Page 283 - The Guide To Sarawak

THE GUIDE TO SARAWAK
281
The superb white sand beaches of Similajau National Park are frequented by marine turtles, estuarine crocodiles and bizarre horseshoe crabs.
The bustling Malay water-village in Limbang Town has possibly the ultimate riverine location - all the facilities of the divisional capital are just two minutes away across the Sungai Limbang.
best discovered at the Kampung Tellian water village and Lamin Dana lodge and cultural centre.
Northeast Coast – Bintulu to Lawas
At Bintulu, Tanjung
Batu Beach is a popular recreational spot, while
the superb white sand beaches of Similajau National Park (see page 239) are frequented by marine turtles and bizarre horseshoe crabs. Kampung Kuala Suai, a rustic Melanau fishing village, is renowned for its resident family of crocodile shamen. The superb beach runs almost unbroken for 32km to Kampung Kuala Sibuti, another Melanau village with basic homestay accommodation.
Towards Miri the cost becomes rockier, with fine beaches at Peliau and Bungai. Tusan’s 11km of 45m high cliffs offer spectacular sunsets. Hawaii Beach
at Kampung Bakam is a
popular weekend getaway for locals. Miri itself has a number of good beaches, but the most interesting coastal feature is man- made; the new Miri Marina (see page 282) and its resplendent seahorse statue.
Sarawak’s coast resumes at Limbang, on a narrow tongue of land dividing Brunei in two. The town has an idyllic location facing
a bustling Malay water-
village. Attractions include crocodile watching and visits to the bizarre 80cm high mud volcanoes at Kampung Meritam, 35km from town.
Lawas, a bustling border town sandwiched between Temburong (Brunei) and neighbouring Sabah, has two pleasant beaches. The coast here is dotted with extensive seagrass beds, creating a hot spot for dugongs.
Estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), the world’s largest living reptiles, inhabit the mangrove swamps and forests along most of Sarawak’s coastline. They are barely visible as they blend in perfectly with their surroundings.