Travel Guide: Best Things to Do and Eat in Pulau Tioman, Pahang, Malaysia

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Table of Contents

Pulau Tioman

How to Go Pulau Tioman Island from Singapore?

1. By Car from Singapore to Mersing
2. By Coach from Singapore to Mersing
3. By Ferry from Mersing to Pulau Tioman
4. By Ferry from Pulau Tioman to Mersing
5. Lunch at Mersing Food Centre
6. Inside the Ferry to Tioman Island
7. Arrival in Tioman – Kampung Tekek / Tekek Village

Berjaya Tioman Resort

Kampung Tekek aka Tekek Village

Things to Do

Return Trip from Tioman to Mersing

Conclusion


Pulau Tioman

Just two weeks later after spending a weekend in Pulai Springs Resort (Johor Bahru, Malaysia) in my last blog with my friends, I went to Pulau Tioman (also known as Tioman Island) in Pahang, the biggest island situated in the South China Sea. I had been to nearly all the islands in the South China Sea region when I went fishing with my friends ten years ago.

The islands around the South China Sea are famous for their diving spots and fishing. The area experiences the seasonal monsoon from November to March and there would be limited activities during this period. Please check the schedules and activities if you are planning to go during the monsoon period.

A word of caution: It is dangerous to take a ferry or do water sports during monsoon season as the waves can go up very high and the water is very choppy. Many of my friends vomited non-stop due to severe seasick. The boat could capsize and therefore, please think twice before taking the risk to go during this period.

I remember that I stayed in a budget and rundown resort when I went fishing in Tioman Island. I did not know the name of the resort. I did not know the name of the resort. We stayed there for a night or two just to shower. Most time, we stayed on board the fishing boat. We used taxi boats to ferry us to the centre of Tioman so we could see more people and feel its vibrancy.

This time, I decided to stay somewhere in the centre of Pulau Tioman where they would be more activities. I began my hotel hunt online for the best place to stay in Tioman Island without burning a hole in my pocket this time.

I want a prettier and classy accommodation rather than a budgeted accommodation for a change. After screening through many hotel resorts’ photos online in Pulau Tioman, the images of Berjaya Tioman Resort attracted me the most as being the prettiest and most affordable within my budget. There were even more beautiful ones but they were very pricey and out of reach.


Hotel Comparison Sites for Berjaya Tioman Resort

My favourite hotel comparison websites are Expedia Singapore, Agoda and Zuji Singapore. Let us take a look at my screenshots at the same time on these three mentioned travel comparison sites based on the date of my hotel check-in.

Berjaya Tioman Resort Price Comparison

Check-in Date: 20 July 2015 based on a per-day unit price for a Standard Chalet

Travel Comparison Site Room Rate Per Night
Expedia Singapore SGD 136.89
Agoda SGD 136.82
Zuji Singapore SGD 136.45

With a few cents difference, there was no significant comparative advantage with Zuji Singapore having the cheapest rate in this case.

I have membership accounts with Expedia Singapore and Agoda so I would be booking with either of them to get some reward points. I chose to book with Agoda.

In case you are wondering why I did not book with Expedia Singapore other than the 7 cents difference, their terms and conditions did not state that breakfast was included in the travel package whereas the other two sites did.

I did not want to take the risk to book with Expedia Singapore for this trip as the cost of paying for a buffet breakfast @ RM $ 24 after I arrived was not worth it. I called Expedia Customer Service Centre to confirm again whether breakfast was inclusive and the call centre stated no and that I had to pay for it.

I booked the Berjaya Tioman Beach Resort very late, just a few days before departure. If you book earlier, you would be paying about 20% lower than what I had paid above.

Tips: Try Asian comparison hotel websites as they are likely to be cheaper based on some past online research experiences in its local currency.


Searching for Tioman Ferry Ticket is Tough

You can get a travel agency to arrange everything for you from getting a coach, ferry ticket and booking an accommodation which might save you all the hassles as buying an online ferry ticket to Pulau Tioman is the toughest search of all.

It took me many days to finally “got it” including the risk of not buying a ferry ticket at all due to the festive season. You can get 20 to 50% cheaper if you arrange everything by yourself depending on how much the travel agencies charge you.

I went during a peak period, a few days after Hari Raya. Most popular beach resorts around Malaysia were fully booked though I also tried to shift my travel focus out of Tioman Island and the South China Sea.

One does not have many choices of buying the ferry ticket online to Tioman unless you are prepared to pay more. I did not trust the source on the sales of online Tioman ferry tickets that I had found. When I found some reasonable ferry ticket prices online from some Malaysian travel agencies, they had no response when I emailed them.

I was afraid of having a problem getting a ferry ticket and thus, seek help from the travel agency who quoted me SGD 400+ per person for the coach, ferry ticket and accommodation which was way too expensive.

They wanted me to pay for everything first but put me on a waiting list as there was no more accommodation. They could only refund all the money three weeks later if confirmed at a later date that no room was available.

Most travel agencies in Singapore either do not sell ferry tickets or you have to buy their whole travel package to Tioman. I didn’t go ahead with this bad deal.

After a discussion with my friend, we decided to take a risk and buy the ferry tickets to Pulau Tioman on the spot when we arrived at Mersing while making the hotel reservation with Berjaya Tioman Resort from Agoda and travel coach from www.easybook.com.


How to Go to Pulau Tioman from Singapore?


1. By Car from Singapore to Mersing

Driving from Singapore to Mersing takes approximately 4 hours, 190 km of distance. One can park the vehicle at a designated carpark next to the Mersing jetty for RM $ 10 per day.

I have heard stories about people losing their car and tyres, theft, vehicle damage while parking overnight especially for vehicles and their accessories that are perceived to have a higher value by the thieves. Park at your risk.

Berjaya Air, the only commercial flight carrier serving Pulau Tioman had ceased its operation in March 2014. One can reach Pulau Tioman by chartering a private plane.


2. By Coach from Singapore to Mersing

Booking a coach ticket online from Singapore to Mersing was easy. We could choose from 5 departure points – Golden Mile Complex, Golden Mile Tower, Singapore Flyer, The Plaza and Boon Lay. The price ranges from SGD 25 to 37 for a single trip and is available at different timing.

*Bear in mind that it takes 5 hours to reach Mersing. There are three ferries departures time from Mersing to Pulau Tioman – 10.30 am, 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm. The number of trips and the timing per day changes accordingly to the season and month.

Easybook Singapore to Mersing

Easybook: Random Check from 1 – 4 October 2015 from Singapore to Mersing

If you take the earliest coach departing at 6.15 am from Golden Mile Complex shown above, it will go to Singapore Flyer then to Boon Lay pick-up point. It will arrive at Mersing between 11.00 am to 12 pm.

It is not possible to take the 10.30 am ferry unless you plan to take the night coach at 10 pm and stay for a night which cost RM $ 10 to 20 per person. (It is not difficult to find lodging there but book in advance because you will arrive in the middle of the night).

I took the earliest coach and arrived at Mersing around 11 plus. The coach did not pause during the journey so the passengers could take their breakfast. Eat some food before the trip or on the bus.


3. By Ferry from Mersing to Pulau Tioman

How to buy ferry tickets to Tioman? I was afraid not to be able to buy any ferry tickets in Mersing Ferry Terminal and hence called up Bluewater Express (+607 – 799 4811 / 799 8518) which was the main ferry operator before booking my coach tickets.

I asked them about their ferry schedules from Mersing to Tioman and Tioman to Mersing. They gave me three ferry schedules from Mersing to Tioman (10.30 am, 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm) and advised me to book the 12.30 pm slot based on the earliest timing that I departed from Singapore.

Each ferry ticket to Tioman cost RM $ 70. The trip took about 1.5 to 2 hours to your destination depending on which hotel you stayed in as there are many stops on Tioman island.

Upon arrival, I went straight to the Bluewater Express Counter in Mersing Ferry Terminal. It was very packed, messy, noisy and disorganised at the ticket counters. The feeling arising from the crowd and making sure that no one cut into my queue was unpleasant.

I didn’t tell the operators at the counter that I had reserved two ferry tickets in advance and just bought the tickets on the spot @ RM $ 70. Talking to the ticket seller and hearing them clearly over at the counter was difficult due to the noise. I felt impatient and wished to get out of the place quickly.

Out of the blue in the midst of the crowd after buying the ferry tickets, one kind Chinese gentleman approached me. He asked me to pay for the Marine Park Conservation Fee at another counter. Otherwise, I would not be allowed to board the ferry.

Malaysians pay RM $ 5 and foreigners pay RM $ 20 for the Fee. What bothered me was that while buying the ferry tickets and registering at two different counters, no staff directed us to pay the Conservation Fee at another counter.

I had read online somewhere that it was compulsory to pay. Had it not been the kind reminder of the stranger, I would probably forget about the Conservation Fee totally and get rejected during boarding after queuing for so long.


4. By Ferry from Pulau Tioman to Mersing

Going back from Tioman Island to Mersing to take a coach was another tricky decision. You have to know the ferry departure time from Pulau Tioman to decide the coach ticket timing back to Singapore.

There was a need for me to call Bluewater Express first because their ferry schedules always changed according to my online research. I could not find any website or forum that state their ferry timing online and thus, I was not able to plan in advance.

I was struggling to choose between the coach departure timing of 1 pm or 3.30 pm. The ferry left Pulau Tioman at 12 pm and would take 1.5 hours at least.

I would not be able to catch the coach back to Singapore departing at 1.30 pm if either the shuttle bus service from Berjaya Tioman Resort or the ferry delayed their departure time.

Assuming that I had booked the 3.30 pm time slot for the coach, I would have plenty of time arriving at 1.30 pm – 2 pm with nothing much to do and see in Mersing because it is a small town. I had been to Mersing several times so I know.

With time at stake, I booked the coach departing at 3.30 pm so I had sufficient time to eat. The shuttle bus eventually left around 10.30 am from the hotel.


5. Lunch at Mersing Food Centre

After buying my ferry ticket, there was a food centre beside the Mersing jetty where I took my lunch. Be careful of what you buy because there was no price tag on the food. I chose a large sotong (aka the squid), prawns and egg from the stall – Restoran Sutera Emas. The plate of food cost me MYR 40+ which I did not expect! The food was delicious especially the chilli.

Lunch at Mersing Food Centre


6. Inside the Ferry to Pulau Tioman

The queue was long but orderly. The ferry tickets had seat numbers allocated. We were assigned to sit on the top deck which had fewer seats compared to the lower deck.

When we found one of our seats occupied by someone else, we sat at other seat numbers as we did not want to make a fuss about it and asked the person to shift away. Shortly, a couple approached us telling us that we had taken up one of their seats.

We told them nicely that someone else had also taken our seat, hinting that they should just find another available seat on the top deck. The man was unhappy and exclaimed that he didn’t care.

Well, we didn’t care either to surrender the seat. The woman walked down the lower deck to get another seat while the man sat in one corner sulking.

Soon, another family of three came and faced the same problem because the man had sat in their seats. They did not kick up a fuss. They found two seats for themselves while the husband sat on the top of a container as there was no more seat left.

From this incident, we could see that people did not bother to respect the seat number and the ferry operator might even count wrongly and issue duplicate seat numbers. Overall, it was very messy inside because everyone was moving around to find their seat numbers.

It would come as no surprise that some people would just sit anywhere they want in this mess when the direction was not clear. The whole ferry process can be quite a nightmare watching such an arrangement from the start.

Whenever the ferryboat arrived at each terminal, the staff would announce the name of the terminal for the passengers to alight correctly. The ferry terminal of Berjaya Tioman Resort was in the middle of the island so it took some time to reach.


7. Arrival in Tioman – Kampung Tekek

The correct ferry stop to alight for Berjaya Tioman Resort was Kampung Tekek. Upon crossing the road, there would be a bus shelter right in front of a food centre where the shuttle bus from Berjaya Tioman Resort came and picked us up at the assembly point.

There were also people distributing flyers for the various activities and things to do in Pulau Tioman for a fee. The activities were interesting such as diving and visiting t nearby islands for snorkelling.

Kampung Tekek in Tioman

Around Kampung Tekek Ferry Terminal


Berjaya Tioman Resort


Lobby Reception

The bus ride from Tekek Village Ferry Terminal to Berjaya Tioman Resort was approximately 15 minutes. I was bowled over by the first greeting of the large reception lobby which conveyed a warm kampong feel. I requested my chalet to be as near to the beach as possible.

Berjaya Tioman Resort Lobby Reception


Chalet and Its Surrounding

We were thrilled to have the chalet in the middle of the sandy beach. The gorgeous view justified our choice for choosing a beach resort as our destination. The surrounding was peaceful and the resort was beautiful.

The room was well maintained and had both the aircon and the ceiling fan fixed. The downside was that after showering, the floor would be splashed with water all over the toilet. It took a long time and likely overnight to get the floor dry up again.

After a day out to the beach and when we returned to our room, we would leave sand all over the floor. Whenever I stepped into the wet toilet, I could feel sand sticking all over our feet and this was annoying for me. You can bring an extra pair of slippers to walk around the room if you go to the beach and do not like to have sandy feet after showering.

Berjaya Tioman Resort Surrounding


WiFi

There was no internet in our room. There was WiFi in the lobby and inside the restaurant. You have to ask for another password in the restaurant.


River

My friend said that he had seen something that looked like a crocodile in the river when we were on the shuttle bus. We stopped at the river and tried our luck searching for that so-called “crocodile”.

Luck permitted us to clarify his doubt. Indeed, we saw it while talking about it. The crocodile that he saw from far was a big monitor lizard. We had seen quite a few of them on the road while going to the village later.

River in Berjaya Tioman Resort


Kampung Tekek

The Malay word “Kampung” means “Village” in English. My friend wanted to get some beer and the small grocery shop inside the resort lobby did not sell alcoholic drinks. We were advised by the shop assistant to go to the next village, Kampung Tekek where they had a bigger shop.

We also decided not to have dinner in Berjaya Tioman Resort restaurant which cost RM $ 42 per pax. We preferred to explore more local food options in Tekek village.

There are two ways to go to Tekek Village – by foot or by vehicle. It will take about 15 to 20 minutes of walking uphill and downhill to reach Kampong Tekek. If you want to rent a bike or take a taxi, go to the security guard post and get the rate.


Transportation in Pulau Tioman

There are three ways to travel in Pulau Tioman. The prices stated below may be charged differently in other villages or other parts of Pulau Tioman and it is accurate at the period of my travel.

a) Hiring a Taxi

Taxi services use private cars in their operation. The driver inside the security post charged the passengers RM $ 30 per trip to drive them to Tekek Village that is 5 minutes away. We bargained the price and the man agreed to drive us there for RM $ 15 (one-way trip).

b) Renting a Scooter

It costs RM $ 70 to rent a motorbike or a scooter for one day if you want to explore the whole village. However, this option limits you to explore all of Tioman Island due to obstruction from forest and hills which prevent you from driving freely. The motorbike rental costs only RM $ 35 in Tekek Village and there are a few shops there offering at this price. To save some money, please walk and rent a motorbike over there.

c) Taking a Taxi Boat

You can pay RM $ 20 per trip for a taxi boat to bring you to other parts of Tioman Island such as Juara and Salang if you are keen to explore.


Shops in Tekek Village

True enough, there was a big grocery shop with many things to buy except alcohol. We bought drinks and tidbits there. We purchase the alcohol from “Duty-Free Shop Q. K. S. Trading”. They had some unique small-sized bottles that you can finish in a day or two (as you cannot bring the unfinished bottle back to Singapore). The price was good according to my friend.

Shops in Kampung Tekek


Food Review in Sarang Seafood Restaurant

I must highly recommend this Chinese restaurant, Sarang Seafood Restaurant 肥佬中西式海鲜楼 in Tekek Village which was a hidden treasure in Pulau Tioman. The food was reasonably priced and very nice that I went back the next day to eat for the second time. I met another Chinese lady sitting at a table beside me who said that she also came back for the second time because the food was delicious.

Sarang Seafood Restaurant in Kampung Tekek

On the first day, I had Tamarin Steamed Fish 阿三酸梅鱼 @ RM $ 40 (translated as Assam Plum Fish) which is recommended by the boss. I loved the sauce so much because the ingredients were so perfectly blended that I could distinguish the taste of plum, lemongrass, galanga, pineapple, tomato and onion in it.

The sauce was unforgettable and unique. The sourness of the plum and pineapple was not overpowering and had a ‘just enough’ effect which left me wanting for more. Needless to say, I finished every drop of the sauce. The fish was undoubtedly fresh because we were staying on an island with an abundant supply of fresh seafood.

I ordered the Tamarin Steamed Fish with a vegetable, Stir-Fried Baby Kailan with Salted Fish and Garlic 清炒小芥兰和咸鱼 @ RM $ 10. The leafy green colour in the photo (bottom left) indicated how fresh it was and again, very skilfully cooked with the right amount of salted fish to enhance the freshness without being too salty.

Food in Sarang Seafood Restaurant Tioman

On our second day, we had Water Spinach also known as Sambal Kang Kong 马来风光 @ RM$ 10, Mongolia Chicken 蒙古鸡 @ RM $ 18 (recommended by the boss) and Nestum Prawn Ball 麦片虾球 @ RM $ 24. Again, everything was so delicious which was the motivation of walking up and down the slope just to eat at the restaurant again.

The total amount for our dinner was RM $ 59 / S$ 21.85, including two rice for RM $ 4 and one beer for RM $ 5 on the first day. With rice, beer and lychee drink @ RM$ 4 on the second day, our last dinner in Tioman Island cost only RM$ 63 / S$ 23! You can gauge the value-for-money on those meals that made us happy tourists.

∗∗∗

If you want to take your food there, make sure you choose a table inside the restaurant and near to the incense as much as possible. On the first day, we sat at a table outside the restaurant and the food invited a lot of irritating flies. We spent a lot of time chasing the flies away while eating.

The next day, we were smarter. We chose a table near to the altar where the incense was and there were no more flies near us. The con was that not many people could stand the smell and might even be disturbed by it though I was not in the least bothered and immersed myself in that delectable food.

Address:

Sarang Seafood Restaurant 肥佬中西式海鲜楼 Lot 450, Kampung Tekek, Pulau Tioman, Pahang



Along the Road

The 15 to 20 minutes walk uphill and downhill became part of our daily exercise for our stay. We spotted Macaque monkeys and monitor lizards at a very close range. For animal and nature lovers, this should be a pleasant affair.

Macaque Monkeys in Tioman


During sunset, it was easy to catch the shimmer from the sea and took some glistening photos along the way.

Love Tioman


We made an effort to cut through the sandy beach whenever we walked back from Kampung Tekek.

Walking on Tioman Sandy Beach


A lovely sight of the chalets while going back to our room.

Berjaya Tioman Resort Chalets


Things to Do


Take Fun Photos of Jump Shots

As there were not many people on the beach, I was free to do my favourite jump shots on the beach. I loved the moments of being free and liberated with not many pairs of eyes watching me! Being a dancer in the past let me create artistic body movement. With an amazing colour of sunset as the backdrop, what more could I ask?

Posing in Tioman

Fun Jump Shots on Tioman Beach


Watch the Magnificent Sunset


On the first evening, we were sitting on the bench in front of the bar relaxing. The fiery red sunset engulfed the calm blue sea. The sight was so magnificent that for a minute, all the guests at the bar stopped talking and whipped out their camera. They snapped away at the splendid sight right in front of their eyes. All our reactions were as dramatic as the red colour in the sky.

Fiery Sunset in Tioman Engulfing the Calm Blue Sea


On the second evening, we went to the same old place waiting and hoping to see another astonishing sunset like the first day. Alas, the sunset was not as attention grabbing as the first day. The sight of the sunset was typical.

I also had fun swinging and lying in a hammock alone for some time until nightfall. There were a lot of fruit bats flying around at high speed. They flew past me at a close range and I was alarmed and slightly paranoid that they would attack me.

Swinging on a Hammock in Tioman


Snorkelling in Clear Water

Pulau Tioman and all the islands in the South China Sea are hot spots for snorkelling, diving and fishing. We were there for snorkelling. Not being a good swimmer, I had an inflatable mattress to help me and spent the whole day in the sea.

The water condition has deteriorated over the past 15 years. Many corals are dead due to pollution and over-fishing even though marine conservation efforts attempt to preserve the natural marine beauty. The water was quite clear although far from being perfect, we could see corals and fishes easily.

Swimming and Snorkeling in Tioman


Recommended Activities

When the tourists stepped out from Kampung Tekek Ferry Terminal, people were handing out the leaflets on the types of activities to do in Pulau Tioman. Some of the activities seemed interesting but I did not have sufficient days to explore them further.

I am not associated with them but would like to inform you about the things to do in Tioman Island if you wish to do more than lazing your whole day on a beach or in the same spot. Perhaps you like diving in Pulau Tioman or could plan more activities through my article.

I have copied out the activities from the leaflets in brief. If any of the activities interest you, you can click the link on the penguin to get more details such as group pricing, timing, places of interest and contact information via my Flickr page. Please remember to book at least one day in advance!

CHARTERED BOAT TO… FEE
1. 3D 2N Trip to Juara from RM$ 120.00 (1 pax, minimum of 6 pax)
2. Tulai Island from RM$   90.00 (1 pax, on sharing basis)
3. Coral Island Trip from RM$   80.00 (1 pax, on sharing basis)
4. Monkey Bay from RM$   80.00 (1 pax, on sharing basis)
5. Snorkeling Trip + Fishing from RM$ 450.00 (2 to 4 pax)
6. Juara Trip 4×4 from RM$ 200.00 (4 pax)
Water Activities

Itinerary


Dadini and Family
TRIP A: AROUND TIOMAN ISLAND + MASK + LIFE JACKET + MINERAL WATER
6 Sites ✔ Mukut Waterfall   ✔ Juara Village    ✔ Deep Bay ✔ Reef Shark          ✔ Marine Park     ✔ Renggis Island

View the Twin Peaks (Dragon’s Horns) and trek up to scenic Mukut Waterfalls. Have lunch at Juara Village at your cost. Snorkel at Teluk Dalam (Deep Bay), then proceeds to the famous Monkey Bay. Feed the friendly fishes at Marine Park. The final destination is Renggis island.

  • from RM$ 120.00 per Adult (sharing basis)
TRIP B (i): COASTAL TRIP MASK + LIFE JACKET + MINERAL WATER
4 Sites ✔ Soyak Island  ✔ Monkey Bay  ✔ Marine Park  ✔ Renggis Island

  • From RM$  70.00 per Adult (on sharing basis)
TRIP B (ii): CORAL ISLAND / SNORKELING TOUR + MASK + LIFE JACKET + MINERAL WATER
6 Sites ✔ Coral Island     ✔ Malang Rock    ✔ Salang Village ✔ Monkey Bay     ✔ Marine Park     ✔ Renggis Island Snorkel at Coral Island (shallow beach safe for snorkelling novices) and Malang Rock. Explore Salang Village and stay for lunch at your cost. Snorkel at Monkey Bay, then feed the friendly fishes at Marine Park. The final destination is Renggis Island.

  • From RM$  85.00 per Adult (on sharing basis)
TRIP C: MUKUT WATERFALL TOUR + MASK + LIFE JACKET + MINERAL WATER
4 Sites ✔ Mukut Waterfall  ✔ Semebal Island  ✔ Nipah Village  ✔ Renggis Island View the Twin Peaks (Dragon’s Horns) and trek up to the scenic Mukut Village. Snorkel at Semebal island. Lunch at the Nipah Village at your cost. The final destination is Renggis Island

  • From RM$ 100.00 per Adult (on sharing basis)
Sea Sports, Water Activities

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TRIP D: FISHING TRIP (DAY / NIGHT / TROLLING) + FISHING LINE + MINERAL WATER
  • From RM$  90.00 per Adult (on sharing basis)
TRIP E: 4W DRIVE RIDE TO JUARA
4 Sites by Car ✔ Turtle Project  ✔ Relax at Juara Beach  ✔ Juara Waterfall  ✔ Marine Park

  • RM$ 150.00 (small car)
  • RM$ 250.00 (big car)
TRIP F: SPEED BOAT SHUTTLE TO – ONE WAY, MINIMUM 4 PAX
✔ Renggis Island  ✔ Paya Village  ✔ Genting Village  ✔ Salang Village  ✔ Nipah Village ✔ Minang Cove  ✔ Mukut Village  ✔ Juara Village  ✔ ABC Village  ✔ Tunamaya  ✔ Japamala  ✔ Monkey Bay  ✔ Marine Park/Boat

  • RM $ 25.00 – RM $ 150.00
Sea Sports, Water Activities

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Return Trip from Tioman to Mersing


Shuttle to Kampung Tekek Ferry Terminal

The shuttle bus left from Berjaya Tioman Resort to Kampung Tekek Ferry Terminal at 10 am. There was a long queue at the ferry terminal when we were collecting the boarding pass.

During passenger boarding, the queue was more orderly this time as compared to the boarding situation when we first arrived. There was nothing to see and do there – no shop and no eatery.

Shuttle to Kampung Tekek Ferry Terminal


Food Review in Chamek Kopitiam

In Mersing, we went for our lunch first before figuring out the exact pickup location of our coach. We had plenty of time, about 1.5 to 2 hours before departing at 3 pm.

We walked about 50m away from Mersing Ferry Terminal and spotted this café called Chamek Kopitiam from far and was drawn to its decor immediately. We decided rapidly that this would be the place for our lunch and was cosy enough to spend our time here.

My friend had Curry Seafood with Rice @ RM $ 12.00 which was thick and very flavoursome. I ordered my favourite Malay food, Mee Hoon Soto @ RM $ 5.50 that considerably paled off in comparison. The soup was bland like water. I topped off my meal with a cold drink, Soya Cincau @ RM $ 2.70.

Chamek Kopitiam No. 89 Jalan Sulaiman Bandar Tetian Sungai 86800 Mersing

Food Review in Chamek Kopitiam


Where is my Travel Coach back to Singapore?

It was tough to guess the parking position of the coach in Mersing going back to Singapore as there was no signboard to indicate. The reservation slip did not state the pickup point too.

Moreover, the area around Mersing Jetty was quite big and the coach could park anywhere. We asked many people and some travel agencies who also did not know where the travel buses would stop.

There was another coach terminal about 10 minutes of walk away from the Mersing Ferry Terminal. It was the same direction where we had lunch but much further away. We finally reached the coach terminal after asking for the exact direction again from Chamek Kopitiam.

After asking the same question to several people, a man told us confidently that the bus that we were searching for was parked near to the Mersing Ferry Terminal from where we came.

 

It was a very scorching and humid afternoon. The thought of walking back again with luggage on hand irked me. The man offered a taxi ride back for RM$ 10. We rejected him politely because we had spent all our money (Ringgits) away. The friendliness diminished on his face like lightning.

We asked around (again) where would the bus be parked after walking back to the ferry terminal. Finally, some young chaps pointed to us in the direction of the coach as shown in the first photo below.

In the photo below, the first one suggested the parking position of the coach. The next two showed the surrounding of the Mersing Ferry Terminal. The coach is on the left side of the photo.

We boarded the bus and saw the same friendly Malay driver who drove us to Mersing on the first day. We requested to alight in Boon Lay but he said he would stop at Golden Mile Complex first before proceeding to Boon Lay.

We decided to alight in Golden Mile Complex to have Thai dinner before taking a cab back home. As we had left a few dollars of Malaysian Ringgits with us, we gave the leftover to him as tips.

Coach to Singapore from Mersing


Conclusion

My travel review of Pulau Tioman –  The decision to stay in Berjaya Tioman Resort was wise. The breakfast in Berjaya Tioman Resort and our food from outside were scrumptious. My friend was so in love with the place that he asked me to stay one more night but we were not able to do so because I had to reschedule all the logistics which was just too cumbersome.

Booking coach ticket online to Tioman Island was a breeze. The challenge was buying a ferry ticket and it has to be purchased in Mersing Ferry Terminal unless you want to spend more money buying Tioman ferry tickets online which might not be too secure either.