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Revisiting the Depths
Returning to the Island
Excerpt from Revisiting the Depths: Overcoming Fear and Finding Peace published by Books to Hook Publishing, LLC. (September 30, 2024) © Copyright 2024 Amy Tan
Returning to the ocean after thirty years was an emotional journey for me, both nostalgic and surreal.
As the island came into view, it felt as if Tioman Island itself was calling me back, beckoning my heart. Situated off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the South China Sea, this island is Malaysia’s best-kept secret — a geological wonder, an ecological paradise, and home to pristine rainforests surrounded by warm, sandy beaches, coral reefs, lush seagrass beds, abundant marine life, thriving mangrove forests, and cascading waterfalls.
Its turquoise blue sea glistened invitingly, and you could see marine life, including colorful fish, swimming in its crystal-clear water right from the shoreline. The island’s coastline is dotted with powdery golden white beaches, each more inviting than the last, with the sand feeling soft and warm underfoot. Palm trees sway gently in the breeze, their fronds rustling softly, providing natural shade from the tropical sun.
Located 32 nautical miles from the mainland, it is only accessible via ferry from the coastal town of Mersing, Johor and Tanjung Gemuk, Pahang. Once…
