Cruising- Brunei to Miri-Malaysia-2009

Offshore Oil Platforms

From Brunei we sailed 98 nm to Miri in Sarawak, stopping overnight at "The Prince's Breakwater" (Brunei). There were lots of oil platforms just off the coast and when sailing we had to weave our way through them!

The entrance to the Miri Marina was a little tricky but rather interesting as it had a huge Seahorse Replica on the headland along with a restaurant and park. Later we were to learn that a the Seahorse is Miri's maritime mascot.

 (Remember to click on the photos to enlarge them)

Entrance to Miri Marina

We were safely moored by 6.45pm on 4 June 2009 and were surprised to find only other 3 yachts in this very protected Marina. However, this changed dramatically over the next few months as yachts called in on their way from the north or south.

Miri is a very old oil town and Shell Petroleum still runs a big operation from the suburb of Piasau. Sarawak's first oil well was founded in1912, although no longer operational, the rig is affectionately  known as "The Grand Old Lady"  and overlooks Miri from Canada Hill along with the new Petroleum Museum. Both are worth visiting and the "million dollar view over the city and the sea is spectacular!

The Grand Old Lady

Overlooking Miri A Million Dollar View!

 

The city certainly caters for the expatriate community with it's wonderful shopping mall, Plazas, markets, restaurants and sporting clubs. Logging in the past and Palm Oil Plantations today, ensure there is lots of money in the town.

Miri Mosque

City Fan and Mini Mosque

City Temple and Market

In addition, the large Chinese community add to the colourful cosmopolitan mix in Miri, so that Coffee Shop Houses, colourful Temples and Festivals abound. The photo opportunities were unlimited!

Chinese Temple

Temple Gates

Fran Messing Around

Lantern Festival

Dragon Dance

We based ourselves in Miri for many months and used Simon, our wonderful reliable driver, as a tour guide and  to assist us find bits and pieces all over town.  If we needed anything for the boat we would "just ask Simon!"

              Fran, Tom and Simon Our Wonderful Driver!

Over the next few months we met lots of wonderful people, did lots of land tours and had numerous amazing experiences! We even left Hamamas in Miri Marina while we travelled back to Australia for 5 weeks.

Cruising- Kota Kinabalu to Labuan Is-Malaysia- 2009

Pulau Tiga East Malaysia

In May we waved our friends in the Marina goodbye and had a very pleasant motorsail  and sail to the tiny picture postcard island of Palau Tiga 32 nm away. The British Survivor Borneo Series was filmed on this island.
We caught up with Gaia for a short while but they left the next morning. It felt like we were playing tag with them!

Pulau Tiga is very pretty and has some enjoyable walking trails where there are lots of monitor lizards and Macaque monkeys. While there Fran wallowed in the "Mud Volcano" It was great fun and my skin felt wonderful afterwards. Mind you I was still finding mud in all sorts of crevices for days afterwards! Sorry no photos!

We walked to Rocky Point on the other side of the island but it was covered on plastic bags and empty water bottles. What a disgrace for a "paradise island!"

Labuan East Malaysia

From Pulau Tiga we sailed 38 nm to Labuan Is which is still part of  East Malaysia and just off the coast of Brunei. Gaia was already anchored in the harbour and it was great to catch up with them again but they departed the next day.

We spent 5 days there and filled the bilges with duty free wine and beer as Labuan is a Duty Free Port!  Consequently it has a very busy harbour as seen in the number of ships anchored at the entrance. 

(Remember to click on the photos to enlarge them)

Ships Anchored at Labuan Harbour

Labuan Harbour

Labuan

However, our main reason for stopping in Labuan was to visit the WW II Memorial and to pay our respect to those who died during the War. So we visited the beautifully kept War Memorial where about 3000 Commonwealth servicemen are buried. Many of them are unknown as they died on the Death Marches and in the Prisoner of War Camps at Sandakan in Sabah.

War Memorial Labuan

We also visited the historic Surrender Point and the Peace Park on the other side of the island at Layang Layanggan. Surrender Point is where the Japanese Forces in North Borneo surrendered at the end of the War.
Peace Park was a gift from the Japanese as an appeasement. It has a Japanese war memorial and commemorates the place of surrender.

Japanese Peace Park

Tom at Surrender Point

Our visit to each memorial was a very moving experience and once again we paid tribute to our brave servicemen and women.  Lest We Forget.

Sunset Labuan Harbour