Author Archives: Lesley Tan

Mama Mia!

11th April, 2016 | Article By Lesley Tan

CafesFood and DrinkGood ValueOccasionsRestaurants

Recently here in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia I had a great evening out with my friends. It was a double birthday dinner and a relatively new restaurant was chosen. Mama Mia!

Mama Mia serves Local and Western food and has a ‘Happy Hour’ for drinks till 9pm, so the drinks are reasonably cheap and the food delicious and reasonably priced.

On the night, we ordered lots of dishes to share such as pizza, salad, pasta and delicious nachos with wine, lager and cocktails to drink. We brought our own cake.

The décor is bright and cheerful and they also have a live band playing a few evenings a week, although not on the evening we were there.

There is air-conditioning inside and an outside area facing the sea, so ideal for having a coffee in the afternoon or watching sunsets with a glass of wine in the evenings.

I have already decided that MY birthday will be celebrated here with my friends!

Delicious Dynasty Duck – Peking Style!

23rd March, 2016 | Article By Lesley Tan

Food and DrinkHotelsRestaurants

We are regular customers of a great hotel in Miri, Sarawak, the fabulous Dynasty Hotel! The reason we regularly visit is because of their Chinese restaurant, which is so popular you need to book well in advance to ensure a table on any evening.

Our local Pilates group of friends love to eat here every few weeks, just as a get-together for our pilates members from the Miri Marriott Hotel, past and present members, all are welcome.

On the particular evening I am writing about, we were having a farewell dinner for one of our members who was leaving us and Peking Duck was on the menu, so I ordered it and we had a fantastic meal, as usual.

The meal included: starters of Steamed Peanuts, Pickled Papaya, main meal of Special Fried Long Beans, Spring Chicken, Sweet and Sour Pork, Sea Cucumber Soup and the highlight of the evening Peking Duck.

The duck was presented as a whole roast duck and carved in front of us and then expertly made into pancake rolls of Peking duck with strips of cucumber and spring onion. We proceeded to dip our pancakes in delicious Hoi Sin sauce – delightful – our special guest was very impressed. The remainder of the duck was presented later in a very nice dish of Fried Duck with Ginger and Spring Onions.

The meal was all very well presented and finished with nutritious and refreshing fresh fruit consisting of pineapple, watermelon and papaya.

Very Good Food – We have been eating here for years and recommend the Dynasty Hotel Chinese Restaurant to everyone who visits Miri.

Miri Country Music Fest 2016 Yee Haa!

9th March, 2016 | Article By Lesley Tan

EntertainmentEventsFestivalsHotelsMusic

This year we celebrated Country Music from USA, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia in our 3rd Fest. What a great success! It was such an overwhelming success that the dates for Miri Country Music Fest 2017 have been announced. It will be over two days, 25th and 26th February.

This year’s Fest was held on 29th February in the Parkcity Everly Hotel, Miri. This hotel has a large pavilion which is perfect for events like this and is also used for wedding dinners and other such events.

The Country Music Fest’s performers started arriving a few days earlier and two nights before there was a big get-together of the many who were involved, in a popular meeting place, Ming Café. The place was full of happy people eating, drinking and enjoying the live music from some of the performers.

On the night before there was a cocktail reception held in the Ruai Lounge of the hotel. The performers were all there and once again there was a great live pre show for us all to enjoy.

The actual day started with Vocal harmony workshop by OS Pombos from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Real Country Hour by 2Country4Nashville, USA (this would be played on a radio show in USA). Line Dancing at the Pavilion. At 5.30 the Concert started. We arrived at sunset and were just in time to see another magnificent sunset from the grassy area outside in the grounds of the hotel, which are set by the sea. There was a Bucking Bronco, Bouncy Castle, various stalls selling food, drinks and souvenirs, stalls selling promotional items for the performers and giant Cut Outs of the performers for a great photo opportunity! Giant screens were set up for those who wished to sit outside and enjoy the lovely breeze and happily it did not rain.

The atmosphere was great. There were people everywhere dressed in Country style and inside the Pavilion the music started with the line-up:-

The Mountain Wind Band from Sarawak, Malaysia
Jonathan Tse from Koto Kinabalu, Malaysia
Leonard And The Country Riders from Singapore
Mel & Joe of Singapore
Ruby Boots from Australia
Tantowi Yahya from Indonesia
2Country4Nashville from USA
OS Pombos from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Also, Rani Tofani, Asif Pishori and Mel Ferdinands.

This fabulous line-up and the whole event was headed by Gracie V. Geikie. Gracie and her Miri Country Music Fest Team did an excellent job of making the Fest a resounding success. Everyone had a great time and there was a lot of dancing and singing from the happy audience. Many had travelled from a long distance to be there.

We are really looking forward to the next Country Music Fest set right here in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. If you love Country Music, it is not to be missed!

Photos by Lesley Tan and Miri Country Music Fest.

Wild Borneo

18th February, 2016 | Article By Lesley Tan

NatureParks-GardensPhotographyTravelWildlife

Welcome to the world of insects and arachnids in Sarawak, a beautiful state on the island of Borneo. Wildlife is one of the great attractions to Malaysia if you are a nature lover, especially in the jungles of Sarawak if you decide to visit this wondrous state. The insects in this part of the world come in many bright colours and strange shapes and never fail to amaze!

The photographer behind this selection of interesting insects is our own Award Winning Sarawakian Photographer, Tong Teck Ping. He tirelessly trails the undergrowth looking for great shots and I wanted to showcase some of his amazing wildlife photography on Top Tourist because I think it is great!

Luckily, there is no need for me to enter the vast jungles to see these busy little creatures, most gardens and parks in Miri are ladened with bright butterflies, moths, beetles, damsel flies, spiders and caterpillars. In fact, lately, we have had centipedes, snakes, monitor lizards and cranes in our gardens too, but that is another story.

If you happen to be a nature lover, then Sarawak is definitely the place to visit.

Photos courtesy of Tong Teck Ping.

Chinese New Year of the Fire Monkey

16th February, 2016 | Article By Lesley Tan

EventsFamily TravelFestivalsFood and DrinkOccasions

Chinese New Year is always a great event in the Chinese communities around the world and, without a doubt, a very great event right here in Miri. So, this is my second blog about Chinese New Year and I don’t think it will be my last.

One of the things I like to do as the festival gets nearer is to go around and take photos of the decorations in the streets, hotels and shops. There is a great vibe of excitement in the air as you get your house cleaned, buy new clothes, buy, give and eat mandarin oranges, put up your Chinese Lanterns and Chinese New Year decorations and display your New Year cards.

There will be a large reunion dinner on Chinese New Year’s Eve for all who can make the trip home. With delicious food such as Roast Duck, and everyone catching up with the rest of the family’s news, it is, indeed, a great occasion as some members travel from far and wide to get home.
This year is the Chinese New Year of the Fire Monkey and the first day was on 8th February. Most schools here have a week off and some even more. Everyone has their minds set on visiting and wishing each other Gong Xi Fa Cai, (Wishing You Prosperity) the unmarried and young receive ‘Ang Pau’, little red packets of money.

Heavenly Hazard Bistro

3rd February, 2016 | Article By Lesley Tan

CafesFood and DrinkLeisurePubs & BarsViews

A favourite place of ours to go around sunset time is Hazard Bistro. It is perfect for watching the magnificent sunsets Miri is famous for. One of the reasons for this is that it is situated on the edge of Canada Hill, which overlooks almost the whole of the city of Miri and the South China Sea. This little open air bistro serves food and icy cold beer and other popular drinks. There are plenty of tables perfectly placed to relax, have a nice drink, snack or meal and watch the sun go down. The colours of the sunsets change daily and I never tire of taking loads of photos!

The road leading to, first the Hazard Bistro, and next The Petroleum Science Museum and the Number 1 Oil Well, is steep and winding but still easy enough to navigate by car. If you cross the road at the top you will catch glimpses of the other side of the hill, which is good for lovely sunrises, but alas we are never in that area at that time of the day.

This bistro and the whole area surrounding it is very popular with people exercising, jogging, climbing or walking and quite a few make it to the bistro to ‘cool down’.

We return to this delightful place regularly.

Miri Marriott Resort and Spa

18th January, 2016 | Article By Lesley Tan

AttractionsHolidaysHotelsNational ParksResorts

The Miri Marriott Resort and Spa is located on the coast of Miri, and is walking distance from Miri City Centre, but there are free shuttle buses if you would rather take it easy. They drop you off and pick you up from certain areas around the city.

This hotel is close to our home and I am a regular visitor. I love to hang around at sunset and take loads of photos although I have not actually stayed in the hotel for many years. Members of our family and many friends have however, and the reports are generally good.

There is a very nice swimming pool, one of the best in Miri, and if you love sunsets, then this is the place to be at the end of the day with a drink and some snacks. Quite a few visitors take an evening dip when the sun is setting, which is usually at its best between 6.20 to 6.45pm.

The buffet breakfast is excellent, and although not cheap, well worth it. The selection to choose from is vast! The spa and sports facilities are excellent too. There is a gym, workout room, male and female saunas, tennis courts, ping pong, a children’s activity room, a tempting spa and much more! If you are not staying at the hotel or are not a Marriott member, then you can pay a daily rate to use the facilities. There is free internet on a daily basis for all and also a business centre for those still at work.

The entrance has an interesting open design where there are no front entrance doors, the breeze just sweeps through and is very cooling. The gardens house many species of native birds; my friend designed a booklet-map of the hotel exterior, with photos of the many birds you can see. The flowers, trees and plants are also numerous and there is a jogging trail for visitors if they love a bit of exercise. It runs round the outside edge of the Marriott grounds.

The Mulu Marriott Resort and Spa is the newest addition to the Marriott hotels in Sarawak and our friends say it is also very nice. This is located near to the famous Mulu Caves, a local attraction, featuring the largest known natural cave chamber in the world! The hotel is not far from Mulu National Park and surrounded by rainforests. One to visit, and one day I will!

Let’s Be Gay in Whitley Bay

5th January, 2016 | Article By Lesley Tan

AccommodationActivitiesAttractionsBeachesEntertainment

‘Let’s Be Gay in Whitley Bay’ is the old advertising slogan for Whitley Bay, but it sounds so wrong now!

Whitley Bay is a beautiful beach resort which was a hive of activity during the 1900s, but these days many people are jetting off to distant shores for their holidays, which makes it a great place to relax, walk on the beaches or sea front, have a drink, have breakfast or lunch in one of the many cafes, or saunter around the lovely shops. There is also St Mary’s Island to explore, a golf course (along the sea front), a caravan site and amusement arcades too!

The Whitley Bay Playhouse has recently been refurbished and many shows are held there. You can visit the stately Delaval Hall with its historic past or maybe you fancy ice-skating? Well, there is even an ice rink where I used to skate when I was young!

The views around the coast are stunning and there are loads of photo opportunities. There is a Whitley Bay Metro station with a loop line to Newcastle and loads of buses pass through the area so access to this lovely town is easy. Whitley Bay is walking distance to Cullercoats village which is walking distance to Tynemouth and to the north, Seaton Sluice and Delaval Hall, that’s if walking is of interest. There are loads of lovely B & B’s to stay in as well.

Sights to see in Sibu & Sarawak

15th December, 2015 | Article By Lesley Tan

CultureLocal LifeRoad TripsSightseeingTravel

There are many great places to visit in Sarawak – head for Sibu and its surrounding areas and you’ll find the weather is great, the flowers are beautiful, the wildlife is very interesting and the food is tasty.

Sibu is situated inland and nestles on the banks of the Rajang and Igan rivers, so river life is part and parcel of everyday life. Tourists who travel to Sibu love to journey up to the Upper Rajang River which is dotted with Iban and Orang Ulu (native tribes) towns and longhouses.

Longhouses are, literally, long houses where many native families live together. The womenfolk gather together and weave baskets and make other handicrafts while the men are out at work.

Sibu is home to Wisma Sanyan, the tallest building in Sarawak, Lanang Bridge (one of the longest river bridges in Sarawak) and the biggest town square in Malaysia which is near to the Wisma Sanyan building. There is also the Lau King Howe Memorial Museum, which is a medical museum, the Sibu Central Market (the biggest indoor market in Sarawak), and Tua Pek Kong Temple, all worth visiting!  A visit to Sibu is a visit into another world steeped in history. Sibu also hosts several festivals.

If you travel by road for 2-3 hours then you can reach some interesting coastal fishing villages, set on the coast of The South China Sea, where mostly the Melanau people stay.

My friend Tong Teck Ping loves living there and takes countless photos of his dear town every day (or so it seems!). He is an excellent photographer and all of the photos featured in this post were taken by him.

Lau Yang Dim Sum

25th November, 2015 | Article By Lesley Tan

Food and DrinkGood ValueRestaurants

Recently we have been searching for a good place to enjoy Dim Sum here in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. We have asked around friends and listened to advice but always end up going back to the same place = Lau Yang Dim Sum.

Dim Sum, roughly translated as ‘snacks for your heart’s delight’, is an assortment of small portions of Chinese food which is mostly steamed in Bamboo Steamers. I love it because it is so tasty and doesn’t cost a fortune.

Lau Yang is a comfortable, air-conditioned restaurant which is tastefully decorated. Service is fast even though the restaurant is usually packed! A waiter will quickly take your drinks order, we usually have the local coffee which is strong and we love it. A short while later two trolleys will come around and you choose whatever you like. Although they are meant to be snacks, they are filling and we usually make it our big meal of the day.

Some choices which we love are:

Prawn or Meat Dumplings
Fried Yam
Char Siew Pau (steamed pork bun)
Salted Duck Egg and Meat steamed with Glutinous Rice wrapped in Lotus Leaves or served in tin foil trays
Chong Fan (steamed rice flour sheets rolled and filled with prawn or meat) Steamed Prawn or Meat Dumplings with a delicious soup sealed inside the dumpling (beware when you bite into it)
Steamed/Braised Pork Ribs sometimes served with cubes of sweet potato

If you love Chinese food, I am sure most of you will enjoy Dim Sum. If you are in Miri, try Lau Yang, but Dim Sum is available all over the world – Try It!