Real-life Tioman Island

It’s easy to fall into the gentle rhythm of life on this magical Malaysian island, says photographer Sonia Reimannova. 

Tioman Island lies in the South China Sea, just off the east coast of the Malay peninsula.

It’s tricky to get too, but visitors are rewarded with verdant jungle, white sand beaches and a sparkling sea, famous for its coral and shipwrecks.

Czech photographer and travel blogger, Sonia Reimannova , visited the island in December, during the monsoon. Life in the tiny villages scattered across the island had become positively somnolent.

‘The isolation isn’t for everyone,’ she explains. ‘Even the locals feel bored during the monsoon.’

But there’s always the volleyball.

‘It’s the island’s favourite pastime’, says Sonia. ‘Even in the rain. I’ve never seen Malaysians so into a sport!’