Mataking Island

Over the years, I have been to many islands around Malaysia, but Mataking Island in Sabah is one of the best islands that I have visited and here is my review. While you may think most of the islands around Malaysia are like Penang, Langkawi or Perhentian, you will be in for a huge surprise as little did many know that there are in fact a few islands around Malaysia that are equivalent to those that you see at the Maldives. 

Yes, Mataking Island is one of those islands that have similarities to the Maldives, in terms of quality service, powdery white sand beaches, crystal clear waters, world-class spa and a magical undersea paradise for divers or snorkelers. And the best part, you are not paying in US dollars but in Ringgit Malaysia. The trouble with us Asians is that we always want to go far to places like Bali or the Maldives for our beach holidays, without even knowing what we have in our own country, therefore this article is to let everyone know that we do have some pretty amazing places in Malaysia. 

Overall, I spent a good three days there doing a resort inspection and also a dive inspection. Before I go on, where is Mataking Island? I was so excited writing this, I almost forgot to mention exactly where this stunning and beautiful island is located. Mataking is located about one hour boat ride from the east coast town of Semporna in Sabah. If you know where Sipadan Island and Mabul Island is, then it is near there. 

The island is so private that there is only one resort there, The Reef Dive Resort, a 5-Star luxury resort which caters to scuba divers and also general island lovers. Only 40 acres in size, there is nothing else but pristine beauty and one resort, in other words, just perfect for that romantic holiday you have been planning all this while. Not only that, the resort also caters to island weddings where you can book out the entire island just for your wedding. 

Offering beach villas, beach chalets, king chalets and garden view deluxe rooms. Depending on the nature of your visit here, you can choose from the most luxurious to the most simple. The is also a spa here which is of international standards called the Jamu Spa and I highly recommend you try this when you visit Mataking. 

Facilities include a full serviced restaurant, a bar with indoor and outdoor areas, a pool table, a turtle hatchery and a number of non-motorised water sports. Snorkeling and scuba diving are the main attractions here. For lovers or couples, you will find that time becomes a standstill here as you absorb in the tranquillity of the beauty here. On a side note, if you are that person who constantly needs the internet or loves checking your Facebook and Instagram, it is best not to come here. Just go to Langkawi or Penang.

As for food, the restaurant here serves food throughout the day so all meals are provided in your Mataking package. Breakfast comes in continental and also Asian while for lunch, there is a buffet or if you prefer, ala-carte. Dinner is pretty nice with a selection of seafood, western and local dishes. For those who constantly need a food supply, there is room service available while I recommend yo bring your own snacks too. 

Romantic table setting can be requested by the veranda of the restaurant complete with candlelight. If you are here for your honeymoon or wedding, the resort will take care of everything so that it is perfect for the couple. Other special arrangements can also be made - proposals, surprises and so on, but you need to double check with the resort too. 

The island is catered for anyone who wants to escape commercialised tourism where you can just go back to basic and just chill out without having to worry about life, work or the traffic jams. When I was here, I personally indulged with my 'me time' and shut off my smart phone and laptop. I took time to walk and explore the island, did a bit of scuba diving and most importantly, try our the spa which was one of the best I have tried in years.

As for scuba divers, this is one of the must-dive locations in Malaysia as one of the dive sites here features the worlds only underwater post box where you can actually post a postcard or letter to anyone around the world. I wrote a postcard to some friends and actually went to try this out. Quite intriguing and fascinating if you ask me. 

Check out the Mataking Island Video I made with all the photographs that I took when I was here. I found that it looked nicer in the video compared to putting all the photos here. 

You can also check out my other article on islands to visit in Malaysia for 2015. as I personally visited all those islands in the last two years. Malaysia offers all kinds of tourism where a number of exciting outdoor, romantic and adventurous tourism can be found in Sabah and Sarawak Borneo. After the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 campaign ends, the following year will be the Malaysia Year of Festivals 2015 or MyFest 2015 and it will be a great time to visit Malaysia for anyone who has never been here before. 

Kapas Island

Ombak Kapas Island Beach Resort is located on Kapas Island off Terengganu State, East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The jetty to the island is 15 minutes’ drive from Kuala Terengganu town and 30 minutes’ drive from Kuala Terengganu Airport. The boat ride from Marang Jetty to Kapas Island Jetty takes approximately 10 minutes by a sheltered speed boat. Marang Jetty provides ample secured parking lots. If one chooses to drive, it will take approximately 5 hours nonstop driving from Kuala Lumpur city to Marang Jetty. Ombak Kapas Island Beach Resort will give you the best services and Kapas Island is the right place to relax and have fun.

The pier beach on Pulau Kapas - the northern third of the beach past the pier is hard to see in this shot. There are 3 resorts on this beach and it is possible to walk to all the other accommodation places within 15 minutes. However many of the island transport services out of Marang will drop you directly in front of your resort.

Kapas island is the nicest I have visited in years. It is compact but has 6 very attractive beaches which can be walked over a period of 25-30 mintues (plus another beach which needs boat/kayak access), very clear water, pretty good snorkelling, good sunsets and a surprisingly supply of accommodation with 8 flash packer/backpacker resorts (some of their chalets may go into the lower midrange) and two camping areas. There are no roads, villages, motor vehicles or dogs. It is part of the Marine National Park and so coral and fish are pretty good. It is much easier to access than Redang, Perhentians, Lang Tengah, Tioman or Langkawi and is uncrowded except for weekends which extend from Thursday night to Sunday morning in this particular part of north-east Malaysia.

Pulau Kapas is one of the most beautiful and relaxing places you will ever visit.  It’s truly an island paradise that has a strange power to keep you there longer than you planned on staying.  It’s not a rich and glamorous place with tons of 5 Star Resorts or expensive restaurants.  It’s a very minimalistic island, which is what makes it so special.  There’s not tons of electricity, or decent internet connection — meaning it’s the perfect holiday escape.  The beach is amazing, the water is perfect, and you’ll be left speechless when you first arrive.

I’m hoping that this Travel Guide for Pulau Kapas will answer all your questions and get you stoked for your time on this idyllic island!

Gem Island Resort & Spa

By far the nicest and most comfortable way to spend your holiday on Pulau Kapas is at the Gem Island Resort & Spa.  While it is technically a 10 minute boat ride off of Kapas Island, it’s home to some of the best snorkeling on the island, relaxing beaches, and delicious food!  Prices as low as 63 per night!

LongSha Campsite Beach Camping

This is for the ultimate budget travelers, backpackers, and camping  fanatics.  It’s an awesome place to stay.  I stayed there for 5 night during my time on Pulau Kapas, and I highly recommend it.  It’s more than a campsite, it’s a community of like-minded people.  You’ll definitely have a blast if you choose to stay here.  Read my review of the Longsha Campsite on Pulau Kapas!

Kapas Island Resort

This place is definitely your best choice if you’re not trying to go camping.  With rooms costing as low as $35 U.S.D, it’s clean, comfortable, and well located right by the ferry.  It’s also one of the only places on the island that has a swimming pool.

The Kapas Island Resort is also the only place you can really book online before you arrive on Pulau Kapas.  So if you’re looking for some guaranteed accommodation, this is your best bet

Captain’s Longhouse

For the people who aren’t fans of beach camping, wander over next door to Captain’s Longhouse.  It isone of the only other budget places to stay on Pulau Kapas.  I stayed here for one night, and had an enjoyable time.  They have double private rooms, and also a large dorm room as well.  The listed price is 40 MYR for a dorm bed, but you can easily talk them down to 30 MYR.  This definitely

Kapas Beach Chalet

By far one of the best places to spend your time on Pulau Kapas!  Kapas Beach Chalet, more commonly referred to as KBC, is where I spent the majority of my days on the island.  The restaurant meals are delicious, there’s tons of books to browse through, and the staff are all really friendly.  The owner of KBC is a Dutch man who moved to Pulau Kapas and fell in love with it.  It’s a really relaxed vibe here, and I highly recommend eating and spending some time here.

Kapas Turtle Valley Resort:  If you’re not on a strict budget, than this is the perfect place for you.  Located at the very end of Kapas, with it’s own private and secluded beach, Kapas Turtle Valley is an amazing place to spend your holiday.  The owners are really friendly, and the snorkeling right outside the property is fantastic.  Double rooms are still somewhat budget friendly for 190 MYR including breakfast.  There is also family rooms that fits up to four people.  Wi-Fi is also available here!

Sipadan Island

Ever since diving celebrity Jacques Cousteau raved about Pulau Sipadan's diversity of marine life, this dive mecca has been indisputably the most famous scuba destination in Malaysia. It is located off the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia's eastern most state, and lies on the north-eastern corner of Borneo, the world's third largest island.

The Sipadan legend has passed through the world's diving community to the extent that all divers with an interest in visiting the best sites in the world, have a resort stay near this small island near the top of their wish list. Sipadan Island was at the top of Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine Gold List for 'The Top Dive Destination in the World'. In fact it shared its top spot with 2 other destinations known for the amazing diversity of their marine life - the Galapagos Islands and Truk in Micronesia.

Blue skies, clear waters, convenient diving and tropical scenery, but it is below the surface where this island really excels. The list of attractions is quite staggering and all the more exceptional as it involves plenty of big fish encounters - barracudas, large schools of jacks and marauding bumphead parrotfish. This is one of the big fish capitals of the world!

Everywhere you turn at Sipadan, you'll see turtles, munching on the sponges and algae, or lazing on the wall ledges. If you take the time to look closely at the walls you'll see a wealth of macro life and fish species to rival most destinations, although this is often overlooked due to the other major attractions vying for your attention.

Barracuda Point - There may be no guarantees in diving, but let's just say there is every chance that you can find yourself in the middle of a swirling vortex of chevron or blacktail barracuda at this north coast site, one of the most treasured spots at Sipadan Island.

Coral Garden - Although the temptation of the drop-off is always there, this site is a haven for the underwater photographer. The health and diversity of the coral growth in the shallows atop of the wall, combined with the fact that almost every species to be seen in Pulau Sipadan’s waters is on view here, makes this site ideal for long dives devoted to both macro and wide angle compositions. 

The Drop Off - This site is in many ways the signature dive of Sipadan. When the island had resorts stationed on it, this site was a mere stroll off the beach where a 600 metre drop would welcome you to the underwater world. 

Hanging Gardens - In a nutshell, this is a wall dive which begins with a drop-off just over a metre from the surface, descends gradually to a terrace at about 70 metres and then plunges into an abyss. This is the topography here - hence its name 'Hanging Gardens'. The terraces, filled with a proliferation of Dendronephthya Alcyonarians in various pastel colours of lemon,lavender and antique rose overflowing down to the next level, harks back to the mythological Babylonian gardens after which it is named. 

Midreef - Lazily decend to your required depth down the vertical wall that forms Pulau Sipadan's Midreef, then just drift along with the current, whichever way it takes you - north or south. Once you begin your dive, it won't belong before you come across this sites most discernable guests - dozens of large green turtles, by now very habituated to inquisitive divers. 

South Point - This is a good place to get a bit deeper in the morning as long as you don't mind a thin layer of narcosis-on-toast for breakfast. South Point is one of the more likely sites at Sipadan Island for rare shark sightings such as hammerheads and thresher sharks, both of which tend to stay at depths here of 40+ metres. 

Staghorn Crest - At this dive site, you will find yourself beginning with a gentle descent along the drop-off, followed by a gradual diagonal descent along the wall, at the shallow end of which there is a garden of staghorn corals. Photographers take note - this site has brilliant light conditions during the afternoons which offers excellent illumination for superb underwater images. 

Turtle Cavern - The cavern is a complicated site with the entrance to the cavern located at about 18 m. Sipadan diving is famous for its population of both green turtles and the smaller hawksbill turtles. 

Turtle Patch - Although you can make a typical wall dive, perhaps the best way of taking in Turtle Patch is just to let the current take you along the shallows, and then you can take in the scenery as it unfolds at its own natural and leisurely pace before your eyes. 

Whitetip Avenue - With a name like "Whitetip Avenue", you're probably wondering, does it live up to its name? Well, yes, it does. You can look forward to numerous encounters with schools of gentle whitetip reef sharks. This, however, is only one of the many amazing underwater sights this dive site holds for you. 

  Diving Season

The Sipadan dive season is year round and most normally expressed as having the best conditions from April to December, especially July and August. Surface conditions are normally calm, sometimes glass-calm, but there can be small waves making the speed-boat ride to the island a little bumpy, particularly in the rainy season.

The rainy season tends to be from December to March when unsettled weather may result in a decrease in visibility, however in recent years the timing of the rainy season has been less than certain. The most likely months for unsettled weather are January and February. These months represent the middle of the wet season and although Pulau Sipadan and Mabul seldom experience much rain, the water and air temperature can be towards the cooler end of the usual range. 

Traditionally green and hawksbill turtles come ashore onto the island of Sipadan to nest between April and September. To visit and dive here during these months should mean an even higher number of turtles, although these creatures are ever-present around the island. In fact it has a high proportion of ever-present creatures, rather than seasonal visitors. The jacks, barracuda, bumphead parrotfish and white-tip sharks can be said to be residents of this oceanic island.

This legendary island is very popular and at certain times of the year there is a greater risk of the diving resorts being fully booked. If you wish to visit during these periods you should book well in advance or, alternatively, select other dates. The busiest periods are March to August, Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year.

  How to Dive Pulau Sipadan

There are several excellent nearby resorts from which to dive here, the closest being on Mabul and Kapalai. There is only one liveaboard in the area, which stays overnight in Mabul. The resort islands also boast some excellent macro dive sites which are a great complement to the breathtaking big fish action of Sipadan. Special local rates apply at many of these resorts for Malaysians, Singaporeans and expatriates living in those countries with work permits.

For more information on your diving options, and all the other travel information you might need to visit Sipadan and the state of Sabah on Borneo, view our:

Mabul Island

Always on the hunt for the best diving around, I’ve hit up Cambodia, Thailand, and Perhentian Island in Peninsular Malaysia, looking for the best dive spot in the world.All of them had something different to offer and were worth the time and money spent in their own unique ways, but nothing can ever compare to the amazingness that was SCUBA diving in Sipidan in Malaysian Borneo.

I could sit here and wax poetic about it for ages, but why do that when I can simply show you exactly what I saw?

The best time to dive the west coast (Layang Layang or Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park for example) is between March and May. For Sipadan off the east coast the most settled weather is from April to December. For Peninsula Malaysia the best time is from February to November as from December to March is the rainy season.

Malaysia forms an important part of the coral triangle - one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. It has more sea area than it does land.

In 2016 the Sabah State Government created the country's largest marine park off the coast of Northern Borneo - the Tun Mustapha Marine Park. The park lets the local communities continue fishing in designated zones. According to the WWF, it will be an IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature - Category VI Park where sustainable uses are still allowed and local communities living within it are able to continue their activities within designated zones. The productive fishing grounds in the area support more than 80,000 people in coastal and island communities, generating around 100 tonnes of fish catch each day. It will protect almost 1 million hectares of coral reef, mangrove, seagrass and more than 50 islands.

Browse below to read divers' comments and see which dive centres have received the "5 fish" rating. You can rate a diving centre you dived with here.

I love to read trip reports on Scubaboard, so here is a review on my recent trip to Scuba Junkie, Mabul island resort and Sipadan, which I hope is interesting and useful for some planning on going there.

We had booked our trip many months in advance to ensure we got the accommodation we wanted and our Sipadan permit. The email service and help with infos provided by Scuba Junkie was very prompt, kind and professional. Its probably wise to book early if you are traveling in peak holiday season like we were, especially if you stay at Mabul island as Scuba Junkie is so popular there. You have to book 5 days diving to get one day guaranteed Sipadan permit at Scuba Junkie. Other operators have more permits (and probably far less visitors), so depending on your interest its worthwhile to shop around. 

We stayed at the Mabul island resort for 6 nights and did 5 days of diving, including Sipadan.

We were picked up at Tawau airport on time by a good car and brought to Semporna.

We had an easy check-in in the Scuba Junkie shop and then we went off to grab some lunch.

Semporna is a weird and ugly town, so I wouldn't want to stay there and dive from there - though of course you do see some other islands if you stay on the mainland.

We crossed to Mabul island from Semporna in their boat, which was quite small but very adequate, clean and had good life jackets.

We arrived and were assigned our room, which was very spacious, had great AC and a large bathroom. The beds were comfortable. A really great room for a dive lodge.

But we had come here for Sipadan… so we couldn't wait to get there! We prefer diving in the blue and big fish so we were very hopeful to see some big "visitors" to the site. Sipadan was beautiful. The dive sites were pristine. There are huge schools of bumphead parrot fish, jacks, barracuda and trigger fish. You don't see big schools like that in many places, so it is very special. We saw a school of white tips fighting to get to a hiding octopus for a mid-morning snack! There were also a few devil rays on one dive. Sadly we had no "visitors" i.e. hammerheads, pilot whales or the like, but we certainly had some amazing views. South Point and Barracuda Point were by far the best sites we did. Our guide was Simon, who dives 3-4 times a week at Sipdan. He is extremely knowledgeable, he is enthusiastic about his job, he loves the dive site and really shared his experience and love of Sipadan. He made us very aware of the dangers of the currents and briefed very clearly on how to dive in the group in this environment.

We decided to book a second day at Sipadan with another company (Borneo Speedy Divers) who had some spare permits. This was pretty costly at 875 Ringitt (190 EURO) including tax, 3 dives, food, permit etc. The difference in briefing and safety reviews was enormous. Not comparable. However, we were well briefed from the previous day and it was only 2 of us with the guide, so we felt comfortable. During our stay we heard many negative things from other divers about the safety records of some of the operators, such as Uncle Chan. Sipadan is a place where safety MUST come first, so you should make sure you carefully choose your dive operator if you are moving around operators to get more permits.

Things to be aware of when booking to stay on Mabul island:

We are quite surprised that on this "tropical paradise island" the resort is located next to a "village" of boat people. There are two "villages" on the island, which are better described as slums. Im sure that there is no or very little crime, so that is not something to worry about. However, for someone expecting an island paradise, that is not what Mabul island looks like in some parts. Also the boat people (and probably many others also) throw a lot of plastic and other trash in the water, so swimming off the beach in front of the dive lodge, you will see that.

The Scuba Junkie team is really environmentally engaged and does many beach clean ups and educates the villagers about the environment, but still you should be aware this island is effectively a part of the third world.a

Lankayan Island

This little known scuba diving island resort lies an hour and a half out from the city of Sandakan in the Sulu Sea. Lankayan is a tiny spit of land ringed by a white sand beach and covered in a labyrinth of tropical green forest. Hidden under the pandan trees and palms is a simple resort whose charm lies in it's healthy respect for the natural environment.

Surrounding the island is a reef system of flat plateaus that gradually drop off into a shallow series of coral reefs. There are no great walls and the slopes are covered primarily in hard corals, which are a haven for the many species who take refuge in the cracks and crevices. There are baby nurse sharks, leaffish, giant jawfish, all sorts of crustaceans and even the rare and elusive weedy scorpionfish.

A special feature for divers are three small shipwrecks, including one that is just below the jetty. This is a fantastic dive that meanders across the sandy seabed past a few manmade items that were deposited to attract critters and ends at the small wreck. The other two small shipwrecks are a little way from the island but both are older and covered in more growth.

Lankayan, a tiny jewel-shaped island located on the northeastern coast of Sabah, is part of the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) and is surrounded blue-green waters and coral reefs. It is also one of Sabah's top diving spots.

The availability of jungle interior and interesting diving attracts both divers and non-divers alike to Lankayan.

14 dive sites including the Lankayan Wreck, all only minutes away from the island, offer magnificent displays of marine life ranging from giant groupers to tiny ribbon eels. Enormous whale sharks are regularly sighted between March and May, and the island is also a nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles. You can watch as the baby turtles are released back into the sea.

The Langkayan Island Dive Resort has sixteen attractive wooden chalets with beach fronts and the common dining area extends to a sundeck jutting out to the beach.

A jewel like tiny island in the Sulu Sea, an hour and a half boat rides north of Sandakan; Lankayan has been declared part of an immense Marine Protected Area to adopt the eco-tourism concept. Unpopulated and covered by thick tropical island vegetation on its topside, this peaceful, untouched little bit of paradise is ringed by an endless pure of white sandy beach, offering simply elegant and exquisite accommodation in all 23 wooden, roomy and perfectly appointed seafront chalets. While the ideal destination for those who search for tranquility and relaxation in a virgin natural setting and for families with children, Lankayan Island is also becoming one of the hottest diving destination on the map today: its dive sites - all just a few minutes away - boasting unbelievable colorful macro, fauna, fascinating wrecks and in season from March to May, regular sightings of gigantic and harmless whale sharks, the "dream date " of every diver in the world. The island is also a nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles. You can watch as the baby turtles are released back into the sea.

ABOUT THE DIVING
Described as a true macro-world paradise, there are also larger marine creatures such as leopard sharks, marbled stingray and giant grouper as well as schools of bumphead parrotfish, yellowtail barracuda and scads. Lankayan Island is also a nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles as Turtle Islands Park are nearby. You can watch as the baby turtles are released back into the sea. The availability of jungle interior and interesting diving attracts both divers and non-divers alike to Lankayan.

HOW TO GET HERE
Take a short 40 minutes domestic flight from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan.
Meet at Sandakan Airport and transferred to Private Jetty at Sandakan Yatch Club by van. Journey takes approximately 30 minutes drive. Transfer to Lankayan Island by speedboat. Boat ride takes approximately 90 minutes.

FACILITIES
Despite the remoteness we are proud to offer all the amenities of a tropical island resort. Visitors have a choice to stay in chalets twin or triple sharing basis. Made out of local wooden materials to blend into the natural surroundings, chalets and standard rooms are attached with private balcony overlooking the white sandy beach and turquoise colored ocean. Lankayan chalets are well appointed and equipped with hot bath, coffee and tea making facilities, mini refrigerator and fresh water from mainland. Power is available with 220 V or 110 V. All chalets offer direct access to the beach which is in fact just at your front door step.

Internet access is also available at the resort's main building which opens daily from 0800hrs to 2300hrs. Internet Service Charges are at USD 4 for 30 minutes for desktop in the office and USD 5 per day for own laptop (wireless).

A TV room is available for viewing the day's video shots or other footages shoot during the dive.
Water sport gears and equipments for diving, snorkeling and ocean kayaking activities are available for rental at the dive centre
NOTE: A small over the counter shop that sells souvenirs such as postcards, T-shirts, and other necessities such as film, batteries, and toiletries is integrated at the central open building.

Activities whilst at Lankayan Island centre on the world-class diving, ocean kayaking and fantastic snorkelling but on for those who prefer to be on land there are some beautiful beach walks and inland treks to be enjoyed.

Meals are served in a relaxed and informal dining area with seafront terrace and there is also a sunset bar for drinks and barbecues. There is a TV room (largely for viewing the day's diving footage), internet access and also a small shop for essentials. The dive centre has watersports activities and equipment for diving, snorkelling and kayaking.

Rawa Island

On the beach holidays are some of the most relaxing for parents and most memorable for kids. Just over the Malaysian border and a short road trip with kids from Singapore,Rawa Island Resort is a popular family resort because it has just the right combination of chillax vibe, activities for the entire family and entertainment for kids that require minimal supervision. This is one of the best family beaches you will find anywhere near Singapore and because it is such a family friendly resort, you may just never want to leave. To get to Rawa Island Resort head straight to Mersing in Johor, Malaysia and from there it is a short boat ride into paradise. Located in the Sultan Iskandar Marine Park in the South China Sea is a rustic and homely oasis that is the perfect place to unwind from the stresses of city living. What makes this one of the best beach holiday destinations close to Singapore is the back-to-basics feel – instead of screens and urban chaos, at Rawa the kids will play in the sun and really spend their time enjoying being outdoors.

On the beach holidays must start with a beautiful beach and Rawa certainly has that. The water is warm and flat so at high tide the kids can safely go paddling, snorkeling, ride the kayaks, jump off the jetty or do laps round and round the two fantastic waterslides. At low tide you can walk right out into the reef to explore the rock pools or take advantage of the expanded sand to play football or beach cricket. Rawa is one of the more memorable family friendly resorts because the natural beauty is quite remarkable. For the more intrepid, organise a SCUBA course with the new resident dive master, Adam, or ask him to take you out to try other snorkeling spots. He can show you how Rawa’s marine biodiversity has really come alive again in its surrounding reefs. Or, if you prefer to be above the water, go island hopping or hobie cat sailing.

On land, there’s plenty to entertain the kids as well. On a windy day the beach is the perfect spot to fly a kite. Otherwise try your hand at beach volleyball, jump on the large trampoline or follow the resident peacocks as they strut their stuff around the island.

When you really need some downtime, send the kids off to the play area to find some board games, play table tennis or enjoy some communal TV time while you indulge in the new spa services being provided by Chirawan Spa from Singapore.

The Food on Rawa Island Resort

Family friendly resorts should mean everyone gets a break so at Rawa this means absolutely no planning or decision making is required – even at mealtimes. Every meal here is buffet style which means you never need consult a menu – just grab a plate and take what you like.

The restaurant has just brought in a new manager and executive chef trained in Switzerland. This means the meals will be more varied and better quality and you can expect a high level of service inside the restaurant.

The menu is always a good mixture of Western and local savoury and sweet dishes and once a week there is usually a barbeque night. If your kids eat early, talk to the restaurant in advance about what time suits you and they can set up an early kids meal in the evenings. Sandwiches can be provided in between mealtimes at request or you can buy snacks and ice creams from the small shop (that also sells swimmers and swimming toys).

If you are traveling with a baby, let the resort know and they can accommodate space in their fridge for infant milk and food.

To read more about the food on Rawa Island Resort, see the suitcases&strollers story here.

Family Friendly Accommodation: Rawa Island Resort

Rawa Island Resort really is all about on the beach holidays; they offer a range of accommodation across their 77 rooms including chalets that are right on the beach (four of these were just recently renovated with an added bedroom to be more comfortable for families). Prefer to try an over-the-water villa experience? Rawa has these as well (they come with their own private beach and tropical outdoor showers) or you can opt for a hillside villa for a more tropical jungle feel.

All the rooms come with air conditioning and hot water and while there are no baths in the rooms, for instance, this is very much in keeping with Rawa’s chilled out philosophy. You will rarely even need to wear your flip flops here. Just rinse the kids off and throw on a sun dress and that’s all you’ll be expected to do to come to dinner. And with the variety and volume of beach centric activities on offer, you will rarely spend any time in the rooms anyway!

Emerald Bay (Pantai Teluk Belanga)

Stop at Pangkor Town, the little picturesque town of narrow streets and corner coffee shops. The Nyonya marble topped tables and antique clocks gracing the walls contribute to its old world charm. As a matter of fact, from SPK it is a continuous village strip on to Pangkor Town – messy but full of interest. There is lots to look at: boat building, fish being dried or frozen and a colorful south Indian Temple. Old, elegant buildings still house some of the town’s administrative offices. A 20 minutes drive south of Lumut brings one to the popular beach playground of Teluk Batik , the site of the annual Lumut Festival .

Beach materials come from erosion of rocks offshore, as well as from headland erosion and slumping producing deposits of scree. A coral reef offshore is a significant source of sand particles. You can see tropical wild life located in the vicinity of the beaches. Malyasian beaches are safe and relatively crime-free especially for the women. The resort also has a special feeding plate by the beach where the hornbills may come down for a quick bite.

There are lots of islands in the bays and huge granite rocky outcrops standing sentry at the ends of the smaller coves. At Cape Le Grand beach you can drive a four-wheel drive for about 40kms along the white sand back to Esperance town, or take the road out to Rossiter Bay where, in every likelihood, you can have the entire 15kms of beach to yourself (even in the middle of summer). The corals around some of the smaller islands are beautiful. And for some serious fishing you may want to organize a boat to Pulau Sembilan, a group of uninhabited islands 40 minutes by speedboat away

The Pangkor Laut resort is the most exclusive island resort in Malaysia, close to the Emerald bay that has white, sandy beaches with emerald green water that is clear and warm. Emerald Bay has been voted one of the best beaches of the world! Si quieres acceder a esta fabulosa playa debes ser huesped del lujoso Pangkor Laut Resort . Asimismo te encantar saber que a pesar de su exito comercial, la mayor parte de la isla sigue siendo virgen. As a matter of fact, from SPK it is a continuous village strip on to Pangkor Town–messy but full of interest. There is lots to look at: boat building, fish being dried or frozen and a colourful south Indian Temple.

Mostly populated by fishing communities, Pangkor abounds with natural attractions. The beaches, the forests, and the coral inthe seas surrounds the island. The main island of Pangkor is mainly populated by fisherfolk who occupy the eastern coastline. The island is famous for its ‘ikan bilis’ (anchovies) and squids. Pangkor Village is a busy little place with lots happening, particularly in the early hours of the morning when fresh produce from fishermen and from mainland are brought in for the local community’s daily needs. Toward the end of the village, on the left from the jetty, a few ‘kedai kopi’ (coffee shops) cater to the local malaysian folk who frequent the place for their breakfast and a little bit of the local gossip.

Gaya Island

If there is any resort that I’ll gladly return to again and again, it would be the Gaya Island Resort. I have not been to the Cameron Highlands Resort (another of YTL’s properties in Malaysia) but my stays at Pangkor Laut Resort, Majestic Melaka, Tanjong Jara and Majestic KL had left me with great pleasure and pleasant memories.

Each of their resort has its own charm, though I still name my favourites Tanjong Jara & Gaya Island. A triumph card in GIR is its surrounding beaches; where unlike Tanjong Jara and Pangkor Laut Resort, Gaya Island is surrounded by the most alluring clean and clear waters right at its waterfront, without having to take the boat out. It is secluded and safe, plus the sand is like a soft bed just made for tanning or lazing.

The water is pristine, magically green and blue. I generally avoid swimming in the sea as it leaves me all icky but swimming in the ocean here left me invigorated and refreshed.Take a quick look of this video so you will get a better idea of the space and layout of the suite.

As usual, I took the video as soon as I checked-in (so that the suite will still be clean and orderly) so pardon the uncertainty in some parts of my narration. And of course, if swimming is not your thing, head back to your villa, for there is always this huge bathtub to soak in.

Gaya, Payar, Maya, Raya, Kaya... okay, the last one is a pandan flavoured coconut and egg jam but a letter makes a huge difference in which pulau (island) one ends up on. While many of these remote Indomalaya island destinations boast immaculate beaches and are bestowed with spectacular natural attractions, few can match the distinguishing factor that sets Pulau Gaya apart... the luxe element.

Pulau Gaya soaks up its glam-grade from a couple of 5-star luxury resorts that call it home. I got a chance to stay at Gaya Island Resort by YTL Hotels during this trip and the experience was so sublime, Juliana and I extended one more night from our initial 4D3N arrangement with the resort. Who wants to leave heaven right?

Pulau Gaya is the largest island among a group of 5 islets consisting of Pulau Sapi, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik, and Pulau Sulug. Collectively, they form the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a designated sanctuary to preserve the on-land and underwater biodiversity of the region. So expect to come into close contact with virgin forestry and unspoilt coral reefs stitched together by powdery beaches.

One of the 'dangers' of going on a holiday at an isolated resort is ending up in a place with nothing much to see or do. While doing nothing and just chill spell the allure of island escapades, having the option to be as adventurous or as laid-back as one pleases ensures that the senses are never bored.

GIR is one such place that offers something for everyone. During my stay, I got to experience almost every activity and cuisine the resort has to offer and this blog entry is an attempt to capture all that I saw, played and tasted. It is going to be a long post with lots of photos but I hope it provides an overview of what to expect, what to see, when to see it, best spots to stay, what to eat as well as not-to-be-missed activities.

For experiences that are too sumptuous for just a brief mention in this post, I've written separate blog entries with their links included on this article. You can click on them to find out more details.

Adventures & Activities

Sandwiched between the forest and sea, GIR is a nature lover's perpetual nocturnal emission. In the morning, you can eavesdrop on the conversations between birds and try to spot them while the night coax love songs out of crickets juxtaposed with the lull of surf gently caressing the beach.

As Pulau Gaya used to be joint to the other 4 islands and the mainland in an unbroken chain of the Crocker Range, the island inherited some of Borneo's exotic flora and fauna. But with the flooding of the lowlands at the end of the Ice Age, the islands were separated and some of these plants and animals were stranded. Which is a good thing as quite a number of these plant and animal species are facing extinction on the mainland and Pulau Gaya acts as a kind of stronghold to conserve the wildlife. 

Purportedly, the endangered Proboscis Monkey can be found here along with discoveries of new species of indigenous plants, insects, mammals and marine life. I am a nature buff and the rich opportunities to encounter creatures I've never seen before was a real thrill and eye-opener.

But nature spotting is only one of the many activities available at GIR. A 'Weekly Activities Menu' in every guest villa stokes a sense of adventure and enthusiasm with free activities such as Nature Walk, Gaya Snorkeling Exploration, and Tribal Games among others. Guests can also book diving trips, rent kayaks, and go on a Sunset Cruise offered by the resort.