Standing In the Eyes of the Tip

Have you ever thought of doing a world-record activity in your life? Well, if you do, keep reading. You can postpone your plans to climb Mount Everest or walk from the edge of Antarctic to the South Pole because these might seem a little bit too ambitious. Instead, you can do something simpler and more feasible in our famous Bolehland. Yes, with the spirit of Malaysia Tak Boleh, you can set a proud record for yourself by standing at the southernmost tip of mainland Asia – just like what I did!

For about one-hour drive from Johor Bahru, you could put your name in your own personal Guinness record and be proud of it. Who wouldn’t be excited when realizing that you are at the land’s end? Standing there will give you an awesome sense of achievement. For me, I felt like I was standing on top of a high-rise building where I could visualize my petite self at the end of Asia’s grand continent. The experience was overpowering I could almost feel Ella’s presence next to me, singing Standing in the Eyes of the World. I thought I could easily fall to the other side of another world. Hell me.

TANJUNG PIAI – LAND’S END

If you look closely at Malaysian map, you’ll see what I am talking about. This is where the significant tip is located – it juts right into Malacca Strait. This explains how it holds such geographical significance as the southernmost tip of mainland Asia. Tanjung Piai is mapped within Mukim Serkat, in the district of Pontian. Okay, let’s play with some words here. Serkat is a Malay word which refers to ‘sekat’ or ‘blocked off’ or ‘stuck’. Meanwhile, Pontian refers to ‘perhentian’ or ‘a place to stop’. All these names justify Tanjung Piai as a Land’s End where people usually stop and get stuck because there is nowhere else to go. Hmmm… interesting, isn’t it?

To be more precise, the tip is located within Tanjung Piai Johor National Park. Tagged as the ‘realms where endless spectacles unfold’, this park has been in existence since 1997. It is a real kingdom where you could be lost in admiration for the rich mangroves and mudflats. In fact, Malaysian government has included the park in the official list of Wetland of International Importance (don’t play-play okay).

The moment you step into this ecological haven, you’ll be impressed by a tall landmark near the visitor’s complex. Built in 2001, this 20-metre monument shows two leaves of Paku Piai Raya, a local fern commonly found in mangroves, from which Tanjung Piai gets its name (This adds another flora-based name for places in Malaysia, just like my Kampung Binjal hehe).

Walking along the boardwalk, I was suddenly grounded by vast mangroves and giant stilt roots. It was pleasurable to be surrounded by these natural greeneries and panoramic views of forest. Through various signboards, I was taught about the priceless values of mangroves. Wait a minute, mangroves? Who cares about mangroves? Well, if you are a fan of Discovery channel on Astro, you might be interested in this bit of information. But, if you think you are smarter than a fifth grader, you might want to ignore this.

Anyway, let me bore you with these facts – just in case our government decides to get rid of mangroves. Okay kids, mangroves protect our shores from wind and erosion. They act as containers and absorbers of nutrients. Besides being sources for food and home for animals, mangroves also provide human beings with education, research, enjoyment, income and economic products. See that? How important the mangroves are.

Okay, besides information on mangroves, I noticed that there are a lot of other inspiring and green messages located at out-of-the-blue spots. I was amused most of the times reading those witty statements and friendly words – just the same feeling whenever I am browsing in the IKEA. The marketing people are really clever there. They know how to use words to make me smile. Just like these.

Have I given you enough education? Well, don’t worry, it’s free. Now, if you walk on the boardwalk, walk slowly. There is no need to rush. Don’t forget to see on your left or your right. Look below or behind you. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the presence of cute Dusky Leaf Monkeys or Long-Tailed Macaques. Don’t be scared. As long as you don’t offer them foods, you’ll be safe. Or else, you’ll be chased by their other friends. So, stay calm and no, no, no, don’t scream. Just don’t bother their lives and keep walking. And just show your respect to these conspicuous park residents.

Now, if you see closely on the mudflats, you can spot Blue-Spotted Mudskippers or ‘ikan belacak’. Seeing it for the first time, this fish look so interestingly weird and hideous. They almost resemble lizards.

Mudskippers are mostly out of water. You can see them happily skipping in the mud and water (so that’s how it gets its name). It is a fish that can live out of water, just like those people in Jalan Haji Taib haha. Okay, these mudskippers can actually ‘walk’ on the mudflats using their gills (I was laughing when I saw these actions). Can you see their blue (western) eyes on top of their heads? With eyes like that, who needs binoculars? They use these excellent eyes to spot potential predators without showing themselves and by remaining below the surface of the water (just like a submarine, right?). Oh, in Thailand and northern Malaysia, they are eaten as food. Yuck!

At the end of the boardwalk, you will reach a fishing platform at Tanjung Jetty. Here, you will be sandwiched by two straits – Malacca Strait and Johor Strait. Looming in the distance, you can see many modern supertankers – an extraordinary sight that reminds you that you are standing at the edge of the world’s busiest waterway. I was a bit frightened to see them; thinking that they might be Singapore’s advanced battleships, ready to attack Johor, haha.

Oh, before I called it a day, I reached a beautiful resort near the tip. I was so taken by its rusticity.

I’ll definitely come back to Tanjung Piai for more exploration. Driving back home, I stopped by in Pontian Kechil and experienced one of the most golden, beautiful sun-setting experiences. Looking at the sun rays glittering on the surface of sea water, I was overwhelmed with emotions, thinking of the inspiring feat that I had just achieved. It reflected the satisfaction that I had gained by doing simple things that deserve to be celebrated. All these feelings just complement to my so-called Guinness record – reaching the southernmost tip of mainland Asia. How wonderful.

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Post-Scripts:

When I reached my house that day, my neighbour (a local) saw me and asked: “Dari mana tu Hilmi?”
“Tanjung Piai.”
“Tanjung Piai?
“Ada apa kat situ?”

He had no idea what I had been through.