Sibu Central Market

Sibu Central Market is regarded as the largest market in Sarawak and Malaysia. Located along the Market Road in the centre of the town, it is one of the most recognized landmark which gives the town its character.

 

 

The existing Central Market is now also the top tourist spot in town. It was opened in 1996 with the additional multi-storey carpark came afterwards.

 

 

 

At the ground floor, the market was divided into sections according to the goods sold. One can source for local and imported vegetables, fruits, dried fish and prawns, spices, handicraft, flowers, sundry goods, drinks, homemade buns, titbits and etc.

Most tourists will find the way the locals sell the live chickens and ducks intriguing. The bird is wrapped in newspaper and tied with nylon strings.

The meat section is also enjoying a brisk business almost every day. Pork is widely sold on this section.

 

During the weekends, the tamu section of the Central Market is occupied by the Ibans and Orang Ulus with their exotic jungle food and fruit

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some of the jungle food and fruits which can't be found anywhere else in the world.

 

Moving up to the first floor, there are practically more than 100 food and drink stalls. The food price here is usually slightly cheaper than other places in the town due to the low rent.

 

 

 

Also on the first floor are stalls that sell fashion and tailor made items.

 

On certain spot within the Central Market, visitor will have a breathtaking view of the mighty Rejang River and the Tua Pek Kong Pagoda. Also can be seen here are the newly built pumping station which is part of the flood mitigation project for the town.

Ipoh Town Kopitiam (Sibu Outlet)

Ipoh Town Kopitiam just opened another new outlet in Sibu. The new outlet is located at the thriving Pahlawan commercial area.

 

The place is divided to non air-condition and air conditioned seating area. Wifi is available here.

The seating arrangement here mimic those in the old kopitiam with its marble table and stool, albeit in a more comfortable surrounding.

This was probably a very bad start for this outlet as I have to service myself from the moment I set my foot into their premise. I had to look for menu myself as no one came to serve us. To make things worse, I had to search for pencil and pen to write down my order on the order slip. After that I had to pass the order slip to the staff personally. I will be damned if they still charge me for service charge later on.

I ordered the kaya and butter toast but was informed that they ran out of kaya after 10 minutes wait. You got to be kidding me. It was just 9.30am and they already out of kaya on one of their signature dish. The other optional is to change it to peanut butter.

That was the last straw and I already had enough with these jokers. I cancelled my order and left the premise dissatisfied. The management and the staff here are obviously not ready for such business and crowd. I had wasted 30 minutes of my Saturday morning here and vowed not to return anymore.

Sibu Heritage Centre

The Sibu Heritage Centre housed in the former Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) building is fast becoming a landmark the locals could be proud of since its inception in August 2010. The structure was completed in 1963 and soon became a landmark in Sibu with its distinctive folded concrete roof and tropical architecture features. It was the SMC headquarters from 1963 until 2000. It was left vacant and disused until 2008.

The design response aimed to reflect the SMC's past stature as a physical and social landmark in Sibu and to reinstate its position as a public destination by satisfying the following criteria:

1. Having a public presence
2. Regaining the original structure
3. Weaving the Present within the Past
4. Addressing the street
5. Restoring a place in people's memory

Despite years of ad-hoc additions and extensions, it was surprisingly easy to regain the SMC's original form, perhaps due to the building's distinctive silhouette.

The commercial spaces on the ground floor are enclosed in clear glazing for visibility and views into the inner courtyard. The museum upstairs has a folded glass facade to complement the concrete roof while enabling a clear expression of the building's structure.

 

The new entrance portal "the funnel" is an entry statement. It sucks visitors into the belly of the centre.

 

This part of the funnel is glazed to let light in and to articulate the connection between the new and the old.

 

The suspended steel structure with timber flooring is a modern cousin of traditional river crossing

The museum layout replicates the experience of walking through Sibu's lane and alley-ways. The original framed photos were collated into a wall mosaic.

 

 

 

 

The museum documents the early beginning of Sibu, the coming of early Chinese migrants from the various ethnic groups of the Central Region.

 

 

 

 

Almost all exhibits and artifacts from the once Mini-Museum in Civic Centre are now moved to the Centre.

The Centre is the best place to get to know the history and the culture of this town. Admission is free and it is open everyday from 9am to 5pm except on Monday.

Star Mega Mall

Star Mega Mall had been operating since mid 2011 and I finally had some proper time to write something about it. There is no doubt that this is the biggest mall in Sibu till date.

Located at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, about 6km from Sibu town, it is the biggest all-in-one shopping mall in the central region.

 

Shoppers are able to buy a variety of goods and service in a modern and comfortable environment at the ground floor.

As for the ladies, the newly opened Vincci must be a delight as they need not to travel outside Sibu again to shop for the latest shoes.

I know Sibu people are a big fan of Big Apple Donuts as I been seeing people taking away those donuts from KLIA and LCCT whenever I commute back home every month. This outlet should be opened soon and now the locals can enjoy their donuts without having to travel far away again.

Other outlets such as Marrybrown and Kenny Rogers will also be opening here soon. It would be great too if Starbucks could open a branch over here.

 

Daesco Hypermarket and Departmental Store located on the first floor is the anchor tenant of this mega mall.

 

 

Daesco occupied the whole first floor of the mall and shoppers can practically find anything they are looking for over here.

This mall did offers a pleasant shopping experience but the toilets here are definitely a letdown and did not complement with the modern design of the malls nowaday.