Johor (Islands) - Pulau Pemanggil / Pulau Sibu,MALAYSIAN

Malaysian Travel Guide – Pulau Pemanggil

There are a few more islands to cover up before I can begin talking about Johor itself and the awesome places to visit whilst you are there on your vacation. For now , the Malaysian Travel Guide shall give you a little bit more exposure on the remaining islands which are situated around Johor.

I shall start today off talking about Pulau Pemanggil which is another island that sits 45km (27.96miles) east of Mersing. Strangely enough , this island has a myth to it and this makes visiting there all the more better. Here is how it goes. See that big rock (though it looks more like a hill/mountain) , it is called Batu Buau “The Buau Rock” . Legends has it that centuries ago , a boat carrying an Indonesian family came by these waters. One night , the father had a dream and the dream was beckoning him to settle in the island. The voice as was believed, belonged to the guardian (or the 'Penunggu' in traditional Malay folklore) of the island. Taking heed of the Guardian's advice, these first inhabitants steered off in the direction of the island and landed on the beach at the foot of the rock. They named their village, kampung Buau, after the Buau Rock. As the years went by, more Indonesians were invited to stay on the island(by the guardian) followed by a number of Malay folk arriving from Pulau Aur. Hence the name 'Pemanggil' or 'The Caller' was bestowed on the island. It is believed that Nenek Buau, the Guardian of the island lives somewhere on Batu Buau. Every year the “penghulu”(the village head) pays respect to this highly revered 'sentient being' by leaving an offering of polished rice and a payment of 1 sen at the top of the rock. Failing to do so, it is believed, would bring untold hardship to the island community.
Pulau Pemanggil is well known for deep-sea fishing and good hunting grounds for marlins and mackerels. It is also famed for the beauty and abundance of marine life within its crystal clear emerald waters and its endless stretches of white sandy beaches. Pulau Pemanggil is an ideal location for fishing and snorkeling .

Malaysian Travel Guide - Pulau Sibu

Pulau Sibu is located approximately 2 hours north of Johor Bahru on the Mersing road. The island has a shape like a triangular hour glass,which is about 6 kilometers long and less than one kilometer wide.Pulau Sibu is made up of several islands namely Sibu Besar Island, Sibu Tengah Island, Sibu Kukus Island and Sibu Hujung Island.Famous for its lush vegetation and scenery, visitors can expect an ambiance of relaxation. Activities include snorkeling, scuba diving, wind surfing, sailing and angling. Sibu Island is the perfect hideaway from the hactic city dwellers life. The north east corner of the island is renowned for its snorkeling activities as there is a good variety of coral and fish.However, this scuba diving in this area is rather shallow (30feet to 40 feet).The sea life is prolific and varied, from Nurse Sharks to Moray Eels, Bat Fish to Blue Spotted Sting Rays, Box Fish to Nudibranches and much, much more. Less usual sights such as Sea Horses, Leopard Sharks, Schooling Baracuda and Black Tip Reef Sharks can also be seen.