The Sunrise Secret of Pantai Cermin

Published in November 2026

Sometimes, an extraordinary discovery begins with nothing more than a simple question.

Back in 1999, a curious question suddenly came to BuckingWan's mind: How far is the horizon? After learning that the horizon could be approximately five kilometres away, he decided to put this knowledge to the test.

Looking at the map, he examined the coastline eastward from Pantai Cermin. To his surprise, the mainland appeared to be more than five kilometres away. This sparked an intriguing thought: if the distant mainland was beyond the visible horizon, perhaps the sun could rise directly from the sea horizon at Pantai Cermin — an unusual sight for a beach on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

He shared this idea with some friends, and what began as a simple geographical curiosity eventually became a special sunrise viewing spot. BuckingWan's curiosity had led to the discovery of this secret sunrise viewpoint, which would remain a favourite destination for sunrise enthusiasts and photography lovers for more than two decades.

There was also a seasonal secret to enjoying the sunrise. The mainland appeared towards the left side of the sunrise scene. During the Northern Hemisphere's winter months, particularly around December, the sun rises farther towards the southeast. This shifts the sunrise to the right, creating a better opportunity to witness the sun emerging directly from the sea horizon.

For years, Pantai Cermin became a special place for those who knew this little secret. However, the landscape eventually changed. Following the establishment of Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson in 2017, the resort's distinctive overwater villas began obstructing the sunrise view from BuckingWan's original viewing position.

Although the original view may no longer be the same, the story of Pantai Cermin remains remarkable. What began with a question in 1999 turned into a discovery that introduced a unique sunrise experience to Port Dickson — a little secret that BuckingWan had the joy of uncovering and sharing.

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