Kukup, is a little known seaside town in the southernmost state of Johor in Malaysia.
More importantly, Tanjung (Cape) Piai which is a short drive away from Kukup, marks the southernmost tip of the Asian continent.
Entry to Tanjung Piai which marks the southern most tip of the Asian continent
Kukup is not the place you come to if lounging by a white sandy beach with a swim in the sea is what you are looking for.
Contrary to that, you will find the beaches here quite unappealing – with coarse brownish sand and peat swamps surrounding it.
A pathway to the southern most tip of the Asian continent through the peat swamp in flooded with water during high tideThe peat swamp is rich with marine life which makes the waters around it an ideal fishing spot
This peat swamp is what maintains the ecological balance that is needed to keep the marine life in that area thriving in abundance.
Thus, Kukup is the place you come to if you are looking for fresh seafood and a walk through nature at the Tanjung Piai National Park or the Kukup Island Park (a RAMSAR site) which a short boat ride away from the Kukup jetty.
Rich marine life is sustained by peat swamps in the areaRich marine life is sustained by peat swamps in the areaRaised walkways through the Tanjung Piai National park allows visitors to view the plants, animals, fish, shellfish and molluscs that make up the biodiversity of the area.Sea snails in the peat swampRaised platforms form walkways through Tanjung Piai National Park
The Kukup jetty is an international jetty from which ferries bound for Tanjung Balai in Indonesia depart from.
Kukup jetty
Kukup has no fancy resorts and hotels, but plenty of home-stays and small family run hotels and accommodations.
The fishermen’s village in Kukup is itself quite unique. It is more of a floating village or rather a village on stilts known as the Kampung Nelayan Air Masin (translated, it means: salty water fishermen’s village) with homes, restaurants, markets, temples, hotels, shops, hair salons and an array of structures built on stilts over the shoreline.
A boatload of tourist pulls into the jetty of a restaurant in Kampung Air Masin Rugged and basic accomodation in the floating villageSalted puffer fish on sale at the morning market in Kampung Air MasinThe morning market in Kampung Air MasinHouses on concrete stilts at Kampung Air Masin, KukupA typical scene at Kampung Air Masin, KukupA hair saloon at Kampung Air Masin, KukupMorning market, Kampung Air Masin, KukupA traditional wooden home at Kampung Air Masin, KukupVillage over water, Kampung Air Masin, KukupA temple over water in Kampung Air Masin, KukupVillage over water in Kampung Air Masin, KukupPineapples from Pontian, Johor which is a major pineapple producing district in Malaysia.
Just off the shoreline of Kukup jetty and Pulau Kukup are fish farms which take advantage of the rich marine biodiversity from the peat swamps in its surrounding areas.
Nature lover’s haven – Pulau Kukup National ParkBird watcher’s paradise- Pulau Kukup National ParkBird watcher’s paradise – Pulau Kukup National Park
Fish farms off Kukup and Pulau Kukup shoreline thrive because of the rich biodiversity in the area.A fish farm just off Kukup’s shorelineFish Farm just off Kukup shorelineVisitors exploring the fish farm
The seafood here is a little on the pricey side as it caters for tourist from Singapore who usually find it a steal to be able to enjoy fresh and delicious seafood for the price they pay after converting their Singapore Dollars.
Fresh seafood prepared in an array of Malaysian flavours
Maria Dass the World 