My Nuffnang

 [Harian Metro] [Berita Harian] [Utusan Malaysia] [Kosmo] [Malaysiakini] [The Star] [New Straits Times]

[Sinar Harian] [The Borneo Post] [星洲日報] [The Malay Mail] [Malaysia Sun]

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Sibu Island


Pulau Sibu is a pleasant hideaway with its lush tropical vegetation, endless stretches of golden beaches and clear blue waters. The island is also dotted with numerous sea caves carved out of rocks. The constant pounding by the sea during the monsoon season has given the island a beautiful yet rugged appearance. The surrounding waters contain fascinating coral reefs teeming with colourful marine life. Shipwrecks off its coast can also be found. In the olden days, Chinese junks and pirate vessels often exchanged cannon fire around this island, and the remains of these battles lie scattered all around the seabed. There are facilities for scuba diving, Snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing and angling. Visitors can go for a hike through the jungle leading to unspoilt mangrove swamps or visit the kelong where anchovies are caught. Alternatively, head for the kampung to get a first hand look at how coconuts are smoked to make copra. Accommodation on the island range from fully furnished chalets to basic A-frame huts. Bathing facilities are available at the community showers. There are also restaurants serving Asian and Western cuisines.

Besar Island


Located 8 km off Mersing, Pulau Besar (literally means "big island") is one of the closest islands to the Malay Peninsula. It is one of the largest islands off the coast of Mersing and is surrounded by Pulau Rawa, Pulau Tengah and Pulau Tinggi. Its proximity to the mainland draws throngs of visitors from the mainland to its stretch of white sandy beach and glistening blue waters. The island's beautiful coral reefs and amazing marine life makes Pulau Besar a superb diving destination and a sheer delight for underwater photographers. Besides that, it is also a great place to enjoy Snorkeling, fishing, windsurfing, canoeing and jungle trekking. To protect its pristine environment from human activities, the Government has gazetted this island as a Marine Park.Formerly known as Pulau Babi Besar, this island is said to have been a pirates' hideout in the olden days. Today, scores of accommodations and other facilities are available here to cater to both vacationers and day-trippers.Diving, oceanic and island bird-watching. Trekking, climb up an extinct volcano (Pulau Tinggi). If you are lucky, nesting Leatherback Turtles may been seen on Pulau Babi Tengah in July. Varied dive opportunities. Deeper waters are usually good for pelagic marine life: schools of Hammerhead Sharks, lone Whale Sharks, or Manta Rays. Wall-diving (Pulau Aur) for Moray Eels, groupers and snappers. Sponges, soft corals, sea squirts, nudibranks and flatworms on rocks.

Rawa Island


Sixteen kilometres off the coast of Mersing is Pulau Rawa. Famed for its white coral sand, tall palm trees and coral reefs with neon-coloured fish and other exotic marine life. This quiet island only has 2 choices of accommodation on it. The wooden chalets nestled amongst coconut groves complement the island's reputation as a quaint hideaway. The sea gets rough and murky during the east coast's monsoon (November - March), so try to time your visit outside of this period.From Johor Bahru city centre, take the Johor Bahru-Kota Tinggi trunk road and on through the Kota Tinggi-Mersing trunk road (Highway 3). From the North-South Expressway, take the Ayer Hitam exit (Interchange 244) and drive towards Kluang and onwards using the Kluang-Jemaluang trunk road (Highway 50). After Jemaluang town, get onto the Kota Tinggi-Mersing trunk road, heading towards Mersing. Look out for signboards that will lead you to the Mersing Jetty.

Tioman Island


About 56km off the coast of Pahang lies Tioman Island, an alluring holiday paradise in the South China Sea. Acclaimed as one of the best island getaways in the world, Tioman was the location of the Hollywood musical, 'South Pacific' in 1959. According to legend, this island is the final resting place of a mythical dragon princess. The warm waters and good visibility make Tioman a paradise for divers. Discover astounding sights such as colourful Gorgonian sea fans, Staghorn corals, nudibranchs and beautifully sculptured sea sponges. Snorkellers can delight in swimming alongside huge Napoleon Wrasse, Golden Striped Trevally, Bumphead Parrotfish and shoals of Fusiliers. This island is an idyllic spot for leisurely days under the sun. Swim in its emerald waters, enjoy a stroll by the beach or be lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves. There are several villages scattered around the coastline, the larger ones being Salang, Tekek, Genting, Paya and Juara.
Each village offers a different and unique atmosphere. Tioman's verdant greenery is home to a splendid variety of plants and small animals, including butterflies, monitor lizards, deer and monkeys. Its flora and fauna have been featured in National Geographic's documentaries. The island's granite formations make for excellent rock-climbing expeditions. The more adventurous can attempt to scale the sheer cliff face of the legendary Gunung Nenek Semukut or Dragons Horns.

Pemanggil Island


Pulau Pemanggil is about five hours away by boat from Mersing. This remote island is also famed for the beauty and abundance of marine life within its clear emerald waters. Chalets and longhouses are available for visitors wishing to spend the night.Pemanggil Island sits 45 km east of Mersing, the take-off point to most islands off the Southern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is situated next to Tioman, requires a 4- to 5-hour ride by boat from Mersing. To get to Mersing itself takes 4½ hours by car or roughly 6 hours by coach from Kuala Lumpur.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Gemia Island


An island known only to a few, Gemia Island covers about 9 acres and its closest neighbour is Pulau Kapas. The island is a 15-minute boat ride away from the Marang. Gemia Island retains its peaceful, mysterious and quiet atmosphere and is the nest site for sea eagles, reef herons and many other birds. In an effort to save wildlife one of the beaches on the island is used as a turtle hatchery.Gemia Island is the few places where turtles (including the giant Leatherback) come ashore to lay their eggs. On the island the green turtle is the most common. But the Hawksbill and Olive Ridley turtle are regular visitors.The rugged rock face of Gemia Island invites exploration and provides an ideal spot for bird watching and has an abundance of fascinating marine life. Gemia is the tiny island surrounded by coral garden that abundance with marine life.
Gemia Island located about 800 metres away from Kapas Island. Transport is by boat and it takes 15 minutes to get there from Marang Jetty. The jetty is 18 kms away from Kuala Terengganu, the capital of Terengganu. If you are a lover of sea sports, activities such as kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, deep-sea fishing and squid fishing are available.

Tenggol Island


Pulau Tenggol is another beautiful diving getaway and lies just 45 minutes off Kuala Dungun in the south of Terengganu. It is small - just 3km long and 2km wide. However, this doesn't prevent it from being a paradise for many people, especially diving enthusiasts. The interior of the island is filled with steep, rocky cliffs. This rocky terrain extends from the interior of the island to the ocean and has created a dramatic 'drop-off' - a sort of vertical canvas of marine life - that divers never seem to tire of.