Showing posts with label Tip of Asia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tip of Asia. Show all posts

Thursday, 4 September 2014

Tanjung Piai - Southernmost Tip of Continental Asia



Tanjung Piai is just another seafront cape like any shoreline where land meets the sea. Geographically it is more than a cape. It is actually the southernmost tip of continental Asia and Eurasia. Being that significant landmark it has been gazetted as a National Park so that it can be preserved for future generations. Besides Tanjung Piai, Pontian district has another National Park at Kukup.

It comprise of an area about 526 hectares of coastal mangrove typically of the Rhizopora Apiculata-Bruguiera cylindrica or locally known as Bakau Minyak- Bakau putih. Some 20 true mangrove and 9 species of mangrove associated species are found here. 

Walking along the walkway made of elevated wooden platform among the mangrove trees, visitors might be able to see different habitats including wide-eyed mudskipper, funny macaque wild birds and other mangrove habitats.

 The park is rich in fauna and home to not less than 41 species of birds, 7 species each of mammals and reptiles, 1 amphibian species and a host invertebrates. The mangrove at Tanjung Piai is protected under the Johor Wildlife Park Enactment since 1989.  

On a bright day visitors can watch the beautiful sunset over the Straits of Malacca. 

Walking around, visitors are advised to wear comfortable walking shoes. Women wearing stilettos and heels might encounter some injury of the sharp heels slips between the planks. .  

The national Park is about 75 km away from Johor Bahru at a lattitude 01.16° North and longitude 103.30.46° East.
Entrance fee is RM 3.00 for Malaysians and RM 5.00 for foreign visitors and payable at the park visitor complex at the entrance. 

Visitors must observe the following rules and ethics while inside the Tanjung Piai Park

Visitors who want to spend more time at Tanjung Piai can stay at Tanjung Piai Resort not far from the mangrove reserves. Tanjung Piai Resort is built on stilts, a reminiscent of old fishing village. Staying at the resort you can enjoy the sea breeze and breathtaking view of the sea frieghters and Singapore skyline in the distant. 

Besides Tanjung Piai Resort there are homestays as an alternative. 


Getting Here

By Bus or Taxi
Currently there is no direct bus service to the Tanjung Piai Johor National Park. Taxi service is available from the Pontian bus station in the town centre to Tanjung Piai's entry point in Sungai Belukang. Be sure to book your return passage back to town in advance with your cab driver.

By Car
From Kuala Lumpur, take the North-South Expressway (NSE) south past Machap, then take the Simpang Rengam exit (Interchange 247) onto the highway headed for Tanjung Piai, via the Benut–Pontian– Kukup highways (Highway 96, Highway 5 and Highway 95). Once near Kukup, follow the signboards leading to Tanjung Piai.

Who To Contact

Tourism Malaysia Johor
Address:
L3-26 Aras 3, Bangunan JOTIC, 2 Jalan Ayer Molek, Johor Bahru 80000, Johor, Malaysia

Phone: +607-222 3590/3591
Fax: +607-223 5502
Email: mtpbjhb@tourism.gov.my
More Info about Tanjung Piai
Laman Artikal DBP

Saturday, 16 August 2014

Pontian - Where The Southernmost Tip of Continental Asia Is

Pontian was transformed from the word Perhentian meaning a place to stop. Those days this area had been a stopping place by merchant ships and also pirates plying the Straits of Malacca. It is a small district on the southwestern part of Johor is 60 km (37 miles) from Johor Bahru city and the journey between both location takes about 1 hour through Lebuhraya Skudai- Pontian. It is also reachable from Batu Pahat using route 5 of Federal road.

Pontian has two towns that used the same name Pontian Besar and Pontian Kechil and the latter serves as tha administration centre for the district.

The capital was formerly a fishing village which has developed into a small town and has a few attractions worth to visit. Development in the district started as early as 1878 by an Arab Merchant Tuan Syed Mohamad Syed Alsagoff.

Being situated by the seaside, Pontian is noted for its variety of seafood which is sold at a reasonable price. Visitors from neighbouring towns and Singapore regularly visit Kukup, a fishing village about 20 km from Pontian Kechil. Notable national parks in Pontian include Tanjung Piai, the southernmost tip of continental Asia.

Pontian Kechil is situated 1.5 hours (via bus) from Johor Bahru (Capital of Johor State) via Lebuhraya Skudai-Pontian.

Especially along coastal areas, Pontian is populated by Malays of Bugis and Javanese descent. The Chinese community in Pontian predominantly belongs to the Fujian (Hokkien) dialect group.

This town is also site as the observatory to look for the crescent moon to mark the beginning of Muslim month of Ramadhan, Shawwal, and Zulhijjah, to celebrate fasting month of Ramadhan, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Hari Raya Aidiladha.

Tourist who want to escape the hustle and bustle of city life can visit the attractions that Pontian has to offer. There are reasonable number of hotels, chalets and homestays for visitors to spend their holidays.

Hotels in Pontian

Hotel Pontian (+607 6861000) www.hotelpontian.com
Hotel Garden (+607 686 1001)
Hotel Travel  (+607 686 9800)
Hotel Pontian Seaview (+6019 7764822)
Hotel Sunflower (+607 6871111) www.sunflowerexpress.com
Hotel Princess (+607 6871811)

Chalets/ Resort

Kukup Golf resort (+607 6960950)
Tanjung Piai Resort (+607 6969000)
Wednesday Ditch Farm Resort (+607 2419455)

Homestays

Kg Permatang Sepam (+607 4258081)
Kg Puteri Menangis (+6012 7575217)
Kg Tanjung Piai (+607 6960220) nadzri_nafaz@yahoo.com

What To Do?

There are many activities for visitors and for those who want some adventure can opt for a visit to a Kelong away from the shore. Else there other attractions such as the Traditional Bugis House, Ramsar visit at Tanjung Piai, golfing at Kukup, Muzium Nanas, Bugis Museum, Nictar Eco Farm and Stesen Nanas Alor Bukit etc.

Transportation

Pontian i reachable by private cars, Express Coach or Taxis or car rentals. Visitors going to Kukup National Park can take a ferry at the Kukup Ferry Jetty.

For further information about visiting Pontian, you can contact:

Jabatan Pelancungan Negeri Johor,
Suite 4-5, Bangunan Jotic,
Jalan Air Molek,
80000 Johor Bahru

Pontian District Office
+607 6871322

Tourism Malaysia (Johor)
+607 2223590/1

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