Your Organizer

“I am an outdoor person who love to meet new friends while exploring off-beaten-track places. Travelling is not just about destination, but about the experiences of the journey towards the destination.”

24 Adventures organized

682 Friends came along

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Highlights

Istana Woodneuk or Woodneuk House was first built in 1890 by Sultan Abu Bakar for one of his wives (either 3rd or 4th wife) Sultana Khadijah, who died in Woodneuk in 1904. Just before her death it was sold to Sultan Abu Bakar’s son and successor Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar.

New Istana Woodneuk was rebuilt in 1930 and completed in 1935 in time for the celebration of the Sultan of Johor's 62nd birthday and his 40 years of reign. Sultan Ibrahim or H.R.H. Paduka Sri Sultan Al-Haj Sir Ibrahim al-Mashur ibni al-Marhum Sultan Sir Abu Bakar (born 17th September 1873 and ruled from 4th June 1895 - 8th May 1959) ruled during this period. It was said this house was built for Sultan Ibrahim and his Scottish wife Helen Bartholomew. They married in 1930, and she was crowned Sultanah Helen Ibrahim in 1931.

Woodneuk was a beautiful place and was described one built with bricks and stones. The building is colored dark cream and grey with a roof of lovely blue shimmering Devonshire tiles. The doors are made to fold back fully and at the blue lounge where the 2 staircase are located, the main coloring is a soft shade of pastel blue. The panels you will see behind the column in between the staircase are beautiful screens made of light wood with panels of old Chinese carvings. This panels were originally from Tyersall. The parquet flooring has Persian rugs with the central rug being of beautiful soft blue with brocade and china themes.

Istana Woodneuk has suffered from the test of time, nature and human brutality. The mansion was subject to the bombing of the Japanese in 1942, killing approximately 700 medics and patients, It was also used by various nationalities for head quarters by Generals, commander in chiefs and even Governor General Malcolm MacDonald occupied Woodneuk at one time. Eventually, Woodneuk was returned to the Sultan in 1948. Very little information was around after the Sultan died in 1959.

Istana Woodneuk was ferociously attacked by a fire circa 2006 which burned down its glorious blue roof. With such as a rough past, it is amazing that the Istana is still standing around till today. It is believed that the building and land is still the property of the Sultan of Johor.

Let’s explore this long abandon and hidden Istana, and let our imagination runs to its old glory days in the past.

My Contact Detail:

Georgina Chin: HP: 9622 6838, Email: chiefs@ThreePlayGrounds.com or message me via the Chat tab in this event page

Reviews

Verena
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Review for Let's experience the greatest wildlife show and migration - Masai Mara Mid-Range November 29, 2018
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Review for Let's experience the greatest wildlife show and migration - Masai Mara Mid-Range November 29, 2018
Wenchang
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Review for Let’s Meet the See Gypsies and Swim with the Stingless Jelly Fish - 7D/6N Trip October 21, 2018
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Review for Let’s Meet the See Gypsies and Swim with the Stingless Jelly Fish - 7D/6N Trip October 21, 2018
Geoffrey Pereira
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Review for Let's experience the greatest wildlife show and migration - Masai Mara Mid-Range August 23, 2018
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Review for Let's experience the greatest wildlife show and migration - Masai Mara Mid-Range August 23, 2018
Well organised and very nice group to travel with.
Julie
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Review for Let's experience the greatest wildlife show and migration - Masai Mara Mid-Range August 13, 2018
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Review for Let's experience the greatest wildlife show and migration - Masai Mara Mid-Range August 13, 2018
Feedback: - I would not have staid in Nairobi the day we landed and would have gone straight to Amboseli and sleep in Amboseli directly the first night. - Same on the way back, Saturday was a bit wasted in Nairobi while I would have instead staid one more night in Masai Mara. - Mara Chui at Masai... Read more Feedback: - I would not have staid in Nairobi the day we landed and would have gone straight to Amboseli and sleep in Amboseli directly the first night. - Same on the way back, Saturday was a bit wasted in Nairobi while I would have instead staid one more night in Masai Mara. - Mara Chui at Masai Mara was bad : serving Chinese food, full of Chinese tourists... not recommended to stay there again. - It would have been nice to be able to stay inside the Masai Mara park itself to be able to enjoy sunrise and sunset! A bit disappointed that we have missed a lot of these by staying outside. Or it would have been nice to start earlier in the morning to catch the sunrise in the park and have more chance to see more nocturnal animals in the morning. - Masai village was not up to my expectations at all - it felt very fake and catered only for tourists while I expected something really more authentic - Night drive: I guess we were not lucky that night, but knowing that going inside the park is illegal I probably would not have signed up for it - Hot air balloon option would have been awesome! - I found Antony’s driving unsafe (the way he overtakes other cars on the road, the way he is not always looking at the road when driving, his brutal stops...) and end up with bruises for sitting only 1 day in his car (but that’s apparently only what some of us felt while the rest of the group seemed ok with his driving) - The belt was a nice surprise and gesture, but I am not sure I would ever wear it! Maybe not worth giving next time Having said all that, don’t worry, I still enjoyed very much my trip!! The above is really for better future trips organisation and for future travellers :) Elsamere and Flamingo Hill are definitely hotels worth keeping in the list! Read less
Ray
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Review for An Extraordinary African Safari and Adrenaline Excursion - 13D/12N Trip November 19, 2017
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Review for An Extraordinary African Safari and Adrenaline Excursion - 13D/12N Trip November 19, 2017