Pulau Pemanggil sits 45kms east of Mersing, the take-off point to most islands off the Southern coast of Peninsular Malaysia. To get to Mersing itself takes 4½ hours by car or roughly 6hours by coach from KL (we shall use Kuala Lumpur as a point of reference) and from Mersing it takes another 4 1/2 hours (by traditional fishing boats) to paradise island . And of course, there is the waiting time to take into account - waiting for tidal changes, for boat, for coach, for tardy friends hitching a ride down with you. But then again, these are the little joys of travelling to far-off places for when you arrive, you know the tough journey has been all worth the effort - you have left the masses behind!
As with most inhabited islands in Malaysian waters, Pemanggil has its fair share of history, mystery and spookytales. Such tales intrigue me and I was determined to find out more about the island and its people, and wallow in waters of Malaysia's best maintained marine parks.