Japamala, Tioman

Ever want to escape the hecticness of Kuala Lumpur? Look no further there is a paradise called Japamala in Tioman. I've been browsing through the web to look for a weekend hideout and stumbled upon Japamala's website. I was immediately drawn to the jungle-beach like atmosphere and hastily made a reservation there. Alas, due to limited numbers of room available, the place is likely to be fully booked during peak season. So plan ahead.

So we drove to Mersing and took a 2 hour ferry ride to Kampung Genting Jetty. Note that it is best to book your ferry ahead to secure seats. We paid 30USD per person for a two way ride. Once you reach Kampung Genting, a speed boat will be waiting to bring you to Japamala. Mind you, a mere 5 mins ride to Japamala will cost you RM60++ per person for two way.

Upon arrival at the Jetty, I was in awe of the view (already). The long stretched jetty led us to a small quaint lobby where we were given the keys to our room.Bare in mind that you will need to pay RM200 deposit per night. Oh we were served a glass of iced berry-ginger drink and a chilled towel. How thoughtful!

We've decided to split our stay, one night in the sea view room and another, treetop jungle view. The rooms here requires a bit of climbing as there are many steps! Also, note that there are many creepy crawlers there which includes, monitor lizards and pythons. Yeap, that’s right. Youve been warned. So be prepared. If you're a scaredy cat like me, be sure to never wander alone and try to climb the stairs fasssstt. Once you’ve reached your room, you’ll forget the whole thing in a jiffy. Room is very clean and interior feels cozy. Veranda, is definitely the salient feature here. Especially for the sea view room.

 Later that afternoon we decided to have a swim in the turquoise colored sea. Snorkeling gears are provided. You can also opt for kayaking as well. The are many pretty fishies swimming in there which is somehow very therapeutic. Guests will also be served quick bites of ‘kuih’. At night, you can enjoy your meal deliciously prepared by the chefs while the staffs clean your room. That’s a little unexpected, having your room made up at night. We came back to room well cleaned and bed all made. They even gave us chocolates! How sweet.

Rates here is a bit on the high side compared to other resorts in Tioman, but nevertheless it is definitely worth every penny. That being said, look no further and go ahead, pay Japamala a visit!