On my recent adventure to Tuba Island, a secret spot just a short boat ride from Langkawi, I had a blast exploring with BesTuba, a travel service provider managed by Koperasi Komuniti Kepulauan Tuba dan Selat (KOPTUBAS). Let’s dive into the fun stuff we did:
Hiking to Wang Buluh Cave Geosite (Geotapak Gua Wang Buluh)
I’m really proud of us for hiking through the mountains again, this time on Tuba Island. Remember our adventure in Baling, Kedah? Well, this time we explored the island’s forests to reach Geosite Gua Wang Buluh, a fascinating cave full of ancient limestone and natural formations like stalactites, stalagmites, curtains, and pillars.
There’s even one formation that looks like the Chinese deity, Guanyin Goddess! Wang Buluh Cave sits about 110 meters above sea level in the northern part of Tuba Island. It was formed millions of years ago, during the Ordovician-Devonian period (490-390 million years ago). During our hike, we even saw bats flying around the cave’s entrance, adding to the excitement of our journey.
Visiting Local Artisans
We went to a village where folks craft lovely bags from mengkuang (screw pine) leaves. The villagers were super friendly and demonstrated us how they weave these leaves into all sorts of things like handbags, clutches, bookmarks, and more. They sell these items in nearby local markets or specialty shops to make a living. It was really cool to see their talents and hear about their cultural customs.
Enjoying Traditional Performances
During our visit, we enjoyed watching a local group called Kumpulan Seni Budaya Harapan perform. They sang, danced, and played music that shared tales from the past. Some were about love, while others were about their own experiences. It was a blast dancing along with the rest of the group!
Island Hopping
We hopped on a boat to check out nearby islands around Tuba. Each island had its own unique beaches and sights. We saw tall cliffs, mysterious caves, and even spotted some wild animals like monkeys, eagles, and hornbills. We visited islands like Pulau Ayam, Pulau Lima, and Pulau Dua, among others. One stop that got me really excited was Batu Reban on Pulau Dayang Bunting. Our guide, Abang Alias, explained that “Reban” means collapsed in Malay. Legend has it that there’s hidden treasure in the cave, but it’s blocked by collapsed rocks. It was awesome exploring the wild from the sea and learning about the island’s stories.
Buggy Ride and ATV Tour
Apart from motorcycles, we have the option to rent a buggy or ATV to get around the island. There are different packages available, so you can choose the one that best fits your group. We decided to add some excitement to our trip by taking a buggy and ATV ride around the island. Despite the hot sun, we had a blast exploring various interesting spots and experiencing local life. One of the highlights was visiting Lekoshow, where they make a popular snack called keropok lekor. It was fascinating to see how they cook and prepare it. We also had the chance to visit a padi field where we snapped some photos with a group of water buffalo!
Squid Jigging at Night
One night, we tried squid jigging. We went out on a boat with fishermen who taught us how to catch squid using a simple fishing string. They used colourful lights like red and green to attract the squid. The sea sparkled with tiny lights from other sea creatures, making the night feel enchanting. When we caught squid, everyone cheered! After doing this, I really admired fishermen for being so patient during the whole thing.
These are just a few of the cool things we did on Tuba Island. Just think about how much fun you could have experiencing them for yourself! Check out the packages BesTuba offers by visiting their social media pages.
IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_bestuba
FB: https://www.facebook.com/p/Chalet-Terapung-BesTuba
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebestuba
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Like what you read and intrigued to incorporate nature-based travel, immerse in Malaysian cultures, and embark on thrilling adventures into your itinerary? Reach out at 017-407 9734 or 019-303 6008, or email qttgroup.management@gmail.com for additional details and quote referral code QTTNBT-07.
QTT FAM Trip to Langkawi is organised by QTT Group Plt in collaboration with LADA, Jupeter Holidays and supported by KembaRojak.
dixonthum 