www.nst.com Beautiful Kampung Salang is one of the reasons why Pulau Tioman is destined to be a major tourist destination.
The beachfront village is one of 10 in Tioman. The other main ones include Tekek, Genting, Juara and Mukut.
Salang is already immensely popular locally and internationally for its clear waters, marine life, sandy beach and lush jungles.
Snorkelling can be enjoyed just by the beach where you can see beautiful corals and colourful fishes. This makes it safe even for children and non-swimmers.
But for diving enthusiasts, Salang is the place to be with an amazing selection of fish, coral beds and wrecks complemented with professional dive centres.
One point of interest: Almost the entire service sector is managed by original villagers of Kampung Salang, who are also members of one large extended family.
"The other chalets, restaurants, gerai and even boat owners are my distant cousins, uncles or somehow related to me," says Salang Pusaka Resort (formerly known as Khalid's Place) managing director Abdul Khalid Mohamad.
There are some 15 families who live in Salang and together they manage more than 200 chalet rooms and about 14 restaurants and stalls. There is also a well-stocked convenience shop and a handful of diving and souvenir shops.
Another notable feature about Salang is the presence of giant monitor lizards. These reptiles are not dangerous to humans but the sight of their large bodies crawling along the ground can be quite scary.
Salang is definitely a laid-back place with a good balance of local and foreign tourists. As the villagers have been dealing with foreigners since the 80s, you can expect to hear a makcik taking orders in perfect English and Caucasian male travellers in sarongs.
During Fifa World Cup season there was an amazingly wide selection of international tourists all grouped together in one village.
Mostly backpackers and divers, they somehow managed to find fellow travellers of the same nationality and formed groups of supporters in the different bars and restaurants.
The hardcore groups were from Sweden (who also somehow had their national flags with them), England and Germany while smaller groups like the Japanese and South Koreans had the support of locals.
For obvious reasons, the French and Italians in Salang were not very happy to discuss football.
With the steady flow of tourists in Salang from January to October, it could be a little bit crammed during the school holidays but you can still find decent places to stay and eat. It is wise though to plan your visit to Salang.
Accommodation is basic in the village but there are places with air-conditioning and hot water. The price range is from RM30 per night to RM200 plus for a big family room.
For information on accommodation and activities on Salang, you can call Salang Pusaka Resort at 09-4195317 or 011-953421 |