Island Hopping in Malaysia

The expansive Tunku Abdul Rahman Park in Sabah is a world famous marine attraction. Scores of scuba and snorkel enthusiasts head to the park each year to explore and marvel at its rich repository of marine life. The park, which is named after Malaysia’s first prime minister was founded in 1974 and encompasses 4929 hectares of land and sea terrain. However, the park does not only cater to divers and snorkelers, for even non-swimmers can enjoy its many attractions by way of an island-hopping tour of its five main islands namely Pulau Gaya, Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik, Pulau Sapi and Pulau Sulug.

Getting there

Island-hopping tours of Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park (TAR) are offered by various operators stationed at two main points in Kota Kinabalu city, the jetty at Jesselton point or then the jetty at the upscale Sutera Harbor resort. Along with island-hopping trips, various other trips like fishing expeditions, dive and snorkel trips, sunset cruises and various water-sports like parasailing, banana boat riding, windsurfing and more can be booked at these start-off points.

The islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman Park

The five main islands located within TAR are situated at a distance of 3-8 km off the mainland of Sabah. The islands are thought be a part of the Crocker range, which still exists on the island of Borneo.

Pulau Gaya

Pulau Gaya, the largest of the five islands is also located closest to the coast of Sabah. Gaya Island offers 20 km hiking trails and is ringed by well-preserved coral reefs. The island also currently hosts two upmarket resorts, the Gaya Island Resort and the Bunga Raya Island resort. Both these resorts offer guests the chance to enjoy the serenity and beauty of the island in utmost comfort.

Pulau Manukan

Pulau Manukan is the second largest island of the quintet, which is also home to the Park Headquarters. Manukan is equipped with well-developed tourist facilities including chalets, a clubhouse, a dive center and restaurants. The island is known for its many pristine beaches and gorgeous coral reefs and thus is a favorite with scuba divers and snorkelers. Additional sporting facilities on the island include a swimming pool, a football field and various sports courts.

Pulau Sapi

Hiking trails through lush forests and stunning beaches render Pulau Sapi a favorite with day-trippers and picnickers. However, the island is outfitted with rudimentary facilities when compared with Manukan Island.

Pulau Mamutik

Pulau Mamutik, the smallest island of the park is known for its stunning coral gardens and thus is favored by scuba and snorkeling enthusiasts. Accommodation options on the island include the availability of a small rest house and a campsite. However, if you wish to camp on the island you are required to inform the authorities before you proceed to do so.
Pulau Sulug


Pulau Sulug is the farthest of all the islands. The island, which is almost as big as Pulau Sapi, is not often visited and thus, has no facilities as yet.

Planning an island-hopping trip to TAR

1. Depending on what you prefer, you can choose to visit all or one or two islands during your island-hopping trip. Boats leave from 8am onwards from the jetties, for the islands and the last boat tour departs around 4pm. Day-trippers should pay attention to the timings of return boats to avoid being stranded on an island without reserved accommodation.

2. Costing of your trip depends on the number of islands you wish to visit.

3. You better plan to set off on your trip early if you want to avoid the crowds, as the boats get busy around mid-day.

4. The best time to visit the park, if you plan to snorkel and dive is between the months of January and March when visibility in the water is the best.

5. Authorities advise tourists who visit the park to respect their natural surroundings and behave responsibly by not disturbing the park’s natural environment. Tourists are also asked to clear up their rubbish when they leave the park.

Berjaya Tioman Resort

If you are looking to get away from it all, the Berjaya Tioman resort located on the famed Malaysian island, Tioman, situated off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia presents much opportunity to kick back and relax.

This idyllic isle, which has featured in popular movies and TV series like South Pacific (Hollywood) and more recently ‘The Ultimate Goal’ (Hong Kong TV), is home to a wide variety of resorts catering to all travel budgets.
So next time you are faced with a query as to where should you head for some fun in the sun? Why not consider the Berjaya Tioman Resort for a change? The resort is easily accessible by fast ferry services from the Mersing and Tanjong Gemok jetties, both reachable via a four-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur.
The Berjaya Tioman resort, which belongs to the hotel and resorts arm of the renowned Malaysian conglomerate, Berjaya Corporation Berhad, is a four star property located on the island. Set amongst palm-fringed beaches, lush tropical forests and misty mountains, the Berjaya Tioman resort is located on a private beachfront bordering turquoise waters teaming with much marine life.
The accommodation options at the resort feature Malay-style chalets offering sea or garden views. All 268 rooms and suites, at the resort are spacious and feature wooden floors and indigenous decorative accents. Additionally, the rooms at the resort are outfitted with various modern-day conveniences like air-conditioning, cable TV service, in-room safes and tea and coffee making facilities as well as long distance and local telecom services.
Recreational facilities at the resort include a beautiful 18-hole golf course offering views of the ocean, two outdoor pools, one of which is equipped with a sunken bar, a tennis court, a basket ball court, a games room and a fitness center. The resort further offers a whole host of water-sporting action on its pristine beachfront in the form of banana-boat rides, parasailing and windsurfing escapades and scuba, snorkeling and sailing expeditions.
For those visitors who rather eschew energetic pursuits, the resort’s onsite Taaras Spa, offers a bouquet of relaxing and rejuvenating treatments. Free Wi-Fi is available in the resort’s public areas and the property is further equipped with diverse dining outlets which offer local and international fare.
For local Malay cuisines, try the Sri Nelayan restaurant, which offers all-day dining. However, if you would rather have Northern Indian or Thai fare then you better head to the resort’s Coriander Seeds Restaurant (only open for dinner) Expertly mixed cocktails are also on offer all day at the resort’s pool and beachside bars.

http://www.berjayahotel.com/tioman/en

Stately Sikh Temples

It is a well-known fact that Malaysia is home to a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic population composed of Malays, Chinese, Indians and other indigenous peoples. Records indicate that ethnic Indians make up 7% of Malaysia’s total population of 29 million (according to 2012 estimates). The Sikh population in Malaysia today is believed to be approximately 100,000 to 150,000 strong.

The Sikhs first arrived in Malaysia in the 19^th century. The first known Sikhs were political prisoners who had been banished to Malaya for anti-British activities in India.  Thereafter the process of migration of Sikhs to Malaysia started in waves, but rather than as political prisoners, the Sikhs arrived as recruits in the British colonial forces. The first gurudwara (Sikh place of worship) was in fact set up by a Sikh policeman in Fort Cornwallis in Penang State in 1881.

Sikhs tend to believe that praying together as part of a congregation is as important as praying alone. For this reason wherever a Sikh community is established, a gurudwara or ‘the house of god’ is soon set up to meet the cultural, religious, educational needs of the community.

A gurudwara has several features that distinguish it from a regular Hindu Temple. For instance, a Sikh gurudwara is always adorned with a flag pole known as ‘nishan sahib’. The pole is always fitted with the traditional triangular yellow or deep orange Sikh flag. This flag is usually made of cotton or silk and sports a Sikh symbol, the Sikh coat of arms known as ‘Khanda’. A metallic version of this symbol is often mounted at the entrance of the gurudwara or then affixed atop its dome (if the structure has a dome).

 A gurudwara is usually made of several different sections like the darbar or the main hall, the langgar hall where communal meals are prepared and served and the sachkhand, usually located in the innermost section of the edifice where the Sikh holy book of scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib is stored at night. During the day, this Guru Granth Sahib is usually placed on an elevated platform which faces the entrance of the gurduwara.

At the center of Sikhism, is the concept that there is only one god who is formless and thus idol worship is condemned by Sikh scriptures. It is for this reason that gurudwaras don’t feature any idols of deities rather the focus of attention is the much venerated tome, the Guru Granth Sahib.

Malaysia at present is home to 119 Sikh gurdwaras or Sikh temples. The State of Perak which hosts a substantial Sikh population has the largest number of Sikh gurdwaras in the country, forty-two at last count.

Some of the most well-known and stately gurudwaras in Malaysia include:-

Tatt Khalsa Diwan, Kuala Lumpur

Located in the heart of the capital city, in an area known as Kampung Baru, is the Tatt Khalsa Diwan gurudwara. The building that houses the gurudwara is believed to have been inspired by the Golden Temple of Amritsar. The gurudwara is renowned for its durbur which is reputed to be the largest and perhaps the finest, prayer hall in all of Southeast Asia.

The Gurudwara Sahib Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

The Gurudwara Sahib Seremban, located at Jalan Yam Tuan, Seremban dates back to the early 1900’s. This gurudwara was founded by a Sikh para-military police force which was stationed in the area though they were believed to have been helped by a few Sikh cattle owners who had settled in the area. Today the gurudwara is not only an important place of worship for the Sikh community of Seremban, but it also serves as a prominent tourist attraction.

Gurudwara Sahib Mantin, Negeri Sembilan

The Gurudwara Sahib in the Mukim of Setul was built in the 1890’s and is believed to be the oldest Sikh Gurudwara in the State of Negeri Sembilan.

This  gurudwara was constructed by the local Sikhs who worked as watchmen in the tin mines of the area. The original structure of the gurudwara was fashioned out of wooden planks topped with a roof made of wood sourced from the attap tree.

Over the years, the gurudwara has undergone many structural changes and today this magnificent place of worship is one of the busiest gurudwaras during Sikh festivals.

Gurdwara Sahib Johor Bahru

Records indicate that a Sikh community was established in the state of Johor, in the late 19^th century. Most of the members of the community were employed in the police force though some of them also served in the Johor Sultan’s guard force.

In April 1916, the Sikhs requested for a piece of land from the Johor Police Commissioner to build a Sikh Gurudwara. They were allotted a muddy and swampy plot of land in 1921.

The Sikhs then went about reclaiming this land by filling it with much sand and stones. They then proceeded to build the Johor gurudwara at this site in late 1921.  The original structure was built of timber and went on to stand for a number of years until it was rebuilt in 1960.Today the Gurudwara Sahib, Johor is a prominent landmark located in the heart of the city of Johor Bahru, the capital of the state of Johor.