Aku pi Miri bukan ada sebab tertentu, tapi sebab dapat tiket murah Air Asia. Murah tu takdelah murah manapun. Aku rembat jer la. Lagipun aku tak pernah jejak kaki kat Miri pun. Nak gak tahu apa yang ada kat Miri. Beberapa hari nak pi, barulah duk search internet. Cari apa yang menarik kat Miri. Kononnya naklah pi Gua Mulu. Hebattu. Tapi rupanya kena naik ‘belon’ baru boleh sampai kat sana. Jadi amatlah membuang masa. So aku sepakat ngan Hana untuk pergi dekat-dekat jer la. Salah satu darinya The Grand Old Lady.
Pada mulanya akupun tak tahu apa ke jadahnya The Grand Old Lady nie. Ingatkan tempat orang putih tua. Wat pe plak aku nak pi melawat. Kalau orang putih muda tue masih boleh dipertimbangkan lagi laa. Rupa-rupanya The Grand Old Lady ni adalah tempat di mana lokasi terawal minyak dijumpai di Malaysia oleh Shell pada tahun 1910! Sedikit info pasal tempatni sila klik di SINI.
The Grand Old Lady ni terletak kat bandar Miri tu sendiri. Masa pi kat sini Aezie ngan Izmir tidur kat dalam kete. So aku ngan Hana pun amik peluang bergambar dan baca sedikit sebanyak tentang tempatni. Dan kebetulan jumpa plak dua orang mamat orang Semenanjung yang turut sama bergambar. Depa mintaklah bergambar sama. Hensem gak dia. Hehehe.
Bersebelahan tu ada Muzium Petrolium. Dari tempatni boleh nampak Bandar Miri di bawah sebab kedudukannya di atas bukit.
Sebenarnya sebelum ke Grand Old Lady ni aku pergi dulu ke Tamu Muhibbah. Konon ceritanya pasarni popular giler. Kira tempat yang wajib untuk dikunjungilah. Berkobar-kobarlah aku nak pergi. Kata dalam brochure, kalau bernasib baik aku boleh jumpa orang tempatan jual anak khinzir, anak binatang hutan yang lain dan pelbagai lagi produk tempatan yang sukar nak ditemui di mana-mana. Punyalah menarik dia punya cerita! Berkobar-kobarlah aku nak bergambar ngan anak khinzir yang dah tentu-tentu warna pink. Hehehe. Gambar tak apa kan? Bukannya pegang atau makan. Takkan tengok gambarpun kena samak jugak, ye tak?
Tapi apa yang berlaku? Hampeh! Bukan anak khinzir, bukan anak rusa, tapi sekadar anak ayam beb! Setakat anak ayam, kat pasar Salak Tinggi tu pun aku boleh nampak. Apa ke jadahnya nak heran??? Tapi Aezie suka jugakla. Yang menariknya, salah seorang penjual kat sini letak anak kecik dia kat bawah meja tempat dia berniaga. Nampak tak? Punyalah nak berniaga. Bagus dia nie....
Cuma aku tertarik dengan sejenis buah yang dipanggil ‘Dabai’. Buah ni kalau nak makan kena taruk dalam air suam untuk bagi lembut. Pas tu makan ngan kicap dan gula. Boleh gak dimakan dengan nasi. Kata si penjualnya buah ni bagus untuk kesihatan. Itu je buah yang nampak aneh sikit. Lain-lain takde pun. Untuk tak kempunan, aku belila buah durian dan pisang. Pisangtu RM1 je satu longgok. Yang durian tu RM20 untuk satu tupperware. Rupa durian tu memang kuning dan menggiorkan. Tapi dia punya rasa, tawar hebeh! Last-last aku sedekah je pisang dan durian tu kat burung tepi koridor hotel aku.
Cuma aku tertarik dengan sejenis buah yang dipanggil ‘Dabai’. Buah ni kalau nak makan kena taruk dalam air suam untuk bagi lembut. Pas tu makan ngan kicap dan gula. Boleh gak dimakan dengan nasi. Kata si penjualnya buah ni bagus untuk kesihatan. Itu je buah yang nampak aneh sikit. Lain-lain takde pun. Untuk tak kempunan, aku belila buah durian dan pisang. Pisangtu RM1 je satu longgok. Yang durian tu RM20 untuk satu tupperware. Rupa durian tu memang kuning dan menggiorkan. Tapi dia punya rasa, tawar hebeh! Last-last aku sedekah je pisang dan durian tu kat burung tepi koridor hotel aku.
Kami kemudian singgah sat kat Miri Handicraft Centre. Kat situ kami jumpala dengan wartawan The Borneo Post. Nama dia Wilfred Pilo. Dia temuramah kami pasal pusat tu dan sedikit sebanyak pasal Miri. Tak sangka plak rupanya kuar jugak gambar kita orang kat Borneo Post! Hehehe.
Wilfred Pilo, Senior Reporter Borneo Post Sdn. Bhd.
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Come up with small handicraft industry, village folk urged
by Wilfred Pilo, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on February 28, 2012, Tuesday
IMPRESSED: Dr Marry Hana Adnan (holding her sibling) and her friend Azlina.
“To ensure that tourists come to these villages, handicraft operators must work with tourist operators in the city to bring customers to small scale cottage industry businesses.”
Perez believed this gave value to local handicraft rather than simply pick them up in handicraft shop without knowing their worth.
Perez liked the intricate handicraft sold at Miri Handicraft centre as it reflected Asian and local culture.
“The centre is convenient for tourists to grab a memento of the country.
“I was told most of handicraft sold was supplied by a company that mass produce it within the state and nearby country, as the local supplier cannot meet the demand.”
I guess it is fine for local and foreign visitors to grab a few souvenirs but others may like to know how the handicraft and design come about, he added.
As a first-time tourist to Malaysia, Perez found the country beautiful with a kaleidoscope of cultures and traditions for him to experience.
He found Miri city vibrant and metropolitan in outlook.
“I guess the city has many foreigners working in the oil and gas companies.”
Mechanical engineer from Brunei, Marzuki Yusof likes Miri and often brings his family to this border town to shop and holiday.
“The place is well liked by Bruneians as there are lots of places to eat and stay.”
He had many friends in Miri and drives over with his family.
“My only worry is security for Brunei citizens who often get robbed and their cars get stolen.”
Yusof is optimistic that such problems could be solved to improve security here.
First time visitor from West Malaysian, Dr Marry Hana Adnan, and her friend Azlina Din were impressed with the cleanliness of Miri town.
They spent a few days in the city and went to visit Niah Cave as the highlight of their stay here with a family.
“The only thing I am still a bit disappointed over was that there were not many refreshment stalls along Miri-Niah road, unlike in West Malaysia,” said Dr Adnan.
“Infact such a food stall can be very lucrative as the coastal road is very busy.”
In West Malaysia, motorists stop to relax and sample local delicacies while there were none here.
Chan Chew Hua, who operates a handicraft stall at Miri Handicraft centre, hoped for a continuous influx of visitors to Miri city since they have much to offer.
Many tourist destinations are available, but flight connectivity to the city is inadequate.
“We cannot be a vibrant resort city if the government does not look into issues which affect tourist operators, the hospitality industry, eateries and craft shop operators.”
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