Borneo

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Gateway to the heart of Borneo

Flying to Sibu My cousin in Christchurch was going to be in Sibu for part of Chinese New Year and was hosting a large dinner for my cousins (whom I haven’t seen for a while) and their families.  Flying around the festive season doesn’t come cheap but his kind invitation to me was too good […]

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Back to family

After 12 hours in bed, I woke at 0700. It was a wise move getting a can of coffee and a red bean  bun last night to have handy for breakfast. I took a Grab car to the airport around 0815.  The last time I was at Bintulu, the airport was in town where the […]

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Bintulu nightstop

At Bintulu Sentral, the bus station, I was feeling a little headachey from not eating properly.  I asked a cafe if they had Ais Kacang.  The said “Yep” and brought me a mug of sweet mung bean porridge with ice on top.  Not what I had imagined but correct literally. I took a Grab car […]

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Exploring Niah Caves

After a breakfast of rusk and milk, I checked out of my hotel.  I enquired about transport to Niah Cave National Park HQ as it was a 5km walk according to the map.  The receptionist managed to book me a taxi which turned up about 10 minutes later. I got to the park at 0800 […]

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Moving on to the caves

Leaving Bakelalan We had a pleasant change to breakfast today with kanpua (Foochow) noodles.  It was a satisfying meal that would keep me going for the day ahead, travelling from Bakelalan to Miri then to Batu Niah.  As I finished breakfast before 0800, I could tell the clouds were burning off very nice and early […]

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Picnic and a walk

We had a relatively late breakfast today at 0800, preceded by our usual pre-meal grace.  At 1000 Maureen, Badau and I (along with all three dogs) set off for a walk to Sungai Muda, a nearby stream/river. Along the way, we stopped near the apple orchards and was shown the Ice Cream Bean pod.  It […]

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Crossing to Long Bawan in Indonesia

Crossing the border I woke around 0700 for breakfast at 0730.  My hosts suggested that time despite a departure at 0900 (subject to weather) across to the Indonesian weather.  With weather looking favourable, Badau and I walked into town around 0915 where he had his bike parked.  The dogs cleverly didn’t come along (whereas they […]

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Flying to the highlands

Getting going I had set the alarm for 0600 and  asked the frontdesk to call me as well just in case.  But I woke at 0430.  Realising that there was no phone, I figured that the receptionist would have to walk up two floors to wake me.  So I WhatsApp’ed them to say I was […]

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Nighstop before my mini-adventure

Today I fly to Miri for an overnight before going inland to Borneo’s highlands for my mini-adventure. I ordered a Grab car on the app but none were available in my area. I tried numerous times and it was starting to worry me even though I had three hours till my 1500 flight. Perhaps it […]

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Lunch at the estuary

Today we had organised a family at the estuary village of Muara Tebas. It is noted for its fresh seafood but my brother had driven his own fish from a recent fishing trip here yesterday, so it could be nicely marinated for our meal today. What a champion! We had to be ready at 1030 […]

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