It was my first time in Miri, Sarawak and I am in transit to join a group on a jungle expedition into the Upper Baram region, right smack in the heart of Borneo. I expected the trip to be super challenging, therefore arriving early for plenty of rest (and food) is [...]]]>

Imperiall Mall in Miri

It was my first time in Miri, Sarawak and I am in transit to join a group on a jungle expedition into the Upper Baram region, right smack in the heart of Borneo. I expected the trip to be super challenging, therefore arriving early for plenty of rest (and food) is in order.

The plan was to have everyone meet at Miri. Prior bookings at a local Miri guesthouse were made for everyone but having arrived two days in advance, I decided to check out a rather new guesthouse that has been getting positive reviews on the internet. It’s a family run place and as it turns out, really reminds me of home.

Clean, friendly folks, a home away from home

I like Dillenia because it has a sense of peace and coziness. Mrs Lee (the owner) is always around to help in whatever way she can and you know it’s a family run place when the owners have a room there and even share their meals with guests. The toilets are probably cleaner than my own house in KL!

Everything else is close to Dellinia guesthouse. The Imperial Mall (shopping) is just a 3 minutes’ walk away. There are a few makan places just downstairs and a pharmacy to get all the first aid supplies for the group just around the corner. Yup, the next time you are in Miri and in need of a cozy place to stay, I’d recommend Dillenia (contact details in picture above).

Miri town is just the town for me. It is not as crazy as KL and yet not too ‘slow’ as well. As usual, I decided to start my ‘tour’ of Miri town by visiting all its market and makan places. There are several markets in Miri, some of the famous ones include the Tamu Muhibbah, Tamu Lama the fish market and the Open market. The markets are all located around the same area, within walking distances and I highly recommend anyone going to really take your time and explore the entire place.

The Miri Open market has an attached makan place-not really 'open' actually

Gas in Miri town are supplied through these type of ‘meters’

The ‘organized’ markets are cool but it is the street market that really caught my eyes. Sellers would just sell their produce at the side of the roads and I personally find the things they sell more interesting.

In the morning, the streets near Tamu Lama offers a glimpse of unusual stuff

This seller sells a variety of mushrooms, stuffs that are totally alien to me

Glutinous rice, hill rice and all sort of other jungle produce available here

Snails for lunch anyone?

This is how Miri-ans wrap their live chickens for sale

All sorts of vegetables, some are definitely from the jungle

On sale was also some pretty horrifying stuff. There is this seller chopping up chunks of wildboar meat. Fine that it is wild boar but all the meat seems to be dunk in what seems to be brackish juice. I asked the seller about it and he says it is a special mixture for a special dish. “Can I take photo?”. Of course not!


Continue reading other parts of this adventure below:

• First time in Miri Town, Sarawak
• Wild durian & Kolok mee at Miri.
• 5 hours on a 4WD into interior off Miri.
• Unique local houses in Sarawak interior.
• Smoked wild boar…nice!
• Loooong hike to look for an elusive waterfall.
• Sarawak river boats and a raging river.
• Jungle vines and rattan used in the jungles of Sarawak.
• Umbut or heart of palm tasting, first experience.
• Harvesting of the umbut by the Penan.
• Malat & Penat; the Penan’s blades.
• Kitchen in a traditional house.
• Video on jungle kitchen & feather stick making.

Click here to read about another rainforest adventure in Semban, Sarawak.