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Places of Interest |
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Miri |
More than just a booming oil and timber
city – Miri is rapidly becoming Sarawak's most popular tourist
destination. With its swinging nightlife, it is where the oil workers and
weekend visitors from neighbouring Brunei escape to. As a resort city, Miri offers a wide range of
accommodation from international class hotels to budget inns, good beaches and
dozens of lively restaurants, pubs and bars.
Miri is also fast becoming an adventure city of its own as it is within
easy reach of national parks, huge rivers and some of the best scuba diving in
Borneo. 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.
A trip to Miri is not complete until you have gone on a shopping spree across
its modern shopping malls, small handicraft shops near the old harbour and the
native market opposite the main bus station that offers exotic jungle produce.
Not-to-be-missed is also the town's most famous landmark – the grand Old Lady
on top of Canada Hill, the first well to strike oil in 1910.
As gateway to the Northeast Region, Miri is an adventure city of every
nature. The Mulu National Park is just 30 minutes by flight while Niah is two
hours drive away. You can reach the world's most bio-diverse site at Lambir
Hills in just 25 minutes. Half a day away is Loagan Bunut, a unique natural
expanding and contracting lake, which is fast becoming a bird watcher's
paradise. Then, from Miri you can
reach the Bario Highlands by air in 40 minutes or travel by boat up the mighty
Baram River and explore longhouses and villages along the way.
In Miri,
don't forget to visit these places:-
- Crocodile Farm. Located near the Kuala
Baram Ferry Terminal, it is the first and the largest crocodile farm in the
northern region of Sarawak. There
are more than 1,000 salt and fresh water crocodiles in a 22 acres landscaped
setting with natural breeding enclosures and man-made sanctuary ponds. Don't
miss the feeding times on every Saturday and Sunday at 10.30 am and 11.30 am;
and at 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm. There is also a daily show orchestrated to satisfy
the visitors' utmost curiosity about crocodiles.
- Miri City Fan was built as part of the
master plan for Miri to become a
Healthy Resort City. A unique fan-shaped park, it is a world-class urban civic
park with the setting for sport, educational and cultural activities. It
includes a promenade, an amphitheatre, a musical fountain, a library and cultural
centre, and various ethnic gardens. It provides superb social and recreational
facilities for the public.
- Miri Public Park is located about 3 km
from the town centre along the Airport Road. There are flora gardens, souvenir
centre, canteen, observatory platform, children's playground, exhibitions room,
stone carving and sculptures, fountains, pavilions, jogging track and other
sporting facilities.
- The Grand Old Lady - Well No. 1. Situated
on the top of the Canada Hill, the Grand Old Lady is the first oil well in
Malaysia. It represents the petroleum history of Miri, which is almost a century old. This oil well is no longer in
production and the Sarawak Government has declared it a protected historical site. There is an observatory
platform where visitors can have an excellent view of Miri.
- Tamu Muhibbah is the local market where
fascinating products from the Sarawakian
interior are sold and a place for the unusual, be it a new variety of red
bananas, mangoes resembling turnips, brown and white rice from upstream Bario
and jungle remedies made from exotic plants and animal bi-products. Visit this
market and soak in the lively atmosphere of the natives.
- Petroleum Museum in Bukit Telaga Minyak,
exhibits photographs and information on the petroleum industry. Built in April
2003, the project was undertaken by the Sarawak Museums Department with Petronas and Sarawak Shell Berhad., which contributed RM5 million each.
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Opening hours: |
Tuesday – Sunday |
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9 am to 5 pm (Last
entry 4.30 pm) |
Friday |
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9 am to 12 noon (12 pm-2pm -closed) 2 pm to 5 pm (Last entry 4.30 pm) |
Monday |
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CLOSED |
Admission is free.
- Luak Bay Esplanade. The esplanade is the
perfect place to watch the beautiful sunset, enjoy the soothing breeze and the
sound of the waves. Located at Luak, about 12 km from Miri city centre, it is fast becoming a favourite spot for picnics
and for family outings on the sandy beach, especially during the weekends.
Hawkers selling soft drinks, snacks and barbeque chicken wings at the car park
also makes at interesting sight.
- Miri Handicraft Centre. This is the Arts
and Craft Centre of Miri and is
housed in a historic building that was formerly the Miri Community Hall. The building history is colourful and many of
the older generations in Miri would
remember the numerous public events held here in the past such as state
dinners, wedding receptions, community social events etc. Miri Handicraft Centre offers a wide variety of quality local handicrafts.
It is overflowing with the products of nimble fingers: beadwork, pottery,
woodcarving, basketry, mat making, hat making and textile crafts. Open from 9am
- 6pm daily.
- Beraya Beach. Shell collectors will not
regret visiting this beach, located just 15 km from downtown Miri. It promises an exciting time and
guaranteed satisfaction to collectors and visitors who wish to frolic on the
seashore. Fossils of crabs from different species and other sea creatures are
said to be in abundance here.
- Hawaii Beach. The sight of fishing boats
berthing at the river bank and fishermen selling their fresh catches is simply
wonderful in this clean and sandy seaside spot. Hawaii Beach at Kampong Bakam,
is one of the pristine, palm-fringed beach. This beach offers a perfect
location to frolic or swim, to soak up the warm sun or simply enjoy the breeze
under the coconut trees. This popular picnic spot is a hit with weekend
visitors. There are also chalet-type accommodations for overnight stays
splashing waves.
- Flower Garden is situated opposite the Miri Post Office. The garden is planted
with a variety of flowers with their names, characters, and species on the
display cards. You can learn more about flowers and take some memorable
photographs with the flora while visiting this garden.
- Taman
Selera is the oldest recreational park in Miri, situated at Brighton beach.It is located about 3 km from the
city centre. Besides the golden sand beach, children's playground and outdoor
facilities, there is an open-air food and drinks centre which is a popular
eating place for the public. One can enjoy the beautiful sunset and listen to
the sound of splashing wave. It can be reach within 5 minutes from the city
centre.
- Taoist Temple (San Ching Tian). Completed
in the year 2000, the "San Ching Tian" is one of the largest Taoist temples
in South East Asia. Situated in Krokop, the temple occupies 1.5 acres of land.
This majestic and elegant building is full of oriental characteristics in its
architectural design. The temple is only 4 km away from the city.
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