A
Mad Monday in Miri!
6th Borneo International Yachting Challenge
07/10 2009
There is a certain
madness and magic about Miri and last Monday just proved the point!
It started off as an
ordinary day. After we had exercised and completed the morning chores we
decided to pop into town to see Customs as we needed to ask a few qustions
about importing some boat materials. Usually we walk into town but Customs was
a bit far away so we decided to take a cab.
Now the said cab is a
bit of a bomb and it is not registered as a taxi, but Simon, the driver, is
reliable, his fare is reasonable and he is a nice guy so most of the boaties
use him for transport. Simon picked us up from the Marina but as we approached
the Customs building he was distracted by another call. As a result he zoomed
passed the turnoff. I called out
"isn't that the Customs building?"
"Oh" he
cried as he pulled to the side of the road, "Sorry, sorry!" We said
"just drop us off" but no, Simon would have none of that. So what did
he do? To our surprise and amusement he promptly reversed all the way back down
to the turnoff and dropped us at the Customs Building! Note that the fare only
cost 10RM that's a bit over $3 AUD.
Our next task was to
find the correct door, on the correct floor of the building so we started up
the stairs only to have the security guard call to tell us that everyone was in
a meeting. Naturally, we asked when the meeting would end. He replied "2
o'clock". Now, as it was only 9.30am we were a tad surprised that the
meeting would gone on for so long. But after all, this is in Miri and it was a
Monday and we are talking about a government Department so I suppose we
shouldn't have been too surprised!
Well having had no
success at Customs we decided to move on, but as we were a fair way out of town
it involved a rather long, hot walk so we stopped off at our favourite "Chinese
Coffee Shop" in The Beautiful Jade
Centre This is in an outdoor area of
Miri that we both love because it's interesting and full of Chinese and
Malaysian men playing chess while enjoying a cuppa. Best of all they sell great
tea and treats! We had 2 teas and 2 treats for about 2.80RM that is about
$1AUD!
By this stage we were
close to "the hole in the wall" which is our liquor shop that has
"special" prices on beer and wine on the days they are not being
raided by Customs! We thought it best to take the opportunity to buy something
while it was available at the "special" price. After our purchase our carry bag was a tad
heavier. The "special" price is about the same as in OZ but cheaper than
anywhere else in town.
Our next task was to
collect up some of Tom's favourite smelly tropical fruit as well as a Pawpaw
(papaya). We achieved this by strolling through the 3 different Markets in town
all the while soaking up the atmosphere.
As it turned out the pawpaw was rather harder to find than the smelly
tropical friut but cost us next to nothing. By now our carry bag was rather
heavy so we decided to call Simon for a lift home as it was close to lunch
time.
Simon picked us up at
the Market and then said he had to "pick up a sick man from the hospital and
take him back up the hill." As we didn't mind seeing some new area of Miri
we said that was ok by us. The "sick man" looked like he should have
stayed in Hospital! However, we took him "up the hill" to where he
lived and what a "million dollar view" he had. His hovel overlooked
Miri and the sea. It was spectacular! Also his home was close to the oldest oil
well in Miri. It is called the Grand Old Lady and has been set up along with a
Petroleum Museum as a tourist site..
As we were dropping
off the"sick man" and delighting in the views,Simon was giving us a
running commentary about the area while the old man insisted on shaking Tom's
hand over and over.Tom and I smiled to each other as we were thoroughly
enjoying the experience and I'm sure "it could only happen in mad
Miri". Eventually we were dropped off at the Marina for a very late lunch.
Note, the ride home and the tourist trip "up the hill" only cost the
usual 10RM!
The rest of our
afternoon was fairly normal but then 7 of us visited SV Southern Sun to watch
the sunset and partake in a few sundowners. Afterwards we decided to troup into
a four wheel drive and "Ming it". This meant going to the Ming Cafe
in town which is very popular with locals and tourists as they serve great
curries. At first, we encountered a bit of a problem as the 4WD wouldn't start.
Not to be deterred the boys tried pushing to jump start it but this was to no
avail. However, "where there is a will there is a way" so... a couple
of the boys went back to Southern Sun for another battery. Once this was
installed we were off to "Ming it".
We had an enjoyable
evening but when the younger members of the troup wanted to "party"
at one of the bars in town we said "enough is enough" of Miri Madness
for one Monday!
Fran Welsh
Miri Sarawak Borneo Malaysia
*******************
An
All Day Breakfast Outing
We had an amazing day
yesterday. Tom and I and Sabine, a lovely German girl, were taken out by a
Chinese Malay family who have "adopted us". First, we were picked up
from the Marina and then driven to a special Chinese Coffee Shop, to taste
their special "Breakfast Porridge" This is a savoury rice porridge,
rather like Chinese Congi, and it has bits mixed with it. The bits can be dried
anchovies, beans, shallots and so on. This particular Breakfast Porridge is
special because it is cooked over charcoal and each pan is scraped clean
between each serving. The scrapings are added to the porridge to give it it's
special flavour. I found it delicious! Also, I had tasted it before but it was
Tom's first experience, he's a toast and jam man as you know, so he did well to
eat it. I was very surprised when he said he actually enjoyed it!
As usual our hosts
paid for the meal. Taking you out and paying for everything seems to be a
tradition with the Chinese Malaysians here in Sarawak. No matter how hard you
try they will not accept any payment. It is however, more or less assumed, that
you will invite them to the boat or on an outing at some stage.
After breakfast, we
both thought we would be taken back to
the Marina, but oh no, our hosts had other ideas. So we were driven to their
family home to taste homemade soy milk and soy pudding. I thought this was very
tasty too. Tom even had some but he did not say he liked it! I was proud of him
for giving it a try. Our hosts suggested that we may like to go back one day
and learn how to make it. This hasn't happened yet but, you never know when
they will call and say "today is the day for soy making"!
Again Tom and I
thought that now they would take us home but no, next we were carted off to
look at a "show house" which is an exhibition home.It was very
impressive but rather ultra modern. We are not quite sure why we were shown
this. But think it was because they wanted to see it. They even asked us to
pretend we wanted to buy it!
It was an extremely hot day and as we had waited a
while for the real estate agent to arrive we were hot,sticky and thirsty. We
really just wanted to go home but by this stage, we had realised that you
cannot escape that easily. It was about now that we realised, that when you are
asked out by a Chinese Malay family, it could be an all day outing.
So after this we went
to a Chinese Biscuit and Cake Making Factory where the items are all handmade
in the traditional way. Our hosts bought us samples of all the local items.
Then it was off for a refreshing drink at yet another Chinese Coffee Shop. Once
again our host paid. The next stop was at the largest curtain fabric store in
Miri. Why? I suppose they thought we should see it and yes it was impressive.
By this stage Tom and
I were very, very ready to go home but... not yet as there was more to see! So
we drove about 7km's through a lot of smoke haze where someone was burning off
an area which was to be redeveloped. This excursion was so we could see the
river and the long thin "fast ferry" as well as the expansive bridge
over the river. Again it was very impressive.
Once again we glanced
at each other and asked silently "are we finished yet"? Oh no by this
time it was lunchtime so off we went to another special Coffee Shop where we
had to taste the special dish. This was a type herbal soup full of goodies,
like tofu, pork and vegs. It was delicious but we felt like stuffed pigs
afterwards and as you know Tom does not eat tofu nor does he like soup so he
did well to get it down! Once again our hosts paid for the meal.
As we wanted to book
our flights to Oz, we suggested we say goodbye and do this and then walk home.
We thought we could walk some of the food off. But, oh no, our hosts would have
none of that, so they drove us to Brunei Airline office and came in with us to
ensure we got a good deal which by the way we already knew we could get. Now
with all that done finally it was time to be taken home but not before we were
invited to join them and another group to have a "special sushi"
dinner that evening. We gracefully declined as not only were we "fooded
out" but the outing entailed a 45 minute drive to the Brunei border and
then to enter Brunei where we as Australians had pay B$20 for a visa. How crazy
is that, driving to another country for a special meal! Mind you had we not
been out all day we might have gone with them!
Anyhow we finally
arrived back at the Marina at 3pm after leaving at 8am. What a "big day
" out! Thank you Mr and Mrs Chi Ling.
Fran Welsh
Miri Sarawak
04/08/2009
.************************
A
Taste of Sarawak Laksa
22/10/09
Veronica and Jenny,
our Chinese Malay friends from Mercy Malaysia, invited Tom and I to join them
for a late breakfast today. As we have no car they very kindly picked us up
around 9am and drove us to "the other end of Miri" to a "special
Coffee Shop" that reputedly has the best Sarawak Laksa in all of Miri.
Sarawak Laska is a
spicy vermicelli soup made using a special crushed prawn paste, coconut milk
and lemon grass. It is then topped with omelette strips, chicken strips,
prawns, fresh coriander and lime. Sometimes bean sprouts, sliced fried tofu or
other seafood that is not traditional, is added. I am told that the secret
ingredient is the Sarawak Laksa Paste (prawn paste) itself.
Although Sarawak
Laksa originated in Kuching (Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia) it is now famous
throughout Malaysia and in fact the world. It's so famous that it even has it's
own Facebook Page and Fan Club! People
the world over search for eateries that sell the best Sarawak Laksa in their home
town and publish the address on the Web. Others send to Sarawak for the Sarawak
Laksa Paste and many publish their own recipe. It is big business!
Here in Miri, many
locals, have their favourite Coffee Shop that sells Sarawak Laksa but you have
to be there early before they sell out! Fortunately our "special Coffee
Shop" still had plenty. So we indulged ourselves in a very delicious bowl
of steaming hot, aromatic Sarawak Laksa. It was very spicy and because the bowls are so large, very filling.
Our friends said that it was necessary to have cool drinks with it "to
take the heat away." So of course we obliged by ordering Iced Lemon Tea.
However, Veronica decided that one drink was not enough so she ordered more!
Our hosts paid for all the food and drinks as this is the tradition when you
are invited out by the Chinese Malaysians. Tom and I find it hard allowing them
to pay but it is more or less assumed that you will reciprocate in some
way.
Well, with breakfast
out of the way, we wondered where the girls had decided to take us next, as showing
your guests around town is also a tradition. So they decided to show us the
Shell Complex at Piasau. This is an area where all the expatriate Shell
Petrolium employees live and play. It is a huge complex with beautiful homes and gardens, a Boat Club,
Library, swimming pool, tennis courts, Miri's first Golf Club and many other
sporting venues. Oh how the other half live! However, the Piasau area is fairly
isolated from the rest of Miri so the residents are in a way, insulated from
the real life in Miri.Tom and I decided we would much rather live on our boat
and experience the culture of Miri.
After our visit to
Piasau, we were taken to yet another Coffee Shop were they sold a special
Chinese Herbal tea that our friends wanted us to try. Tom was a little hesitant
about this and so was very pleased when he heard they had sold out! Veronica
and Jenny insisted that we have another type of cool drink so, of course we had
to as it's impolite and well nigh impossible to refuse! Again our hosts paid.
They then drove us
back to the Marina where we said goodbye and thanked them both profusely. Our
breakfast outing had lasted for about 3 hours but all in all it had been very
enjoyable, Thank you Veronica and Jenny!
Fran Welsh
22/10/09
Miri Sarawak
.*********************
6th Borneo International Yachting Challenge
Sunday 11th October 2009 was always going to be a different Sunday as it was the beginning of the 6th Borneo International Yachting Challenge. This is an annual race from Miri to Kota Kinabalau with an incentive to encourage entrants. Each boat that completed the Race was to receive 1000RM cash, in addition to 5 days free stay in the Marinas in Miri and KK plus 2 nights stay in 5 Star International Hotels in Miri and KK as well as a few dinner celebrations thrown in. The Race's aim was to promote yachting in the Sabah and Sarawak area.
So for about 5 days or so yachts,under flags from a number of countries, were gathering at Miri Marina for the start of the Race. As most were heading north anyway, due to the season, it seemed like a sensible idea to enter and collect the incentive, as well as being a bit of fun.
Our Italian friends from Keturah had arrived about 10 days earlier and we had enjoyed their company, having not seen them for over a year. They wanted us to enter Hamamas in the Race and accompany then "back to the Pacific" so we could have Christmas together in Palau! It was very tempting but we decided to stay with our plan and head for West Malaysia when the wind was right. Even though we were not in the Race we were just as excited as everyone else on Sunday morning, although I was a tad sad as our special friends were leaving and we didn't know when we would see them again.
So after all the hype of the pre-race activities, saying goodbye and untying Keturah's dock lines we waved the yachts off, 25 in all, out of the Marina. As the start of the Race was just a little off shore we collected our cameras and started to walk around to a vantage point, near Miri Seahorse Lighthouse, at the entrance to the Marina. However, we were soon picked up the Marina Owner in his Mercedes as he was going that way too.
While we stood watching the yachts going to and fro as they waited for the start of the Race, the Marina Owner suddenly invited us and a few other yachties to join him and a host of officials, including, the Minister for Tourism, on a luxiourous motor launch. It was then we realised that the Minister was to start the Race. Meanwhile, the yachts had been waiting for about an hour! Naturally we graceously accepted.
So then it was, back into the Mercedes to be driven around to the Marina where Planet One (the luxury launch) was berthed. Meanwhile, the race entrants waited! We thought we would hop on board and very quickly head out to start the Race, But oh, no! The Minister's plane had been delayed! So we waited, along with the race entrants.
After about half an hour the Minister arrived and we quickly got underway but there was another delay as all the press photographers had missed the ride out to Planet One, the start boat. So we all waited while they were brought to the launch by the Police and Malaysia Maritime boats. Getting them aboard a moving luxury launch was no easy task as the ocean was really stirred up by the circling of 25 yachts waiting for the start, as well as by the arriving Police and Maritime boats. It really was a circus watching the press men and women trying to step off one boat onto another!
Meanwhile, the entrants were getting anxious to be on their way and as each group had been given a start time, they didn't wait for the Minister to wave the Malaysian Flag, but gradually group by group, they started themselves! Well of course that meant that there were no photos of the Minister starting the race. However, not to be deterred the Minister picked up the flag and waved it around and around for a "photo shoot". That kept the photographers happy and the rest of us slighly amused!
Planet One then began to follow the Race so everyone could take photos of the yachts with their spinnakers flying, well fluttering really, as there was only a slight land breeze. Eventually the breeze dropped out and our friends from Keturah were the first to put on their motor and were quickly followed by our Southern Sun friends. Keturah claimed later that they" led the way" as they were the only ones 'brave enough" to start the motor!
Finally, about 4 hours, when all the yachts were only tiny specks on the horizon, the Marina Owner headed Planet One back to the Marina and our unusual Sunday was over!
Miri Marina Sarawak
17/09/2009
A Visit to the Palliative Day Care Centre in Miri Sarawak
Tuesday 20th October 2009
Usually I write of humourous incidents but this story is about the wonderful volunteer work many of the ladies of Miri do. This morning I visited the Palliative Day Care Centre at the Miri Hospital to see the work the volunteers do to ease the patients suffering. I was invited by Veronica who is one of the Chinese ladies I met while on a Mercy Malaysia Mission. As always I was picked up from the Marina and first we stopped at the fruit market to buy some of the delicious tropical fruits to take along for morning tea. We then drove to the hosiptal and spent 5 or 10 minutes looking for a park!
Once inside I was introduced to and welcomed by the 8 voluunteers who were on duty. The volunteers come from many nationalities and all offer their time freely. They wear bright yelow T shirts that have Palliative Care Centre embroidered on them. It gives a cheerly look and feeling to the Centre.They are also trained in foot,hand,shoulder and head massage.
The Palliative Home Care Programme (PCHP) was founded by Dr. Mieke van de Leemput from Holland who was unable to practice in Miri but saw the need for Palliative Care. The PCHP is a Non Profit Organization (NPO) and is funded by donation and fund raising activities.Trained Palliative Care nurses visit the homes of those patients who are too ill to visit the Centre. While every Tuesday cancer patients are invited to the Palliative Day Care Centre for a massage from the volunteers and to enjoy a friendly chat over morning tea. The atmosphere is happy and comforting. The volunteer ladies laugh and chat (mainly in Chinese) while massaging and the patients seem to enjoy the experience. Afterwards everyone joins in for morning tea which is donated by the volunteers.
Madam Teresa Wong, the co-ordinating nurse, showed me a few massage techniques so that I could assist with the patients. It's all very casual and everyone, volunteers and patients, seemed to be chuffed by my visit. I felt a tad hesitant at first but with encouragement I relaxed and enjoyed myself. Later Madam Teresa gave me a wonderful massage. So my visit was very beneficial for me as well! I was thrilled to be invited to return next week.
Veronica drove me back to the Marina and as we said our goodbyes I thanked her once again for the thoughtful invitation.
Fran Welsh
Miri Marina Sarawak
20/10/09
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