Would you dare to be on a surfing board and battle a tidal bore in Sarawaks Batang Lupar,famed for its crocodile-infested

water. Dare-devils should look no further then Sri Aman,170 km from Kuching the tidal bore here,or benak,could be a big tourism draw in which it could be known as a fantastic extreme sport. So far only one man has dared to take up the challange in vattling the benak.He is Frenchman Anthony Colas,a hardcore tidal surfer and author of the World Stormrider guide,a guide book on the best new surfing locations worldwide. His feat in October last year was reported in a recent edition of Hong kong based Action Asia Magazine,a respected travel and adventure publication.Sri Amans tidal bore rates among the best bores in the world.Although not as powerful and destructive as Brazils Pororoca or Chinas Guanchao,the benak breaks for several hours,rewaching 1.52mhigh at some stages,he said in the magazine. This,he said,made a fairly nice wave for surfers.Giving the thumbs up to the annual Pesta benak held to promote the Sri Amans tidal bore phenomenon,Colas called for a special toursim package that allows tourists to surf on the tidal bore. This would be similar to what has beind done in Brazil and Canada,he added.Estuarine crocs can intimidate potential wave-ridrs but safety issues can be dealt with by using rescue boats and pick up-canoes. Inaugurated in 2001, the Benak Festival is one of the major events in Sarawaks tourism calendar and is celebrated along with water sports, cultural shows and handicraft exhibitions.

The tidal bore usually occurs on the 3rd and 18th days of the Chinese lunar calendar. Boatmen and youths usually try to ride the gigantic waves that lash Sri Aman towns waterfront. The tidal bore is a high wave caused by the meeting of two tides or by a tide rushing up the narrow river estuary. Its height depends on the time of the year, weather and phase of the moon. This phenomenon is known to occur at 66 locations worldwide, three of them in Malaysia, including Sri Aman.

Thats all that i can say about the amazing and phenomenal activity in Sri Aman.