Kampung Beliong

Located roughly about 2 hours drive from Kuching city, Kampung Beliong is a rather remote place from any other village that I've visited in Sarawak. As you may see from the map, its rather secluded and it's unaccesible by road (highlighted in square). That place could be reached via a boat and the area that we are headed to are determined by the water tide. If it's the low tide time, the place would be unreachable and it's only best to visit during high tide. High tide on that day was about 11am and we headed out from Kuching city around 10.30am.

At first I was rather worried that the place were so secluded that getting a mobile phone line will be rather impossible, so I called my dear to inform her up front on the place that I was about to visit. The road going to Beliong can be taken the long way or the short cut. However, the short cut is not available due to the low tide river and the ferry (highlighted in circle) to help us cross that river are not available because of that. We had to take the longer route which requires an hour drive around it (how stupid it is for them to build a road that's rather far).

So by the time we reach the little port of Beliong, the river are starting to flow. That's the place that we are headed to across the river.

We had to take these little boats across the river and it costs RM1 per person for the ride. Imagine how much these boat handlers gained per trip?

The river was rather muddy because the tide just began to flow carrying murky water.

That's mom and Aunt Tsai on the boat anticipating our arrival to the other side of the river.

The boat ride from on side to the other side takes roughly about 10 minutes as the engine of these little boats are rather small.

The reason for all the hassle and the trip is to reach this newly refurbished temple that has provided many with good fortunes and health that it started to prosper with donations poured in by the temple worshippers.

The main entrance to the temple.

The goddess Kuan Yin were placed up inside this towering pagoda.

The entire place looks rather new as it was only completed early October this year. According to the caretaker, people would normally flood this temple during the first and the middle of the chinese calendar month. I guess news spread fast and Kuching people travels to outskirts more often.

As you can see, most of the statues that is placed around the temple grounds are still uncoloured, or perhaps they are planning not to paint any?

The inner shrine.

More outdoor scenery.

You got to climb up the pagoda to reach the Kuan Yin shrine. So... up I go!

The view from the top of the pagoda.

And of course the inner Kuan Yin shrine.

The walls on top are beautifully painted with all the chinese gods that you could possibly name. Snapping these photos aren't that easy either.

Cute little piggy isn't it? Well... you can basically find this all over the pagoda as a build in stool.

The 18 monks (Lúo Hàn) statues.

The 8 immortals (Bā Xiān) statues.

Before leaving the temple, I just had to rub the happy monk's tummy for good fortune.

If you ask me if the trip was worth it? Definitely. Seeing new things and experiencing it is the main goal for this trip anyway. A snap of myself on the boat.

This fisherman are hard at work. Good luck catching...

The boat man is just letting the engine putting away as we cruise the river slowly.

It was a rather hot but windy day. Luckily there's plenty of wind that came with the sunshine... cold winds are blowing as we are bracing for another day of rain in the evening. Do come back soon as I will be travelling on the old style ferry back to Kuching instead of making a long journey around.