Category: Land of the Hornbills – Sarawak

Last part of Sibu trip.


This is definitely what you can’t see daily if you don’t live here. These large boats are known as floating supermarkets which serve the rural communities along the river. Very interesting right? Again, my first time seeing such thing!

The 114-year old Sibu Eng Ann Teng Tua Peh Kong temple in Sibu is located beside the river. Too bad the pagoda is closed to public.

Left: Part of the skyline of Sibu from the river.

Right: This is a nice place to observe the river activities with very nice sunset view too. Located next to the temple. Surprisingly, the place is very clean and well-maintained even though it’s quite seclude behind the temple. If it’s in Kuching, I cannot imagine how filthy the place is gonna be with human waste, rubbish and so on.

Another view from the riverbank.

Left: Containers were being loaded onto the ship.

Right: I assume this should a fishing boat.

Left: At night, it rained. I went dinner with my friend instead of going with the travel companions. Wanted to eat steamboat but couldn’t find any parking. So we decided to go somewhere else. The famous Hong Fu Seafood (Jalan Wong King Huo, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia).

Left: Midin with belacan. The balacan wasn’t that nice.

Left: Mani cai with salted egg yolk. My gosh! It’s so tasty! Never eat mani cai this way. The saltiness of the yolk went well with the vegetable.

Right: Hmmm… I forgot what’s this. I think it’s pork with salted fish. Not bad too. Never know pork can go with salted fish.

I’m not sure how much in total for this dinner as I didn’t pay for it. Was quite a lovely dinner, finally got to catch up with friend who I’ve not seen for more than 10 years!

The next morning, it’s time for us to head to Mukah and Bintulu.

Left: Before that, we went for breakfast at Aho Mee Sapi Nasi Ayam Restoran which is located opposite of Wisma Sanyan. This eatery is halal.

Right: Roti canai special (RM4), so filling! I couldn’t finish it. There’s beef and big onion in there along with other spices, not your blank roti canai. It’s very filling, I couldn’t finish it. I found that the spices was a bit too overwhelming for me. A bit regret ordered this.

Left: Surprisingly, banana and roti canai (RM3) could go well together. Eat it with the curry, it’s a great combination of sweet, salty, and a little spice.

Right: If not mistaken, this is their mee golok daging lembu aka dry beef noodle (RM3.50). Malay style of course.

After breakfast, we started our very bumpy car ride to Mukah. To be continued…

After hanging around the express boat terminal, we went to the Sibu Central Market.

This is my first time seeing chicken being sold like this. Interesting…

Durian season!! Cannot miss it. Had my first taste of durian after more than 2 years. This is also the culprit that made me sick ;p Too heaty.

Left: Dabai! It’s been years till I lost count. Didn’t buy or eat it in Sibu though.

Right: Rambutan, it’s the season too. It’s been more than 2 years too not eating it. When I was given with one, I asked my travel companions how to open it! *LOL* Ok… Ok… All these while when I had rambutan, I wasn’t the one who opened it, it’s already opened and readily served. Suddenly I forgot how to open it until one of them demonstrated it to me ;p

Some views of Sibu while on the road. Went for bak kut teh lunch with my Sibu friend but that shop isn’t worth any mention at all.

Then, after I got back, accompany my travel companions for their lunch. Isn’t that cat familiar? Hehehe… They had kampua at the place we had breakfast as it was very late, many shops already closed for lunch. Portion was big and price was quite cheap, less than RM3. Taste… I don’t know… Not my food *LOL*

Went to Wisma Sanyan for the event of the day…

Flagging off Cats Rangers at Sibu Resident Office in conjunction with Visit Sarawak Year 2014.

The following are the views I took from the lift at Wisma Sanyan. We went all the way up to 30+ floor by accident as we were too engrossed in taking photos and missed the floor we’re supposed to go, goodness… Going down was like going on a roller coaster. *Gulp*




The overview of Sibu. More to come…

After Sri Aman, we drove to Sibu, about 3 hours drive.

Hehehe… We were greeted with toll! We were shocked hahaha… Didn’t know there’s actually toll being charged in Sarawak. That proves that we’re all too narrow sighted ;p Something new for all of us! Well, well, well… I was in Sibu more than 20 years ago and the others just flew to Sibu instead of driving so no one knows about the toll implementation. My friend told me it’s implemented for a long time already more or less 10 years yet we knew nothing about it ;p If not for this trip, I still don’t know about this fact.

Once we got into Sibu, we went to check-in at Kingwood Sibu.

Very spacious room. After staying at numerous hotels during this trip, my roommate and I felt that this is the most comfortable hotel stay we had. Maybe we were still quite active and healthy that time as towards the end we were just too sick to enjoy the stay hahaha…

Dinner at Taman Selera Harmoni. Great array of choice of Muslim food.

Left: Sup tulang (literally translate it as bone soup ;p)
Right: Kampua (beef version)

Left: Ayam penyet.
Right: Nasi Lemak, my nasi lemak took so long to come out -.-” Everyone almost finished their food, then I got mine. It’s not delicious at all. Chicken was so dry while the sambal was quite diluted. No kick.

I can’t comment on other food as they’re not mine. After the dinner, we called it a night.

The view from our room. Sibu changes so much! Surprisingly it’s not a dead town during the day and even at night. Very lively, people everywhere and yes… You can find traffic jam there too. It’s definitely not quiet at all.

Left: The swan near our hotel. Sibu, nicknamed the Swan City. Our hotel is just next to the Rajang River.

Sibu is an inland town. It is located at the confluence of the Rajang and Igan Rivers, some 60 kilometres from the ocean and approximately 183.3 kilometres east-north-east of Kuching.

Source: Wikipedia

Right: A structure found at the esplanade. It stated “Xu Clan World Convention Garden”. I have no idea what it’s all about, what’s the significant? Share with me if you know.

Breakfast was at Siong Nguong Cafe. How we ended up here? Seriously no idea. We got no idea where to eat, just loitered around the hotel area and ended up here.

Left: I’m not sure what this is called but if in Kuching, I’ll call it meat dumpling ;p it’s meat dumpling anyway. Won’t say it’s the best but still can eat. Don’t remember the price but quite cheap.

Right: Nasi goreng with curry chicken, looked not bad. At first I thought it’s nasi lemak hahahah…

A hut found at the esplanade. It resembles the house of one of the natives in Sarawak. Looks like Rumah Baruk but not sure.

Taking a stroll at the esplanade.

The express boat terminal is not far too. Walking distant. A very busy place with lots of human activities. If you have a chance, try to sit there for an hour or so, just observe the surrounding, you’ll be surprised with various activities and people in this place which I am very sure most of us won’t see it everyday. It makes you appreciate the river even more and you’ll have a lot to ponder upon and be thankful with what you have. I missed the chance to go into the boat for a quick look around.

This is my first time coming so close to so many express boats. If you want to go to Kapit and some smaller towns inaccessible by road, you will have to go from here.

Left: Part of the skyline of Sibu from the esplanade.

Right: An express boat making its way to its destination.

More to come…