BEER, BEACH AND THE BLACKTIP REEF SHARKS OF PULAU PAYAR MARINE PARK
The emerald green water was
apparent even from a distance. An hour
of ferry ride from Kuah jetty booked through a tour agency, Ekomegah Holidays,
we arrived at Malaysia’s oldest Marine Park sanctuary – The Pulau Payar Marine
Park.
Arriving at midday and in
time for lunch, we settled at one of the cottages with a packed lunch prepared
by the tour agency, before our intended exploration.
Minutes before, a briefing
was made by the guide and a map was presented which showed how vast the property
is. The Pulau Payar Marine Park comprises of four uninhabited islands of Payar,
Lembu, Kaca and Segantang. These islands
offer the best diving sites on Peninsular Malaysia’s west coast. With the clear waters that it offers, it is
likewise one of the best snorkelling spots in the island.
We opted to just stay in one
island, the largest and touristy one, Pulau Payar.
With cans of beer in tow,
which we purchased beforehand at a nearby convenience store while at the ferry
terminal, and after we had our quick lunch, we scouted for a strategic location
where drinking spree and swimming would go hand-in-hand and effortless. Thus, we stayed under the boardwalk at the
opposite side of the ferry port.
In the true sense of
relaxation, I lean on the stilts of the boardwalk, gazed at the landscape and
the visible underwater as the waters touch my feet, and as the continuous
consumption of beer was heavenly.
While drinking, the sight of
the school of fish that comes in varied species and at times a blacktip reef
shark was common. I was simply
amazed. I have never seen a blacktip
reef shark that close. They swim so fast
in my attempt to hold them. They came in
numbers by the way. The sharks that we
are accustomed to while watching films and documentaries are deadly. We left uninjured though in this stint. They were so adorable that you could swim
with them.
There is a Marine Park
Center at Pulau Payar, which was set up and operated by Malaysia’s Fisheries
Department. The advocacy is for
responsible tourism and marine conservation.
The three of us being used
to wherever we shall be settled in a beach for as long as there’s a stash of
beer to consume, we could stay much longer if not for the time constraint
imposed. Most tour operators only offer
a day tour as special passes would be needed for an overnight stay.
The marine park is popular
to tourists due to convenience, not to mention the panoramic natural beauty of
the site. There are gazebos, picnic
tables, BBQ pits and most importantly restroom facilities available for public
use.
At around 2PM, the tour
operator called. Our time was up but
even on the last minutes, we continued to take a look at the blacktip reef
sharks enjoying the spotlight in a swarm of tourists.
No. 67-68 Persiaran Bunga
Raya
Langkawi Mall, Phase II,
Kuah,
07000 Langkawi, Kedah Darul
Aman, Malaysia
+60 49695989
ekolgk@gmail.com
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