Pulau Perhentian, Terengganu, Malaysia

Just off Peninsular Malaysia near the Thai border, two small specks of tropical paradise sit side-by-side. The two islands are collectively known as Perhentian Island (called Pulau Perhentian in the Malay language). A lookout point hovers in a steep banana plantation on the side of the mountain of Perhentian Kecil (Small). Peering between two papaya trees, I can see the deep blue horizon spotted with small islands in the distance. I weave down the face of the mountain through the bananas and occasional mango tree in hopes of finding a mouth-watering, tangy mango treat. Large, flat pits are strewn about beneath every mango tree while their branches bare no fruit - evidence of the others (mainly monkeys) who obviously beat me to the punch. I descend from the heavenly perch to the sugary white sandy beach of the quaint fishing village below. There is no reason to deny the urge to submerge myself into the warm and clear water of the sea garden. Just a short 20-foot swim from shore and you'll be amidst table and tree choral of various shades of red, orange, green, and blue while parrot, clown, angle, puffer, and other vibrant fish glide around you in an explosion of color. The channel running between the two islands and the surrounding reefs are a scuba diver and snorkeler's dream come true.

Perhentian Kecil is small enough to kayak around in four or five hours, yet rich enough to make you never want to leave. Visit us at Long Beach to rent a kayak for the afternoon or to schedule some time on water skis, a wakeboard or a towable tube. We've got some fun lined up for all levels of adventurists. When you come back to the beach, enjoy a nice cup of local coffee or mango juice and don't forget to arrange a guided snorkel trip by boat for the next morning. Be careful though, it's hard to prepare yourself for the excitement that comes when small black tip sharks quickly pass by or when you swim neck-and-neck with the enormous green turtles as they surface for air. These magnificent turtles' population has been declining in recent years, so please do your part in preserving their health and well being by keeping your hands to yourself.