During the last school holidays, our Thinking Skills teacher organized for us students, the chance to go to the famous Niah Caves of Sarawak.
Although being Sarawakian myself, I have never visited Niah Caves and since the chance popped up I decided to take it up. Not wanting to go alone, I made sure I dragged some of my friends to come along with me. And only when I was sure I had people I knew going, I confirmed myself for the trip.
Come 23rd March, bags packed and passport ready, I made my way to school where the bus that would take us to Miri was waiting. Already in the bus were Hazel and Pau Pei (the friends I dragged along with me). Funnily enough, they both sat far away from each other, one at the back of the bus while the other at the front.
They only realized that the other one was already on the bus when I got on... so that was an *cough* awkward *cough* moment... o.o
After a briefing from our guide from Darussalam Holdings, we departed school at 9am.
And so begins our journey to the great Niah Caves...
The bus we had was a really good one. It was comfortable with reclining chairs and good air-conditioning but best of all, the company was great. My bus buddy was a cool guy named Chee Ming, in front of me were the girls, and around us were the ex-CHMS boys, whom whenever you're around with, you'd always have a good time.
45 minutes into the journey, there was a slight drizzle. We were now close to the Tutong-Belait border. And one can always tell that they're near the district's border when you look around and you see...
SNOW!!!
Well that's what I used to think it was when I was really young, till Geography lessons spoilt the fun and turned it all to boring silica sand... =__=""
Whizzing by the highway, we soon reached the Malaysian-Brunei border, and not unexpected, there were quite a number of people lining up to get out of the country... I mean visit Miri... >.>
We were back on the bus, waiting for the driver to get back. Unusually, he took quite a while to get back to the bus although he was the first one off the bus. Who knows what he might've been doing >.>
Well... yea... >.>
It took a longer time here at the Malaysian border immigration, as our bus driver parked the bus outside of the border while our tour guides went to get all our passports stamped.
We were now, officially in Miri, Malaysia. I didn't need to have a sign that wrote "Selamat Datang ke Malaysia" (Welcome to Malaysia) to tell me that I'm back on native soil.
The one clear indicator that told me that we were
Reassured that I was on Malaysian soil, the driver then cranked up the gears and the bus was moving again as our guides were now back with our passports.
Seahorses, a national symbol of Miri Town
Going over the toll bridge, made me realize something that was different about Malaysia to Brunei.
Toll Station
Perhaps it's just me, and maybe because I was in the holiday mood, but the clouds there seemed to look more serene and beautiful. Casting shadows and columns of light that just make you wonder how amazing nature really is...
Toll Station
We soon hit the city centre, cars bustling during rush hour, students making their way home, buildings and billboards everywhere you turn your head.
The tour guide decided to drop us off at Boulevard for us to have some shopping and have our lunch, before we made our way to the caves itself from town.
Boulevard Hypermarket
The tour guide decided to drop us off at Boulevard for us to have some shopping and have our lunch, before we made our way to the caves itself from town.
Boulevard Hypermarket
So, one by one each of us got off the bus. Having only an hour to have our lunch and shopping, we wasted no time.
With the sun bright that afternoon, we walked into the complex thinking that it would be cooler in there. We couldn't have been more wrong. It was as if the air-conditioning just went on strike, leaving the complex's patrons feeling warm and stuffy.
Ignoring the heat, the girls wanted to grab some snacks for the night so we went to the supermarket first, then walked around the complex shopping arcades.
Don't know why they all shy for what =__=" As if not suppose to be in Miri =P
The Noon Sun.
With the sun bright that afternoon, we walked into the complex thinking that it would be cooler in there. We couldn't have been more wrong. It was as if the air-conditioning just went on strike, leaving the complex's patrons feeling warm and stuffy.
Ignoring the heat, the girls wanted to grab some snacks for the night so we went to the supermarket first, then walked around the complex shopping arcades.
Don't know why they all shy for what =__=" As if not suppose to be in Miri =P
When we got hungry, we headed to the ground floor to have lunch at Sugarbun before we ran out of our 1 hour period. After which, we were back on the road again.
It was a long ride to the caves from the town center...
Our packed breakfast, given at the start of the trip. Well, at least what's left of it...It was a long ride to the caves from the town center...
...and a bumpy ride as well. But the scenery was relaxing. Seeing nature whizzing pass you is a great break from the bustle of cityscape that most of us are used to.
The Noon Sun.
Palm Oil Trees, palm oil being a major export of Malaysia.
After about an hour and a half on the road, we finally saw a hint of what it was that we came on this trip for.
After about an hour and a half on the road, we finally saw a hint of what it was that we came on this trip for.
The sign welcoming us to the majestic Niah Caves...
And then we passed right by it O.O
So here's me and the group of us thinking that well maybe its just a lil' further up. No worries... we're almost there.
...How wrong was my little head...
The driver kept on going and going, more and more the thought that we're actually lost became more and more plausible. It came to a point that he had to stop and get out of the bus, to ask someone for directions. (HWAT THE?!?! =__=")
And at one other point, I thought that we were there already. But that thought flew out of my head so fast, the moment I saw the road that I thought was the way to Niah Caves.
Err.. this is the main road to a world renowned tourist site?
And then we passed right by it O.O
So here's me and the group of us thinking that well maybe its just a lil' further up. No worries... we're almost there.
...How wrong was my little head...
The driver kept on going and going, more and more the thought that we're actually lost became more and more plausible. It came to a point that he had to stop and get out of the bus, to ask someone for directions. (HWAT THE?!?! =__=")
And at one other point, I thought that we were there already. But that thought flew out of my head so fast, the moment I saw the road that I thought was the way to Niah Caves.
Err.. this is the main road to a world renowned tourist site?
Not only was the road so small, the bus driver was actually reversing into it O.O
Wondering to myself what in the world was he doing, to a great sigh of relief I noticed that he was just making use of this road, or shall I say dirt path, to turn back the way we came.
So now, knowing the way, we then passed the Niah Cave Welcome sign again...
The same sign, which was obviously signaled to us the way to Niah Caves in the first place =__=""
Perjalanan Ke Gua Niah (Route to Niah Caves) - 3 Km
...this sign popped up, which I can tell you was a true indication as to how far we were from the caves, because right after that, we reached the Niah National Park.
Niah National Park
Wondering to myself what in the world was he doing, to a great sigh of relief I noticed that he was just making use of this road, or shall I say dirt path, to turn back the way we came.
So now, knowing the way, we then passed the Niah Cave Welcome sign again...
The same sign, which was obviously signaled to us the way to Niah Caves in the first place =__=""
After turning past this sign, in the correct direction, the caves were finally in sight.
Niah Caves in the distance
On the way to the caves, Chee Ming and I then noticed something that was messing with our brains that were tired from the long trip. There were milestones on the side of the road signifying "5 Km to Niah Caves". After we thought "5 km" were over, yet another milestone that said "5 Km to Niah Caves" appeared. This carried on for another 3-5 milestones when finally...
Perjalanan Ke Gua Niah (Route to Niah Caves) - 3 Km
Niah National Park
With the bus parked at the parking bay, we got off and started unloading our luggage.
Niah National Park has a number of chalets and hostels for rent, where visitors can come and stay a night to enjoy the natural surroundings and the stunning beauty of the Niah Caves.
Eyes still groggy from the long road trip perhaps?
The hostel wasn't that bad. With a kitchen (unequipped though o.o) and a cozy common area, it wasn't as bad as you'd expect it to be.
The Kitchen
Common Area
We then went to pick out our own rooms for the night, each hostel having 4 rooms with 4 beds. My room was number 4, the room at the corner of the hostel.
"No, not 3... not 3... 'PHOR'!!!"
Furnished with...
Four beds
An electric fan
Niah National Park has a number of chalets and hostels for rent, where visitors can come and stay a night to enjoy the natural surroundings and the stunning beauty of the Niah Caves.
Eyes still groggy from the long road trip perhaps?
We were then sorted into our different hostels, boys in one while the girls in another.
One of the hostels in the national park
One of the hostels in the national park
The hostel wasn't that bad. With a kitchen (unequipped though o.o) and a cozy common area, it wasn't as bad as you'd expect it to be.
The Kitchen
Common Area
"No, not 3... not 3... 'PHOR'!!!"
Four beds
An electric fan
An Air-Conditioner Magnetic Starter
But no air-conditioning unit o.o
We checked the entire room, ceiling to floor, but couldn't find the air-conditioning unit itself.
Guess there are somethings that are just too much to hope for...
After getting our flash lights, caps, towels and water bottles ready, we then made our way to the meeting point to start our expedition into the depths of the Great Niah Caves...
But
Kong - Before
Oh, one more thing. Meet Kong, a great guy I met here in PTE Katok.
Kong - After an ant bite
And for this trip, I would say that he was the first one to get a "bite" out of nature...
We checked the entire room, ceiling to floor, but couldn't find the air-conditioning unit itself.
Guess there are somethings that are just too much to hope for...
After getting our flash lights, caps, towels and water bottles ready, we then made our way to the meeting point to start our expedition into the depths of the Great Niah Caves...
But
Kong - Before
Kong - After an ant bite
And for this trip, I would say that he was the first one to get a "bite" out of nature...
-End of Part 1-