Kenangan Beach ideal for Sundays
Monday, May 7, 2007
SUNDAY mornings on Seri Kenangan Beach in Tutong are normally lively and teeming with a youthful energy, which sometimes even borders on festive.
Much of this is owed perhaps to the families and big groups of youths looking to spend a carefree day together outdoors.
By mid-morning the air is dotted by colourful kites tugging at the hands of fathers and their children, and the ambrosial smell of food sizzling on the grills of stall owners and picnickers.
Seri Kenangan Beach lies just down the road from the quaint Tutong town, and is easily accessible by car. The beach is backed for some distance by a river estuary, and is flanked on both sides by scattered residences towards either ends.
It's a hellishly long walk up and down the shore, so if you do decide to leave your car parked, there is a quad bike rental hut not too far down, with prices starting at $10 for 20 minutes.
However, these rugged little vehicles seem to have the adults a little too absorbed with their glee, so watch out for children on a purring, four-wheeled rampage.
Of course, good food commonly lies at the root of good fun. Several convenient huts built along the beach for beachgoers to hold their cookouts at have been consistently popular with the public over the years.
The road down the beach is lined with hawkers selling burgers and sandwiches, as well as fried crackers, fruit preserves and packs of fresh fruit slices. Visitors relieve themselves off the heat during the day with the air bandung, diluted cordials and coconut water offered at the stalls, the number of which is doubled with opportunist vendors during large-scale events at the beach.
Unfortunately there is only one restaurant on the beach, which fails to pique the curiosity of passersby with its dull facade and lack of eyecatching advertisements of proffered specialties. The small playground and family area is never deserted, and the conspicuous presence of trashbins make for a very clean spot to spend a relaxing day outdoors.
Cleanliness: This bit of coastline is usually beautifully clean, but yesterday morning's choppy sea brought home a considerable amount of natural debris, from twigs and waterborne fruit to large chunks of driftwood. The absence of a regular cleanup routine to dispose of the litter might be off-putting for swimmers. Rating: 8/10
Comfort: Parking seems to happen anytime, anywhere. On a still day mosquitoes emerge from the surrounding shrubbery to attack.
The long way to the public lavatories is not signposted and the cubicles are in an advanced state of disrepair. A sign says toilets are closed on Friday, which will be difficult to explain to foreigners. Rating: 6/10
Tourist spot potential: The atmosphere at the beach is both calming and charming, much like a world-class outdoor getaway should be.
However, one wonders if developing a few casual establishments in the vicinity befitting the desired theme of leisure, such as mom-and-pop eateries, small shops or games and watersports centres, might make it much harder for visitors to leave. Rating: 9/10
The Brunei Times
Much of this is owed perhaps to the families and big groups of youths looking to spend a carefree day together outdoors.
By mid-morning the air is dotted by colourful kites tugging at the hands of fathers and their children, and the ambrosial smell of food sizzling on the grills of stall owners and picnickers.
Seri Kenangan Beach lies just down the road from the quaint Tutong town, and is easily accessible by car. The beach is backed for some distance by a river estuary, and is flanked on both sides by scattered residences towards either ends.
It's a hellishly long walk up and down the shore, so if you do decide to leave your car parked, there is a quad bike rental hut not too far down, with prices starting at $10 for 20 minutes.
However, these rugged little vehicles seem to have the adults a little too absorbed with their glee, so watch out for children on a purring, four-wheeled rampage.
Of course, good food commonly lies at the root of good fun. Several convenient huts built along the beach for beachgoers to hold their cookouts at have been consistently popular with the public over the years.
The road down the beach is lined with hawkers selling burgers and sandwiches, as well as fried crackers, fruit preserves and packs of fresh fruit slices. Visitors relieve themselves off the heat during the day with the air bandung, diluted cordials and coconut water offered at the stalls, the number of which is doubled with opportunist vendors during large-scale events at the beach.
Unfortunately there is only one restaurant on the beach, which fails to pique the curiosity of passersby with its dull facade and lack of eyecatching advertisements of proffered specialties. The small playground and family area is never deserted, and the conspicuous presence of trashbins make for a very clean spot to spend a relaxing day outdoors.
Cleanliness: This bit of coastline is usually beautifully clean, but yesterday morning's choppy sea brought home a considerable amount of natural debris, from twigs and waterborne fruit to large chunks of driftwood. The absence of a regular cleanup routine to dispose of the litter might be off-putting for swimmers. Rating: 8/10
Comfort: Parking seems to happen anytime, anywhere. On a still day mosquitoes emerge from the surrounding shrubbery to attack.
The long way to the public lavatories is not signposted and the cubicles are in an advanced state of disrepair. A sign says toilets are closed on Friday, which will be difficult to explain to foreigners. Rating: 6/10
Tourist spot potential: The atmosphere at the beach is both calming and charming, much like a world-class outdoor getaway should be.
However, one wonders if developing a few casual establishments in the vicinity befitting the desired theme of leisure, such as mom-and-pop eateries, small shops or games and watersports centres, might make it much harder for visitors to leave. Rating: 9/10
The Brunei Times
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