Miri Resort City.com | MiriCity.my - Places of Interest

Adventure

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:05:19 +0800

There's plenty to do in Miri, from spelunking the Niah Caves or Mulu Caves looking at its historical beauty, to hiking the trails of Lambir National Park, to mountain biking (event) or fishing (event).

[ Mulu Caves ] [ Niah Caves ] [ Lambir Hills ]

Sarbekas Weekend Market

Sat, 15 Apr 2006 11:27:34 +0800

Located at Sarbekas Commercial Center, this weekend night market opens in the late afternoon every Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There are over 170 stalls in the Saberkas Weekend Market which sell vegetables, fruits, sea products, clothes, drinks, satay, grilled fish, BBQ chicken wings and other products ranging from handicrafts and toys available at reasonable prices. At night, the market really wakes up, with music, food stalls and a throng of weekend revelers.

Diving Spots in Miri Waters

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 16:20:41 +0800

Miri is a popular dive destination, due to an abundance of pristine patch reefs that make up the Miri-Sibuti Reef Marine Park, lying at depths from 7 to 30 meters with average visibility ranging from 10 to 30 meters. There are also some interesting wreck dives. The best time to dive is from March to August, but diving is available all year round.

The diversity and accessibility of corals and other marine life on the reefs is amongst the best in the region. Hard and soft corals cover the entire reefs, with abundant gorgonians, sea-whips, anemones, sponges and crinoids. Angel fish, butterfly fish, fusiliers, groupers, stingrays, trigger fish, parrot fish, wrasses are among the numerous reef species that can be seen and over 40 species of nudibranch have been recorded.

Dive Sites
For the dive enthusiasts, Eve's Garden, Santak Point, Kenyalang Rig, Tukau Drop Off and Siwa Reefs are not to be missed if you want to see some of the most beautiful corals, turtles, variety of fishes and even the occasional shark. Sunken vessels such as Sri Gadong and Atago Maru are also interesting dive sites.

All the sites listed below are just a short boat ride from the city:

Eve's Garden (15 mins boat ride)
A shallow reef of just 7-12 meters carpeted with soft corals such as leather corals, elephant's ear and dead man's fingers. Giant anemones and clown fish inhabit the reef, along with schooling yellowtail fusiliers and angel fishes.

Anemone Garden (30mins)
One of the most interesting reefs with a depth range of 10 - 16 meters, with hard and soft corals, anemones and their symbolic clown fishes, bubble corals, anchor corals, colorful dendronepthya soft corals, feather stars, giant clams, nudibranches and schooling yellowtails.

Sea Fan Garden (30 mins)
This unique 16 meter deep reef provides an excellent environment for an amazing variety of gorgonian sea fans, sea whips and schooling batfish.

Tukau Drop-Off (50 mins)
An exciting drop-off reef (20-40 meters) with a vertical wall. Schooling jacks, barracudas, napoleon Wrasses, yellowtail fusiliers and large groupers are always present, and sharks and trumpet fish are occasionally seen here.

Grouper Patch (1 hour)
Giant groupers inhabit this reef of 15-18 meters depth. Spiny lobsters are also present together with yellowtail fusiliers and other schooling fishes.

Santak Point (45 mins)
The average visibility here is 30 meters of more. Large gorgonian fans of 2 meters in size are all over the top of the reeef at 21 meters. Te reef edge drops to 35 meters.

Atago Maru Wreck (15 mins)
A World War II era Japanese warship wreck just off Lutong. The 100 meter ship sits upright with the top deck just 10 meters below the surface. Most of the hull is covered with cave corals. A large moray eel has made its home here and travelly, jacks and barracudas are frequently seen.

Batu Belais Reef (30 mins)
A picturesque reef covered with gorgonian trees and seafans. Batfishes are common among the long swaying sea whips - a photographer's heaven.

Sunday Reef (35 mins)
Large hard corals make up this richly inhabited 11-16 meter deep reef, populated with anemones, clown fishes and nudibranches.

Sri Gadong Wreck (1 HR 10 mins)
A small 30 meter cargo ship sits on an 18 meter sand bottom. The whole wreck is teeming with life; jacks, yellow grunts, batfish and barracudas circle the wreck while giant groupers swim in or out of the cargo holds.

For more information for diving, please contact Tropical Dives for details and packages. They are located here.

Loagan Bunut National Park

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:30:53 +0800

This National Park is located in the upper reaches of the Sungai Bunut where Sarawak's largest natural lake is found. The local Berawan fishermen call this lake 'Logan Bunut'. At approximately 650 hectares, Loagan Bunut may not be large by most world standards, but, it is not an ordinary lake. The water level in the lake is totally dependent on the water level of Sungai Bunut, Sungai Tinjar and Sungai Baram. The water levels of these rivers fluctuate throughout the year and as a result, the water level at Loagan Bunut also fluctuates. The water levels at Loagan Bunut are usually lowest in the months of February and May or June. These periods of low water last for about 2 to 3 weeks. For more information regarding the water level in the lake, visitors can contact the Visitor's Information Centre in Miri. The fish populations also fluctuate as a result of this unique situation. When the dry periods are at their peak, Loagan Bunut can become a huge expanse of dry cracked mud. You can actually walk on the dry mud.

The lake and its surrounding areas are vibrant and scenic, both during high and low water levels. A major cultural attraction at the lake is the unique and traditional method of fishing ('Selambau') which has been retained by the Berawan fishermen. 'Selambau' was developed to harvest migrating fish during the times of fluctuating water levels. This technique has been used for centuries and has enabled the Berawan fishermen to manage this unique fishery effectively and sustainably for many generations.

The surrounding area is covered with peat swamp forest and Mixed Dipterocarp Forest. The common birds found here are the darters, egrets, herons, bitterns, eagle, swallow, stork, broadbill, malkoha, kingfisher, magpie robin, dove, bulbul, drongo, flying fox hornbills and kites. Animals can be found such as barking deer, bearded pig, sambar deer, argus pheasant, long-tail macaque, black barded langur, lesser mouse deer, small-tooth palm civet, giant squirrel and Gibbons can also be heard doing their morning calls.

Accommodation Facilitiesview of the forest hostel interior

Rate : RM15.00 per bed
Accommodation facilities consist of chalets units with electricity and piped water.

Miri Old Town

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 10:11:27 +0800

Miri Old Town is a narrow warren of streets crammed with tiny shops selling a huge variety off goods, as well as some of the most traditional and original coffee shops in town. The Old Town is gradually being renovated, street-by-street, but the architectural style & layout is being carefuly preserved.

Notes of interest:

- A lady selling vegetables along the corridors at the coffee shop in front of the Tua Pek Kong Temple regularly brings her cat along for the day. This cat is much adored by her customers and those who frequent the area. Usually can be seen in the mornings.

- You can sometimes see a man riding his classic china-style bicycle in the Old Town. This bicycle is special; it is decorated with lights and other accessories to look a bit like a motorbike, but yet clearly it is not pretending to be one. Probably the only one in Miri.

- You may see one or two mentally-challenged men talking to themselves in the middle of the streets. They do not pose danger to the public.

Taman Awam Miri

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 18:43:23 +0800

Taman Awam Miri isabout 3km from the city center along the Miri-Bintulu Road. There are flora gardens, souvenir center, canteen, observatory platform, children's playground, exhibitions room, stone carving and sculptures, waterfalls, suspension bridge, fountains, pavillions, jogging track and other sporting facilities. There is also a Children's Water playground.

Miri Handicraft Center: Exotic Borneo Handicrafts & Arts

Tue, 28 Mar 2006 18:13:46 +0800

Miri Handicraft Center is situated at Raja Road. This center has various traditional handicrafts and pottery on display and for sale at the center. Artwork such as paintings are also its main attraction. Visitors are welcome to know more about our local cultures and browse through the many hand-made crafts & souvenirs home.

Waving & Basketry
Palm, rattan, tree barks, bamboo and various other plants gathered from the forests are woven into works of art by the many tribal community here. The Bidayuh are famous for their 'kesah' mats, stoutly woven from rattan and beaten tree bark while the Melanaus and Malays are well known for using the leaves of sago, pendanus and palms to make intricately plaited baskets, colorful mats, hats and home decorative items. And, the Ibans weave intricate arrowroot patterned mats which show up only in oblique light.

Pua Kumbu
Iban women are among the finest weavers of the Pua Kumbu, a textile twisted or 'ikat', tie-dyed and skilfully woven on the backstrap loom. The technique is passed from generation to generation with many of the designs/patterns weaved from memory. An experienced weaver will need an inspirational dream to create a new design.

Pottery
Family run pottery kilns produce beautiful and uniquely handcrafted decorative and functional earthenware.

Beadworks
The Orang Ulu ladies are the artisans of this fine craft. In their possession are antique necklaces, headgears and baby carriers which include rare beads from China, Venice and the Middle East, pointing to a trading culture that goes back centuries ago. Whilst having used these ancient beads for trading in the early days, this ancient art is experiencing a revival and now they make ceramic beads for their traditional costumes and for trading.

Photos:

The Glass Tower (Yu Lan Plaza)

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 10:58:28 +0800

Yu Lan Plaza is the first all-glass building in Miri. It is located in the midst of the old Miri town area, located next to the Miri Old Open Air Market.

The building, provides an easy and quick way to regain your bearings of where you are. The building was built in the late 1990s, and is known as the "Glass Tower." It is also widely known for being a white elephant, as it has been very empty and under utilized for a very long time; housing only an office or two within.

Entertainment in Miri

Sat, 25 Mar 2006 17:07:23 +0800

Miri offers many great places where you can enjoy food, music and interesting atmosphere at the same time. Nightlife in Northeast Sarawak is pretty much confined in Miri, whose vibrant nightlife scene offers pubs, bars, dance clubs, live music outlets and karaoke lounges to suit all tastes. If you're looking for a good time crooning to your favorite songs, Miri offers a number of pubs and karaoke lounges. There are karaoke lounges always open around within reach of major hotels in the city.

Useful links:
Karaokes | Entertainment outlets

Miri City Fan

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 10:37:38 +0800

Miri City Fan
A unique fan-shaped (when viewed from the air) urban civic park, it is about 26 acres is carefully sited in the hub of sports, educational and cultural facilities of Miri. Miri City Fan is designed to create civic consciousness by the embodiment of several symbolic parks.

It is a world-class urban civic park with the setting for sport, educational and cultural activities. It includes a promenade, parkland, an amphitheater, musical fountain, a library and cultural center and various ethnic gardens. The 10.4-hectare park was accorded the Malaysia's best landscaped city park.

PUSTAKA MIRI

Pustaka Miri is a two-storey building earmarked as one of the anchor nodes for the Miri City Fan. Located along the central axis to Dewan Suarah Miri (Miri Civic Centre), this horseshoe-shaped sandstone building with lighth green curtain walling is designed as a tranquil oasis acting as the symbolic apex of information technology in the civic heart of Miri Resort City.

The ground floor houses Multimedia Galeri with a special corner dedicated for Children's Infotheque. The first floor houses an auditorium, special collection area, and Information Resource Centre which overlooks the Miri City Fan's amphitheatre and Garden of Vision.

The basement floor houses the surau and a multipurpose room, which has a direct linkage to the amphitheatre.

Pustaka Miri Address

Imperial Mall & Suites

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 15:02:13 +0800

Imperial Mall & Suites is a shopping mall in the center of Miri.

Taman Selera

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 12:34:24 +0800

The oldest recreational park in Miri, Taman Selera is situated in Brighton about 3KM from the city center at Tanjung Lobang. Besides the golden sand beach, children's playground and outdoor facilities, there is an open air hawker center which is a popular eating place with all sorts of delightful local food. Enjoy the beautiful sunset and feel the cool sea breeze as you listen to the sound of the splashing waves..

Miri Luak Esplanade

Fri, 24 Feb 2006 16:41:33 +0800

The espalade is located at Luak, in the outskirt of Miri city, by the coastal highway. its a great place for family outings and leisure enjoyment. With plenty of car parking space and a great beach front spanning kilometers, people gather here to enjoy the ocean scenery, face the ocean breeze, have picnics in the afternoons - and in the evenings people participate in car audio and various lively activities during the weekend.

Best time to visit are during the weekends, Saturday - Sundays, as usually there are food stalls set up along the stretch with a variety of local delights, snacks and drinks to try.

Locals have a tendency to mis-read / misspell it as "x-planet", or "xplanade".

To visit the Luak Esplanade:

Because it is located relatively far from the city, it is recommended that you have your own transport (rented cars) or call a taxi to get there. Be sure to get the taxi drivers' numbers so you can call them when it is time to get back.

Wisma Pelita Tunku

Mon, 20 Feb 2006 12:19:07 +0800

The oldest and first shopping complex in Miri, Wisma Pelita Tunku is still garnering lots of shoppers daily, because of its close proximity with Old Town area and the bus station. Within it there are many food and drink centers. There are lots of handicraft shops within Pelita Tunku, and any touring in and around Miri shouldn't be complete unless one also stops by Wisma Pelita Tunku.

Miri Crocodile Farm

Sat, 11 Feb 2006 11:50:37 +0800

Located near Kuala Baram River Mouth (previous Ferry Terminal), a pleasant scenic Coastal drive along Miri-Kuala Baram Road from Miri will take you there in 20 minutes. The First and the Largest Crocodile Farm in the northern region of Sarawak.

The Crocodile Farm cum Mini Zoo is registered and recognised by Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES, Registration No. A-MY-509). Come face to face with more than 1,000 Estuarine Crocodile (Crocodylus Porosus) and Malayan Gharial (Tomistoma Schlegelii) in a 22 acres land-scaped setting with natural breeding enclosure and perfectly man-made sanctuary ponds specially carved out for the creatures. A stroll around its perimeter allows you to safely view an amazing collection of crocodiles up close. The crocodile farm opens everyday of the year, is home to thousands of crocodiles of different species as well as other exotic animals from tropical countries.