TIOMAN ISLAND
INTRODUCTION
Once upon a time, a beautiful dragon princess left China
on a journey to Singapore for her scheduled wedding. The journey was long and
towards the end of her flight, she grew very tired. She noticed a beautiful
island through a thin veil of clouds below and decided to rest her weary body
for the night. She lay down gently to the caress of the sea and the cool
sprinkle of the waves. So enchanted was she that she stayed forever and ever,
never leaving her beloved island. The high ridge takes the form of her backbone
and the clouds that circles around the twin peaks on the Western ends are said
to be smoke breathed from her nostrils. The early Chinese traders referred to
Tioman as the 'island with 2 horns'.
Imagine... A long time ago, when the world was filled
with strange plants and creatures, shrouded in thick fog, ...where lands were
vast - covered in ice and the sea levels were low. The islands on our east
coastal shores were peaks or slopes of mountains, majestically overlooking the
rough, pounding waves far below.
Then the earth started to warm up and the ice began to
melt. Low lying areas were flooded and peaks were isolated from the mainland
and so became islands.
Tioman today sits 30km away from the mainland.
39km long and 12km wide, Tioman was once a monsoon
shelter for merchant ships, war ships, a haughty bunch of pirates and a few
families of fishermen. The first written record of Tioman was found in the
journals of Arabic merchants who came this way some time before 1,000AD. The
Indian, Persian and Chinese traders followed suit.
When the South China Sea route was ‘discovered’ by eager
merchants from China, many locations along the Malaya Peninsular finally opened
to traders. One of them being Tioman. Not only was the island a perfect shelter
from the monsoon storms and an ideal place to stopover for fresh water and
wood, but the people also traded with these foreign merchants. The Chinese
wanted sea produce and camphor wood; the Indian traders loaded their ships to
the brim with betelnut, found in abundance on the island whilst the Arabs were
in search of scented woods (such as aloe wood, camphor and sandalwood), for
ivory and ebony, rice, gold and bamboo. The seafarers also used the island as a
navigational marker - the point to turn north east for Cambodia upon
identifying the island. It was noted now from abundant evidence that many of
these traders set up camp at Nipah beach.
But it was not all dandy for Tioman. In 1830, pirates
marauded the island and took away 70 locals for the thriving slave markets.
Fear sent the remaining villagers scampering off to the mainland leaving the
island uninhabited until 15 years later when the waters in the area were rid of
pirates.
Slowly, villagers trickled back and life returned to its
island pace. However, in 1926, an outbreak of malaria killed many islanders and
once again, the island was abandoned. Many of the homes of villagers were left derelict
and the lands that they made a living from were reclaimed by the jungle. During
the 2nd World War, a small detachment of the Japanese army was sent to set up a
watch base on Tioman. After the war, Tioman fell into oblivion until it was
rediscovered by movie makers. Fame and fortune followed suit and Tioman became
the Paradise Island of Bali Hai in the musical ‘South Pacific’. The listing as
one of the top ten islands in the world by TIME magazine in the 1970’s made the
island popular beyond its dreams and visitors have been pouring in since to
savour that little piece of island paradise.
The island was so-called Tiong-man by an early island
inhabitant. ‘man’ means ‘My’ in island dialect and ‘Tiong’ means mynah bird.
The local islanders love keeping Jungle Mynahs ; unfortunately for these birds,
they can never keep themselves away from trouble and because they are masters
at mimicry, their skill has become their curse.
Tioman has a wonderful flora and fauna diversity.
Biologists have found the forested area on the island similar to that on the
Peninsular but yet with subtle differences. Perhaps with the absence of large
predators, species on the lower ranks of the food chain were able to flourish
in this relative isolation. Most common are the macaques, pythons, mousedeers,
monitor lizards and flying foxes. A recent study noted that 22 amphibian, one
non-marine turtle, 32 lizard and 26 snake species contribute to the fauna on
Tioman where its interior encompasses 5 major vegetation zones and is ideal
cover for such a big variety of species on an island. The mangrove swamps on
Tioman are one of the last remaining original swamps that used to be aplenty on
the mainland but have since been cleared for development. These swamps are
incredibly rich with fauna: land and water.
ACCOMMODATION
BERJAYA TIOMAN RESORT
An island befitting the stars. Tioman is where you seek
relaxation and discover continuous fun. With miles of secluded palm-fringed
beaches, clear turquoise waters, abundant marine life, misty mountains and lush
greenery, savour each moment as you indulge in one of the world’s most
beautiful islands where ‘Bali Hai’ was filmed in the Hollywood classic ‘South
Pacific’.
Located northernmost of precinct of Tioman, it took more
than 1 hour fast-boat ride to get to this beautiful beach from Mersing jetty.
The boats from Mersing will make various stops along the western shores of
Tioman before making the final stop at Salang Village. If you take the larger
passenger boat which moves much slower, it can take up to 2 hours from Mersing.
SALANG
SALANG
Salang Village has one of the nicest beaches in Pulau Tioman, apart from Pasir Panjang Beach at Tulai Island. Even prior to arriving at the jetty, the journey takes across brilliantly turquoise blue water of the sea channel. Just as you land, you will be amazed on the colour and clarity of the beach.
The left side of the beach is excellent for swimming, sun-bathing and even snorkeling. Do avoid the rocky and sludgy beach mostly on the right-side though. In short, when it comes to adventure for underwater lovers, Salang is a good place to be.
Salang is also a great place to experience almost true-to-form Malay kampong life. The resorts are built in traditional architecture, with small alleys that connect to each other.Most of chalet or resort here,offering resonable room rates with mininum RM80.00 per night to RM200.00 per night for basic room with air conditions. At night, the beach becomes alive and kicking with music and jostling crowd going out for dinner or drink. There are quite a number of food stalls serving local and international fanfares throughout the village, some offering really intimate seating arrangement right by the shoreline.Recommend for BBQ dinner at Salang Pusaka Restaurant among the best at Salang.
There are plenty of things to do and see. It comes to no surprise that Salang is also a popular beach destination for most tourists that come to Pulau Tioman.
TEKEK
Tekek Town has naturally grown into the island's main
entry and exit point due to its central location. The village is also
geographically sheltered from the rough open seas which are commonly
experienced on the eastern shores of the island. Its main places for local to
buy grocery and other thing. Only Bank Simpanan Nasional ATM Machine provide
here. For travellers short of cash ,you can withdraw the money only here at
Tekek.Small clinic have provide for local here.
With Pulau Tioman being accorded the status of a duty-free island, local businesses were quick to capitalise in the small town in Tekek Village with numerous duty-free shops and outlets. In all honesty, being a duty-free island its a two-edge sword; on one hand, the business opportunities on Pulau Tioman have since grown albeit slight, and yet, the development that it brings may eventually jeorpadise the natural beauty of Pulau Tioman .For duty free shop ,you can get liqour ,tobacco and candy with cheaper rates compare to mainland.But its not like Langkawi Island,which are more product you can get there.
By Pulau Tioman's standard, the beach in Tekek is rather forgettable. In fact, due to its geographical nature, some sections of the beach had retaining walls erected to stop further erosion commonly experienced in monsoon seasons. Nonetheless, for a decent beach experience, the southern precinct of Tekek Village fronting Babura Seaview Resort and Samudra Swiss Cottage offers quite a nice sandy beach away from the town centre. The water is somewhat crystal-clear . Tekek are main getaway to Juara .
With Pulau Tioman being accorded the status of a duty-free island, local businesses were quick to capitalise in the small town in Tekek Village with numerous duty-free shops and outlets. In all honesty, being a duty-free island its a two-edge sword; on one hand, the business opportunities on Pulau Tioman have since grown albeit slight, and yet, the development that it brings may eventually jeorpadise the natural beauty of Pulau Tioman .For duty free shop ,you can get liqour ,tobacco and candy with cheaper rates compare to mainland.But its not like Langkawi Island,which are more product you can get there.
By Pulau Tioman's standard, the beach in Tekek is rather forgettable. In fact, due to its geographical nature, some sections of the beach had retaining walls erected to stop further erosion commonly experienced in monsoon seasons. Nonetheless, for a decent beach experience, the southern precinct of Tekek Village fronting Babura Seaview Resort and Samudra Swiss Cottage offers quite a nice sandy beach away from the town centre. The water is somewhat crystal-clear . Tekek are main getaway to Juara .
PANUBA
Panuba only have limited beach and most their rooms are
facing to seaview.For those for privacy and quiet,its right places here .You
can go for jungle trekking to Monkey Bay only 30 minutes from Panuba and 20
minutes cross to Ayer Batang Beach . Only Panuba Inn Resort here.
Panuba Inn
Resort
Ayer Batang, also known as Kampung Air Batang, or ABC
Village for short, is another popular tourist destination in Pulau Tioman. Its
wide range of budget chalets and resorts along with the cheapest accommodation
rates of any place in Tioman make it a most popular choice among backpackers
and simple travellers. Air Batang almost adjoins Tekek Village, but lies
seperated by a small and hilly coastal cape.Its take 1 hour walking distance
from Bambo Hills to Nazri Place.Most of local use Motorcycle as main transport
.To Tekek,you need to cross small hill with good condition pathway.
The only village on the eastern side of the island, Juara
arguably has the best beach on Tioman and the only sunrise over the open water
of the South China Sea. Tranquil and beautiful, this village is the perfect
place to get away from it all. Only few chalet and resort available here with
resonable rates minimum RM80.00 - RM100.00 per night with breakfast .Such Juara
Mutiara Resort , Juara Beach Resort , Rainbow Chalet and other.Its right
destination for those looking for quiet and less people here.
A few chalets and restaurants are lined up on the golden sands of the beach, which is up to 20 metres wide in places. The curve of the beach stretches over two kilometres, ending in a rocky headland in the north and a lagoon in the south. For walking distance its will take 2-3 hour mean from North to South.
ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTION
Diving and snorkeling:
Pulau Tioman is the biggest
marine park in Malaysia. By diving and snorkeling, you can explore the
underwater environment of Pulau Tioman and get to see lots of marine life.
Besides diving and snorkeling at Pulau Tioman Marine Park, Renggis Island is
recommended to visitors. Renggis Island has good hard coral diversity and thus
it is a good place for diving. Before leaving to Marine Park, make sure the
essentials equipments of diving and snorkeling are prepared.
Swimming and sunbathing:
There are lots of beautiful
beaches at Pulau Tioman such as Monkey Bay for you to swim. These beaches with
white sand are good place to swim. If you do not like swimming, you can do
sunbathing too.
Jungle trekking:
The jungle walk across to Monkey
Bay is recommended. After reaching Monkey Bay, you can do sunbathing or can
swim. The ten minutes jungle trek to Rockfalls awards you with glimpse of
monitor lizards and exotic butterflies in their natural environment.
Island hopping:
You can go around the island and
explore many interesting places via island hopping. There are many boats for
hiring. In addition to, you also can rent a bicycle to go around the island.
You can rent bicycle from many places.
A Tropical Paradise in the South China Sea
About 36 nautical miles off Malaysia's east coast lies Pulau Tioman or Tioman Island, one of the region's most enchanting holiday spots. Scenic and tranquil, Tioman Island boasts miles and miles of white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, charming villages and friendly people. Its crystal clear waters teem with spectacular marine life and colourful coral gardens. The twin peaks of Gunung Nenek Semukut provide a prominent landmark to this island, reputed to be one of the most beautiful and idyllic in the world.
Tropical Playground for Water Sports Enthusiasts
Tioman Island is an excellent spot for fun-filled water sports activities. You can go scuba diving, deep-sea fishing, snorkelling, boating, water skiing, windsurfing, or enjoy the beauty of undersea gardens by ridding around the island in a glass-bottomed boat.
A Marine Treasure Trove
Tioman Island is a treasure trove of breathtaking marine attractions. Corals, seashells and limpets, thorny sea urchins, colourful seaweeds and anemones, starfish and a myriad of other aquatic wonders are abundant here. The crystal clear waters make scuba diving and snorkelling in Tioman an experience unlike any other. Other neighbouring islands recommended for scuba diving and snorkelling are Chebeh, Tulai, Renggis, Sembilang, Seri Buat and Gut.
Exciting Adventures Amidst The Splendour Of Nature
Tioman Island is the ideal spot for nature lovers, Whether at sea or on land, the wonders of nature that greet you are truly astounding and fascinating. Trek across the verdant hill from Tekek to Juara and enjoy the cool waterfalls cascading over moss-coverad rock formations at Mukut, or take a dip in the warm waters dotted with pastel-coloured reefs. Or head to the Marine Park Centre located between Tekek and Air Batang and swim amidst the various species of fishes.
Anglers' Bountiful Paradise
Fishing enthusiasts can enjoy a bountiful catch at Tioman Island, Just hire a boat for a day, anchor outside the Marine Park limits where fishing is permitted. By dusk, you will have a catch large enough for a sumptuous barbecue on the beach. If you want to try something different and challenging, try your hand at deep-sea fishing. Among the species if fishes and crustaceans found here are groupers, morays, tunas, parrotfish, sea-bass, red snappers, stingrays, plaices, soles, cora trouts, blue marlins, squids, cuttlefish, shrimps, crabs, prawns and lobsters.
A Delightful Respite from the Hustle and Bustle of City
Life
When the stress of life's hectic pace gets to you, rejuvenate your mind and body at Tioman Island. Immerse yourself in the quiet and tranquil setting. Relax to the cool, refreshing breeze and soothing waves. Bask in the tropical sun or walk along the shores during sunset to experience the beauty of the island. Popular beaches are found around the villages of Tekek, Genting, Salang, Air Batang and Juara. For golf-lovers, tee off at the 18-hole international-standard golf course set amidst lush tropical greenery. Enjoy the picturesque sight of rustic villages scattered around the island, where the people are charming, friendly and gracious.
Tioman Island is accessible by boat from Mersing town or Tanjung Gemok, Rompin, a journey which takes about 1 to 2 hours. Or one can also take a plane either Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or Kuantan. Accommodation comes in the form of delightful wooden chalets on the beach or in luxurious hotel rooms. Whichever is the choice, comfort and hospitality is assured.
FOOD AND BEVERAGES
Food and beverages usually will included to you
accommodation package. Some hotel or resort will take an extra charge for BBQ
near to the beach at night.
HOW TO GET THERE
There are 2 locations to depart from to reach Tioman by
air, namely Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Tioman can be best accessed by Berjaya Air, with a direct local flight from Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur. Flights leave daily to Tioman Island from Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport and flights leave daily to Tioman Island from Seletar Airport, Singapore.
For enquiries on bookings, please call:
Driving from Johor Bahru or Singapore to Mersing Drive to Kota Tinggi from Tebrau Highway and proceed your journey to Mersing, a quiet fishing town. The town is approximately 138 km. Well, you will never miss it as you can see the signboard to the town. At Mersing, you need to take a ferry to Tioman Island. There are secured parking spaces at a very cheap rate (around RM5/nights) so you don't have to think about your vehicle safety! Driving from Kuala Lumpur to Mersing (399 km) One of the common road to the island is by PLUS highway to the South and exit through Segamat. From Segamat, continue your journey to Kluang and from there you can go to Mersing. Driving to Mersing is a long ride and frequent travelers can shorten it by following routes: 1. KL - Kuala Pilah ( winding road) - Bandar Muazzam Shah (will exit between Endau & Mersing) - Mersing 2. KL - Kluang - NITAR - Mersing (Using this route, you'll avoid the winding road before reaching Jamaluang) Both Bandar Muazzam Shah & NITAR are the palm oil plantation estates, thus the traffic is not heavy esp. during the festive seasons. Advisable to use either routes only for day drive. Normally, I prefer to use Kluang - NITAR route. By the way, there's a small island called Pulau Cawan near Mersing. During low tide u can walk to this island and according to legend there's one nenek kebayan (old witch) residing there.
From Johor Bahru to Mersing, taxi fare is about RM100
one way.
There are several ferry operators from several
different locations and travel times depend on where you get on board. Most
ferries are modern and well equipped with air-conditioning and video
facilities.
Tanjung Gemok to Tioman United Ferry Ventures operates such a service from Tanjung Gemuk to Tioman. They provide a gated car park, a tourist information center and additional trips for public holidays. Schedule: To Tioman 8.00 am and 12.00 pm, From Tioman 10.00 am and 4.00 pm Rate: RM 30.00 per adult and RM 25.00 per child per trip. Tel: +609 4131 997, +609 4131 998, Fax: +609 4131 996, Email: uniferry@tm.net.my You can go either by speed boat (max 20 passengers) or speed ferry (max 150 passengers). The speed boat gets you there in less than 2 hours. The speed ferry seats more people and take only marginally longer and costs RM25. The last boat is about 4:00 p.m. so beware of touts flogging a 24 hour service when they sell you a ticket. Schedule times are 11:30 p.m & 2:00 p.m. The Speed boat fare is RM30 one way Departure times are 7:30 a.m, 10:30 a.m & 2:00 p.m |
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