Bekenu
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Bekenu is a small fishing town near Miri, approximately 46 kilometres away from Miri city center. The town has a few very historical rows of wooden shophouses dating back to the 1930s, and a fish market with the usual food centers. The wooden shophouses are set to be demolished in February 2017.
There are also newer two-story concrete buildings that were completed in the 1970s. The fish and vegetables in the market are cheap and fresh, and many people go to Bekenu specifically for the fish and produce. Restaurants there serve exotic meat and dishes. Being a coastal town, Bungai beach near Bekenu is a beautiful place for a family outing or picnic. Bungai beach is adjacent to Tusan beach.
Bekenu originated when the Brooke Government established a small administrative district office on top of a hill overlooking the Bekenu rivermouth to collect some customs and excise and to maintain order.
Bekenu had a serious flood situation in 1962 when flood water levels completely inundated the town.
In the 1990s, Bekenu saw the palm oil industry gaining ground, and land transforming into oil palm plantations. The lingua franca in Bekenu is a mixture of Iban and Bahasa Sarawak, although other languages such as Malay, English and Chinese may be understood.
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The Old Miri Airport was planned and built in the 1970s, where a demand for a more modern and longer runway was needed to accommodate Fokker 50s and the Boeing 737s for a booming commercial aviation as commercial flying became a more affordable way to travel.
Borneo Jazz Festival is a yearly Jazz festival event held every year in Miri. Latin Jazz, contemporary Jazz, Caribbean Jazz, Asian Jazz and much more, different genres of jazz music find their way to the northern most city in Sarawak for an outdoor international festival with the ambience of intimate Jazz clubs.
Recent commercial center consisting of Phase 1 (2003) and Phase 2 (2009)
The Krokop Cemeteries consist of a Malay/Muslim cemetery and the Chinese cemetery right along the banks of Miri River. The cemeteries start from the Boang river bridge (connecting Miri River) to Krokop 1 roundabout alongside Miri River.