Looking back to Singapore from R&F Marina Place
Since I was already in JB, I decided to visit R&F Marina Place to see Singapore again from Malaysia, reminding myself on the difficult journey to finally cross the Causeway after almost 2 years, but via KL and Gemas instead.
R&F Mall
The Grab dropped me off at the bus stop outside R&F Mall.
For those who don’t want to to walk the bridge, you can catch a bus for 1 stop to JB Sentral from here.
Yeah, that’s not going to happen any time soon.
The Singaporean-oriented buses are also not running as frequently as before, with MV2 still out of service.
R&F Mall is unfortunately still as deserted as I remember it to be, perhaps even worse now that there are actually shops around. It barely opened for a year before COVID-19 hit.
The high-density housing is now ready, which looks a lot like China.
Crossing the road to Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House. I would love to watch a performance here, but it seems like nothing is on.
And hello again, Singapore.
My journey from Singapore to JB took 3 days and 2 nights via AirAsia VTL Flight AK710, ETS Platinum Standard 9371dn, Ekspres Selatan 45dn, Ekspres Rakyat Timuran 26up, and Ekspres Selatan 43dn.
Bridge, not so near now.
On this weekday afternoon, trucks are still travelling on the Johor-Singapore Causeway.
R&F Marina Place
Heading to R&F Marina Place for the actual bay.
The shops at R&F Marina Place remain mostly empty.
The entrance to Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House.
And I’m finally here once more, this time, the journey took significantly longer than tapping my EZ-Link card on the bus.
The view of Woodlands from R&F Marina Place.
No Shuttle Tebrau in sight unfortunately.
R&F Marina Place and Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House looks poorly maintained with lots of rainwater streaks on the buildings.
Spotting a Causeway Link VTL1 Bus convoy travelling from Singapore to Malaysia on the Causeway.
It was precisely during my bus spotting here on thge afternoon of 14 December 2021 that the news of Singapore citizens being allowed to enter Malaysia via the land VTL and vice versa from 20 December 2021 was announced.
How apt.
There is a yatch marina at R&F Marina Place, but is largely empty.
Woodlands Jetty at Woodlands Waterfront Park is just ahead.
Construction is under way for the RTS Link viaducts and tunnel portal in Singapore under Contract T235.
Worryingly, I haven’t seen much works under way on the JB side.
Once done with my quick glance at Singapore, I headed on to the JB Sentral area to do what a Singaporean would do.
Wrong side of JB Sentral though.
Taking the 650 meter long walk to JB Sentral with the elevated walkway.