Miri Travel Forum

During the 'Confrontation' following Independence, I was one of the young British soldiers who took part in operations on the border.
My recollections of Miri are of a small oil town where the people were very friendly.
We were stationed beside the police barracks close to the sea. In the limited time off, I remember fondly the entertainment at the Miri Recreation Club where we were made very welcome. Does it still exist? It was close to the Police Barracks as I remember.
I will be in Miri from 12 September 2005 before moving on to Kuching on the 15th.
Does anyone have some suggestions as to the kind of things I would be able to do that will give me a flavour of what it was like then? I will be travelling with my wife and am not into 4 1/2 hour trips in the ulu.
What about car hire? I also would hope to visit Lutong and Seria when I am there.
Are there flights to Bario that could be done in a day?

Hi!

This "confrontation" stuff looks like repeating itself with the recent "Ganyang Malaysia" campaign of sort, though its not as bad as in the 60s.

Anyway, Im not sure how Miri looks like 41 years ago but MIri todays have change a lot from my observation.For a start, it will achieve city status in few weeks time - the 3rd city in Sarawak after North & South Kuching. Even when you touched down at the airport you can see the different - the airport now spot futuristic look ala KL Int Airport. Entering the town centre, it is well organised with the masterpiece there is its City Fan - an award wining civic centre/town park.

Anyway, some part of Miri still retains its old world charm such as the Shell complex/staff quarters accross the river on Pulau Melayu. There are also old governtment quarters along the road leading toward the Everland Park Hotel thats looks like unchanged after all this years.

Hope this help, enjoy the trip down memory lane :)

-m-

Hi, Thanks for your reply. On looking at available pictures on the net it has been clear to me that there had been great changes in the intervening years. Hotels and modern airports were not there in those days. I was very impressed with the welcome from the local people and hope they have prospered in these years.

Regards

Hi Sandy, welcome to VT. If you use the search panel it will take you to VT members' pages - there seems to be quite a bit on Miri. VT's the place for honest, unbiased advice :-)

Hi there Sandy,

Miri changes a lot, you will not reconize it any more. My brother in law lives in Miri 10 years ago, last year he lost his way in Miri with the car, only 10 minutes. Malaysia is a booming econemy. The old grand lady (I was there in the middle of no where in 1992) is now a construction site for new housing projects (probaly already finish.

From Miri there is a flight to Bario, takes a small hour, there is also a flight with a stop then it takes 1 1/2 hour.

Check out the web side of bario http://www.ebario.com/transportation.asp about 150 ringit 2way trip.

On http://www.mas.com.my , MAS have flight details too.
Click on View Flight Schedules

Seria is probely the oil fields, I never been there.

Have fun,

Peter
More info at:
http://www.sarawak.tk

Thanks for your reply Peter. When I was in Miri all these years ago the European's that we met were all from your part of the world. I suppose that was a historical fact. They made us very welcome but that might have been influanced by their fears that the other lot, from Indonesia, might not have been so friendly. I am perhaps streaching historical fact but I sort of hope we saved the region from an East Teamor situation. I think we did and for that I am a little proud of what we did.
Regards
Sandy

Hi Peter... I used to live in Miri as a child. Now, aged 35, I shall probably be returning in November 2005 and I expect to see a huge difference. I do hope that some of the old Miri still lives on.... ! I'm sure it does in fact.

Just read: 20 May 2005, Miri has a population of 300.000. So probaly the old town is still there, but the "New Town Ships" are booming.

Have a nice stay in Miri, my next stop to my sister and brother in law in Miri and visite Mulu will be probaly around 2007, then the kids are big enough to explore Mulu. Last time I stay on the police camp, but I am not sure of it still there. Most of the police fellows are prefer to stay in there own housing.

Hi Sandy!
All the reply that you got was all about Miri, Sarawak Malaysia. What about Seria? Actually Seria is in Brunei Darussalam Country BUT not in Malaysia Country.

By the way, i can give you some tips about Seria because Brunei is my Hometown. Unfortunatey i do not know about Miri. I just know Miri just a little bit.

Miri is a shopping town for Brunei PEople because it is cheap due to exchange currency between Brunei and Malysia B$1 - $RM 2.++.

Seria is a small town in Beliat Destrict. It is also an oilfield in Brunei. If you go there you can visit OGDC Research ( Oil and Gas Descovery Centre Research). There you can try some of the activities which are very useful for us. For example how to experience an earthquake shaking, lying on the top of nails and many more.

There are many small shops nearby the OGDC. But most of them sell goods.
Because you already in Brunei Country , why not you go to Wasai Wong Kadir watefall, Sungai Liang recreation park and Luagan Lalak. Alll these three locations are located in Beliat District. You can swim in wasai Wong Kadir waterfall and have some photos.

have a nice trip!!!

Thanks for all who answered. Shocked to see Miri population of 300,000. well the world moves on. Time is at a premium for visit but will try to get to Bario and Seria. So car hire for Seria and flight to Bario seem in order. Looking forward to the trip which includes Singapore and Kuching and surrounding areas where I also spent two six month tours in 1965 and 1966.

Hello - if you need further details maybe the Mirians there can help you. Go to their site at http://www.pengerindu.com and ask away :)