The Perfect Tropical Secluded Paradise
Malaysia is known for its stunning natural beauty, and one destination that perfectly embodies this is Tioman Island. Situated in the South China Sea, off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, Tioman Island is a tropical paradise that offers breathtaking landscapes, pristine beaches, vibrant marine life, and a tranquil ambiance. It has gained international recognition as one of the world’s top diving destinations, attracting tourists from all over the globe.
We were lucky enough to spend time there with family and friends, on a wonderful trip that included snorkeling, relaxing by the pool, sunsets on the pier, and of course, amazing food!
Natural Splendor
Tioman Island is a visual feast. Covered in lush rainforests, and surrounded by the most perfect color of water you can imagine, Tioman, along with eight nearby islands, have been designated and protected as Natural Marine Parks and Natural Marine Reserves.
There are also several protected species of mammals on the island, including the long-tailed macaque, and the red giant flying squirrel. Of course there are lots of monkeys on the island as well, but more on that later.
Makan!
There are tons of amazing things about Malaysia, the people, the beaches, the cost of living, and the proximity to travel around Asia, to name a few, but Malaysian cuisine is also at the top of that list. Eating in Malaysia is to experience the culture and essence of the country. It’s where the family comes together, cooking, eating, passing down generational recipes, and bonding over food and time spent in the kitchen and at the table. Similar to other known culinary capitals of the world, such as Italy and France, if you don’t know food in Malaysia, you will feel inadequate in most conversations. The good news is, Malaysians aren’t snobby about their food. To the contrary, they are ready to talk cooking and ingredients with you all night, sharing why Malaysian food is the best, even though it’s still a relatively undiscovered cuisine in the western culinary world.
Diving and Snorkeling Paradise
Tioman Island is a mecca for divers and snorkelers due to its vibrant coral reefs and diverse marine life. The crystal-clear waters teem with colorful fish, sea turtles, and other fascinating creatures. Popular dive sites, such as Tiger Reef, Renggis Island, and Soyak Island, offer excellent visibility below the surface, and a chance to explore fascinating underwater ecosystems.
Whether you are a seasoned diver or a beginner, the island’s numerous dive centers cater to all levels of experience, providing lessons, guided dives, and equipment rentals. In the area where we stayed, they had a protected area that ran about a hundred yards out. We snorkeled right off the pier, seeing an incredible amount of fish and other interesting coral marine life.
The Pristine Beaches
Tioman Island is renowned for its pristine beaches, which feature soft, powdery sand, and turquoise waters. Salang Beach, Genting Beach, and ABC Beach are some of the most popular spots for sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling.
The calm waters surrounding the island provide an ideal environment for water activities, including kayaking and paddleboarding. For those seeking tranquility, there are secluded beaches like Monkey Bay and Juara Beach, where visitors can unwind and bask in the serenity of their surroundings.
Don’t Smile at the Hungry Monkey’s
One morning as we left our little cottage perched high in the trees overlooking the water, on our way to breakfast, we noticed we had a welcoming party. A troop of Monkeys were waiting for us at the bottom of our stairs, and they didn’t exactly look like they wanted to play. To the contrary, as we approached, it felt like a big time shakedown. It quickly became clear that we had better give up any food that we had hidden on us, immediately, or, well, “Something bad might happen, kid.” It then became obvious they had no intention of letting us pass without said food, as they moved in a pack in front of us as we tried to get by them.
Now, we all know you should never smile at monkeys, as showing your teeth is a sign of aggression. Deborah is sure this is what I did, which I still deny to this day. What I will admit to is something even more stupid. As the eldest and biggest of the troop got closer and closer to me, I panicked and tried to scare him away with a loud yell. This not only failed miserably, it pissed him off even more, and they formed ranks behind him. We did an immediate about face, headed back to the cottage, and waited out the gang until it was safe to head to breakfast. Unbelievably, they actually followed us to the cottage and spent a good 5 minutes trying to gain access by rattling doors and trying to turn door handles. Thankfully, the locks worked and they finally left, but it was quite the interesting experience for a few minutes.
Don’t Smile at the Hungry Monkey’s
One morning as we left our little cottage perched high up over the water on our way to breakfast, we noticed we had a welcoming party. A troop of Monkeys were waiting for us at the bottom of our stairs, and they didn’t exactly look like they wanted to play. To the contrary, as we approached it felt like a big time shakedown, and we had better give up any food that we had hidden on us immediately, or well, you know.
It actually became very clear that they had no intention of letting us pass without said food, as they moved in front of us as we tried to get by them. Now, we all know you should never smile at monkeys, as showing your teeth is a sign of aggression. Deborah is sure this is what I did, which I still deny to this day. What I will admit to is something even more stupid. As the eldest and biggest of the troop got closer and closer to me, I panicked and tried to scare him away with a loud yell. This not only failed miserably, it pissed him off, and they formed ranks behind him. We did an immediate about face, headed back to the cottage, and waited out the gang until it was safe to head to breakfast. Unbelievably they tried to gain access to the cottage for a good five minutes, but finally left.