NATURE’S BEST: Beautiful Bungai Beach stretching for miles.
MIRI: Bungai Beach in Sibuti is an irresistible spot for weary urban dwellers and longhouse folk to hold a picnic.
Popular with beachgoers who appreciate its clear waters and pristine beach, it is relatively secluded.
About 40 minutes ride along the coastal road from Miri, this beautiful beach comes with basic amenities like public toilets, market, chalets and huts with barbequing facilities.
Plans are afoot for Bungai Beach to be transformed into a tourist spot.
Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg in May launched the earthbreaking ceremony for the RM5 million project approved by the federal government in 2012.
He said it will make Bungai Beach as good as Fremantle Beach in Perth, Western Australia if not better.
Its attractions include beautiful sunsets, coral reefs and beach.
The Ministry of Tourism said new facilities to be built there include a marina and seafood restaurants serving local food.
The promotion will be undertaken by Sarawak Tourism Board which has included some scenic pictures of the beach on its website.
The upgrading project includes a complex, homestay, a cultural centre and boat bays.
The tourism minister assured that the state will request for another RM5 million to improve the beach.
Birthday boy Bajak Bukoh gave the thumbs-up to the development of the beach.
Celebrating his 50th birthday, he had gathered together relatives and friends from longhouses in Sungai Nipa, Sungai Entulang, Sungai Liam and Miri for a beach picnic last Sunday.
It was an opportunity for extended family members to catch up with each other.
The children had a splashing time in the water while the elders gathered under the trees, sitting on mats they brought along.
The smell of barbequed food, drinks and the lively chatter of the group of about 50 people under the trees reminded of gatherings in the longhouse ruai.
“We have such picnics here before but the crowd this time is bigger than expected, with many relatives meeting for the first time,” he chuckled.
The easy accessibility enabled him to send his sons to source for more food and drinks at nearby Bekenu town a couple of kilometres away.