Eastwood Valley hotel, Miri

Merry Christmas and Happy Advance New Year 2008 for all readers.... Cheers

Back to Brunei, via Miri...

Things happened along the way back... but I wouldn't write it down... Basically we spent our Christmas eve in a uncomfortable area and position. Thank God, things went well...

We had to stop and stay in Miri and while all the major hotels were full, we were introduced to Eastwood Valley: Golf and Country Club, along the Miri by-pass, Padang Kerbau. It was a $$$ well spent as the rooms /chalets were spacious and cozy. Though it was quite a distance from the Miri town, about 3-5km, however, with RM100 per night, what more could you ask???

Dragon fruit was sold around RM8 per kilo along the Sibu road... there were numerous durians but as long as its not durian kuning, malas to stop... hee

The Eastwood Valley chalets...

The major hall for reception. According to the locals, many people go to this hotel for Wedding reception, its the grandest in Miri apparently...

Trip back to Brunei from Kuching

We couldnt booked a hotel from Brunei before our trip as it was all full and the only ones offered are the expensive family suites... we opted to go to Hotel Grand Continental. Though it was a bit out of the way, but its still near the Waterfront, Kuching. Only after we returned, we were told that next to hotel there's a famous Kuching Laksa, sold somewhere near there. In our next trip... By the way, the hotel is really value with $$$, it costs less than RM200 for us to get a big room (king size + single) and with 3 brakefast meal... Getting ready to go back to Brunei, passed by Serian Town...

Sri Aman rest place. Usually people pee at this rest stop. If you see this stop, get read to turn to the right, going straight on the road would lead you to Sri Aman, instead of the road to Sibu...

Gosh, another 700++km journey back to Brunei

As forcasted, it was rainy along the way....

Site and Scene of Kuching 3

Its fruit seasons in Sarawak... All along the way from Sibu to Kuching, there were lots of Durians along the way. However, when we bought one at Kuching market for RM18, we decided not to waste $$$ and our body (fat) for that.. hahah

Scene of Kuching from the other side of the river...

The Chinese Museum, Kuching. Entry is free

One of the many city statues in Kuching, though it was said that the origin of Kuching town was either derived from the Mata Kuching tree or "Ho Ching", the Chinese word for a water"Well"

In Brunei, we have the NBT's annual decoration for the major festive season, in Kuching, it was ...... (have to check the name of the hotel) hotel with its nice decoration, thought it cant beat Brunei's NBT decoration... heheh

Site and Scene of Kuching 2

The journey will not be complete without the visiting Sarawak Museum....

The Merdeka Palace hotel is just next to the Museum... its quite pricey

Sentral Police Station, 1931

Pasar in the heart of Kuching City

The Harmony Arch... i think, i read about this arch when it was officially opened by the Chief Minister last year or so...

Site and Scene of multicultural Kuching

Chinese temple

Sikh Temple

Mosque with graveyard infront... was a bit surprise with this scene as I havent come across a graveyard next to a mosque. For churches, yes but not a mosque

The oldest mosque in Kuching? Very unique

Cheap fruits

Trip from Brunei to Kuching 2

Uncompleted huge Chinese temple along the Sibu/Bintulu road

Scene of Sibu Town...

The traffic to Sibu

Trip to Kuching from Brunei 1

We have been talking about going to Kuching, Sarawak for several months and while asking, many had advice not to take the 1000km route from Brunei to Kuching. Stories of hijack, Bruneian cars being attacked and rough locals in some of the major towns along the way, didn't stop our determination to reach Kuching by using cars...

Armed with a map and lots of water, we set off from Brunei around 8.30am with the aim of reaching Sibu town to stay overnight. The reason being that, since it was our first trip, it would be better to stop at Sibu for a rest. The whole journey from Brunei to Kuching takes about 12 hours, 6 hours to Sibu and another 6 hours from Sibu to Kuching.

According to some, they could reach Kuching in 10 hours if you're fast enough, but we have seen one fatal accident along the way back, when a car ram into a oncoming bus. It was said that some lorry, trucks, bus drivers and other vehicles refused to let overtaking cars pass by and enter immediately if there's oncoming car on the opposite side, just to spite the racing cars.... regardless of how it would endanger the lives of the people. From our observation, it's better to be safe and overtake only when its safe. Imagine the people who drive up the mountain in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, then you will see the same way of people driving to Kuching like that, no matter how big or small the cars are.

Here are some of the photos taken during the long trip.

Dead and young palm oil trees along the road from Miri to Bintulu... (Old Road)

Niah Cave rest stop

Logs cut - a common scene in Sarawak

Chinese kueh...

My mum loves to eat this Chinese"kueh" however, she didn't know how to do it... Determined to find out how to make this, she bought several cooking books and tried to make it today....

How it looks before it is steamed...

Coconut leaves are used as the base

Have to use books to check the correct recepie

In a few days time, it would be the "tang chueh" celebration. Chinese are supposed to make and eat the "tang chueh", pray to our ancestors for it, as it mark the coming of Chinese New Year soon... (I think anyway.. haha).

By the way, to all Muslim readers, Selamat Hari Raya Haji (Aidil-adaha) 2007 which is celebrated in Brunei today, 20th December 2007.

Bukit Pagon

When we were studying geography at primary and secondary level, we were told that Bukit Pagon is Brunei's highest hill (or mountain which was the actual word the teacher said).

Now, if you look at your Geography book, I wonder if this is still true.

Why?

Look at the Map of Sarawak and you will see that the Sarawak (Malaysia) government map will show that it is in the Sarawakian territory.

So, who is right? Does Bukit Pagon belongs to Brunei or Sarawak?

If it belongs to Brunei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade should do something about it, I think. Dont let the Malaysian just re-draw the territory without us protesting. This is what's happening in Singapore Vs Malaysia's Pulau Batu Putih.

We should bring this matter to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). We don't want things to repeat themselves after what happened over 100 years ago....

Vanilla cocktail Cake...

Nothing to do... just buy a cake to eat...

There's also something wrong with my camera. Gotta re-charge the battery.

ps.... The cake is getting eggier (more eggs added), the cakehouse need to check the quality of its cake...

Dogs needs a good home/owner...

If anyone wants a dog for Christmas, New Year or Birthday, do have a look at Pertama Jaya's notices....

Pictures of Recent trip to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

The magnificant view of Mount Kinabalu, from Shangri-La, Tanjung Aru.

The Orchidville in KK, well, its not that interesting or worth to visit unless you have a lot of time to kill. Its quite far from KK, taking about 45minutes or more to reach this area.