Kukup And Kukup Island In Malaysia

By Chai Yong

Kukup and Kukup Island are situated at the Southern tip of the State of Johor of Peninsula Malaysia.

A visit to Kukup town and Pulau Kukup (Kukup Island) is definitely a complement to the visit to Tanjung Piai, the Southernmost tip of the Asian Mainland, because it is famous for seafood and leisure activities. Kukup town is just about 15km from Tanjung Piai.

Kukup consists of 3 villages - Kukup Laut, Air Masin and Kampung Melayu. The villages used to be made up of wooden houses built on bakau stilts.

Kukup is a fishing community that is famous for seafood and restaurants and cage-cultured fish farms.

Tourists especially Singaporeans come to Kukup for seafood and holiday. Visitors may visit the fish rearing area known as "kelong" (cage-cultured fish farm) in the sea between Kukup Jetty and Kukup Island. There are private houses erected by the seaside which are only accessible by boat from the ferry terminal. Tourists may book and stay in those private house and carry on whatever leisure activities like gambling, mahjong, angling, barbeque etc.

Visitors may buy dried fish (ikan bilis) and squid, "keropok" (crackers) and other marine based food produces and condiments like "belacan"(dried ground prawn), "cencaluk" (seasoned small prawn) and "agar-agar".

Kukup Island is situated just about 3 minutes boat ride away from Kukup Jetty. The boat ride will cost RM5-00 including return trip. Visitors will have to pay RM10-00 if you stop a fish farm along the way.

There is an immigration check point at the Kukup Jetty. Visitors can travel to Batam and Tanjung Balai (Karimun), Indonesia from the Kukup Jetty.

Kukup Island is one of the largest uninhabited mangrove island in the world.

For decades, people tried to settle on this island but not successful. It remains uninhabited until today.

Kukup Island has an area of approximately 648 ha and is surrounded by 800 ha of mudflats. In the old days, it was floaked by vanguished pirates and early prisoners. Its importance reduced abruptly due to decrease of fortunes. Now it is revived to be bustling tourist hub with Singaporean visitors coming for leisure and seafood.

Kukup Island was gazetted a national park in March 1997 and is now run by Pulau Kukup Johor National Park.

In January 2003, Kukup Island was granted the status of a "Wetland of International Importance" or RAMSAR Site by the Geneva-based Ramsar Convention Bureau.

Boardwalk is built deep into the mangrove of the island. Visitors may take a 45 minutes walk into the mangrove using the boardwalk. Explanation signboards are erected by the side of the boardwalk showing the species of flora and fauna on the spot. It serves the purpose of education for the children and adults.

At the end of the boardwalk is a 6 level watchtower. It brings visitors above the tree canopy and affords visitors a 360 degree view of the Kukup Island. It is a stunning horizon of green sea with gentle bliss blowing on the face.

Water birds including migratory species from Russia and China congregate at the Southern part of Kukup Island i.e. the mudflat area. It is definitely a spot that cannot be missed by an ardent birdwatcher.

Other fauna like mudskipper, fiddler fish, wild boar can be seen on the Kukup Island.

This article is written by Chai Yong from http://www.temasekmap.com which provides physical map of Singapore, map of Batam & Bintan, map of Johor & Johor Bahru and an ebook; and from http://www.window-safety-lock.com which is about a keyless Griloc window safety lock.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chai_Yong

The Southernmost Tip of the Asian Mainland - Tanjung Piai

By Chai Yong

Asia is the biggest continent on Earth. It spans across a few climatic zones. Its Southernmost tip is located in the state of Johor of the Peninsula Malaysia known as Tanjung Piai. The exact location is at lattitude 01 degree 16 North/longitude 103 degree 30 min 46 East.

Tanjung means "cape" in Malay. Tanjung Piai is named after a fern, Acrostichrum aurem (Paku Piai Raya) which flourishes in the mangrove here.

The climate there is tropical with shining sun the whole year round. It has relative humidity of above 90% and temperature 24 - 32 degree Celsius.

Located within the District of Pointan, State of Johor, Malaysia, Tanjung Piai is a haven for diverse species of flora and fauna. Tanjung Piai Johor National Park covers an area of over 926ha, 526 ha of which comprises of lush coastal mangroves.

There are 2 entry points to Tanjung Piai - one at Sungai Belukang and the other at Desa Sri Piai.

Entry into the hinderland of Tanjung Piai nowadays is easy as extensive boardwalk criss-crosses the 926 ha reserve bringing visitors deep into the mangrove thickets, which would otherwise be impossible to penetrate unless the visitors do not mind walking in mud.

At the entrance of Tanjung Piai National Park, one is welcomed by a landmark monument measuring 20m high and 10m wide. It is made of eco-friendly fibre reinforced concrete. Its stark grey colour represents the rich mangroves and mudflats of Tanjung Piai.

The monument is adorned by 2 fronds of Paku Piai Raya (Acrostichum aurem) which is a indigenous fern which Tanjung Piai derives its name. The type of fern flourshes in the mangrove.

Immediately after the monument are frank leading visitors to boardwalk into the mangrove. There are camping sites for both men and women deep inside the mangrove. One may experience a night sleep within the mangrove.

Tanjung Piai is famous for being a hot spot for birdwatchers to visit during the migratory season which falls around September and March every year. Among the birds which one could spot the whole year round are :

• i. Collared kingfisher (Hacyon chloris)
• ii. Goldenbodied woodpecker (Dinopium javanense)
• iii. Chestnut bellied malkoha
• iv. Egrets
• v. Grey herons (Arden cinerea)
• vi. Little herons (Butorides striate)
• vii. Lesser adjutant

2 species of monkey are thriving here. One is longtailed macaque and the other dusky leaf monkey with a cute white "mustache" and white rim around its eyes.

One may spot fiddler crabs in gorgeous colors of orange and electric blue by a slow walk on the boardwalk. The other animal a visitor can see is beady-eyed mudskippers. If it is disturbed, it will stir the mud and escape quickly.

There is a resort here called Tanjung Piai Resort with 6 studio rooms catering for different needs located near to the Tanjung Piai National Park. Booking in advance must be done if visitors want to stay here.

If a visitor cannot get booking at the Tanjung Piai Resort, he may have to stay at Pontian or Kukup for a night or two before coming back to Johor Bahru. Transportation from Pontian to Tanjung Piai is by a cab.

This article is written by Chai Yong from http://www.temasekmap.com which provides handy map of Singapore, map of Batam & Bintan, map of Johor & Johor Bahru and an ebook.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chai_Yong

Different Types Of Malaysian Fruits

By: Aaron Aldama

Malaysian fruits have many benefits that are very helpful to humans. Some of the different types of Malaysian fruits are Mangosteen, Starfruit, Pulasan, Jackfruit, Rambutan, Mango and Dragon Fruit. Malaysian fruits are an excellent source for healthy eating and taste great at the same time.

Mangosteen is grown in Malaysia. It is probably one of the best tasting fruits I have tasted. Mangosteen fruit helps with the prevention of cancer and heart disease. The skin is reported to be the healthiest part of the fruit.

Starfruit is available all year long. Starfruit is often used for decorations. Starfruit is also a good source for potassium, fiber, vitamin c and copper.

Pulasan is also only grown in Malaysia. This fruit is grown seasonal normally grown between August, September and December, January. The skin of Pulasan tastes like a sweet grape.

Jackfruit is also grown only on Malaysia. This is also a fruit that tastes really good. Jackfruits are very large in size, so one Jackfruit can be fed to many people. Jackfruit is low in calories and contains good amounts of potassium and Vitamin A.

Mangoes are grown all over the world. The Chokanan Yellow Mango is a great mango to eat. The Chokanan Yellow Mango has a very sweet taste to it. Chokanan Mangoes are low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Chokanan mangoes are an excellent source for dietary fiber, protein and amino acids.

Pitaya is also called Red Dragon Fruit. Pitaya is grown on a cactus. The color of Pitaya is awesome, it has a fuchsia color to it. Pitaya tastes somewhat like a Kiwi. Pitaya has large amounts of antioxidants and it is a great source for Vitamin C.

These are only some of the Malaysian fruits available but finding other Malaysian fruits should not be to hard.

Diving Destinations in Malaysia

By Nicholas Tan

The waters in Malaysia, i.e. Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, are renowned for having the top diving sites in the world! Being in the tropics, Malaysia is bestowed with a constant warm temperature throughout the year, thus making it it very welcoming to dive in Malaysian seas.

Here, the clear blue waters coupled with the comfortable warm weather provides and sustains the abundant 'millions-of-year-old' marine life. It would be very surprising for divers in Malaysian sites if they do not encounter breathtaking picturesque coral reefs, sea turtles, reef sharks, manta rays and sea horses. The quantity and variety of flora and fauna found in these waters are believed to surpass even those found in the Islands of the Pacific.

The diverse coral reef structure, even at shallow depths, supports more than 500 species of corals and 3,000 classes of fishes. The truly magnificent tropical reefs, which essentially 'amalgamates' the different types of life-forms here, displays many numerous attractions for the divers, presenting the macro-fauna and large pelagic predators all in the same region. This is genuinely unique in nature as only a handful of destinations in the world can boast of this marvel. From schools of barracudas, jacks, and sharks to the solitary giant turtle, frogfish, and scorpion fish, and to the multicoloured fan and whip gorgonians, there will always be a touch of bewilderment and wonder which will mesmerize any diver.

The most popular dive sites around Malaysia include diving along gentle sloping reefs in Tioman Island, Perhentian Island and Redang Island; while the impressive vertical wall dives rising directly from the darkest abyss of Sipadan Island, the Layang-Layang Atoll and Mabul Island, not forgetting the drift dives and wreck dives, are among the amazement that will be encountered underwater here.

You can find out more at http://www.divingpleasures.com

http://www.divingpleasures.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicholas_Tan