Archive for May, 2009

Malaysia Travel Blog – Pulau Tinggi

Sunday, May 10th, 2009

photo credits to: Go Travel Place

Nicknamed the “General’s Hat Island” by Chinese seamen hundreds of years ago, Tinggi Island is a large uninhabited island, which rises 2000ft. above the sea level. This delightful island is located about 20 nautical miles southeast of Mersing, on the east coast of Johor.

Tinggi Island is known for its mystical quality as much as its sheer physical beauty. It comprises the principal Tinggi Island, and eight smaller islets, namely Mentinggi Island, April Island, Nanga Kecil Island, Nanga Besar Island, Simbang Island, Lanting Island and Iboi Island and Peyembang Island. Only the first two islands Tinggi Island and Mentinggi Island – have been declared marine park.

Crystal-clear turquoise waters surround the cone-shaped island of Tinggi Island. The interior of this oval-shaped island is mostly covered with secondary lowland Dipterocarp rainforest. It is andowed with fresh waters, a sheltered harbour and coral reefs which abound with prolific marine life. It has a long coastline and while sandy beaches dotted with caves. The seas around it are teeming with coral, fish and reff making it a photographic haven.

The island is surrounded by small islets, with Berlima being one of them. There are numerous activities that one can embark upon when on a visit to this island. The most popular outdoor activities include swimming, sailing, diving, snorkeling and scuba diving. Fishing and canoeing are some of the other adventure activities that the tourists indulge in when visiting Pulau Tinggi.

The presence of a jungle allows one to go for jungle trekking. The island also has mountains, which are filled with caves. Those looking for that extra adventure can go for cave explorations also.

One can get to see different kinds of marine life and birds over here. The waters are teeming with different species of tropical fishes and other sea creatures. There are numerous fruit trees that one can get to see on this beach island. (more…)

Malaysia Travel Blog – Pulau Rawa

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

photo credits to: asiaexplorers.com

Rawa Island is an unspoilt coral island and is located 16km off the coast of Mersing.Famed for its white coral sand tall palm trees and offshore coral reefs with neon-coloured fishes and other exotic marine life. Pulau Rawa (Rawa Island ) is truly a paradise island.

This is the type of place you can leave your cares, worries, your problems behind, just lay back soak it all up, and enjoy the moment, forget the phone, time and all the rigors of town life; Live life to the full on “Rawa”.

It was nice to take a break this month on Pulau Rawa, my favourite island paradise in Malaysia. Lots of rest and relaxation, a great beach, waves lapping beneath our waterfront chalet overlooking the South China Sea, good company and of course good friends there too.

Mersing is base in Johor Bahru Malaysia, Johor is the third largest (19,984 sq km) and one of the most developed states in Peninsular Malaysia. It is situated at the southern tip of the peninsula, just across the Straits of Johor from Singapore (with which it is connected by a road and rail causeway). Johor’s population exceeds two million people, comprising an ethnic mix of Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other groups. Its capital is Johor Bahru.

Pulau Rawa is located within the archipelago that dots Johor Marine Park. Other islands in the marine park include Pulau Aur, Pulau Dayang, Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Tinggi, Pulau Sibu, and Pulau Besar, among others. The island is accessible by speed boats or ferries departing from Mersing jetty and the journey normally takes less than 30 minutes.

Note that most of the boats operated by either Seagull Express or Bluewater Ferry are heading to the more popular Pulau Tioman, so you will need to inform the personnel at the counter prior to boarding so that the boat captain will divert its course to drop you off at Pulau Rawa. Boat fares usually cost anywhere between RM35 to RM45 for one way journey. (more…)