Discovering Marine Life

My first Attempt On Marine Photography

A little tale on how my quest for photography started ......

Photography has always been a hobby, next to travelling, obviously! I will always remember the joy of having my first camera in 1978, which was a Yashica Electro 35 (and still have it) and since, among friends, I was the only one who had a camera during those years, I was The photographer and with such encouragement, bought several guide books on how to improve my photography skills. Looking at the years, was just thinking, and wished I was in Sarawak taking pictures of this three years old girl who would probably was learning to speak or perhaps still running around naked!

Then, Richard Hardwick, my colleague at The British Council in 1984, suggested that I bought an ‘instant /automatic’ camera (though I’ve called idiotmatic) before leaving for a work trip to the U.K. So, I had a small and lighter piece, Canon AF3. Somehow, I felt the need to go back to a manually operated camera, so I’ve opted for a combination of Auto/Manual Canon EOS 630(but was rather disappointed with my choice) before leaving for another long trip to the North and Central Americas in early 1990s.

Then, came the era of digital camera and purchased a small Pentax . And as my computer skills improved, I bought a Mustek MDC, hmmm.. a multi-functional digital which I’ve also used as a webcam with my long distance friends. Sadly, accidently dropped it once and can’t be fixed, so visited Low Yat Plaza for the second time and bought a cheap USB Digital Webcam (called ‘Aloha’, seriously!), so, got digitalised with video conferencing, tilt- swivelling with spot lights clipped on the notebook, send video emails, recorded moving, and even still images. ‘Aloha’ continues to be my companion. There are also Nikon D50 and a small Canon Power Shot A430 when I am not online! Well, I am a poor and amateur photographer, so, what do you expect with my choice of cameras!

When I started diving last year, I’ve missed several photo opportunities simply because I didn’t have a camera case for underwater. Saw some really good underwater cameras but thought they were too costly, so, a novice diver only deserved a small Pentax Optio W60. It is good for indoors, outdoors, and, it is waterproof, coldproof (-10C/14F) and can go few meters underwater although there is no plan to photograph Antarctic or the Arctic, but, I am convinced that it is better than other lightweight underwater camera, including the Olympus series. Don’t believe me? Ask Roy of Tarita Photo at Sg Wang Plaza, Bukit Bintang.

While my thoughts were exploring the possibilities of what I might be able to see during my first visit to the famous Perhentian Island in a few days, hopefully, I’ve looked at my latest underwater photos and decided to post them after I’ve re-written certain parts of my travel journal.

Some Marine Life

Boxfish (Ostracion species) with Sergeant Major (Abudefduf sexfasciatus)

Starfish

Giant Clam (Tridacna species)

What you see here are my first encounter with coral reefs as a novice snorkeller. I’ve also discovered that to venture underwater in a coral reef is like immersing in a magical world. It is my hope that more people would do it, even if you are afraid of or not ‘in good terms’ with the sea! The vast numbers of species that coexist there gives me the feeling of being a 360 degree, three dimensional, technicolour cinema. No ecosystem on land can compete with the astonishing variety of shapes, sizes, colours and habits of the creatures that are associated with a coral reef ecosystem. (So, Helle, any second thought?)

Clown Anemonefish
(Amophiprion ocellaris)

Plumed Lionfish (Pterois volitan) also known as turkeyfish

I have also overcome my fear of deep water after discovered scuba diving. I hope to be a certified diver, soon, and after being convinced by a friend, Mike Soh, who operates resorts and dive centres at the Perhentian Island, off Terengganu.
I have been to Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai and Semporna Marine Parks in Sabah and moved on from being an uninformed and distant intruder in the water, to be a sensible and sensitive observer. I felt being rewarded with increased knowledge of coral reef life and satisfaction with each dive.

Since I am no marine biologist, based on what I’ve read and learnt, I'd try to identify such organisms with common names and if I could, the scientific names for reasons that common names used arbitrarily from region to region. All I could do is to identify them from photographs, so it is not always possible to be absolute accurate and after all, I did say that I am a novice snorkeller/ diver and not a marine biologist!

Will try to post more marine life photos and tales in future, I hope.

Jaina, who has discovered that it's never too old to plunge into new hobby!

Tanjung Piai

TANJUNG PIAI, JOHOR

The Southern-Most Tip of Mainland Asia

The State of Johor lies at the southern end of Peninsula Malaysia. Johor in its early days, was known as Ujong Tanah (a Malay term meaning End of the Land). People said that the present name of Johor is reputed to have derived from the Arabic word Jauhar which means precious stone, so the Malay name Johor was coined as it sounded like Jauhar. Some travellers would refer Johor as the ‘southern gateway to Malaysia’.

Johor is also a land of multiple attractions, including recreational forests. Some well known forest parks including the Endau Rompin National Park near Mersing and the Gunung Ledang Park near Segamat. The south-west Pontian district is also blessed with a wide stretch of mangrove swamp along its coast and nearby islands.

Having visited numerous mangrove swamps in Johor coast lines, as early as 10 years old, I keep wanting to see more and continued to be fascinated by the uniqueness of mangrove swamps, its vegetation, birds and other living things found in the mangrove forests. I have visited several open and reserved mangrove forests designated areas in Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia, and even when I was in Florida, USA, many years ago, I visited the Everglades and Key West.

More information on mangrove swamps and locations in Malaysia may be obtained from the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) reports or its website.

The swamp is a home to different set of life forms, besides serves as the landing points to many migratory birds. To conserve them as wetlands sanctuary, most states in the country have ear-marked them for educational and recreational forest parks, including two in Pontian, namely the Tanjung Piai National Park and the Pulau Kukup National Park. Pulau Kukup National Parks is an island of 647ha of mangrove swamps and 800ha of mudflats, which was gazetted as a state park in 1997.

Both parks are easily accessible by road; travel along the coastal road of Pontian-Johor Bahru and the town Pontian Kechil is about 22km to Kampung Tanjung Piai. The Park is another 7km from the Kmpung. A short walk from Tanjung Piai Visitor’s Information Centre, will take you the monument, marking the location of the southern most tip of mainland Asia.

To get to Pulau Kukup Park, use the same route to Tanjung Piai. The jetty to the Park is located at Kukup Laut fishing town, which is 24km from Pontian Kechil town. These 2 parks have at least twenty mangrove species, and nine have been identified in the Tanjung Piai National Park. There are also birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates found there. Shorebirds are easily spotted, especially during the migratory month of April. The common birds found are plover, whimbrel, sandpipers, terek, red shanks. There are also raptors like Brahming Kite and crested serpent eagle being spotted there.

Besides mangrove swamp, Kukup is an exit/entry point to Singapore and Indonesia (there is a Malaysia Immigration office there). Kukup, as a fishing village is also known for its sea foods. My visits to Kukup, as early as in 1970s were mostly family trips for its foods on our way to Singapore. Until today, Kukup is still popular for its sea foods restaurants and seafood-based products. Overnight visitors can choose to either stay at one of many hotels in Pontian, or the Kukup Golf & Resort. My recommendation is the Tanjung Riai Resort, not luxurious but it offers fishing facilities and good food.

Visitors to Tanjung Piai Park will also receive a certificate that says you have reached the southernmost tip of Mainland Asia. A 300m wooden walk path allows visitors to reach out to the sea and enjoy the feeling of reaching a world land mark.

Jaina
(Born in Batu Pahat, Johor)