Revisiting Endau Rompin, Selai

We had a lovely week away at Endau Rompin, Selai. Since we camped there way back in 2010 we've been wanting to do a return trip but just never did because we were exploring other sites.

How blessed we were when we discovered that other campers for the days we were there had canceled their reservations and we'd be the only campers there for the week. We were just three families consisting of 8 children, and that size is just nice for a relaxing getaway. Good food, close company, shooting stars and peaceful river all to ourselves. What more could we ask for.

To book, email erselaijnpc@yahoo.com 
On day of arrival, head to the office in Bekok, sign in and pay.
If you have your own 4WD, you'll save money on transport.

**Sadly we discovered that the other side of the river has been heavily logged by illegal loggers. The forest rangers told us they couldn't do anything about it.  That's so sad to know! I hope enforcements will try to stop further logging before we loose this very very beautiful forest. Here's a video I took by our campsite. You'll notice the gaps between trees as the area behind has been totally logged.
Yet listen to the beautiful song of the gibbons. I awoke everyday at 5 am to their song which would go on till sunrise and then they'd stop.

Daily hangout area. The children especially would stay there almost the whole day singing, creating stories and chatting.

Our daily visitors

Each day we were there it threatened to storm. But God was good, each time we'd pray and then watch the storm clouds move away. We were blessed with sunshine for our entire stay. And finally it rained just as we left the place. God is good.

We paid for one rod. But it sure was tough....the fish wouldn't take our bait.

The kids' favourite rock...where they'd eat...write their journals...read a book..chat.

A resident got really brave. Looks like they're used to having visitors around.

@poundthegarlic.blogspot.com 2016

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Seagrass bed threatened

...Following up from my recent post, Rocky Shore tour, which I highly recommend.
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Recently, studying some books on marine biology with my children, we discovered that the ocean produces 50% of the world's oxygen. We also learnt that "Seagrass is crucial to slowing climate change because of its remarkable capacity to absorb greenhouse gases, with some experts saying  it is as important as forests in the fight against global warming." (The Conversation.)  Seagrass, it turns out, is 35 times more efficient at locking up, or “sequestering” carbon than rainforests. (Climate Solutions.)

The above, are reasons why it is so important to protect the ocean's seagrass.

Yet ..sadly, smack between Singapore and Malaysia (though Johor has so much land)  they've  chosen to start a land reclamation project right on the precious seagrass bed. (Country Garden Plan), (Football stadium on man made island.)

Comparing our previous trip to the one we recently had, there was a difference in the marine life we saw. There were less marine creatures near where the sand piling is going on, and even dead ones. Only when we stepped much further away from the construction work, that we began to see more life.The area of construction is widening, and last I read, they plan to make it larger than Sentosa island.

Still, I'd encourage volunteers to go, to support conservation, and to help SOS look for surviving seahorses so that these can be relocated to a seagrass bed further away from the construction site. Plus, taking a boat to a seagrass bed is really a really exciting adventure, a one of a kind experience.

I believe in supporting conservation, simply because conservationists are fighting hard to protect the environment we live in. If we can't be out there fighting to protect the very earth we live on, at least we can support them in whatever little way we can.

Save Our Seahorses has now set up their latest schedule for volunteer trips. You can find their schedule here --> SOS Volunteer registration.

Briefing at 6am by Adam Lim, Project Leader of SOS.

Just before heading out to sea, the first glimpse of the sun barely peeking out yet.

Lotsa people fishing down under the bridge that links Singapore and Malaysia.

Land piling right ON the seagrass bed. This was at shallow tide. 
Imagine all the starfish, seahorses, anemones and 
other marine life, buried beneath, damned to death.

Sand dumping truck, and a whole lot of other trucks on the other side of the pile. 

The children found life such as this Noble Volute and other marine creatures such as starfish. These we picked and placed them as far away as possible from the land project, hoping these will somehow survive the pollution and all.

Several varieties of anemones can be found on the bed of seagrass.

Sea hare eggs

Peacock anemone

Scouring the bed for surviving seahorses

After finding the surviving seahorse, we hopped back on the boat and followed SOS to a seagrass bed some distance away, where all rescued seahorses have been relocated to.

Adam and another team member scouring new seabed location to count for seahorses that have survived relocation.

Tagging and measuring of seahorse before relocating the seahorse. First ever seahorse relocation project. Hope they succeed, and the seahorses survive in their new environment. Really wishing SOS all the very best.

Pipefish, similar family to the seahorses.

UPDATE: Just read, project temporary halted. Hoping and praying for the best of the seahorses.  Link- Reclamation works stopped

@poundthegarlic.blogspot.com 2014

Rocky Shore Tour - Merambong Island, Johor

Two years ago, we signed up with SOS (Save Our Seahorses) for their Seahorse tagging trip.  It was an absolutely unforgettable trip in every way, one of our most memorable.

Recently Jo expressed interest in studying marine biology. We read up several books and came across seahorses. That sparked off memories of our trip, and we decided to join SOS again on a trip, this time to the Merambong island for their Rocky Shore tour.

2nd May2014- We gathered at the SOS meeting point at 6am for a short briefing before departing from the jetty. Reason for going early, I read, is to go during the low spring tide that makes the place accessible for just a few hours. We got to see really beautiful sunrise, and the island was certainly breathtaking in every way.


Pulau Merambong is a pretty small island, yet we took a few hours to explore because we stopped very often to study the amazing variety of marine life there. Otherwise, I think a half hour run would do it. What we found fascinating about the island was the island's mangroves, sandy beaches, and rocky beaches with terraced edges, covered with moss. You have to be there to see the beauty of it all!

About the island, quote from Wikipedia "The area Pulau Merambong is located within the single largest seagrass bed in the country. The bed extents from the island right up to the estuary of Pulai River in Johor.^[1] Dugongs and seahorses which feed on seagrass made their home in the nearby coral reefs."  Well, sadly, there have not been recent sightings of dugong there, and sightings of seahorses around this island is now rare. There's a major development/land reclamation project going on nearby, right ON the seagrass bed, in the middle of the ocean, which would further destroy marine life in that area.  :( (Uncontrolled Development (Lim Kit Siang)

Thus, before further destruction happens, I'd highly recommend a trip to the island to marvel at its diverse marine life. Furthermore, all proceeds will help fund SOS in their fight to preserve marine life and the ecosystem there. Their main, urgent project currently is to  relocate seahorses to a nearby bed, in hope for their survival and protection from the land reclamation project.

Sunrise at the jetty.

We went out on a speedboat, and as we glanced towards Singapore, we saw the sun slowly peeking out, in bright streaks of red and orange. Above, the black clouds threatened to rain, but held back because of us. ;)

Arrival at Merambong island. Kids were first to jump off the boat. Lots of seagrass (different species too!), seaweed and marine life already where the boat was parked.

First thing, my kiddo found was a peanut worm. Well, I never knew about it, now I do. :)

Beautiful peacock anemones everywhere, in different shades of colours.

A little one came along with us this time, and here she is hand in hand with Nel, while Jo and friend have found something interesting.

This flower crab went into protective mode when it saw us. Not only did it put up its claws, it also tried jumping to pinch at us.

How lovely that despite the black clouds, there was no rain, but instead a rainbow!

Zoanthids everwhere in shades of brown, green and black. Touch them and they squirt or close. However, they are a kind of anemone, so I wouldn't recommend touching them, as anemones can cause allergic reaction in some people.

Zoanthids again.

We were fascinated by the iridescent colours of shells. We had to adhere to one rule though, "Take NOTHING back from the island" as shells will slowly dissolve, releasing calcium carbonate back into the ocean, so we were told by Adam Lim, who's taken over the leadership role at SOS.  (Also found this article about why we shouldn't collect shells.)

Sand-sifting starfish. Found this interesting info online "Sand-sifting Stars have a rather interesting reproduction behaviour - males re often found stacked on top of the females, and the pairing may last for up to 2 months before the eggs and sperm are released into the water. The reproductive organs do not meet, and hence this behaviour is termed "pseudocopulation" - in other words, "fake sex". This behaviour apparently increases the chance of fertilisation though."

Approaching the rocky shore, covered in soft moss.

Beautiful terraced ridges with bright green moss. Kids tried avoiding stepping on moss and aimed for the rocky bits. Can be slippery so take caution.

Close up of carpet anemone, seen here out of water because of low tide.

A tube worm.Children found these beautiful and fascinating. They pop back in when touched, or when a shadow is cast over it.

The hubs, searching for interesting life,

Lots of sponges here.

There were many tide pools, and we found one of this. Sadly I didn't hear what this beautiful "cup" is called.

A fluorescent brain coral. We were told that this would look spectacular at night with the right light.

The younger grabbed a sea cucumber too tightly and it of course vomited its sticky guts out onto the kiddo's palm. (Note---we all borrowed shoes from SOS, if your team is huge you'd have to bring your own, as they have a limited number of pairs. Wearing the right pair of shoes is important to avoid getting cut by sharp shells and oysters, and also so that your shoes won't go floating away or get stucked in mud!)

Crossing the terraced rocks with Adam as our guide.

This is where I thought was the most beautiful spot on the island.A very beautiful view indeed!

We were told that with a really sharp eye, one might spot an octopus between the rocks. I don't know how the kids did it, but they spotted a teeny weeny one, amongst the hundreds of tide pools. This one clung on and refused to swim off.

Biscuit Sea Star

Yeah....so... if you're in the area, visiting Lego Land, or on way to Singapore, sign up with Save our Seahorses  to go on one of their trips. They are just 10 minutes from Lego Land. We did go to the seagrass bed again to look for seahorses, that will be a different post. But seeing how fast the land reclamation is going on, I'd say, GO quickly, before it's all destroyed.  :(   

Quote Adam Lim, Project leader of SOS "Merambong island is still there and untouched (*for now). The one that got destroyed is Merambong seagrass shoal (almost everyone mixed them up) As for the status of Merambong, SOS is currently considering its position and we may have to cease all activities beyond September (*unconfirmed)."

@poundthegarlic.blogspot.com 2014

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