When the sun is up, cool off by taking a trip to one of the many water parks in Johor
When the sun is up, cool off by taking a trip to one of the many water parks in Johor

Starting from April to as late as October, weather in Southeast Asia goes from hot to scorching hot. Having lived in Malaysia all my life, I have had my fair share of sweating it out in the heat. On the plus side, sunny days far outnumber rainy ones so your outdoor fun will not be dampened.

Malaysians have taken full advantage of its location in the tropics by creating many attractions that encourage locals and visitors to enjoy the great outdoors. At Somerset Puteri Harbour Nusajaya, for example, we have an infinity pool on our rooftop that overlooks the harbour. The best time to take a dip is in the early morning when you can enjoy the sunrise over the quay. It is quite a spectacular sight.

In the state of Johor, we also have several water theme parks that promise loads of the fun in the sun. I have singled out a few of my favourites, so dive in with me for a splashing good time.

Built for a Wet and Wild Time

When LEGOLAND® Malaysia opened in Nusajaya, Johor in 2012, it became the first Legoland theme park in Asia. Thousands thronged its gates to get to its over 40 rides, shows and attractions. When it introduced LEGOLAND® Water Park the next year, the number of visitors swelled. When the mercury level rises, who can resist swooshing down water slides and sloshing about water-based play areas?

LEGOLAND® Malaysia is just 10 minutes away from Somerset Puteri Harbour and we have a shuttle bus that takes you there directly. Start off early as there are more than 20 attractions and 70 LEGO® models to enjoy. The park is opened till 6pm. My advice is to devote an entire day to water play and return the following day to slowly appreciate the models.

Ease into the excitement at Build-A-Raft River . Floating lazily down a man-made river on giant ring floats is something most water parks offer. This one adds a twist by letting you customise your ride with huge floating LEGO® bricks.

For the moderate thrill-seeker, family slides abound. Brick Blasteris the mildest of the lot and allows three in a tube so you have someone to hold your hand. Splash ‘N’ Swirl, as its name suggests, will have you spinning all the way down. I found Wave Riderand Tidal Tube, both 240 feet long, the most challenging. Interestingly, the closed body Tidal Tube was scarier than the open body Wave Rider because I could not quite anticipate the twists and turns.

Once you have gotten your feet wet, take on the 312-foot-long Red Rush . The tube takes up to six people so you won’t have to scream alone. Twin Chasers, which features two enclosed tubes, and LEGO® Slide Racers, which lets five people race each other, appeal to those who love competition.

Kids and the young at heart will like the Joker Soaker, a massive water playground filled with structures, slides, wade pools, water cannons and the obligatory huge water bucket that dumps hundreds of gallons of water. The DUPLO Splash Safariis the tamer version for tiny tots. Finally, end the day at the LEGO Wave Pooland let the lolling waves lull your frayed nerves after a day of excitement.

Other Attractions Creating Waves

If you want to mix shopping with water play, Dinosaur Alive Water Theme Park,about a 25-minute car ride away from Somerset Puteri Harbour, is what you are looking for. This water park features five animatronic dinosaurs fitted with motion sensors that make them move when people go near them. Apart from reacting to movement, the 85-foot long Brachiosaurus spits out water when you approach it. There are also water slides and a wading pool that will keep the under- 12s intrigued.

End your day at Puteri Harbour, a 3-minute walk from the serviced residence. The waterfront development is the place to go to for marine activities and water sports but it also offers a good selection of restaurants to choose from. Have a quiet drink as you wind down and enjoy the cooling sea breeze. There are few pleasures in life more relaxing than this.

The weather man is predicting soaring temperatures this month. But you don’t have to suffer the sweltering heat. Come visit us at Somerset Puteri Harbour and soak up the fun Malaysia has to offer while staying cool.

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Somerset Puteri Harbour Nusajaya