Tioman Island in Malaysia: Explored and Conquered (Part I)

The celebration of the Chinese New Year paved the way for a trip in the name of love-for-the-outdoors. My friend and I had always wanted a getaway to anywhere distant from anything synonymous to work. Malaysia became a clear top choice, accessibility and budget-wise, and Tioman Island (or Pulau Tioman), our impression was that it could satiate our islander souls.

We planned it to be a come-what-may experience and thought less planning would make it all the more exciting -- kind of used to cramming new experiences. In the end, it proved to be worth the impromptu itinerary changes from version A to B, C and then to D.

Getting to Malaysia, we took SBS Bus 170 from Kranji MRT at 7:50AM, the 3rd of February. We arrived shortly at the Singapore checkpoint in Woodlands, got off the bus, queued for immigration clearance , and then waited for the next SBS Bus 170 that’s headed to the other end of the Johor-Singapore Causeway. We got off again at the Malaysian checkpoint to clear immigration – filled in the white card at the counter to the right of the entrance and queued. It took us within 15 minutes before getting cleared. The immigration officers didn’t spend too much time questioning us. At 8:16AM, we hopped on the next SBS Bus 170 to Larkin Bus Terminal, which would take around 10 minutes.

The hardest part was getting a ticket to Mersing, the gateway to Tioman. Bus tickets to Mersing were already sold out. There were later schedules on the morning, but we just couldn’t wait any longer. So to quell itinerary version A, we moved on to version B and, instead, took the next bus going to Kota Tinggi. We departed Larkin at 8:50AM and arrived at the Kota Tinggi bus terminal 1 hour later. From that ride, I realized I was back to the countryside, and it just pumped up my excitement.

After an hour-long wait for the next bus to Mersing, the bus finally hit the road at 11:00AM. Exactly two hours later, we were already in Mersing.

As luck would have it, the day just couldn’t get any better as we were literally STUCK! The sea wasn’t navigable, perfect timing! It was a low tide, thus, no boat to Tioman! So version C came into picture. We could’ve opted for other places in lieu of Tioman, but we stuck to it, remaining faithful to a perfect getaway to Tioman, we thought.

We spent the whole afternoon at the park and coast before tiring ourselves to staying the night at a hotel for 60 ringgit. At first, we thought our tent would be enough for the night but nah.

At 6:00AM the next day, we left the hotel, headed to the ferry terminal and bought the tickets for 70 ringgit per person (two-way fare via Blue Water Express speedboat) and paid 5 ringgit for the Marine Park Conservation fee. Most of the people in the company were Caucasians and locals.

At 8:00AM, we were already speeding off to the island. There are actually drop-off points in Tioman Island depending on where you would be staying. The boat docked first at the Tekek jetty at 9:53AM, then headed north to Marine Park Centre, Air Batang, and, finally, Salang jetty at 10:25AM.

We briefly explored Salang, the northernmost kampong (village) of Tioman, took pictures at their white-sand beach and had our lunch at a restaurant. Then we moved up to the mountain to find the trail to Panuba Bay, which would later become part of a 3-hour trek. Going up and down the mountain was rather tricky; you have to keep an eye on the power cable to serve as your guide besides the trail posts. But alas, after seeing a troop of monkeys hooting loudly, and hearing a distracting human voice that seemed to be just near from where we were, we lost the trail and were led to a small beach at 12:40PM. Soon we realized that that voice was from one of those people on a boat far off the beach.

The said beach is actually part of Monkey Bay and is detached from the greater part of the bay by a large rock. Unlike Salang, Monkey Bay is an undeveloped area. There were probably attempts at developing it, as evidenced by an abandoned house and a tire swing hanging out to the sea. We continued trekking, crashed the waters this time and climbed up to the mountain only to be greeted by thorn-bearing plants, making our way unbearable. So we raced down again from the mountain to yet another beach, the Monkey Beach, at 2:14PM, found the trail back telling us that there were 42 more posts to Panuba, and 2 foreigners joined us along the way.

We held our feet to the fire to keep on walking, until Panuba Bay came to view at 3:05PM. We threw our bags and tent on the beach, sundried our shirts soaked in sweat, shoes, and socks, expended our energy bars and water, and rested for 25 minutes. That’s what 3 hours of trekking could do. Besides, we’d have to do a little jungle trekking once again.

We arrived in Air Batang (commonly called ABC) 20 minutes later. ABC was chockfull of backpackers who were either reading a book at their chalets or bicycling, and, wow, villagers love the game of football.

Next to the village is the Marine Park Centre, which is excellent for snorkeling. It was already 4:10PM when we arrived there. We grabbed some burgers and Coke, and rested again.

We’re back on the road at 5:45PM, and I have to say Tioman has a nice esplanade stretching along the Centre. We passed by Tioman Airport before finally arriving in Tekek at 6:30PM. 

What an exhausting day, but the day’s sweat was all worth it! We spent the night at a beachfront chalet for 70 ringgit.

Salang + Jungle Trek 1

Salang jetty

the beach

where we had our lunch

banana split, anyone?

that's my name. ha ha!

my trademark pose. ha ha!

monkey

snail

Monkey Bay + Jungle Trek 2

that "small" beach

Monkey Bay

it's a fist

they made it hard for us

we better hit back to the beach

Monkey Beach + Jungle Trek 3

Monkey Beach

finally the trail

two Europeans

almost there!

Panuba Bay

at last!

Panuba Inn Resort 

Air Batang (ABC)

football field, goal made of wood

Marine Park Centre

Marine Park Centre jetty

snorkeling!

love the Tioman esplanade

young coconut

Tioman Airport

the runway

Tekek

the village

it's a map!

bats

Duty-free shop

where we stayed

meditating

Losing Balance

Reflections always prove perfect when put in writing, and the now is just it. Right away.

I have been in constant search for what to do going forward. I have been away from home for more than half a year now, but I question what’s currently running in my life engine, and the next step is a blur. It’s quite a young time for me to be feeling this way, as the urgency of moving, up or down, whichever is lucrative, or simply finding my dancing feet is on the rise. Be it my day job, long-term goal, whatever that is, or just life itself succumbs me into deep thinking. Change please. I want to live with that change or its plurality, and it’s getting scarier everyday to just think of giving up on something further established, shaking up to its foundations to make way for a not so unfamiliar path that you have been shrugging off the whole years of your lifetime for a seeming bright future.

Oh, how the society can dictate one’s decision for a lifetime of unhappiness, a lesser term for misery, is corruption per se. They invade the natural flow of one’s mind in order to box you in the so-called natural world. You have to be this and that because the society towers over you and you better be good at what gives you all those laudations, comfort, sense of pride, and stability. Isn't it tiring to stress yourself beyond what should be your own life? Is this the life you have imagined since you have learned that personal dreams can navigate you to places? How can you neglect pursuing your personal happiness?

OK, you've been reading lots of you’s when it’s supposed to be a bunch of I’s. Anyway, I just need a breather to gradually filter out the sham intent from the very beginning. It has to be as transient as it should be as I’m nearing 30. It’s working for me now and sure keeps my personal balance, but for the love of what life should be, decisions have to be made and undaunted while sticking to my heart.

Photo source credit: Dreamstime

Newbie Raises the Red Flag

All that’s new ends up at the pile of your fancies. More realistically, not every single thing can tickle the funny bone. Feeling just one bit of it or merely looking at it, you can tell right off the bat that you would be a follower of this little new thing, addressing you to be its slave in either good or bad ways and the inception of the term newbie defaults as a tap on your shoulder. You are now a self-styled newbie trying to crack the fancy.

The best way to comprehension of what you’re up to as a newbie is to acknowledge it. It’s never easy if pride gets in the way. Pride is itself a mental block that borders between self-deception and in-depth exploration of your own circumstance. Let the personal tag called newbie fall until it pours on you.

By then, time becomes your unfailing enemy. You are in this new pace that’s keeping you trying equalizing the predictable normal and the novel path you choose to tread, sending you to discomfort zone. Having things sorted out of your own accord, takes a great deal of figuring out and acting upon the steps to your goals. The growing curiosity behind it fattens up nothing but your being closer to your conscious resolve. If only you had the magic hands, time would be non-existent, and wishes would be a doorstep away. Not going through a journey to get that friggin’ pot of gold is nonetheless less magical.

Uh-oh, the poor soul is crossing the gorge on a thin line. Raising the red flag happens when you think you are in a gridlock. And all you could do is to thank those who are willing to extend their helping hand to get you there safely, but no thanks to those who wish you ill.

Ah, it’s hard to rest heavy thinking for awhile as it might ruin the momentum. Thinking you are tired takes you to boredom.

Who is nuts over ice candy when there is ice cream? Now, your answer might be just your so-called well-deserved break. The newbie needs it too.

Live, Laugh, Love (It's Christmastime)

LIVE. Because one’s arrival is no accident. I have to remind myself all the time of my purpose in this foreign land. I am working my ass off here to fill in the gap described as poor man’s destiny. I have to live as I ought to live – stay healthy, frame my mind rightly, and keep homesickness at bay (Ugh, it sucks when homesickness takes over).

LAUGH. Because happiness is majorly a choice. The current circumstances of being miles and miles away from home don’t deserve to make me any less happier. I have to forget that I am celebrating Christmas differently this time. I may not be with my real family on Christmas Eve, but I am with old and new friends anyway, who themselves have the same degree of wishful thinking. It is not the easiest to tell myself that, though, but knowing who I am with on this very special day is more than enough reason to smile, which is infectious per se, making me laugh at the simplest to the silliest of things.

LOVE. Because thriving in hate is an everyday time bomb. Most of the time, if not always, you subconsciously become what you hate; and for that, you are unlikely being congratulated, which makes you hate yourself in the end. I might dislike something or someone for that matter, but at the end of the day, I let it pass for what it is worth. I just have to. I can’t afford to let it waste my time sulking in for something which is way beyond my control, thinking that I can turn the tides the next day. Moving on is the only way to see the brighter side of things. I just want to spread my arms loving all there is in life. Life is so beautiful, let the Zen radiate in me.

Merry Christmas!

P.S. I am writing because I am inspired by Takashimaya’s (Singapore shopping mall) “Live Laugh Love” Christmas bears. They have a meaningful message for everyone.

Image: Orchard, Singapore

Go Fly Kite (Uniquely Singapore)

We were strolling around Clarke Quay when we saw a multi-lighted debris spiraling down the ground. That easily magnetized our attention, drawing us closer to what had just fallen, a falling star it could be.

Following what seemed to be a falling star (nah, just exaggerating) led us to a feast of lights, buzzes, and science in Riverside Point, just right across Clarke Quay. On the ground and in the skyline, there were a number of modern kites called GFK kites (Go Fly Kite), which are motor-driven and remote-controlled. So enjoyable to watch were the flying machines we had to spend the rest of the hours that night watching such a great show. It made a great nightlife. There were kids, men, and women who comprised the group in the show.

The show was orchestrated and organized by the owner of Go Fly Kite, Mr. Michael Lim. This one-of-a-kind kite is his own innovation.

"The Show"

GFK kites

Mr. Michael Lim in action

IMAX charger. Laser lights. One cell batteries. Tool box. Transformer.

Remote control

Go Fly Kite shop