The story began four and a half decades ago, when Pontian’s very first hotel — Princess Hotel — was born. Rising in the heart of the lively town center, it quickly became a landmark etched into the memories of the older generation. Travellers arrived seeking rest, yet many found something more: a sense of belonging. They came and went, but their stories stayed.

Today, with the second generation at the helm, the Princess has been given a new dress and fresh makeup — modern touches, renewed spaces, and innovative ideas. Yet beneath the refreshed exterior, the heart and philosophy of hospitality remain unchanged, enduring like a promise.

One of the hotel’s treasures is its Nanyang-style spiral staircase, a graceful piece of architecture that carries the beauty of time. Each step curves upward in a gentle spiral, as if inviting people to keep moving forward, to pursue new heights while remembering the roots that shaped them.

Pontian began as a resting point — a berth for merchants and seafarers drifting along the tides. Its name comes from the Malay word Perhentian, meaning “stopover.” With time, the town grew, weaving together cultures and livelihoods shaped by the sea.

Seafood is the pride of Pontian. The bustling fishing market offers an impressive variety, fresh and reasonably priced. Nearby Kukup is famed for its seafood restaurants, where families and travellers gather to savour dishes cooked with local mastery.

To the south lies Tanjung Piai — a quiet, windswept cape marking the southernmost tip of Peninsular Malaysia, and the furthest edge of mainland Eurasia. It is a place where the continent ends, and the ocean begins.

Much of Pontian’s land is rich with peat soil, perfect for cultivating pineapples. This unique landscape has made Pontian the largest pineapple-growing region in Malaysia, its farms stretching toward the horizon.

At dawn, senior citizens gather for their daily Tai Chi practice, welcoming the morning breeze. Not far away, young housewives dance to energetic Zumba rhythms, filling the air with movement and music. Families with small children take over the open square — some cycling in circles, some blowing soap bubbles into the wind, others launching kites or simply chasing each other with laughter.

On the jogging track, the first wave of visitors appears: those striving to lose weight, elderly folks enjoying a peaceful stroll, young people training for fitness, and children gently “dragged” out of bed by determined parents. Around the basketball court, players wait eagerly for their turn — latecomers may have to sit a while before they can join the game.

Here, different communities, different ages, and different cultures gather for countless reasons — yet they blend effortlessly into one harmonious scene.