Exploring Malaysia 
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Tioman Island, voted among the best island getaways in the world has an abundance of fabulous beaches and coral and marine life of myriad shades and hues adorning the surrounding waters. According to local legends it is the final resting place of a mythical beautiful dragon princess who enraptured by the place took the form of an island and pledged to offer shelter and comfort to visit travellers. Virgin rugged green jungles, picturesque mountains, cool streams, serene waterfalls, glorious sunsets and charming hospitable natives will make your stay on the island truly idylic!
Geography
Tioman Island, located off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, is part of the Tioman Marine Park, which comprises a cluster of islands gazetted as a Marine Park in 1995. Although Tioman Island is the largest and most developed of these volcanic islands it is relatively small, measuring 39 km long and 12 km wide with its highest peak at 1047 meters. The island is covered by lush forest vegetation in the interior and surrounded by beautiful colourful coral reefs. It has eight main villages, the largest and most populous being Kampung Tekek in the north.
The climate on the island is typically tropical, hot and humid all year round. The monsoon season is between December and early February, during which time there are heavy downpours and huge swelling waves that make the island virtually inaccessible.
History
Tioman Island, in the past, was an important navigation point and source of water and supplies for fishermen and travellers. Relics such as porcelain shards found on beaches around the island shows evidence of the presence of Chinese, Arab and Europeans on the island.
Reminders of the World War II struggles between the British and the Japanese litter the waters around the island, among which the HMS Repulse and the HMS Prince of Wales have now become interesting tourist and dive sites.
The island received international acclaim when its beautiful beaches were featured in the 1958 movie, South Pacific. Further in the 1970s, Tioman Island was voted one of the world’s ten most beautiful islands by TIME magazine. Tioman was declared a duty-free island in September 2002
Today the local population on the island mainly comprises Muslim Malays, with a yearly constant influx of tourists from around the world.
