Tioman - Season Ender

It should have been the monsoon by this time but weather these days are unpredictable due to the climate changes as a result of global "developments". Oft we get a rather startled response when informed that we would be going to Tioman near year end. There's an impression most folks have that monsoon means never ending downpours and floods. It might be so but there are beautiful days of good weather as well. Boils down to one's luck I'd reckon.

We had 3 days of beautiful weather although there were some showers nearby, the sea was calm (flat actually) with gentle breeze blowing.




Beautiful contrast of the fishing boats against the shower.




Make no mistake though, the monsoon can play it rough as the remains of this boat testifies to the storm Tioman experienced a few days before our arrival. It was smashed against the rocks and this is all that remains of this fibre-glass boat. No casualties except to one's pocket.

Tioman - Season Ender (Underwater)

Divesite: Chebeh (Tioman Island)

Not just a Cushion starfish but look closely and you are likely to find macro creatures living on the starfish. Compare the size of the shrimp with that of my thumb (on the bottom left of picture).




Not sure which but it is either a Starfish Shrimp (Periclimenes soror) or Emperor Shrimp (Periclimenes imperator)



"Blue dragon" Pteraeolidia ianthina Nudibranch.
Some info provided on an earlier post - Recent Tioman Dive - Nudis


Goby on a hard coral.


Anemone clownfish or now very commonly referred to as "Nemos".




Batu Malang or Rock of Misfortune. Great site for both snorkeling and diving.
For this trip, we skipped the dive at this site and snorkeled for a change. It was lovely!



Beneath the surface.



Lots of hard corals...



Sunbeams dance around to light the world beneath...



Colourful coral fishes go around their daily business...



Its great to see the fishes just swimming around you...



Oops... the speedboat.

Port Dickson - Tanjong Tuan (Cape Rachardo) & Blue Lagoon

The oldest lighthouse in the country, originally built by the Portugese in the 16th century. After the conquest of Malacca by Portugal in 1511, they wanted to build a lighthouse to guide its ships. Tanjung Tuan was chosen and the cape was named Cape Rachado by them.

The lighthouse still holds vigil today but no longer just a vantage point to view trade or enemy ships sailing close to the coast. It now houses a revolving MEASAT Radar used for transmissions and communications.




More than just famous for its lighthouse, this site is a conservation area for migrating birds. Cape Rachado is well known as a popular stopover point for migrating raptors especially honey buzzards. Other birds that stop here during their annual winter migration include swifts, hawks, and eagles, which can be spotted between September and March every year.
See entry on Raptor Watch.

To reach the lighthouse, take a short uphill trek. Keep your eyes open for there are many things to see along the way.



View of the Straits from the lighthouse surroundings.




Wildflowers around the lighthouse.




We stopped over at the once-famous Blue Lagoon (nothing to do with the movie of the same title) to watch the sun set.



Banana boat...




Here's something different... at least for me it was... a view of Moggie in my frame, and Moggie in viewfinder.

For Countrygirl

This is for Sandra:

In the midst of turmoil,
When things seem to be more than what you can handle,
Think of this; A port for safe haven.




This is one place where I go not just for diving but to rejuvenate. It is serene and breathtaking. There is beauty above and beneath the surface; A lovely place to hang out while the rest of the world go by out of sight.