THE LEGEND OF TIONG MAS

According to local folk-lore, the island of Tioman was formed when a magical dragon princess; flying from China to join her beloved prince in Singapore became so enchanted with the warm clear crystal waters of this particular spot in the South China Sea that she decided to discontinue her journey and formed into the beautiful dragon shaped island, complete with a set of "horns", to provide shelter and comfort for weary travelers.

TIOMAN ISLAND

Pulau Tioman (Malay for Tioman Island) is the largest island on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is located in the South China Sea, approximately 32 km off Mersing, the mainland port, and is part of the Seribuat Archipelago of 64 volcanic islands off the southeastern coast of Pahang. Tioman Island has a total land area of approximately 133.6 sq km, measuring 38 km long and 19 km at the widest point.

Tioman belongs to the state of Pahang in Malaysia. It was a stopover for sailors, fishermen and traders to get fresh water and firewood or for seeking shelter from storms. The island became a settlement for Malay fishermen several hundred years ago and there are now six major villages (kampungs) on the island, mainly on the west coast. The population now numbers approximately 2,700 people, most of whom were originally fishermen. The main crops planted on the flat coastal area are mostly Rubber and Coconut.

Tioman has beautiful beaches with bountiful marine life, making it a favourite snorkeling and scuba diving destination. The natural luscious green landscape, majestic cascading waterfalls and the beauty of the island during a romantic sunset attracts many nature loving tourists, as Time magazine once voted the island one of the 10 most beautiful in the world. Tioman was also the setting for the mythical Bali Hai Island in the Hollywood musical South Pacific. In fact, tourism has become a very important income generating industry on the island. Many facilities such as A frame huts, chalets, and hotels have been built, by both the state government and the private sector. Most places offer a value package of 2 days and 3 nights' accommodation and food. It can tend to get rather busy during weekends, though. Tioman's duty free status ensures you get your beer and cigarettes on the cheap. All prices quoted are in RM, the local currency Ringgit Malaysia (USD1 = RM3.80).

The main race here is the local Malay, and the main religion is Islam, although multi-racial Malaysia is tolerant of all religions and practice of religious beliefs. However, please take note that the Muslims neither consume alcohol nor pork, do not gamble and avoid contact with dogs. Malaysia is also very strict about drugs and possession of this banned substance carries the death penalty. Apart from that, life is very laid back and casual on the island and nobody is in any hurry to get anywhere. "No worries" seems to be the motto here. The locals are very friendly and helpful.

Additional Information

Visitors to Malaysia are required by law to be in possession of a valid passport or travel document with a minimum validity of six months beyond the intended visiting period. Most nationalities do not require visas for social or business visits. For further information, please check with the nearest Malaysian diplomatic mission or Tourism Malaysia office.

The best time to visit Tioman is between March to October, before the monsoon season. Try to avoid public and school holidays, as things tend to get pretty crowded then and service levels drop.

You can cash traveller's cheques at the Berjaya Tioman Beach Resort and some places at Salang and Air Batang. However, it's advisable to cash your cheques in Mersing before coming over, because the rates on the island are poor. Please be aware that there are no ATM machines on Tioman, so withdraw enough money at the banks in Mersing. The only places that accept credit cards are Berjaya Tioman and the dive centres.

Island time is eight hours ahead of GMT and 16 hours ahead of U.S. Pacific Standard Time.

And finally local voltage is 220 - 240 volts A C at 50 cycles per second.