The monsoon season in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia sets in by end-October and lasts through till early-March. But the best time to visit the Pulau Pemanggil is from end-March to June and September to mid-October.
Amenities
Telecommunication
The island has 2 public phone booths provided by Telekom, our largest telecommunication company. One situated at Kampung Buau, which is in good working order and the other at Kampung Pak Kaleh. Be sure to purchase a telekom phonecard before you leave mainland, in case the local provision shop runs out of such supplies.
Electricity
Electricity is on generators for the moment but there are plans for the National Electricity Board (TNB) to connect the island in the future. For the time being, electricity is from 7.30pm to 7.30am
Photo Developing
There isn't such facility on the island.
Money Changer
All transactions are conducted in Ringgit so get your money changed at Mersing or book your tour package, transportation and accommodation with your tour agent
Language
The villagers converse only in Bahasa Malaysia and their island dialect, which is a variant of our national language. A few may be able to converse in pidgin English but if you do have problems, the staff at Lanting Beach Resort are conversant in English so try seeking them for help.
Things to Buy
Fishing boat models
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Pak Boh lives in a little hut at the edge of Kampung Buau. He retired from his fishing career a few years ago, leaving his enormous task of bearing the responsibility of his large family, to his older boys. While sitting and pondering on the porch one fine evening, an idea came to him to continue his childhood hobby of carving. Having studied the shape and sizes of all kinds of boats passing by his front porch over the years, he began making mantelpiece models for sale.
He and his eldest son climb the slopes in search of the wood to harvest for his boat models. The wood is then left to dry in the sun for at least 2 weeks before Pak Boh tends to it. From memory and also from his experience as a fisherman, Pak Boh carves and structures the blocks of wood using only the most basic of tools - a knife, a mallet and, a pencil for marking the outlines. The rest is from memory. He specialises in traditional fishing boats and the boats are available either unvarnished or fully painted. My recommendation would be to go for the unvarnished version as Pak Boh usually works in dimly lit conditions which leaves such intricate work as 'model-painting' a little too much of a challenge for him.
And it's nicer to add your own finishing touches to the model - the unvarnished boats cost RM45 each on average, but ask again as there are various sizes which can cost between RM35 to RM75 each. Durian
the season arrives in August and is plentiful all over the island. Only thing is that the ubiquitous monkeys on the island may get to it before any of us do! Sold at RM2.00 each
Mangoes
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The season runs from May to September. You can get the boys to collect these mangos but only for a fee though. Sold at RM1.00 each
Food & Drinks
Food is usually provided at the resorts and is included with the accommodation packages. But if you so choose to walk around Kampung Buau, you may chance across a stall that sells 'satay landak'. This is a specialty here and yes, to confirm that your expanse of Bahasa vocabulary still serves you well, it IS 'porcupine satay' - cringe!!!
You could get some basics like fried noodles, maggie mee (instant noodles) and hot drinks for sale at the local café but no ALCOHOLIC drinks served on the island. So please BYOB if that is one of your main SOS's in your survival kit!
Accommodation and Holiday Packages to Johor ~ Johor Baru, Mersing, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Besar, Pulau Rawa, Pulau Aur, Pulau Pemanggil, Pulau Sibu, Endau Rompin National Park and Surroundings
Peninsula Malaysia Islands |
| Pulau Aur | Pulau Besar | Pulau Bidong | Pulau Duyung Besar | Pulau Gemia | Pulau Kapas | Pulau Langkawi | Pulau Lang Tengah | Pulau Pangkor | Pulau Payar | Pulau Perhentian | Pulau Pemanggil | Penang | Pulau Rawa | Pulau Redang | Pulau Sibu | Pulau Tenggol | Pulau Tioman | |
Peninsula Malaysia Coastal Beaches |
| Marang | Merang | Rantau Abang | Penarik | Port Dickson | Tanjung Jara | Cherating | |
Sabah and Sarawak ~ Borneo Islands & Coastal Beaches |
Sabah Islands ~ | Gaya Island | Kapalai | Pulau Mabul | Pulau Sipadan | Selingan Turtle Island | Mantanani Besar Island | Mataking Island | Lankayan Island | Layang Layang Island | Pom Pom Island | Pulau Tiga Resort (Survivor Island) | Sabah Coastal Beaches ~ | Kinarut, Papar | Tuaran | Sarawak Coastal Beaches ~ | Damai Beach, Santubong | Kayakking with Dolphins | |
Getting There and Away
Best Time to Go
Pulau Pemanggil Packages & accommodation ...
Malaysia Islands
