Bintulu

I had bought ticket to Bintulu earlier in the year during an offer (flights to be completed by 30 June 2022) after studying the calendar and school holiday schedule. So last Friday, I left home early and made my way to KLIA. My flight was originally in the afternoon but was changed to depart just after noon. I usually buy Gardenia bread before travelling abroad and decided to do the same this time as I only booked a budget hotel and no breakfast would be served. I was lucky to grab one Vanilla and one Corn bun each – the man ahead of me at the counter bought fifty buns, yes, fifty (!) and three loaves of Delicia bread. I was amazed when I saw Eraman actually operated an open shop selling Gardenia bread and buns at the departure area.

We took off on time and landed just after 14:30. I didn’t have to wait long for my bag and immediately ordered a Maxim car. It turned out to be a cab but with a driver wearing a cabbie, Grab and Maxim hats. He was muttering about calling me but not being able to get through until I showed him that no calls were received. Grouchy grump!

The airport is some 20km away from the town centre and it was drizzling in some areas. I checked in and climbed up the stairs to my room on the first floor. It was a budget hotel and I chose it due to its location: proximity to the night market, day market, Tamu and jetty. I decided to perform prayers first. It rained shortly after and I rested while waiting out the rain.

I ventured out around 6 p.m. and walked to the waterfront. The dark clouds that still lingered and the approaching twilight made everything seemed a bit grey and dark. I walked to the riverfront but everything looked murky so I didn’t linger long. I then walked around the nearby shop blocks before heading for the night market. I didn’t find anything that interest me so went to have dinner at a roadside stall instead before returning to my room.

At the night market

It rained overnight and continued on to Saturday morning. From my room, I could see part of the morning market so after a light breakfast, I went down to check it out. I was surprised to find it was still raining lightly. Then I went to check out the main market (most stalls were closed) and Tamu next to it. You can find vegetables on one wing of the main market and fresh seafood on another wing. At Tamu, you can find the local specialties such as palm sugar (gula apong), fermented shrimp, shrimp paste, salted fish, some vegetables and even one or two seafood sellers. Bintulu is famous for its shrimp paste and fermented shrimp.

Main market

At Tamu

Walking along the riverfront in the drizzle

I then went for a walk along the riverfront but turned back when the rain became heavier. I had planned to go to Tumbina Park (the name is literally a combination of the words ‘tumbuhan’ (plants) and ‘binatang’ (animals) in Malay) and arranged for Maxim. It was raining heavily when I arrived at Tumbina so I waited out the rain at the guardhouse. The guard explained there are two main ring routes: the outer one is 2km while the inner ring is 1km in length. After about twenty minutes, the rain petered off so I set off. Besides the ring roads, there are also various tracks in the park so one could take a shortcut if one wants to. As it was my first time there, I decided to take the outer ring road. The terrain was hilly.

I first came upon the deer who all stood in transfixed silent looking at me. The Sambar deer were in the next enclosure and the Java deer next to that. I walked on further and saw the building for the tiger; unfortunately, there was no more tiger (it had died of old age, I was told later by a park staff). I saw the Malay civet and leopard cats. I went to check out the sun bears but they were still in their buildings and saw the flamingos from afar. I wanted to walk to them but the path was muddy and I wasn’t keen to step into it. I was already being bitten by bloody bloodsuckers before I came upon the civet and leopard cats. I then walked on to the Fern Garden (forest, more like), Reptiles Complex and bird cages, before continuing on to the Orchid Garden (only one or two in bloom then), Cactus Complex, the Bougainvillea Garden (you could see the sea from here) and the Butterfly Garden. There’s no more ostrich after two were bitten by wild dogs and the sole survivor then died soon after. The Butterfly Garden was missing its net so you couldn’t see the butterflies unless they were nearby or you have a pair of binoculars. I also went into the Butterfly Gallery for AC relief before venturing out again. While it drizzled on and off and the sun was mainly behind clouds, it was still humid. I walked down Jalan Harimau to the Gallery and Fish Pond (I didn’t go any nearer though), went up to see the porcupines then down again, dropped by to see the otter and I was back at the main entrance. I spent a total of three hours at the park.

I decided to walk to Tanjung Batu beach and was shocked when I saw a sign warning the public not to swim as there may be crocodiles. Like really?? I walked on until I reached the food court before turning back. I decided to walk back to town and walked along Jalan Pantai Batu and then Jalan Tun Razak. I wanted to walk across ParkCity to find a hijama place and was nearing the junction to Jalan Kambar Bubin when two fierce dogs appeared and I beat a hasty retreat. I turned around and turned instead into Jalan Durian Tembaga and then Lorong Durian Tembaga before I joined Jalan Kambar Bubin. Damn you, mad dogs!

I finally reached the hijama place and made an appointment for the following morning. The owner noticed my face mask and asked if I was an old girl. When I said yes, he said his wife was an old girl too and has the same face mask. Hah, what a small world! I then walked back to my hotel and room.

I ventured out that evening to the night market where I bought food for dinner. It being Saturday night, there were more people there and more sellers. I bought some fish and prawn crackers from a couple (I asked if they were operating the evening before and they said no). I was running out of cash by then and was happy when they allowed online transfer.

Sunday turned out better. I left my room at 08:30 and walked to Tamu. I saw a city bus and went to board it. I asked the driver if the bus would pass ParkCity but didn’t quite understand his reply. Well, it didn’t so I alighted at Jalan Sultan Iskandar and walked. I stumbled upon the public library on the way. I reached the hijama place at 09:50 and although it officially opened from 10:00, there was a couple ahead of me. I met my junior and she even did the treatment on me. She advised me to return to my hotel and sleep after the session. Well, I went back but not before I detoured to the riverfront and walked up to where the river met the sea before turning back. I decided to perform prayers first before taking a short nap but made the mistake of checking my phone as I was lying down. Had messages about someone travelling for work and had their planes delayed. I had to cut short my nap to deal with it.

Where the Kemena river meets the sea

I woke up at 14:45 and got dressed. It was blinding hot then. I made my way to the jetty and waited for a boat to take me across to Jepak. A boat finally arrived at about 15:15 and it took less than five minutes to get across and cost RM1 each way. I wandered around the village and by instinct took a shortcut to Hazzana Mee Udang (prawn restaurant). I ordered prawn noodles. I had read mixed reviews and well, I can say that the dish looked so much better than it tasted. I paid for my meal using QR code.

Inside the boat

I returned to the jetty and took the boat across to town. I made my way to the night market which had already started operating. It was too hot though so I didn’t linger. I returned to my room and rested instead. I didn’t venture out again.

On Monday morning, I finished packing then went to Tamu again. I bought some salted fish and managed to find peeled anchovies at a shop across from Tamu. I then had mee kolok at Uncle Tan’s Café, two doors away from my hotel (the owner assured me it was halal). Then I returned to my room, zipped up my suitcase and checked out. The Maxim car didn’t take long to arrive and we left at 09:30. I was at the airport before 10:00 and it took less than a couple of minutes to scan my bag and drop it at the counter and get my boarding pass.

We took off on time and landed at 13:40. I went to perform prayers and my bag was already waiting when I went to the belt (it makes a nice to have my bag waiting for me instead).

So that was my trip to Bintulu and now I can see that I have been to Bintulu (been-to lu!). Alhamdulillah for the rezeki and opportunity to visit a new place.

Seremban: This Used To Be My Playground

I decided it’s high time to revisit and really explore Seremban.  I actually lived there for five years when I was at the penitentiary (just kidding!) but had never really properly explored the town. As I have to limit my trips to short local trips now that dad is frail, I decided it was a good time as any to explore the town. I left micasa early on Saturday, 28 May 2022, and walked to get the feeder bus to MVMM. However, as things turned out, I was still in KL two hours later having missed the train, no thanks to the feeder bus which didn’t appear. I finally took the 08:40 train to Seremban, arriving at 09:54.

I walked towards Terminal One and walked past it to the Wesley Methodist Church. This church was founded in 1915 to cater to the waves of Chinese migrants (some of whom were Christians) who flooded into the are following the discovery of tin ore in 1870. Then I walked along Jalan Dato Sheikh Ahmad until I hit Jalan Dato Bandar Tunggal where I turned left. There are a number of old shophouses in town and I was happy as I love old buildings and ancient ruins. I detoured into side streets to take photos and wandered my way up. I passed the building which now functions as the state headquarters for Bank Simpanan Nasional – it was built in 1897 for the Office of the Sanitary Board and the State Religious Department. During the World War II, it was commandeered by the Japanese. After the war, it functioned as the headquarters for the Seremban Town and Municipal Councils.

Old shophouses

Currently the HQ for BSN for the state

I walked up to Masjid Jamek, a red mosque with a pagoda-shaped minaret and a tower in the Malaccan style instead of a dome. The mosque dates back to 1924. I walked down Jalan Kapitan Tam Yeong and as I was about to turn to Jalan Yam Tuan, I saw a beautiful old building and went to take a photo of it before returning to Jalan Yam Tuan. I walked on until I reached Church of the Visitation, a Catholic church which was founded by French missionaries. In the mid-1800s, French priests based in Kuala Lumpur would visit their flock in Melaka every two months and they would break their bullock cart journey in Seremban where they would perform services in an attap hut. These regular visitations may account for the church’s name. A proper building was built and the current building dates from 1899. There was a wedding ongoing when I walked past.

Masjid Jamek

Beautiful old building at Jalan Kapitan Tam Yeong

I turned left right after the church and climbed up Jalan Lim Kee Siong. I walked on and stumbled upon a stately building which used to house the Handicraft Centre but which is now abandoned. This used to be the home of Captain Murray, the British Resident to Negeri Sembilan. Then I turned left and walked up to the State Library building (once known as the Sir Henry Gurney Library). Built in 1912 and designed by A. B. Hubback, the architect responsible for many of KL’s famous landmarks, the building originally served as the office of the State Secretary. At the nearby roundabout, I could see Wisma Negeri with its distinctive Sumatera-style roof. The lake garden is also nearby.

This used to be the Handicraft Centre

This used to the State Library/Sir Henry Gurney Library

Sir Henry Gurney Library from anther angle

Sir Henry Gurney Library and the War Memorial. Shame they were cordoned off

Wisma Negeri on the right

My friend had been trying to contact me and we agreed to meet in front of the State Mosque. However, I got distracted by another beautiful building and went to investigate. I was taking photos when my friend and her two older sisters – who also just arrived by train from KL but on the train after mine - spotted me. They literally picked me up and we drove off. First she brought me to our old boarding school grounds (our school had relocated more than a decade ago). At first the guard didn’t want to let us in as there was a PTA meeting and there were many cars inside. He had his orders of course and was only doing his job. My friend then called a teacher and asked for permission to enter. So we were granted permission and drove in but we just stayed in the car and didn’t venture out.

Beautiful abandoned building

The back of our old school hall. Film shows, Interhouse dancing competition, Interform English and Malay dramas were held here and we also sat for major exams here

Dormitory blocks for Yellow and Green houses

Dormitory blocks for Green and Blue houses

After that, my friend drove us to Hayyan Huda Opah’s Kitchen for lunch. We had to park outside the restaurant compound though as the parking area was full and some enterprising neighbours charged us RM5 to park in their area.Customers must take off their footwear before entering and there are four menus to choose from (from twin sharing). It’s local fare (not necessarily Nogori food) served in classic crockery. Interesting concept. Food was delicious and even I managed to eat (only one dish was quite hot). We also shared some cakes for dessert.

I got the menus from the FB of the restaurant

My friend and her sisters

Friendly customer greeter

After lunch, my friend dropped me off at the quaint train station (built in 1924). I had time to cross over to the post office to take photo and cross back. I also had ample time to perform prayers so I did that before entering the station, crossing the platform and waiting for the train back to KL.

Train station

Post office which we used to go once upon a time

I must say that was a very enjoyable and satisfying trip to Seremban and while the town is not famed for its tourist attractions, don’t underestimate it. In fact, it might just give you a pleasant surprise.