credits to Michelle Leong

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Visit the old Dutch Fort

If you’ve been to other historical forts in Malaysia, the Dutch fort in Pangkor will seem like a three-walled Lego construction assembled from worn bricks and holes wedged in to pass for windows.

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Jungle-trek up Bukit Pangkor (Pangkor Hill)

It takes about an hour to hike up Bukit Pangkor, but if you have time to spare and legs to kill (or is it the other way round?), the trek will be worth it. The rainforest is thick, lush, and shady, the cicada calls are calming, and friendly macaques might even grace you with their presence.

Path markers along the way make it easy to gauge your location. When you’re on your way down, you can even take the trail towards Pasir Bogak (though this might be a little strenuous for the physically challenged). If you prefer not to be mosquito feed, bring mosquito repellent.

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Feed Hornbills

Hornbills are to Pangkor what pigeons are to London — they’re everywhere. These high-beaked, stout-legged, long-tailed friends call Pangkor their home.

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Have a Drink at the Jetty

If you enjoy the hustle and bustle of ferries, boats, and sampans (flat-bottomed boat) coming to shore, you’ll want to sit down and enjoy a drink at the Pangkor Kopitiam. This no-frills, coffee-shop-style eatery offers a great selection of rice and noodle dishes. Highly recommended is the Pangkor Fried Rice, a warm, flavorful serve-up of rice, egg, and fried chicken — perfect for watching the fishermen come in from their morning catch.

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Go kayaking or Canoeing

The best thing about doing your own rowing is that you get to access places on the island that are normally inaccessible by other means. Kayak to the far north of the island, and you’ll arrive at a spot where the hills are steep, the beach is unspoiled, and the view is unencumbered by hotels and resorts. If you wish, you can even kayak around the island, and all the way to Pulau Giam, where snorkeling is most popular.

To rent your equipment, many businesses on the island offer kayaks and canoes (and the oars, too, of course).

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Frolic in the Pangkor waves

When in Pangkor, do as the fish do — and frolic in the sea. Snorkeling equipment are available at the jetty and on the island (we recommend the latter; it’s cheaper), and you’ll get to swim among pink-green parrot fish, luminescent moon wrasses, and characterful coral reefs, including the stag horn coral, the feather stars, and the sea fans. The ocean waves are gentle and the waters are shallow, so if you have kids, they’ll be fine.

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Check out the Foo Lin Kong Temple

There’s no kung fu at Foo Lin Kong, but there are plenty of Buddhas, arhats, and (bizarrely) funhouse characters to greet you as you enter the grand red-and-blue archway. Located at the end of Coral Beach, this Taoist temple boasts Chinese-style “artichoke leaf” roofs, a mini “Great Wall” in the garden, and a huge rock of Fate. See if you can spot the 12 Chinese zodiac signs on the temple’s roof (no cheating)!

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