We were invited to a wonderful Media Appreciation session with the Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru team, giving us an opportunity to connect, mingle and spend some meaningful time with the management team.

But what really caught our attention this time was the beautiful Mid-Autumn lantern display installed outside the shopping mall.

As evening arrived, the outdoor area was transformed into a colourful festive space filled with glowing lanterns and illuminated decorations. The lights created a completely different atmosphere around the mall, making it a lovely spot to stop, walk around and take in the festive mood.

 A Mid-Autumn Display Worth Checking Out

What makes the outdoor lantern installation particularly interesting is the way the decorations create a visual experience even before you step inside the mall.

As the evening gets darker, the lanterns become even more eye-catching, creating a warm and colourful backdrop against the night sky.

For families, friends, shoppers and visitors looking for somewhere to experience the Mid-Autumn atmosphere in Johor Bahru, this is certainly something worth discovering during the festive season.

Beyond the beautiful decorations, the evening was also about people and relationships.

A big thank you to the Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru team for the warm hospitality and appreciation. We truly value the opportunity to connect and build wonderful relationships along the way.

These occasions remind us that discovering a destination is not always just about the place itself. Sometimes, it is also about the people we meet and the connections we make along the journey.

From the warm welcome during the Media Appreciation session to the beautiful lanterns glowing outside the mall, our visit to Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru gave us another memorable experience to share.

If you're around Johor Bahru during this Mid-Autumn season, perhaps take some time to drop by and see the lantern display for yourself. Bring your family, take some photos and enjoy the festive atmosphere as the lanterns light up the evening.

Another great discovery by Jomtaralets — a foodie and travel blogger you can trust.

There are always new places, experiences and little moments waiting to be discovered, and this Mid-Autumn celebration at Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru is certainly one we were happy to experience.

Finding a comfortable place to stay can make a big difference when travelling with the family, especially when you're travelling with children and looking for a hotel that offers more than just a place to sleep.

Situated about 25 minutes' drive from Johor Bahru city centre, this apartment-style hotel offers a spacious setup together with facilities that make it suitable for families looking for a relaxing staycation in Johor.

Upon arriving at Dao by Dorsett Puteri Cove, we went straight to the reception area to process our check-in. The process was quite smooth. We simply provided our details and completed the necessary procedures before heading up to our room.

One of the nice surprises was the welcome drink provided by the reception team. After spending quite some time on the road, especially after a long drive, having a refreshing drink while completing our arrival was a welcome touch.

For a family like ours, this is something we really appreciate. When travelling with children, there are usually plenty of bags and personal belongings to carry, so having assistance with the luggage makes the arrival experience much easier.

Once we entered the room, the kids were immediately excited to explore. One of the first things we noticed was the kitchen area, which comes with basic facilities that can be useful for families.

There is a master bedroom for the adults and another bedroom designed for the kids, complete with two single beds. For families travelling with children, having a separate bedroom can be particularly convenient. The kids have their own space while parents can still enjoy some privacy in the master bedroom.

The accommodation also comes with two bathrooms, making it more convenient when the whole family needs to get ready at the same time.

Another area we enjoyed was the balcony. From here, we could enjoy the sea view while also looking down towards the hotel's swimming pool area.

After settling into our room, we went back down to explore more of the hotel. The lobby area is spacious and includes a waiting area where guests can sit and relax.

We also checked out the hotel's gymnasium. The gym is equipped with various exercise equipment and facilities for guests who want to maintain their workout routine while travelling.

Of course, when you're travelling with kids, one of the biggest attractions is often the swimming pool! Our kids were already excited to swim, so we prepared ourselves before heading down.

The swimming pool is located on Level 4, and this quickly became one of the highlights of our stay. The kids were excited to finally explore the pool that they had already seen from our balcony.

The kids also had a great time and honestly mentioned that they really liked the pool.

Besides the swimming pool, another section we explored was the steam room. It was quite a cool experience, and I personally enjoyed it. Even the kids were curious about trying it!

As nighttime arrived, the atmosphere around Dao by Dorsett Puteri Cove became even more relaxing. We enjoyed spending some time at the balcony and taking in the evening view.

The following morning, the kids were already excited to get up and continue exploring. We got everyone ready and headed down for breakfast at the hotel's ground-floor dining area.

The breakfast selection was not a full-fledged buffet spread, but there was still a decent variety available.

After spending the night here, our overall experience at Dao by Dorsett Puteri Cove was a pleasant one.

The swimming pool was also a highlight for our kids, while the gymnasium, steam room and indoor jacuzzi provided additional facilities for guests to explore.

For families planning a staycation or looking for accommodation in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Dao by Dorsett Puteri Cove is a place worth considering, particularly if you prefer a more spacious apartment-style accommodation.

Seafood lovers looking for a weekend dining experience in Johor Bahru have plenty to explore at Food Exchange, Novotel Johor Bahru City Centre, where the Seafood Extravaganza brings together an extensive selection of seafood, live cooking experiences and international favourites.

Located on Level 11 of Novotel Johor Bahru City Centre, Food Exchange provides a modern and comfortable setting for families, friends and food lovers to enjoy a relaxed buffet dinner.

The buffet offers plenty of opportunities for seafood lovers to enjoy their favourites, with various seafood selections prepared in different ways.

The dish brings together clams, prawns, mussels and squid with okra, corn, onions and long beans, all cooked in Food Exchange's signature shell-out sauce.

For us, this was one of the more memorable parts of the evening because it combines freshly cooked seafood with a more interactive dining experience.

Beyond the shell-out experience, the buffet also features a Japanese section that attracted plenty of attention throughout the evening.

It was interesting to see how popular this section was during our visit, with the team keeping busy preparing and topping up the selection throughout dinner.

Although seafood takes centre stage, there is more to explore around the buffet. At the dedicated alfresco area, guests can find grilled favourites including chicken and beef satay, accompanied by local-style peanut sauce and condiments.

This gives diners the opportunity to enjoy a combination of seafood, grilled meats and international flavours in one dinner.

One thing we noticed during our visit was the amount of work happening behind the scenes. The F&B team was constantly moving between the different stations, preparing dishes, replenishing the buffet and assisting diners.

For buffet dining, having the food regularly replenished is an important part of the overall experience, and it was good to see the team actively keeping up with the demand.

And, of course, a buffet dinner isn't complete without something sweet to finish the evening. After exploring the seafood, Japanese selections and grilled dishes, guests can also choose from a variety of desserts to end the meal on a sweeter note.

For families and groups with different tastes, having a selection of savoury dishes followed by desserts gives everyone something to explore.

Our Seafood Extravaganza experience at Food Exchange was all about having plenty of choices to explore.

For us, the most enjoyable part is always discovering something new and the live seafood preparation certainly gave us something different to talk about and enjoy.