Beliong : Getting There
Beliong: Getting across the mighty Batang Samarahan
They say you can never go back and in the case of Beliong, I should never have gone back there so that my fond beautiful memories of the place from previous cycling trips would be preserved in my mind’s eye forever instead of being scarred.
Beliong: Getting Around
In the name of development the trees lined and beautifully shaded narrow and winding footpaths have been cleared to make way for the impending tar sealed roads. There has to be a better way to ‘progress’; but the powers that be obviously do not know any better nor do I suspect do they really care. Such is the sadness of life that not all changes are for the better and certain things are better left well enough alone.
Beautiful undisturbed paths still remain in part - but regretably not for long
Beliong : Disappearing images of magical cycle paths and forgotten places
New roads are a coming to Beliong and the shades are all gone!
I decided to go to Beliong to cycle after 2 bookings (one for a small group of friends and the other from a travel agent’s booking gone awry) were cancelled in the last minute. Like my paddling, I relish the moments when I cycle alone with my thoughts and I can tune in to the oneness of it all and the realization that we are really not alone. However in the absence of any shade from the cut down trees and vegetation; the hot sun beating down is not something to be relished. Before long I was sweating profusely as it was quite an effort to pedal on loose gravels that seems to drag your wheels without the ‘glide’ of even surfaces and it also takes extra effort to keep one’s balance.
Beautiful Sunday on the beautiful fishing Village of Kg Semilang
Friendly and beautiful children and folks @ Beliong
I cycled to Kg Beradek to the amused look of the villagers and I get the same bemused but friendly glances when I reached Kg Semilang the last fishing village before the coast. After catching my breath and cooling off under the shade I headed back but not before buying some dragon fruits from a Chinese farmer which at RM5/- a kilo for the bigger fruits (500grams) compared to the RM8/- to RM10/- if purchased in Kuching. Before catching the boat ride (RM1 for me and RM1 for my mountain bike) across Batang Samarahan for the drive back to Kuching, I had a freshly plucked refreshing coconut drink so that my last memory of Beliong would be a sweet one. *sighs*
Note: This is my post on my first cycling to Beliong about 2 years ago - “The Journey is the Reward: BELIONG - Sampan Ride & Stepping Back in Time”.
Sweet parting memories of Beliong - a place lost in time and the beauty of a place soon to be lost to 'progress & development'
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i said it 2 years ago & 2 years later, i am still saying it. In Malaysia, Kuching is the best place to be. Sea, River, Mountain, Jungle. You name, Koooo-chiing has it!
dilvin - hahaha and most of the residents here spent their weekends in shopping centers or watching Astro at home or lying dead on their sofas! Oops!
Beliong looks like 1 of those ‘innocent untouched virgins’…
amir - unfortunately this ‘virgin’ is about to be ravaged by the beasts of ‘development and progress’!