Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007


Miri (美里) is a small city in northern Sarawak on the Malaysian island of Borneo. It has a population of about 300,000 people, consisting of Chinese, Iban, Malay, Indian and other indigenous groups like Melanau, Kedayan, Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Bidayuh, Penan, Bisaya, etc. The city is the gateway to the Gunung Mulu National Park, which is a World Heritage Site and boasts the world's largest natural cave chamber, the Sarawak Chamber. Besides that, the Niah Cave in Niah National Park, where it is an important archaeological and historical site as one of the oldest human remains in South East Asia, and is located about 100km away. One may also use Miri as a transit point whether coming from or going to Brunei.

However, Miri city has much to offer visitors with exotic tropical rainforests, beautiful beaches, multiracial and multicultural festive seasons, and plenty of delicious food.


SEE ALSO:

• Taoist Temple
• Niah Cave
• Grand Old Lady

Magunatip Dance, Sarawak Cultural Village, Sarawak, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007


Magunatip, popularly known as the Bamboo Dance. The "Magunatip" word is derived from the "apit" word, which means "trapped". This is an East Malaysian dance and belongs to the tribe of Kwijau.

The dance involves jumping steps and it is a display of the skill of the dancers that maneuver their feet in and out so as not to get their feet trapped by the bamboo. The 2 bamboo poles are usually approximately 6 feet long and are held by 2 dancers that beat them together and over a shorter length of wood or bamboo creating an interesting rhythm. Sometimes there are even 4 poles that are held by 4 dancers. The tempo can be increased to further display the skill of the dancers.

The Grand Old Lady, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007


Perched on top of Bukit Telaga Minyak (Canada Hill), overlooking the town of Miri, the Grand Old Lady is Malaysia's first inland oil drilling platform and one of the Sarawak's most important historical monument.

Dubbed the "Grand Old Lady", she is not a frail figure of an old woman but Miri's Number 1 oil well, the first cable-tool oil well in the country. This oil well is no longer in production and the Sarawak Goverment has declared it as a protected historical site.

There is an observatory platform where visitors can have an excellent view of Miri city. Next to the oil well is the Petroleum Science Museum. It also attracts locals to enjoy the scenery or jog on the well-designed path.

Long-tailed Macaque, Bako National Park, Sarawak

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007


The long-tailed Macaque is to be found in a wide range of habitats including primary and secondary forest, mangroves, plantations and the outskirts of towns and villages in Southern Indochina, Philippines, Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. These monkeys sport gray to reddish brown body hair, which is lighter on their undersides. They has a noisy, aggressive temperament and travels in large group of up to 30.

Niah Cave, Sarawak, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007 (light photoshop touch-up)


The Niah Cave, hidden in the forests of Miri, spreading over 3,140 hectares of peat swamp, dipterocarp forests and the massive limestone outcrops within which the caves are concealed. The caves consist of one big cave, The Great Cave and some smaller caves. At the center of the park is Gunung Subis.

The Great Cave is approximately 3.5 km from the park headquarters. The start of the broadwalk that leads to the cave is on the opposite side of the Sungai Niah with a short but fun ferry ride across the river costed 1 ringgit per person. The board walk is enclosed on both sides by dense primary rainforest.

Forty thousand years ago, the Niah Great Cave sheltered human life. Here lies the oldest human remains in Southeast Asia, along with many other relics of prehistoric man. Today the Cave is home only to bats and swiftlets. However, a few locals still venture into the dark interior to collect guano (bird and bat droppings used as fertilizer) and bird's nest.

The Painted Cave is another highlight of the visit to Niah Cave. Apart from the Caves, visitors can explore several kilometres of forest trails to feel the richness of tropical rainforests.


SEE ALSO:

• Green Crested Lizard

Bako National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007


Bako National Park is 37 kilometres from Kuching, about 30 minutes drive to Kampung Bako, a village built on stilts over the river, and then another 25 minutes boat ride out in the South China Sea to reach this coastal park. With its rainforest, abundant wildlife, jungle streams, waterfalls, interesting plant life, secluded beaches, panoramic rocky shoreline, bizarre rock formations and extensive network of trekking trails, Bako offers visitors an excellent introduction to the rainforest and coastline of Borneo. It is Sarawak's oldest national park covering an area of 2,727 hectares at the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula.

There are wooden chalets and resthouses that surrounded by virgin jungle for visitors who like to stay overnight to have wildlife experience. They will have countless opportunities to observe and photograph various types of wildlife such as long-tailed macaques, silver leaf monkeys, common monitor lizards, plantain squirrel, bearded pigs, mouse deer, and rare proboscis monkey which found only in Borneo. Besides that, rock pools and mangroves are good place to seek for small animals such as mudskippers, crabs and shell-dwelling hermit crabs.

Almost every type of vegetation in Bornea is found here - 25 distinct types of vegetation for seven complete ecosystems from beach vegetation and mangrove forest to dipterocarp rainforest. Bako National Park is truly an ideal place for nature lovers and eco-minded adventurers.


SEE ALSO:

• Shell-dwelling Hermit Crab
• Long-tailed Macaque

Semmengoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center, Sarawak, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007 (light photoshop touch-up)

Located about 32km away from Kuching, the Semmengoh Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center is a sanctuary for the endangered Orang Utans, the reddish-brown great apes species that are gentle and shy in disposition. Native to Indonesia and Malaysia, they are currently found only in rainforests on the island of Borneo and Sumatra.

Most of the time, these primates foraged for food in the jungle but do come out during the feeding times in the park. Visitors can observe the behaviours of these "Men in the Forest" which is what their name means in English.

Shell-dwelling Hermit Crab, Bako, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007

Hermit crabs use empty snail shells or other hollow objects as a shelter for partial containment and protection of the body. Their bodies are lack of a hard, protected carapace. If without a shell they are extremely vulnerable to predators. They inhabit sandy- or muddy-bottomed waters and occasionally on land. They can be found worldwide, except the Arctic and Antarctic. However, they are not closely related to true crabs.

Taoist Temple, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007


Taoist Temple (San Ching Tian) is one of the largest Taoist temples in South East Asia, cares for by Taoist priests. Located in Krokop, it is only a five minutes drive from the city centre. This building is full of oriental characteristics in its architectural design. It has drew many Taoist devotees to Miri.

Tua Pek Kong Temple, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

Taken with Canon powershot A75, dated Sep 2007


The ornately decorated temple is located at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, opposite the Waterfront. It is the oldest Chinese temple and most popular temple in town for local Chinese residents.