Miri, City of Oil

THE fantastic four of us reached Miri airport at almost 2 in the noon. We were greeted by CY’s uncle and his family. First he brought us to check in a hotel in Miri town then we went to have our lunch. CY’s uncle is working as a government servant so he could get a cheap rate for the hotel room. It really saved up a lot for us.

Welcome to Miri

After the meal, CY’s uncle brought us to Batu Niah. It was a one and half journey ride from Miri Town and the ride quite bumpy. The famous Gua Niah is just located not far from there. However as the sky was getting dark and we are only staying a night in Miri, we were not able to visit the Niah cave. Really wasted. Other people come all the way from all over the world to visit this famous cave. Hopefully I will have the chance to come again next time.

On the way to Batu Niah

Before returning to Miri town, CY’s uncle brought us a his house. It is in a small town about half an hour from Miri town.

CY's uncle house

Then uncle sent us back to the hotel and soon Vanessa (our coursemate from Miri) came to pick us up for dinner. She brought to a place near to the sea and we had seafood for dinner. However it was too dark and we can’t enjoy the sea view. Since it was our first time to Miri, the dinner was Vanessa's treat.

After dinner, Vanessa brought us to her house to meet her family and have some chat. Then she bring us on a night tour around Miri. She also brought us to this cemetery where it is located in between two roads. And during night time in Miri, you don’t see many cars on the road. It was almost like a deserted town. Spooky.

Next, we went to Thai Club. Yup, apart from KL there is also another Thai Club in Miri. It was Wednesday so all the girls had a free drink each. And well, I drank theirs as they don't drink so much. Hehe.

The club there is abit different than the ones in KL, although I don't always go. But one thing that I found out during that night - Vanessa can dance and shake quite well! =p

IT was around 12.30am when we reached back out hotel. Took a nice hot shower before going to bed.

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THE next day, CY and I went for the hotel breakfast buffet as they only allow two people. And then, Vanessa picked us all from the hotel and went for breakfast for the second round as BL and HC had not taken their breakfast yet.

Coffee and Teh Si Special...again

After makan we went to a hilltop in Miri. Located at the highest point of Miri Town, we could viewed the whole town from above. But of course, the weather was freaking hot too.

View from the top

Besides looking at the view, there is also a Petroleum Museum and an oil well on top of the hill. The museum is not very big. It is something like the Petrosains in KLCC. We took some photos around the oil well.

We were the only visitors at the museum

The first ever oil well in Malaysia

Some monkeys

Next, Vanessa brought us to a jetty nearby the place we had our dinner the night before. We just enjoyed the sea breeze over there. Before that, we wanted to go to the Miri Marina Bay but we couldn't enter because the construction works were going on. Vanessa said that there is a big seahorse status over there. By the way, seahorse is the landmark of Miri.

The jetty

That's Vanessa on the right

The seahorse status is on the faaaar back

When it was almost 12pm, we went back to the hotel for check-out. The weather was extremely hot as it was noon. And our next stop was to a park called Taman Awam Miri. The attracting part at the place is the suspension bridge. Otherwise we wouldn't go there at this hour of the day.

Chiou Yann

Han Chee and Bee Li

Taman Awam Miri

An advice: Visit there when the only weather is NOT hot

We had our lunch before sending Chiou Yann to the airport. Her flight back to Kuching was at 2.35pm. As we were rushing for the time, Vanessa received a parking summon at airport when she parked her car at the departure/arrival hallway.
After sending CY, which left only BL, HC and me, Vanessa brought us to the Heritage center in the town as HC wanted to buy some souvenirs. Then, we went back to Vanessa's house to have a rest. All of us were feeling very hot and tired. I took a short nap in the living hall.
At about 4, Vanessa brought us to a place to have cendol and rojak. It was nice to have something cold to chill ourself up. I don't really remember where the place was but it looked kinda clean and most of the stalls there are selling cendol and rojak.

We had cendol and rojak here

Then Vanessa drove us to her high school to visit a round before heading to our last stop at the Esplanade Bay. It is a long stretch of beach and a nice place to have picnic during the evening. We stayed there for about half an hour. The sun was setting down and the wind was blowing non-stop. I liked that feeling! =)

The Esplanade Bay

Our flight back to KL was at 7pm so we had to reach the airport by 6pm. Vanessa dropped us at the Miri airport and it was time to say g o o d b y e . . .

How come the front design of airports in Miri, Kuching and KL look almost the same ar?!