Kampong Sungai Peliau — a hidden gem
Josephine (not her real name), her two sisters and her relatives
and a camping organiser, said: “Camping is a very healthy activity for the whole family.
“I’m an outdoors person and staying a few nights on the beach at Kampong Sungai Pe-iau is perfect!”
A lecturer friend who often goes camping with his Boy Scouts, chimed in: “It’s not easy to find a good place to pitch our tents along the Bintulu-Lutong coast. From my experience, it’s easier for a smaller group but harder for a larger group because we have to consider toilet and bathing facilities and even promixity to clinics in case of emergency.”
Kampong Sungai Peliau is near Bekenu town -- about 10 minutes away -- and the beach is lovely.
The friend said in the morning, they bought fi sh from the fi shermen who came in very early with their catch.
Kampong folk and even consumers from as far as Miri came to buy fi sh before 8 pm, he added.
Kampong Sungai Peliau has adequate bathing and toilet facilities, provided by the government for the kampong “Beach Park.”
A nearby community hall has other facilities, in case a big storm rages and the tents cannot withstand the power of the wind.
Bakar, a local fisherman and Kampong Sungai Peliau resident, remarked: “We like to welcome all picnickers and campers to our kampong. In the last few years, we had seen many people visiting our kampong and our beach. We like the social and physical development here and we thank the government for supporting us.
“We as fishermen continue to go out to sea and catch as many fi sh as possible. Our little stalls here have fresh fish most days with some fishermen coming in even before 6am. We sell directly to our customers.”
Aunty Mina selling fresh coconuts at Bungai Beach, said during weekends, she would get coconuts from the surrounding kampongs, including Kampong Sungai Peliau.
According to her, most tourists and local customers love the fresh coconuts at her stall.
She must never be short of the fruits. Sometimes, visitors from Brunei and Miri will buy more than 20 coconuts each — and other fruits — to take home.
During the fruit season, her business is even better.
She is happy there are more kampongs along the Bungai Beach area and Kampong Peliau is a welcomed addition for visitors, especially those who like to take photos or buy fish in the morning.
Malaysia has an abundance of tropical jungles and vast flora and fauna that we should really take the time to appreciate and explore.
If you want to experience what it’s like to live in the jungle not too far from the city, Kampong Peliau and Bungai Beach are highly recommended.
These are not entirely off the beaten track but are still considered rare gems to city folk who like to get away from the city.
Peliau Beach, together with the adjacent Bungai Beach and Sibuti Beach are about an hour’s drive from Miri.
Those interested in birdwatching can quite easily spot Chinese egret, peregrine falcon, kingfisher, kentish plover and lesser sand plover.
Besides, many newspapers have been pro-moting walks from the beaches of Peliau to Tanjung Layang and Bungai.
And of course, Tusan is a big tourist attraction. The 45minute walk from Peliau village to Tanjung Layang covers sandy beaches, cliffs, coral reefs, a waterfall, a stream and a cemetery of early Kedayan settlers and also passes Kuntum, Batu Berjanji, Batu Putih, Lubuk Kasau, Tanjung Batu, Kuala Jemaah and Batu Bandia.
Kampong Sungai Peliau has great potential for tourism, especially nature lovers who like to camp out. In fact, everyone is looking forward to better facilities for campers and day trippers.