Farm
Later in the afternoon, we made our way to The Hidden Farm, tucked deep within an industrial estate — a bit of a drive, but a surprisingly refreshing find. This newly-opened petting farm gives both kids and adults the chance to get up close with a range of animals. There were the usual crowd-pleasers like guinea pigs, rabbits, ducks, parrots, and hedgehogs, but also some more unusual residents — skinks, prairie dogs, wallabies, and even an alpaca.
Compared to the more compact, shophouse-style DA Little Farm at Mount Austin, The Hidden Farm is much more spacious, with separate open-air enclosures for different species. You’ll need at least an hour or so to explore, feed, and interact with the animals at a relaxed pace.
What stood out most was the friendly guides who were stationed in each and every enclosure throughout. They patiently helped the kids handle animals safely and comfortably — and were always mindful of the animals’ well-being.
While animal encounters are always a tricky balance, the animals here generally seemed well cared for, and the staff were attentive and helpful in guiding interactions. They did try to limit overstimulation, especially for the more exotic species like the skinks and prairie dogs.
That said, even with separate enclosures and a fairly open layout, the crowd on a weekday was larger than expected. At times, it felt like the animals — especially the smaller ones — were a little overwhelmed. It’s hard not to wonder how they cope with the constant attention, even with staff supervision.
Fish Soup at Hai Kah Lang
We arrived at Hai Kah Lang around 2:30 pm for a late lunch, thinking the post-lunch crowd would’ve thinned out — but to our surprise, the place was still bustling with diners! Despite the off-peak timing, there was a steady stream of customers and the restaurant was full.
We collected a queue ticket and were told there would be a 20-minute wait, but thankfully, everything ran like a well-oiled machine. The staff were fast and efficient — tables turned over quickly, orders were taken promptly, and the whole system felt smooth and fuss-free.
Each of us choose a soup type, noodle type and fish type so we all had our preferred combinations. Then we added on side dishes: oyster omelette and fish cake. The broth was truly flavourful, but the grouper was oddly a bit tougher than expected. Still, it was a solid bowl of fish soup.
Arcade fun at The PALO, Mid Valley Southkey
Before heading back to the hotel, we made one last stop at The PALO, the arcade at Mid Valley Southkey. It’s bright, modern, and spacious — a great place for kids (and adults) to unwind. You can top up any amount to a reloadable card, which makes spending easy to manage.
One thing we really appreciated: the games are very affordable. Most cost just RM1 to RM2 per play, which is a fraction of what you’d pay at arcades in Singapore. That meant the kids could enjoy multiple rounds without us constantly worrying about the budget.
There’s a fun variety too — from racing simulators to basketball hoops to bowling games. Machines were well-maintained and easy to use, and the atmosphere was lively without being chaotic. It was a spontaneous but perfect way to wrap up our second day.
This Little Season 