Video of Tidal Bore Festival in Sri Aman

A tidal bore is a tidal phenomenon in which the leading edge of the incoming tide forms a wave (or waves) of water that travels up a river. Benak is a local term in Sarawak Malaysia used to describe Tidal Bore. However, Benak here is not to be confused with the term used in another part of the country in which the term "Benak" is used to describe someone who is retarded. 


If you would like to see how the people in Sri Aman entertain themselves during the Pesta Benak or Tidal Bore Festival, please watch the following video. During Pesta Benak, people from throughout the state come to Sri Aman. Almost ever year now, tidal bore surfers from other countries are invited to ride the tidal bores.


The Pesta Benak is held annually in Sri Aman and this year the festival is held from 6 April until 8 April 2012. This is the time during the year the Sri Aman town in jam packed with cars and people. 

Sri Aman's Fish Market

This is a typical early morning scenario at Sri Aman's fish market. Traders will entertain their customers throughtout the morning whereas local will certainly bargain with them to get the cheapest price.

Almost all type of seafood is available at a very cheap price at this market. As compared to some other places in Malaysia, the prices of seafood at this particular market is still cheap and reasonable.

Tidal Bore

Watching this video still amazed me about the power of tidal bore. The water current can be utilized to produce renewal energy to power up nearby villages thus helping to reduce global warming effect.

Tidal Bore

Tidal bore is a natural phenomenon at Bt Lupar or Lupar River in Sri Aman. Tidal bore occurs due to the rapid rise in water level during the tide. During certain time of the year, the tidal bore is very huge and during that time boat regatta were usually being held annually.

Tidal bore occurs twice a day. Last weekend, the tidal bore occurred at 5 pm in the afternoon and at 8 am in the morning where the following pictures were taken.

As a result of the constant pounding of the tidal bores, the riverbank erosion is a unique problem that need to be tackled by the local authorities. Most of the structures built along the riverbank unless the foundation is solid rock are being eroded into the river.

The following picture shows the approaching tidal bore.

In order to prevent their boat from being damaged by the tidal bore, the boat owner will prefer to have the tidal bore ride as shown in the following picture. Small boat or ships also will have to move away from the wharf in order not to damage the structure during the tidal bore.


The following picture shows the magnitude of the tidal bore along the river bank.
The following picture shows the secondary waves generated from the tidal bore.

Another view of the tidal bore.


The following picture shows tidal bore in action.

Series of waves generated from the tidal bore.

Series of waves created by the tidal bore.

Ships will wait for the high tide before they could sail to the upper stream of the river.

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Symbol of Peace

Pigeon is usually associated with peace. In Sri Aman, there is a statue of two pigeons as shown above erected at the exact location where the historic event "Deklarasi Sri Aman" or "Sri Aman Declaration" was held. Sri Aman is a malay word for peace. Originally the town was named Simanggang and the name was changed to Sri Aman after the "Deklarasi Sri Aman".

"Sri Aman Declaration" was signed by the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Datuk Haji Abdul Rahman Ya'kub and Mr Bong Kee Chok (Director and Commissioner of North Kalimantan People Party, PARAKU) on the 21st October 1973 at the Rumah Sri Aman (previously known as Residensi Simanggang).

Now, Sri Aman is still a peaceful place to stay. Currently, the Sri Aman town is developed at a very fast rate with a lot of new developments being built.

Wan Hamzah Wedding

Congratulation to Wan Hamzah Wan Masra and his beloved wife for their wedding which was held in Kpg Muhibbah, Sri Aman, Sarawak on 4th December 2007.