Page 282 - The Guide To Sarawak

280 RIVERS, LAKES & THE SEA
The beach of Tanjung Datu National Park. Located at the far western tip of Sarawak, Tanjung Datu offers deserted beaches, crystal clear water and stunning scenic beauty.
The Bako Peninsula (a National Park, see page 235) has a rugged coastline of limestone cliffs, delightful small beaches and the
Sea Stack rock formation, looming out of the sea like a fossilized mushroom.
Sri Aman, at the mouth
of the Batang Lupar, is famous for its daily benak (tidal bore) (see page 148). During spring tides it surges at up to 18 km/h, producing a wave crest 2-3 metres high. About 400 rivers worldwide produce bores, but the Lupar is the only one featured in literature; English author W. Somerset Maugham almost drowned during the benak, and used the experience for his story, The Yellow Streak.
Central Coast – Sri Aman to Bintulu
At the mouth of the
Batang Rejang, weavers
at the Rejang Songket Factory (Kuala Rejang) produce exquisite silver brocaded cloth. Nearby Kampung Belawai is
famed for smoked prawns (sesar unjur). Past the Rejang Delta, the coastline is dominated by Pulau Bruit, Malaysia’s second largest island, an important wintering site for migratory birds.
Inland, the ancient Kut Canal links the Rejang to the sleepy fishing town of Dalat. Nearby Mukah is the site of the Kaul Festival (see page 72) and the principal centre of Melanau culture,
Beaches and Sights Along Sarawak’s Picturesque Coast
Sarawak’s coast faces the South China Sea and runs 1,150km from Tanjung Datu in the Southwest to Lawas in the Northeast. Features include mangrove forest, sandstone cliffs, seagrass beds and idyllic white sand beaches. Offshore, pristine coral reefs protect marine biodiversity and offer spectacular experiences for divers.
Southwest Coast - Tanjung Datu to Sri Aman
Sarawak begins at the westernmost point of Borneo, Tanjung Datu National Park. The first human settlement is
Telok Melano, a Malay fishing village, then comes Sematan, a small port
with an attractive beach. Lundu also offers excellent beaches at Pandan and Siar. The Santubong Peninsula features legendary Mount Santubong (810m) and Damai, a popular beach resort area (see page 164).
The Bako Peninsula’s rugged limestone cliffs, interspersed with tiny beaches, have given Bako National Park one of the most visually appealing coastlines in Malaysia.