Visiting Mukah and Dalat

Friday, 2 June 2006
There were 24 of us in the group. The visit was organised by a Neighbourhood Committee. Sister Monica and myself were glad that they have invited us to join, even though we are not residents of that 'neighbourhood' area. 90 MRinggit that included (1) bus-fare (Miri/Mukah) (2) 1 night hotel accommodation (3) insurance (4) 3 meals: lunch/dinner/breakfast (5) river-cruise and (6) a visit to another town, Dalata was very very good.

Mukah, a place associated with the Melanau people and their staple food, sago - Sister Monica and myself have never been there before. So this was an oppportunity, even though this means a bus ride of 417 km to and 417 km back. This was only half the distance of bus ride from Miri to Kuching - 827 km, that we took on last week!

Our first visit was the Lamin Dana (a Melanau cultural site). In Melanau, 'Lamin' means house and 'Dana' means tall. We are impressed by the house and the rooms, which is opened to tourists to stay.


After a light refreshment at the Lamin Dana restaurant, we were taken on a cruise along the Tellian river. I was with 3 others in a speedboat while the rest were in other boats. Along the river, I saw quite a number of logs, tied together along the way. I think we asked the boatman quite a number of times whether they were sago trunks and somehow he didn't hear us or we didn't understood him until almost the end of the cruise that they were sago trunks! And so I missed taking a picture of them!



There were children playing in the water, on the bridges, verandahs. Our boatman brought us to this vertical tall structure - it was an old Melanau burial place!


Saturday, 3 May 2006
Sago is produced from Mukah. It is famous for it. Can't leave Mukah without getting some of the products made from it! I like the 'Terbaloi" (a kind of sago biscuits) especially.And so we went to the market to see what we can buy to take home.


Sago worms! Roasted ones! Life ones! Or choose them from the ones crawling in the pile of sago trunk dust! They said sago worms are delicious and good for the eyes! I am bespectacled - maybe they are trying to get me to buy them. True to not - I don't know, but they are too wriggly for my liking! The dead ones (roasted) - dark coloured ones, that are packed in the plastic, don't appeal to me either!

We still have time to explore elsewhere and the driver didn't mind to take us to Dalat, an hour drive from Mukah, for a minimal fee.

The river that flows along the town of Dalat. One could take the speed boat to Sibu, the capital of Sarawak's 3rd division.

Want to buy fish?

Wednesday, 31 May 2006
On our drive back from Piasau to Lutong, the big fishes hung at a stall caught our eyes! They were big! I know there are much more bigger fish than this, but those were big to me, because the ones that I usually saw at the market are small! Uncle Ni smiling away with the biggest catch there! The best part of that stop was discovering that they were my late father's friends from Lutong, and they were very happy to meet his younger brother! We had a good visit with them.

The Grand Old Lady

Wednesday, 31 May 2006
It has been a long time since I visited this historical site. It is situated on top of the Canada hill. This is where oil is first discovered in Malaysia. It is over a century old and is no longer producing - Miri Oil Well No.1. The old wooden structure with its 'donkey' has been facelifted but the location remained intact!

A picture of the Miri city from here. The tallest building in this pic is the Imperial Mall.

A picture of the eastern side of Miri, on the other side of the hill.

Public Park

Tuesday, 30 May 2006
A walk in a different park this morning - Public Park (locally known as Taman Awam), 3 km from the city centre, along the Miri-Bintulu road. This is the newest park in town, with observatory platform, jogging track, canopy walk, etc.


And a playground for the children

Asean Bridge

Monday, 29 May 2006
Don't have to use ferry to cross the Kuala Baram river to Brunei anymore. Even if you want, there isn't any ferries operating anymore! We have the Asean bridge now. Uncle Ni and Sister Monica did not have visa to enter Brunei but we could drive across the bridge to the other of the river and turn back at the border-immigration point. And that was exactly what we did, plus 20 MRinggit toll fee on the way.


Lian, Yean and myself have driven over this bridge once, when we moved back from Kota Kinabalu to Miri in February 2005. So this is my second time!

Ferry Points to Brunei

Monday, 29 May 2006

Let us visit the old ferry points to Brunei! First ferry point was near the mouth of the Kuala Baram river. Ferry services aross the river were stopped when the second ferry point, further down the river was built. First ferry point is now used for cargo ships to/from Marudi.


Picture of the driveway into the ferry. This is also closed now when the Asean bridge was built. The jetty is now used by express boats, speedboats to carry passengers to the towns along the Kuala Baram river.

Miri City Fan

Monday, 29 May 2006
Brought Mum, Uncle Ni and Sister Ni for morning walk at the award-winning Miri City Fan (named so because it is in a shape of a fan), a complex of various ethnic gardens, an amphitheater, a public library, a public swimming pool, an indoor stadium, musical fountain (which would be on in the evening).

A stage (which was called Garden of Vision) in the centre of the fan.


Beautiful garden for a good brisk walk.



Seahorse - the 'emblem' of Miri.

Walk the pebble walk for your feet reflexology?

Last, but not least the arch to the Chinese garden.

Brighton Beach

Saturday, 27 May 2006
It was hot at Brighton Beach (Taman Selera) so we didn't stayed long.


Wednesday, 31 May 2006
Had to visit Taman Selera. The last visit was too short and we had not explored enough! On arriving, there were 2 boys climbing the coconut trees and Uncle Ni got to drink coconut water for the first time!

And walked on the pier.

and viewed Miri coastline.

Courtesy Call to the Couple and Sister Missionaries

Saturday, 27 May 2006
Visiting Elder/Sister Ott, Sister Chung/Ong at their residence.

Miri First Member's Testimony

Sunday, 21 May 2006
I am thankful to Elder/Sister Ott for the write-up of Helen's testimony, that I received in April. With the permission of Helen, I would like to share it with you.

14 Feb 2006 -Thay Family Interview, by Elder and Sister Ott, Miri Couple, Sarawak, East Malaysia.

With testimony strong and commitment since her baptism the 23 December 1996, Helen Baterisna Thay was the very first member of the Miri Branch, Sarawak-Kuching District, East Malaysia.

She reflects: "I was very unhappy, there were many challenges and struggles in my marriage at the time, Michael being Buddhist and myself, Roman Catholic, born in the Philippines. Michael mentioned that I should maybe go back to my church, but, for some reason that was not comforting to me. However, I did pray many of the set Catholic prayers.

One day I took my boys, Clever, 6 yrs. and Dave 5 yrs. for an outing to the Parkson to window shop. While walking around, I noticed an American senior couple. We exchanged a smile, I thought they were tourists. A few weeks later, at that location, I noticed this same couple again. This time, we exchanged, Hi, Hello.

Still, this being a sad time of my life I decided to pray very very hard. Only, this time I just talked to God from my heart. "Please, help me, please show me the way."

A couple of weeks later when I brought my boys to the Bulatan Park to play, again. I saw the same couple. Oh, Hi, it's you again, I said. They returned the greeting.
What are you doing here, I asked, are you tourists?
Couple: Are you Christian?
Yes, Roman Catholic.
Couple: We are missionaries.
What does a missionary do?
Couple: We are here to share a message about Jesus Christ.

When they said, Jesus Christ, they could tell that I was interested in listening. After a short visit and introductions, Elder and Sister Jeppesen invited me to their house in Piasau 11. They encouraged me to attend a sacrament meeting in their home. However I did not want to go. I kept ignoring the prompting for several weeks. Then, one day I had a strong feeling to go and visit them. That first time there was no lesson discussion, just a friendly visit. Elder and Sister Jeppesen began visiting me in my home. I was teachable. Michael noticed many good changes in me. He began to join us, but would not go to church with me.

Michael: "Due to my background, I had a fear of death all of my life. When I heard that families can be together forever, I felt a lot of joy. I have always worried about never seeing my grandfather again and also about losing my parents in future years."

Michael and I began attending the sacrament meetings together. There were actually only five of us (one other investigator, named Angela, was a school teacher).

Because I had been looking for the truth and help with my marriage, I strongly believed that my prayer had been answered and I wanted to be baptised. However, I waited until our wedding anniversary date in December. Michael needed a couple more lessons and he was baptised one month later on 23 January 1997. We were the first two members of the Miri branch.

Michael's parents opposed our decision and ceased to support us in any way. We struggled very much for nearly a year without employment. We had decided to go to the Philippines. We prayed to the Lord for help and direction. I prayed "If you want us to be here, Thy will be done". We were packed. We had sold everything we owned to scape enough money to move our little family from Miri. Then, the day before our scheduled leave, the phone rang. It was one of Michael's friends from Shell Oil Company. "Michael, you don't have to leave, there is a job here for you". Again, the Lord answered prayers. Michael paid his first tithing on his first pay check and has paid tithing ever since and our family has been greatly blessed.

Within six months Michael was called to be the first president of Miri branch.

Young Women Class

Sunday, 21 May 2006
Happy to be back in church! Have been away for 7 Sundays (since the 2nd April) Happy to be back in the "Young Women" class.

Relief Society Enrichment Meeting - May 2006

Saturday, 20 May 2006
Glad I am back for the Relief Society Enrichment meeting tonight. Elder/Sister Ott taught us about proper dental brushing and care. We were each given a brush! Advice: use a soft toothbrush!

Sister Judy taught us how to make sushi rolls. Very interesting!! I am not so keen on Japanese food but it is fun knowing how it is made. It is not difficult when you know!

Sister Judy helping Sister Paula.

Back in time for the State Election

Saturday, 20 May 2006
Away for 6 weeks, itt felt so good to be back in Miri. I am glad I finally chose to fly back yesterday and not today. Last (Friday) night, I was asked in the plane whether I had flown back, specially for the state election.

I didn't know it was state election today. I haven't been reading the newspapers or listening to the news on the television. I have not listened to the radio for a long long time!

I haven't exercise my right since the year 2000, as I was away in another state. I am glad I was not fined, as in some countries, for not voting. I am glad that my name is still in the list and that my voting station remained the same! I am glad to meet some old friends today as well!