Santubong and Damai Beach

Damai Beach and its surrounding

Santubong

INTRODUCTION

Kuching's popular beach area is about 40 minutes drive or 35 km north of the city. Among the attractions in the area include the Sarawak Cultural Village, Mount Santubong trekking (810 m), superb Seafood Restaurants, 18-holes Golf Course (legendary Arnold Palmer design) and luxury Beach & Jungle Resorts. Tours or excursions to nearby Satang Island, Wildlife Cruise, and Mountain climbing can be arranged from various resorts. Tours are operated by travel agents based at the resorts.

SARAWAK CULTURAL VILLAGE

Described as a unique living museum, Sarawak Cultural Village offers the culture, arts and crafts of the State's many ethnic groups In a 7 hectare site tucked on the foothills of the legendary Mount Santubong.

There are 7 authentic replicas of the ethnic houses of the major tribes In Sarawak The Longhouses of the Bidayuh, Iban and the Orang Ulu, the Melanau Tall House, the Chinese Farm House, the Malay Stilted House and Penan Hut. Visitors will be Invited to take part In the various activities at each of the houses. Those who love traditional crafts will enjoy works from the craftsmen on display In each houses such as Pua Kumbu (Iban textiles), Kain Songket (Malay cloth with gold Inner lay), Melanau Terendak (sunhat), Bidayuh Tambok (basket), Iban Parang (swords), Orang Ulu wood carving and Chinese ceramics. Guests will also be entertained with 45-mlnute dally cultural performances of songs and dances.

The village also offers a home stay experience called 'berambeh' for those who like to experience more of the Sarawakian hospitality and its traditions.

Please contact their Heritage Resource Centre for arrangement.

Open Dally : 9:00am - 5:15pm Cultural Shows : 11.30am - 12.15pm (morning show) 4pm - 4:45pm (afternoon show)

Getting there : Shuttle bus leaves at regular Intervals from Holiday Inn Kuching, Crown Plaza Riverside & other major hotels (check with hotel receptions) Shuttle Bus Fare : RM10 one way Contact No : Tel: 082-846411 Fax: 082-846988 Email : 1nfo@scv.com.my

URL : www.scv.com.my

SANTUBONG JUNGLE TREK

There are a number of jungle trekking and walking trails at Damai. The 'Santubong Jungle Trek' (blue trail markings) is a circular trail situated close to the hotels. The 2 km long trail takes 1-2 hours and begins at a 'Starter Hut' on the Santubong-Kuching Road. Pick up a trail map from hotel recreation counters. Damai Rainforest Resort also maintain a trail behind their activity centre. By far the toughest trek is the Mount Santubong Summit Trek (red trail markings) which takes 4-7 hours (up and down) depending on fitness and the route taken. Two trails lead to the summit. The 'Main Trail' starts near the resort hotels whilst a

'Short Cut' trail starts a few hundred metres past the Damai Lookout Point Seafood Restaurant on the Kuching-Santubong road. Whatever route you opt for it is essential to wear good hiking shoes and take plenty of drinking water. You can trek to the summit by yourself or go with a guide. Check with hotel recreation counters.

The Santubong Jungle Trek is a circular trekking trail located at the foothills of Santubong Mountain. There are few starting point for the mountain trek around the area, but suggested starting point is the one near Damai roundabout. The small shelter marks the starting point and also a pleasant place to dine. The clearly marked trail winds its way through the rainforest and passes jungle streams, dip pools and waterfalls. The trail is approximately 2 km long and the trek takes between 2 - 3 hours depending on fitness level and stopping times.

BBQ areas and resting benches are located along the trail. The trail is open to the public. It is free of charge but at their own risk.

As there are a number of unmarked tracks in the area, trekkers are advised to follow the signs carefully.

For a guide, contact Recreational Counters:

Holiday Inn Resort Damai Beach Tel: 082-846999 or Holiday Inn Resort Damai Lagoon Tel: 082-846900.

RIVER CRUISE

This is a great way to experience sights, sounds and wildlife of the Santubong Peninsula. Salak River provides a perfect introduction to the mangrove forests Eco - Systems.

Small group of Proboscis Monkeys often seen at the treetops in this area. At dusk, salt water crocodile commonly found on the mud banks and continued further upriver to watch the fireflies lit up the night.

For a cruise tours, please contact the Tour Operator desk at the resort in Damai beach.

IRRAWADDY DOLPHIN WATCHING

Damal is the best place to watch dolphins, particularly in Santubong, Salak and Buntal river estuaries. The Irrawaddy, or snub fin dolphin, are found in these estuaries and shallow coastal areas.

Irrawaddy Dolphin Watching: Damai is one of the best places in Sarawak to see the rare Irrawaddy dolphin, which inhabits rivers, estuaries and shallow coastal areas. The Santubong, Salak and Buntal river estuaries are good dolphin watching areas. The Irrawaddy is a relatively shy dolphin - it's usually hard to see so a good guide-cum-spotter is essential. CPH Travel was the first company to offer regular dolphin watching tours in the Damai area. Their boatmen and guides are familiar with the waters around Damai and the areas where the Irrawaddy is often seen. CPH run regular dolphin-spotting trips. Best from May to October, but also possible at other times if water conditions are right. Contact CPH at Tel: 243708.

Boat cruise can be arrange with the Tour Operator desk at Holiday Inn Resort Damai Lagoon or Contact: CPH Travel Agencies Tel 082-243708 Fax 082-426981

Email: cphtrvl@po.jaring.my

URL www.cphtravel.com.my/cph

Branch at Holiday Inn Resort Damai Lagoon Tel: 082-846618

GOLFING

Damai Golf Course & Country Club is the first Arnold Palmer - designed course in Malaysia. The setting is truly spectacular, bordering the foothill of Mount Santubong, the beach and the mangrove forests of the South China Sea.

It was opened in 1996 and boasts a true elegance of a world-class 18-hole golf course.

Damai Golf & Country Club

Jalan Santubong, PO Box 400, 93902
Kuching. Tel: 846088, Fax: 846044.

Arnold Palmer designed course featuring a Mountain Nine that sprawls over the foothills of Mount
Santubong, and an Ocean Nine which hugs the coastline and the mangrove forests. According to
Palmer, it's a "must-play course for those who love golf." Green fees RM 150-180 (weekends). Caddies RM 15-25. Promotional offers and discounts available.

Email: dgcc@po.jaring.my

URL http: / /www.damaigolf.com.

WATER SPORTS

Water sports such as jet and water skiing, canoeing, sailing in catamarans and windsurfing are available for in-house guests at the resorts in Damai. Please contact directly the resort activity desk.

Holiday Inn Resort Damai Beach and Holiday Inn Resort Damai Lagoon offer a range of waterspouts including jet skiing (RM 80 for 30 mins), canoeing (RM 12-20 per hour), sailing in catamarans (RM 70 per hour) and windsurfing (RM 50 per hour). Both hotels can also arrange coastal excursion trips and snorkelling and beachcombing trips. Further details and prices are available from the hotel's recreation counter or the boathouse. Permai Rainforest Resort rents sea kayaks (RM 15-30 single, RM 20-35, double) and can arrange guided kayaking trips and coastal cruises.

MALAY VILLAGES

There are a few interesting coastal villages (kampungs) in the Santubong Peninsula. The most accessible from Damai is Kampung Santubong, a well-kept Malay village at the foot of Mount Santubong. Buntal, a Malay fishing village just off the Kuching-Santubong road, is famous for the seafood restaurants perched on wooden stilts which line the shore. Rasir Panjang and Rasir Randak are two beach-side kampungs which are surrounded by small rolling hills, coconut groves and durian orchards. Although Santubong is within walking distance (4 km) from Damai beach, the other villages require transport.

The two Malay villages that are well- known In Damal area are the Santubong Village at the foot of Mount Santubong and the Buntal Village, which is just off the Kuching - Santubong road and is famous for its excellent seafood restaurants. Near Santubong there are two idyllic beach- side villages, Kampung Pasir Panjang and Kampung Pasir Pandak, both surrounded by rolling hills, coconut groves and durian orchards. It is just a few minutes drive from Damai beach.

Some of the well-known seafood restaurants in the area are:

a) Palm Garden Seafood Restaurant (Tel: 082-846698)

b) Lim Hock Ann Seafood Restaurant (Tel: 082-846533)

c) Teo Seafood (Tel: 082-846532)

d) Beach Seafood Restaurant (Tel: 082-846711)

e) Dayang Seafood Restaurant (Tel: 082-321345/010 8881726)

ACCOMMODATION IN DAMAI BEACH

Resort rates include a 10% service charge and 5% government tax. Please check directly with the resorts for promotional rates which are sometimes available at certain period of the year. Rates also subject to revision.

Holiday Inn Resort Damal Beach Teluk Bandung, Santubong. Tel : 082-846999 Fax: 082-846777 Email : h1rdb02@po.jar1ng.my

Damai Pun Resort & Spa Teluk Penyuk. Santubong Tel: 082-846900/846991 Fax: 082-846901

Santubong Kuching Resort Jalan Pantal Damal, Santubong. Tel : 082-846888 Fax : 082-846666 Email: skresort@po.jar1ng.my

Permai Rainforest Resort Teluk Penyuk, Santubong. Tel : 082-846490/846487 Fax : 082-846486 URL: www.perma1ra1nforest.com

Nanga Damai (Luxury Homestay) Jalan Sultan Tengah, Santubong. Fax : 082-414802 Email : nangadama1@hotma1l.com URL : www.nangadama1.com

The Santubong Peninsula is located at the West Mouth of the Sarawak River. At its northern tip, Mount Santubong (810 m) rises majestically from the sea. The area has been settled since ancient times, and was once a major trading centre. Nowadays the Peninsula, particularly Damai, is a popular beach resort area and a good base for discovering the charms of Southwest Sarawak. All manner of attractions are here sleepy fishing villages, primary rainforest, superb seafood restaurants, an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, a "living museum", and luxury beach resorts. On a clear day, the Santubong area offers spectacular sunsets, as the sun sinks slowly into the sea framed by Sarawak's rolling hills on one side and scattered islands on the other.

Only 35 minutes drive from Kuching, Santubong has a great deal to offer the visitor. Waterspouts of all descriptions, including jet-skiing and water-skiing, are available at the resort hotels (see Waterspouts section below). Mountain bikes can be hired to explore the local villages. A number of tours and excursions can be made from the various hotels or from Kuching. These include jungle treks to the summit of Mount Santubong, Irrawaddy dolphin watching tours, river cruises in and around the Kuching Wetlands National Park, and bird watching trips.

Just offshore are two small islands - Pulau Satang Besar and Pulau Satang Kecil. Satang Besar has been designated as a Turtle Sanctuary to protect the Green Turtles which come ashore to lay eggs.

Bird Watching: The Santubong Peninsula offers a number of interesting sites for bird watching. Perhaps the best spot is Buntal village, an important wintering ground for migratory species. The whole Bako-Buntal Bay is now listed as an 'Important Bird Area' under Birdlife International's Asia programme. The best time for bird watching is from October to March, when large numbers of birds can be seen in the Buntal river estuary. These include a variety of plovers, terns, egrets, sandpipers and godwits plus some rare migrants. Resident birds often sighted include the white-bellied sea eagle, brahminy kite and collared kingfisher.

INDEX of Kuching City April 02, 2008 04:11:32 PM