My new house in Johor Bahru is in Taman Setiah Indah.
Taman = Garden; Setia = Faithful; Indah = Pretty;
The Faithful Pretty Garden
Faithful and Pretty are not surprising. Very common names throughout Malaysia. So is Taman for that matter. But, in looking at the map of Johor one sees Taman a lot, even for a Malaysian City: Taman Pelangi Indah, Taman Desa Tebrau, Taman JP Perdana, Taman Puteri Wangsa, Taman Kepas Utama, Taman Kempas Indah, Taman Austin Heights, Taman Mount Austin, Taman Austin Perdana; the list goes on and on, those neighborhoods are just the ones right next to Taman Setia Indah on the map. Basically, well over half of the areas in town have Garden in the name.
Having compared JB to Jersey since 2011, this new coincidence makes me think I was always on to something. Consider:
Jersey and JB are viewed by Americans and M'sians respectively to be: big, unsafe, untidy, generally untoward cities. Both are on the coast, and live in perpetual shadows of their glimmering and much more famous neighbors right across the water: NYC and Singapore. Both are noted for manufacturing, shopping, and for being bedroom communities. Both are awash in garish neon waterfronts, loud and provocative urban culture.
These are the common perceptions. I haven't been out East since a long-ago family road trip, so I can't speak for Jersey; as for JB:
* Big? Ehh. Traffic is worse in other cities, especially if you're on a scooter. For such a big city, it is pretty quiet at night also, in most areas; it's a big city, but nothing like KL.
* Unsafe? Definitive NO on this one. Crime statistics in JB are through the roof, but they seem overestimated to me, and I never had any problems in one year there. Even had a dropped wallet returned. Intact. With cash. Lived in Melaka for less time, and had several run-ins: I was surrounded for an attempted bike-jacking, chased for an attempted scooter-jacking, hassled by mat rempit (biker gangs) on several occasions, and hit by a car on purpose on my MTB. All in Melaka, the famously tranquil and safe tourist city.
* Untidy? Not exceptionally.
* Untoward? Aren't all large cities? I didn't find anything outrageously seedy. Saw way crazier in Amsterdam. Amsterdam makes JB look like Amish country.
So, the reality of JB as the Jersey of Malaysia hasn't really panned out. But that doesn't matter. Jersey is probably lovely. The popular perception remains, however, that it is nothing but the butt of New Yorkers' jokes.
So, what about this garden connection? Any truth to that?
.Jersey is called the Garden State because historically it grew much of the food for the neighboring states Delaware and New York. It was a proverbial overflowing basket spilling into surrounding states.
Johor came to economic prominence when Chinese farmers opened up the area farming Black Pepper and Cat's Claw (for medicine) in the early 19th century. In the 20th century it became Malaysia's number one Palm Oil producer.
So, in both cases, the Garden nickname nods back to a time when Jersey and Johor were both gardens, feeding their fancy neighbors.
Cool!
Long story short, I can continue to simply explain to people who don't know Johor:
"I'm moving to the New Jersey of Malaysia."