familijoe travelog

MIRI AND BRUNEI DARUS-SALAM
14-17 September 2016

Day 1

At Miri Airport

We took a toyota UNSER for our ride and checked-in at Dynasty Hotel a 3 star hotel in the town centre.

Large room, reasonable room rate and excellent location

Then we wazed through to Muara Restaurant about 5 min drive, a popular melting pot for Miri folks.

Most popular is nasi penyet, we took rice and fish meals.

Next we went to nearby place called Canada Hill to see Petroleum Museum and the Grand Lady of Miri. It was just behind our hotel.

You can see the whole Miri town from up here....the storm was building up quickly on the background

Grand old Lady

Next destination is Tusan beach. About 40 min drive from Miri. We followed a coastal road up north which were quite straight alignment but with undulating ground.

The view was breathtaking, definitely worth the effort to be there, but amenities were lacking with one makeshift toilet.

Some foodie stalls, Zeti bought satay here.

By the time we drove back to Miri it was already dark.

Day 2 - Gua Niah exploration day.

Quick stop-by to buy breakfast

Myriad collection of local foodies.

There were aplenty of kuih to choose and it was quite cheap.

We bought few fried noodles and donuts.

Ooops beware of croco...

Heres a nice stop for savoury breakfast.

Chef's speciality; Mee Jawa, yummy!! certainly one the best with cow's bones "tulang"

Cuties on the riverbanks near Niah.

Here we are after an hour drive.

Again our croco friend

Short river crossing

The Boardwalk - the 3 km walks start here.

Local men carrying swiftlet's droppings called guano, it is usually used as fertilizer.

Some local traders selling souvenirs and drinks.

Traders cave - where the birds nest and guano are being traded

Niah's importance was first realised in 1957 when the curator of the Sarawak Museum, Tom Harrison, led an archaeological dig at the West Mouth. The excavations revealed a long period of human settlements; tools, cooking utensils and ornaments, made of bone, stone or clay reaching back into the Palaeolithic era (the earliest part of the Stone Age). As excavation progressed, the following year Harrison and his team unearthed a skull dated at 40,000 years old. This skull, of a modern human (Homo sapiens), disproved views that Borneo was settled much later and is a key piece in the jigsaw of early human colonisation of SE Asia.

The Great cave, Niah cave entrance

The painted cave

Quick lunch break near Niah...quite a nice selection of local foods.

Day 3 - Brunei Darussalam

This is the famous owner the local football living legend, Mr Awang Mahyan.

A visit to Crocodile farm is a must.

Off to Brunei Darussalam

Toll fee at the border, that's around RM 10.

Bandar Seri Begawan...first time here

The famous kampung Air

Underground car park at a Mall there

This lady was being approached by Brunei's religious officers, the offence? indecent behaviour at public place. The lady looked slightly perturbed mentally i think.

Some air of peacefulness emanating through the shops and the streets.

Om here was the highlight...this is the only place around the block to sell "NASI KATOK"

Nasi Katok is a meal with rice + fried chicken + sauce thats it!!
AAANND the price is only 1 Brunei Dollar !!!

It was so nice I have to ask Afiq to buy a few more packs to bring back.

Local mamak's teh tarik and roti canai.

We took a boat ride for 4 Br dolar.

Here we comes Kampung Air

Friendly learned man 80 years old and goin strong.

Fire has destroyed part of the houses...pity them.

Last shopping to get rid of Br Dollars

Back to Miri...Afiq couldn't wait to finish the Nasi Katok.

Impressive park basking with lights at nite.

Day 4

World War 2 memorial

Pasar Tamu is a generic term used for market where native ethnic groups come to sell their native products. Pasar Tamu is popular in Sabah and Sarawak. Sarawak has more than 40 sub-ethnic groups, each with its own language and way of life? its very interesting to see the local products of people from different sub-ethnic groups.