Perhentian Islands
Encyclopedia
the state of Terengganu
Terengganu
Terengganu is a sultanate and constitutive state of federal Malaysia. The state is also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Iman...
, approximately 40 miles (64 km) south of the Thai
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
border.
Perhentian Kecil ("Small Perhentian"). The small, uninhabited
islands of Susu Dara (Virgin Milk), Serenggeh and Rawa lie off Kecil.
The Perhentians belong to Pulau Redang National Marine Park, which
means that fishing, collecting coral and littering are strictly
prohibited. Like Besut
Besut
Besut is a district in the Malaysian state of Terengganu. It is bordered by the state of Kelantan to the north and the South China Sea to the east. It is the northern gateway to Terengganu. Kampung Raja is the district capital, though Jertih is more developed. Another major town is Kuala Besut....
, people here generally speak Kelantanese Malay
Kelantanese Malay
Kelantanese Malay is the Malay dialect spoken in Kelantan state of Malaysia, as well as Besut district of Terengganu and the Perhentian Islands. Many people in district of Baling , Sik and Padang Terap in Kedah speak in a language similar to language spoken in Kelantan. It is sometimes...
.
History
The name "perhentian" means "stopping point" in Malay, referring to theirlongstanding role as a waypoint for traders between Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
and Malaysia. The islands were sparsely inhabited by fishermen
for centuries, although tourism now accounts for most economic activity.
The Perhentian Islands appear on many maps of the nineteenth and twentieth century as 'The Station Islands'. This arises from the British colonial period, as an English translation from the Malay "point to stop".
The Perhentian Islands were also used as a refuge in the late 1900s.
Geography
white sand beach, and the reefs and crystalline water are host to a wide variety of coral
Coral
Corals are marine animals in class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria typically living in compact colonies of many identical individual "polyps". The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans and secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.A coral "head" is a colony of...
, sea-turtles, jellyfish, small sharks and reef-fish. The islands' maximum elevation is approximately 100 m (328 ft) and they are uniformly covered in coastal tropical jungle, with few interior foot-trails and no roads.
Other than the owners and staff of the numerous cabin-style resorts that dot the islands (many of whom depart for the monsoon season), the islands' only permanent inhabitants live in a small fishing village on Kecil. With the exception of a single mainland-communications tower on each island, there are no structures taller than two storeys.
Tourism
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
, and swimming are the most popular tourist activities here. On most beaches, the water is shallow with lots of rays, cuttlefish and parrotfish. For diving, there are dozens of divesites around both main islands, as well as several off-shore sites. Apart from these, activities like camping, canoeing, fishing, jungle trekking, and banana boat riding are also available. As for accommodation, most of it can be found on Perhentian Besar, the larger island. Hotels are usually aimed at budget travelers.
Tourism is the base of economic activity in Perhentian. However, owing to the Islands' protected status, the main tourist activities are minimal in environmental impact: sunbathing, snorkeling
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is the practice of swimming on or through a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube called a snorkel, and usually swimfins. In cooler waters, a wetsuit may also be worn...
, scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, and turtle and shark-watching.
in the summer of 2007, 2 wind turbines were installed, though still not connected to the network in October 2008. Thus the island's electrical power is still provided by diesel generators. A third turbine is being built. Electricity is available 24-hours during high season. Fresh water is provided by springs. In this respect, the Perhentian Islands are prized by tourists as an 'escape' from the modern world. Given the fact that the Perhentians do not have an airport and still have limited high-end accommodation, they have remained relatively better protected compared to Redang and Tioman Islands.
Kuala Besut
Kuala Besut is a small fishing town in Besut District on the coast of Terengganu in Malaysia, situated in between Kota Bharu in Kelantan and Kuala Terengganu in Terengganu...
and Tok Bali
Tok Bali
Tok Bali is a small fishing port in Kelantan, Malaysia, located about 48 kilometres from Kota Bharu. In recent years, it has served as an alternative departure point for tourists to the Perhentian Islands. Taxi drivers are reportedly given a hefty commission for delivering passengers here rather...
. Local tourist operators run fishing boats and speed boats several times a day.
Turtle Conservation
Community Project
The Perhentian Islands are home to over 1500 people living in the fishing village on the small island. The villagers are 100% malay and mostly originate from Perhentian and the nearby islands. There are two organisations running programmes with the villagers and school. These are Reef Check Malaysia and Ecoteer Responsible Travel. Reef Check run coral camps for the children in the Perhentian village and in 2012 will expand their efforts in the islands. Ecoteer Responsible Travel through the Ecoteer House run three weekly school clubs at the school focused on english, eco-snorkelling and environmental awareness. Ecoteer House volunteers also participate in community efforts.Getting There
Journey to Perhentian Island from Kuala BesutKuala Besut
Kuala Besut is a small fishing town in Besut District on the coast of Terengganu in Malaysia, situated in between Kota Bharu in Kelantan and Kuala Terengganu in Terengganu...
jetty takes about 30 to 45 minutes by speed boat and 1½ hours by slow boat.
There are a number of boat operators in Kuala Besut
Kuala Besut
Kuala Besut is a small fishing town in Besut District on the coast of Terengganu in Malaysia, situated in between Kota Bharu in Kelantan and Kuala Terengganu in Terengganu...
jetty offering boat services to Perhentian Island. The return boat ticket cost RM70.00 per person for speed boat and RM40.00 per person for slow boat.
You also can fly with Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
, Air Asia or Fireflyz from Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
to either Kuala Terengganu
Kuala Terengganu
-Transport:The city is connected to other towns via a good network of roads and also some ferries that ply the Terengganu River. The Sultan Mahmud Bridge, a bridge over the Terengganu River, provides a road link to both banks of the river...
or Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu is a city in Malaysia, is the state capital and Royal City of Kelantan. It is also the name of the territory in which Kota Bharu City is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and lies...
(45minutes). After arriving at the airport, take either a bus or taxi to Kuala Besut
Kuala Besut
Kuala Besut is a small fishing town in Besut District on the coast of Terengganu in Malaysia, situated in between Kota Bharu in Kelantan and Kuala Terengganu in Terengganu...
jetty. The journey will be take about 1½ hours from Kuala Terengganu
Kuala Terengganu
-Transport:The city is connected to other towns via a good network of roads and also some ferries that ply the Terengganu River. The Sultan Mahmud Bridge, a bridge over the Terengganu River, provides a road link to both banks of the river...
Airport / 1 hours from Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu is a city in Malaysia, is the state capital and Royal City of Kelantan. It is also the name of the territory in which Kota Bharu City is situated. The name means 'new city' or 'new castle/fort' in Malay. Kota Bharu is situated in the northeastern part of Peninsular Malaysia, and lies...
Airport to the jetty.