Day Trips from Network School: Singapore, JB, Desaru, and More

Singapore is about an hour from Forest City via the Second Link border crossing. Most NS members make the trip at least a few times during their stay. Popular stops include Marina Bay Sands, Chinatown, Little India, and the hawker centers. Singapore is also where you will find international-standard shopping, medical care, and tech meetups. Budget around 50 to 100 SGD for a full day including food, transport, and activities. Leave early in the morning on weekends to avoid the worst border queues and plan to return before the Sunday evening rush.

JB is the closest city to Network School, about 30 minutes by car. The city has a growing food scene, several large malls including Mid Valley Southkey and Paradigm Mall, and a lively street art district in the old town. For a quick change of scenery, JB offers everything Forest City lacks: busy streets, diverse restaurants, nightlife, and services like barbershops and phone repair shops. A round trip by Grab costs roughly 60 to 100 MYR depending on traffic and time of day.

Desaru Coast is a beach resort area about 90 minutes east of Forest City. It has a water park, a golf course, and several upscale resorts with day-use pools and beaches. The beach itself is long and relatively uncrowded on weekdays. It is a good option for NS members who want a beach day without crossing into Singapore. Some members rent a car for the trip since Grab availability on the return from Desaru can be unreliable. Entry to the water park costs around 100 to 150 MYR.

Kukup is a small Chinese fishing village about 40 minutes from Forest City, built on stilts over the water. It is known for its seafood restaurants and a quieter, more traditional Malaysian atmosphere. Tanjung Piai, the southernmost point of mainland Asia, is also nearby and makes for a quick nature visit. Pontian, a small town along the way, has local markets and affordable food stalls. These destinations are best reached by car or arranged transport.

Most NS members use weekends for day trips since the daily schedule of workouts, meals, and coworking fills the weekdays. Coordinating with fellow members is the best approach since shared transport is cheaper and more reliable than solo Grab rides to remote areas. The NS community chat is active with trip planning threads. You can apply at ns.com to join a cohort and start connecting with other members before you arrive to plan outings together.