Pulau Pangkor Blog, with what's new in the Pulau Pangkor.com website

May 22, Balik Pulau, a complete different face of Penang

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:44:14 -0400

Penang has many faces. The most well known are the beaches, the heritage, the food but did you know there is a complete different kind of face few travelers see? It's the face of the rural countryside, which lies in the south west of the island, just about half an hour from the busy city center of George Town or Batu Ferringhi.

Pulau Betong near Balik Pulau Balik Pulau

May 13, Nipah Guesthouse Pangkor

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:51:01 -0400

It's still my favorite guesthouse at Pangkor. Cottages are great, breakfast is good but the new addition, the pool makes it all perfect! Book now!

The brand new swimming pool!

May 7, Worldwide diving packages

Tue, 7 May 2013 08:55:51 -0400

More diving packages available all over the world, click here to check out diving in Thailand, Maldives, Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef and many more.

May 6, Sightseeing in Malacca - Tour from Kuala Lumpur

Mon, 6 May 2013 01:39:14 -0400

The tour starts in Kuala Lumpur and shows you all the main historical buildings in Malacca including the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the Dutch Stadthuys, Christchurch and much more.

May 3, Playing golf in Pangkor: Damai Laut Golf & Country Club

Fri, 3 May 2013 05:49:35 -0400

It's the only place to play golf in the Pangkor area. But what a place it is! The Damai Laut is a really cool 5 star international golf course. No golf lover should ignore the Damai Laut Golf & Country Club which is part of Swiss-Garden Golf Resort & Spa Damai Laut.

May 2, Payar and Langkawi Islands Leisurely Cruise

Thu, 2 May 2013 10:45:28 -0400

Visit Pulau Payar for some amazing snorkeling in crystal clear water in this one day tour. It's a very enjoyable boat cruise to a beautiful and quiet spot in between Penang and Langkawi.

Apr 28, Traveling to Pangkor

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 05:52:15 -0400

So here is all you need to know how to travel to Pangkor, regardless your preference, air, car, bus, taxi, heck even by bicycle!

Some fine views when flying along Malaysia's west coast.

Apr 19, Malacca, UNESCO World Heritage City

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:07:45 -0400

I know you know, it's one of Malaysia's prime tourist destinations but where to stay? Or better, where to stay cheaply and still comfortable? I've sorted it out for you:

Apr 13, Flying to Malaysia

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 20:15:18 -0400

Malaysia has one of the main transport hubs in Asia (together with Bangkok, Jakarta, Singapore and Hong Kong. Thus it's not for nothing you can easily find your way to the country. And if you travel in Asia, AirAsia flies from many Asian destinations to Kuala Lumpur.

Flying in Asia with Airasia

Apr 12, cycling and motorcycling at Pangkor

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 05:26:23 -0400

Get a motorbike or bicycle and explore Pangkor. The island small enough to get around on your own. And it's good fun. Here's what you can expect.

Apr 9, Langkawi

Tue, 9 Apr 2013 22:33:33 -0400

One of the prime holiday destinations in Malaysia is of course Langkawi. There are unrivaled beaches and more. Here's an overview of what the island offers:

Apr 5, Pangkor Laut

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 05:55:52 -0400

No introduction necessary, Pangkor Laut is one of those world famous spectacular hotel island resorts that need no further introduction. If you however have no heard of Pangkor Laut... check this page (click on the photo)

Apr 2, Golden Sands Resort Penang

Tue, 2 Apr 2013 11:57:05 -0400

The Golden Sands Resort is truly a great family hotel. You and your partner explore the heritage, the food and the other exciting things of Penang, your children have the day(s) of their life in and around the hotel in one of the many pools and busy with one of the many activities organized by the hotel staff. Your children are 100% safe!

Mar 27, The turtles in Segari

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 04:49:03 -0400

Anyone visiting Pangkor island should visit Segari's Turtle Management Station because it is doomed to be destroyed by heavy industry. If you have never seen turtles (and tortoises) close, have them in your hands, this is your change. See the few left over turtles in Malaysia... trust me, it will be a life changing experience.

Mar 21, Teambuilding in the Pangkor area

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 20:29:53 -0400

We have a great set of activities to get your team closer and working better than ever. We offer teambuilding for schools and organizations in the jungle of Pangkor and Lumut.

Mar 18, The ferry to Pangkor

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 11:12:07 -0400

The ferry to Pangkor is for many years operational. Every 30 minutes or so it leaves from Lumut. Nowadays there's a new ferry from the Marina Island too but this requires you to have your own transport. And the price for the return ticket is still the same as when I came the first time to Pangkor in 2003. Some things seems not to change:)

Mar 6, All the bus info for Lumut and Pangkor

Wed, 6 Mar 2013 19:42:40 -0500

Pangkor is very well connected to the rest of Malaysia. There are many buses to Kuala Lumpur and Penang but the local service was until recent quite so-so. Fortunately that now is also improved. Travelers can find a bus from Lumut/Seri Manjung to for example Teluk Batik, a beach in the past unreachable by public transport. Here is much more:

Mar 3, The mangrove forest at Taman Paya Bakau

Sun, 3 Mar 2013 06:28:43 -0500

Most travelers do not visit Taman Paya Bakau unless they have their own transport. It's a bit far out of Lumut and walking there is too much, so you need a taxi. But it's worth the effort going and learn something about the importance of the mangrove forests of north west Malaysia.

Feb 20, Hidden beach Teluk Segadas

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 03:53:49 -0500

One of the more forgotten and hidden beaches of Pangkor: Teluk Segadas. Why? No proper road connects the beach to any other place at Pangkor. It's only a small jungle path that takes you in 20 minutes or so to the beach. There's no restaurant, no hotel or other facilities available. And THAT makes the beach just as special...

Feb 19, Damai Laut Golf & Country Club

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:35:03 -0500

It's the only place in the Pangkor surrounding where you can play golf. The international standard golf course, designed and build by world famous golf course designer Ronald Fream is the place to be. Pangkor is of course nearby ... just opposite the course.

Feb 15, Diving at Pangkor

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:25:50 -0500

Pangkor might not be the right place to dive but Sembilan Island, a group of small inhabited islands certainly is worth exploring. I did here my first dives and so can you enjoy Pangkor ... it's certainly worth the effort!

Feb 4, Chinese New Year

Mon, 4 Feb 2013 10:01:25 -0500

Chinese New Year is always a big festival, all over the world but in countries with a larger Chinese population, it's even more evident. Penang has a population of 40% Chinese so it's clear this is where the party is... Here is my report about 2010. Needless to say this year, the year of the Snake will be again a big party.

88 Drummers at the Chinese New Year Penang in front of the Masjid Kapitan Kling

Jan 26, This weekend ... Thaipusam

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 02:05:51 -0500

This weekend ... Thaipusam, one of the great festivals in Malaysia. I wrote several pages about it for my Pangkor site ... if you are in Penang or KL, go for it... a life time even... and yes, it happens all over Malaysia but Penang and KL are the biggest places

Jan 23, Lumut Heritage, the remains of the Lumut heritage are a bit difficult to find

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:36:00 -0500

Lumut Heritage, the remains of the Lumut heritage are a bit difficult to find

Jan 23, The mangrove forest of Kuala Sepetang

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 02:08:38 -0500

One of the most underrated tourist attractions of Malaysia can be found near Taiping in Kuala Sepetang. Kuala Sepetang does get some local travelers visiting. They visit the mangrove forest by walking into it, visit a charcoal factory and some even take a boat by the forest department to see the village from the water. Yet, the single best part of the mangrove forest is ... the mangrove forest. I've been many times deep in the mangrove swamps... and this is where you should go.

Jan 22, Kinta Valley: Kampar

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:40:30 -0500

One of the lesser visited areas in Perak is the Kinta valley. It's a former mining area and the remains can be seen even today. Kampar is the center of the valley and from here you can visit for example the Gua Tempurung Caves and new Tin Mining Museum...

Former tin mines, now popular fishing lakes, here in Malim Nawar

Jan 21, Play golf at Chinese New Year

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 08:24:52 -0500

Hmm, you like to play golf and you want to come to Pangkor/Perak? You better book right now. There are still rooms available at the Swiss-Garden Golf Resort & Spa Damai Laut but I do not know for how long ...

Jan 20, The Pangkor maps and the maps of Malaysia

Sun, 20 Jan 2013 21:23:37 -0500

Pangkor maps and map of Malaysia, we have included a detailed map of Pangkor Island for your convenience.

Jan 11, 3 days trip to Pangkor from Kuala Lumpur

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:27:33 -0500

Pangkor island 3-day trip from Kuala Lumpur includes 2 night stay in 4 star hotel, tour on the island and more.

Dec 29, (Motor) Cycling on the Perak Mainland: Around Damar Laut

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 02:31:19 -0500

Get a motorbike or bicycle and explore the area around Lumut. There's more than enough to keep you busy for even a couple of days. And all is without a few km from Lumut (or inside Lumut town, of course), here is more:

Dec 25, Blue Bay Resort Lumut apartments

Tue, 25 Dec 2012 23:11:26 -0500

Blue Bay apartments in Lumut.

Dec 23, Last minute hotels at Pangkor

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 09:20:08 -0500

Looking for a last minute hotel at Pangkor? Try This link and search...

Dec 16, Visit the Perak Mainland

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 19:28:17 -0500

So, you are coming to Pangkor for the Christmas holidays? Here's some ideas for a daytrip to the mainland and visit some awesome sights in the area:

The huge Sam Poh Tong temple complex, here Ling Sen Tong cave temple

Dec 5, Coral Bay Resort

Wed, 5 Dec 2012 18:53:26 -0500

One of the better and very popular hotels at Pangkor is the Coral Bay Resort. If you intend to spend Christmas at Pangkor at the Coral Bay, you better book right now before it is fully booked. Every year we get queries from people at the last moment and we have to disappoint them. So book now and have happy holidays:)!

Dec 4, Teambuilding in Pangkor, Lumut, Taiping and Teluk Batik

Tue, 4 Dec 2012 23:39:54 -0500

Explore your limits with Explore the Wilderness. We're based in Sitiawan and offer a wide scope of team building activities in the jungle of Teluk Batik, Lumut and Pangkor plus, ecology camps in and around Taiping including the Gua Tempurung Caves and Kuala Sepetang mangrove forests. It's all about having fun!

Dec 3, Accommodation in Pangkor

Mon, 3 Dec 2012 01:06:44 -0500

Christmas is coming. We're approaching the holiday season now very quickly. If you haven't booked your holiday, you have to do it right now. Typically all hotels at Pangkor are fully booked so you have to be quick.

Nov 30, The attractions of Pangkor

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:38:23 -0500

Pangkor has more to offer than a few nice beaches... one of my favorite is the Foo Lin Kong temple ... check it out...

Nov 27, The Dutch Fort

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 01:16:06 -0500

One of the more important archeological remains in Perak is the Dutch Fort. It's a small fort originally build by the Dutch when they occupied Pangkor. There's not a lot left but there's plenty of space for imagining what it must have looked like some 400 years ago

Nov 26, Canoeing around Pangkor

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 09:36:51 -0500

One of the great things about Pangkor is the possibility to canoe around the island. It requires an early start (around 7AM or so) and you'll finish around 5PM. I did the journey starting from Teluk Batik but you can easily get a canoe at Pasir Bogak or Teluk Nipah too.

On the way to Pangkor, here Mr. Goh and one of the students, in the back you an see the tower of Pangkor Town

Nov 24, River cruise at Kuala Sepetang

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 21:09:25 -0500

One of the great things you can do is trying to find a local cargo boat and go deep into the mangrove forest of Kuala Sepetang. Trust me, it's a wonderful experience.

Nov 24, Pangkor Island Beach Resort

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 02:57:42 -0500

I've spend once Christmas at Pangkor Island Beach Resort. That was quite a pleasure. Should you think about going, you better book now!

Nov 20, Snake Temple Penang

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 07:00:30 -0500

Today I went to visit the Snake Temple, Penang. It was already 5 years since I have been there. Nothing much has changed although there seem to be a few more snakes than in 2007. It's a nice temple, only a bit out of the ordinary tourist area: Bayan Lepas. Still, recommended to visit!

Nov 13, Marina Island

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 23:02:46 -0500

The Marina island is getting more important for Pangkor and Lumut. For the average (local) traveler with their own transport to Pangkor the Marine Island is becoming an interesting alternative. The man-made island has hotels and quick ferries to Pangkor. There is plenty of parking space and for those who'd like to stay here, there's a few hotels of which Best Western Marina Island Resort Pangkor (the inclusion of Pangkor in the name suggest it's located at Pangkor but it is located at Marina Island) is the best, 3 star, hotel.

Marina Island's Laguna Service Apartments, ready for registering

Nov 13, Getting around at Pangkor

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 02:11:04 -0500

So, how do you get around at Pangkor? Taxi, motorbike and bicycle are the easiest options. But what about trains, cars and buses? It's all here:

There are more motorbikes on Pangkor than cars

Nov 6, Nine Emperor Gods Festival Butterworth

Tue, 6 Nov 2012 03:16:28 -0500

A much better video of the last Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Butterworth. Professional filmed and editied. An excellent showcase of this spectacular piece of the Chinese culture in Penang.

Nov 5, Jungle trekking at Pangkor

Mon, 5 Nov 2012 23:11:51 -0500

One of the most overlooked activities at Pangkor is a jungle trekking across the island. This trekking, which can be done in about 5 hours, leads first to the top of the highest hill at Pangkor: Bukit pangkor and from there all the way to Pasir Bogak. It's a great day spending in the jungle ....

Oct 31, Kuala Sepetan, the charcoal factories in Matang

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:37:19 -0400

The mangrove forest in Kaual Sepetang offers a living for many locals related not only to the fishing industry, but also in the production of charcoal. This is a profitable business and well controlled so over the years the next generations will have a sustainable living too...

Mr. Chuah explains about the production of charcoal

Oct 31, Flight to Malaysia and Pangkor

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 09:34:22 -0400

This is a great "how to" page about getting to Malaysia and how to fly to Pangkor...

Flying in Asia to Malaysia with Airasia

Oct 29, The beaches at Pangkor

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 23:45:58 -0400

There are several beaches at Pangkor but only 2 of them are easy accessible: Teluk Nipah and Pasir Bogak. The 3rd is Kota Belanda but it's a private beach of the Pangkor Island Beach Resort. Here is more about the Pangkor Beaches...

Coral Bay, part of Teluk Nipah, no doubt one of most beautiful beaches
of Pulau Pangkor with its crystal blue waters.

Oct 24, Sightseeing in Malacca - Tour from Kuala Lumpur

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 21:22:31 -0400

Terrific tour from KL to Malacca to explore Malacca's heritage... highly recommended!

Oct 22, Leisure Cruise at Langkawi

Mon, 22 Oct 2012 09:09:06 -0400

Visit Pulau Payar for some amazing snorkeling in crystal clear water in this one day tour. It's a very enjoyable boat cruise to a beautiful and quiet spot in between Penang and Langkawi.

Oct 17, Nine Emperor Gods Festival

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 22:15:37 -0400

This week it is again Nine Emperor Gods Festival, one of the lesser known Chinese festivals in Malaysia. In this case it certainly is unknown makes unwanted but it's far from uninteresting. For me, it's one of the most fascinating festivals in Malaysia. Maybe it is because there is so much spirituality involved. You really have to visit one of the main temples, the Tow Boo Kong in Butterworth is certainly one of the main places: Friday night: skewing spear ceremony Sunday night: firewalk... both nights highly recommended!

The Gods manifestation, according to the believes of Taoists

Oct 10, 3 Days Pangkor Tour from KL

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 22:59:38 -0400

Pangkor island 3-day trip from Kuala Lumpur includes 2 night stay in 4 star hotel, tour on the island and more.