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The waters run deep!

The sea seems small and island hopping is literally possible. Discover Malaysia with ANJANA RAJAN

BREATHTAKING! Malaysia offers plenty of sites to keep you on your toes

Malaysia's tourism officials have coined the catchy phrase "Malaysia, truly Asia", and with the country's amalgam of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures, it is an apt description.

For Indian tourists, though, there is another way of looking at it.

Reminiscent of India

The dense palm-filled landscapes, the sea fronts and the sizeable population of people of Indian origin — take Kuala Lumpur's Little India, with signboards in Malayalam and Tamil, and the latest chartbusters from commercial films assailing the ears — certainly remind you of South India.

The aroma of sambar wafts from the little restaurants to be found in small towns and you can converse in Tamil with the locals, but the chaotic traffic, the lawless disposal of garbage and the cattle on the roads are mercifully absent.

It's rather like a well-behaved version of India.

But Malaysia is unique too, and one of the most exciting possibilities about visiting this nation, no matter how much you may shop at KL, or how much you enjoy gambling and gaming at the famous Genting resort city, is exploring its natural beauties. Tioman Island, an hour's plane ride from Subang Airport near Kuala Lumpur, is one of those picture perfect destinations.

Nature's vignettes

As the small Berjaya airlines plane descends towards the tarmac, the blue-green waters of the coral reef shimmers below.

You can also approach the island by ferry, a merry ride on the sea.

Berjaya owns a sprawling property on Tioman, the Berjaya Tioman Beach, Golf & Spa Resort.

With luxury cottages and apartments, and a range of restaurants and bars, the resort, sandwiched between the sea and the forested hills, makes full use of the surroundings.

It offers everything its name promises, plus endearing extras, such as bicycles for rent, to negotiate the distances between facilities, and a donkey ranch, where you can feed the donkeys and have a ride too.

In case anyone wonders, Malaysian donkeys are striking fellows, taller and sturdier looking than their lowly Indian brethren.

<167,0m,1>"Just like ponies," points out the ranch employee.

You can also take a wonderful trek in the forest.

It is neither too easy, like the manicured joggers' trails of a five star hotel, nor too tough, as long as your muscles and joints are in reasonably good condition.

The young guide rushes ahead like a jeans-clad Mowgli until some in the group shout out that the beauties of the forest are all being missed out in the effort to follow his nimble feet.

When people get panting and ask how much longer they have to go, he unfailingly answers in terms of time - "only 40 minutes!" - instead of distance.

Never mind that he is judging by his own speed.

But persevering brings its own rewards. There is a cool waterfall inside the forest, falling into a pool with smooth rocks to sit on.

All the while, the hot sun outside is hard to imagine, since the trees have cast a canopy overhead.

Peaceful retreat

There is peace and more peace for the asking at Tioman.

Even the sea seems still, thanks to the coral reef, which ensures protection from the fierce breakers one usually finds on sea beaches. This is a delight for swimmers, who float about as nonchalantly as in a swimming pool.

But if you prefer the chlorinated security of a real pool, the resort has one of those too.

Go snorkelling

Try "island hopping", and the adage `still waters run deep' comes breathtakingly true in a metaphorical as well as literal sense if you try snorkelling in these waters. The snorkelling gear looks formidably professional, but the staff on the resort boat insists one need not even know how to swim to enjoy the delights of this activity!

With the life jacket, compulsory for everyone, which ensures you can't go under against your will, and a helping hand for anyone who needs it, all you need to do is fit the apparatus inside your mouth, descend the ladder from the boat and pop your head below the surface.

Underwater wonders

Don't smile, the guide reminds you, in case you squeal with delight, otherwise the sea water rushes into your mouth, interfering with breathing. But it is difficult not to.

No amount of watching films on the environment could prepare one for a first glimpse of the scene below the water: the multicoloured fish, the surreal sculpted look of the coral reef, the sparkles and shadows, the unexpected hard surfaces and the all-enveloping softness that can swallow you any time.

It is enough to make a believer out of a staunch non-believer. Or, you can be practical. In the words of one tourist, "I'll never visit an aquarium again!"

No need, just visit Malaysia.

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