Friday, July 31, 2009

A Lovely & Best Blog Award

I received 2 awards from Cindy. Thank you so much!

The rules for these awards are:
  1. To accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.
  2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve discovered and think are great! Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
So, I will pass on these 2 awards to:
June, Shinyin, Dong Ho, Keats, Lawstude, Ju Ann, David, Kikey, Xijon89, Viosben, Emily, Travelerfolio, Jim Long, foongpc and Bridge

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Luak Esplanade

Luak Esplanade is located at Luak, some 5km away from Miri City. It can be reached by driving along the coastal highway.

The esplanade has a long stretch of beach facing the South China Sea.

The sandy beach is white and clean

This is a great place for family outings and leisure

Marine shells among the sand in the beach

There ain't much facility here, except for a huge parking space but it is an ideal place to enjoy the sea breeze.

Lastly many thanks to Lifesigns for lending his camera during my time in Miri to capture all the photos while we were there last month. My camera was unfortunately defective at the time we arrived at Miri.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Miri Bulatan Park

Miri bulatan park is probably the earliest recreation park set up in Miri. It also incorporate a traffic garden within it. Bulatan Park literally means "Round Park" and I have no idea why it was name that way. Maybe because it is located along Jalan Bulatan.

A stone structure at entrance courtyard

I have fond memories here as this was where I usually jog in the evening for about 9 months when I was a student at the nearby Prime College Miri (the site of Miri blind Society at Jalan Jee Foh 8).

It is a scenic jog around the tarmac here with the surrounding trees and lake as the backdrop. A complete lap around the track is about 800m. The track actually goes round the lake. I think my best record here is doing 8 or 10 laps.

The park has a huge lake with a clock tower in the middle. Boat jetty and canteen is also available at the edge of the lake.

I don't recall there is a bridge connecting the park with the clock tower during my days here. What a shame that the clock tower no longer functional now.

This traffic garden should be the venue for the annual Shell Traffic Games in Miri.

The Pavilion is located at the other end of the park and I am sad to see its present condition. Some of its fiber glass roof tiles are gone and the once beautiful fountain no longer function.

I hope to jog here again in the near future to relive my 1997 memories here.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Carlton Aerogear 800

Carlton Aerogear 800 is my first official badminton racket. I remember purchasing it at RM200 in 1992.

Aerogear 800 is denoted as AG-800. I believe this is the same racket used by Rashid Sidek in the 1992 Thomas Cup Finals (where he was undefeated in the men first single matches)

Carlton Aerogear 800 weight is heavy by today standard. I reckon it is easily 100g++. It has a thick shaft measuring at 9mm. Even the grip size is bigger than an ordinary rackets nowadays. It is obvious the racket is designed such way for an attacking player.

The racket was designed in Europe. The shaft and the frame are made of I. M. Graphite. The shaft is stiff due to this material


The racket has "SuperWidebody" and "Big Wave" features on the string frame. This thicker frame (12mm) gives a more powerful smashes to the player. With its extra weight and bigger frame, this racket certainly amplify my smashes during play.

I would regard the Carlton Aerogear 800 as an all round racket. I can have a good and neat net play while using it. It also helps me to keep the shuttle consistently low when making a service.

Well, it is sad to note that Carlton don't produce quality racket like they used to do now.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Parachutists Trial Jump @ Wisma Sanyan

Wisma Sanyan had been selected for the trial jump for some local jumpers who will participate in the "Tower International Jump Tour 2009" yesterday morning. Wisma Sanyan which stands at 126 meters (27 levels) is currently the tallest building in Sarawak.

There were a few curious crowd who might had read about the scheduled trial jump from the newspapers. Some of them had been at the town square before 8am.

I believe some reporters were also present to make the coverage

The trial jump was supposed to start at 0800 but somehow it only materialized at 0820. It was a perfect day. Clear sky and no wind to disrupt the jump

This is the first jump from the first jumper. It was rather an anti-climax jump as the first jumper released the parachute rather early.

It was the same case with the second jumper. It will be more interesting if they released the parachute a bit later, preferable at mid point of Wisma Sanyan.

Well, there were only 2 jumpers executing the trial jump. Most of the crowd here were expecting a second jump but that did not happen until 0930.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Lambir Hills National Park

Lambir Hill National Park is about 32km from Miri city. It took us 30 minutes drive via the Miri-Bintulu road from Miri.

Before exploring the national park, one will need to register at the Park's office. Entrance fee is RM10 per person. One must leave the park by 5pm. So, it might be wise to come here early (I think they are open as early as 6am).

Chalets are available at the Park's office for those who plan to spent an overnight here. The room rate is around RM100++

This is the layout of the Lambir Hill National Park. It is actually pretty huge and one will need one full day to reach the top of Lambir Hill. However, most visitors come to the park to enjoy the waterfalls here, especially the easily accessible Latak Waterfall.

According to the information at the Park's office, it will take 3 hours 30 minutes to reach the summit of Lambir Hill. That equates to 7 hours to make a return journey back.


The journey is relatively easy initially. There are a number of banana trees after 5 minutes walk from the starting point.

Some of the trees here are also labeled.

Water stream along the path is a sign the waterfall is probably nearby.

After 10 minutes or so, the first waterfall was sighted. It is only a small waterfall with no particular name given to it. In the map, it is only named Waterfall 1

Just a couple of minutes away from Waterfall 1 is another small waterfall called Waterfall 2

The most visited waterfall in this park, the Latak Waterfall is not far away after passing Waterfall 2. It took about 15-20 minutes walk to reach Latak Waterfall from the starting point.

Latak Waterfall. I notice there is a trail leading to the top of the waterfall but the trail had been closed, probably due to safety reason

There is a huge picnic area at Latak Waterfall. This is definitely an ideal spot to relax and enjoy the tranquil surrounding and the waterfall.

The water is reasonably clean and safe for a swim. Toilet/shower facilities are readily available nearby this area.

However, swim at your own risk. Lifebuoy is available nearby in case of emergency.

This is the life guard tower at Latak Waterfall but I guess no one is on duty here for a very long time now.

Latak Waterfall is only one of the attraction here, there are more waterfalls (Nibong, Pantu, Pancur, Tengkorong & Dinding Waterfall) and hills (Pantu & Lambir Hills) to be explored along the Pantu trail, not far away from the Waterfall 2.

Pantu trail is a physically demanding trail with its hilly terrains. I lost the number of times we had to go up and down the hilly terrains here to get to Nibong Waterfall.

There is a tree tower at the beginning of the Pantu trail. Unfortunately, the tower is in a deplorable condition and closed to the public for safety reason.

The tree tower was built by Operation Raleigh and was designed by John S.K. Cheng of Forest Department Kuching.

Some colourful mushroom species along the Pantu trail

Finally, we arrived Nibong Waterfall after walking for about 50 minutes (1.2 km) along the Pantu trail.

There is nothing special about Nibong Waterfall but the water here is definitely cleaner and clearer than Latak Waterfall. There is not much open area to have a decent picnic here, let alone any facility. However, Nibong Waterfall is definitely a good place to take a refreshing dip. Lifebuoy is available here in case of any emergency.

Small fishes seems to thrives at Nibong Waterfall. This is not the case at Latak Waterfall.

I don't have the opportunity to venture further from Nibong Waterfall due to the physical limitation of my wife. I heard the Pantu Waterfall offers more spectacular view.

I will definitely come back in the future to fulfill my quest to visit all the waterfalls and conquer the Lambir & Pantu Hill, probably on my own. Those trip could easily consume 1 full day and more than 5 litre of water.