Bintulu

Regent Hotel Bintulu

2012-11-18T19:29:00.000-08:00

This hotel is located at Tanjung Batu Commercial Center. This is an old hotel. I have noticed this hotel from the moment I arrived at Bintulu. Only now I am blogging about it because before it looked really run down. But recently I notice that they have repainted the exterior so hopefully they have also upgraded the inside.

The Esplanade Restaurant at Waterfront Bintulu

2012-10-24T22:20:00.003-07:00

The Esplanade Restaurant is located right on one end of Bintulu Waterfront. If you drive along the waterfront main road you cannot miss seeing this restaurant.

With breeze blowing from the sea and the sun just setting over the horizon, it can be a pretty romantic place to hang out. The ambience is very cozy and relaxing. We ordered 3 types of dishes, XO Fried Rice, Ma Pao Bringal with Mince Meat and Salted Egg Water Chestnut. The total price was slightly higher than your usual Bintulu cost but the food tasted pretty good.

We chose the outdoor seating seeing that it is a good weather. Later I did consider going indoor when the mosquitoes started to buzz around my legs.

682 Lodge Bintulu

2012-09-30T22:59:00.002-07:00

Here you go another hotel or lodge as it is called. Very New. No elevator tho...walk up so be prepared. Close by to the Banana Leaf Resto and located in Parkcity Commercial Center. Their contact number is 086 316870 / 010 2215682. So far no website.

The Big Lake In Bintulu

2012-09-19T20:39:00.001-07:00

Where is it? Anyone know? I notice this big lake after flying over bintulu a few time. The latest flight was the clearest so I took some snap shot of it. If you you think it’s the reserviour, No is the answer. You can see the reservoir on the left side of the photo. It is smaller and close to bintulu town as compared to the big lake.

The big lake as I called it is located further away along the Miri – Bintulu road up on the mountain ridge. Someone said it’s the bakun dam but isn’t the bakun dam much further away.

Furthermore if it is the dam, we would be able to see the white concrete face wall of the dam. I cannot see no white wall on any of the photos I have taken.

In the 4th photo below, you will see a large clearing area on the right of the big lake which I am assuming must be the Simalajau project.

If anyone know the name of this lake, please comment below? Is there any access road to this lake? Good for fishing or not? Your answers is very much appreciated. :)

New World Motel Bintulu

2012-07-30T06:35:00.002-07:00

Yup...Bintulu is filling up with more rooms for rent. This new hotel will be born on 8th August 2012. I had the privilege to take a glimpse of the room before its opening. As usual, I love new hotels...everything is sparkling clean and nice. It has an elevator so everyone like me who hates walkups can sigh with relief. :)

You can see more rooms at their website www.newworldmotel.org

Medan Selera Bintulu

2012-07-05T00:30:00.000-07:00

Medan Selera caters mostly to Malay Cooking. You can find it on the left side of the road going to Bintulu town from Medan Commercial Square before Berjaya Commercial Centre (Li Hua Hotel) and next to a Futsal Center. You cannot miss it if you are driving along that road.

We visited this hawker centre on a Saturday morning. Tried the nasi lemak with daging masak hitam and kuching laksa at stall no D28. The laksa does not taste that great but the daging masak hitam was delicious.

Next to stall D28 was another stall selling Kelantan food which was having brisk business the whole time we were there. Their banner says only open on saturday and sunday mornings so if you want to try Kelantan food then that is the time to visit.

Parkcity Garden Inn Bintulu

2012-06-10T19:14:00.002-07:00

I know the owners so no choice have to give reasonable review. :) This lovely inn is located in Parkcity Commercial Area. They have elevators so you do not have to worry about carrying your bags up the stairs. I have not stayed here yet but I have seen the rooms. The rooms are reasonably size, not too small but the long TV cabinet makes the walkway a little narrow. Other than that I think this Inn is pretty good to live in as it is still new but since its new, maybe many things still an on going process. You can check out their room at their website www.parkcitygardeninn.com

Location is not too bad. Got Midtown Bistro right next door so if you feel bored...go see a movie.

Oh Ya...they are offering Introductory Rate of RM66.90 for a limited time...better grab it while you can! Seventy bucks is super cheap. You will not find any other place that will offer this type of deal.

UPDATE - 13 SEPTEMBER

Oops! No more RM66.90 or RM88.90 price. The Introductory special rates is no longer valid. Now they have up it to RM99.++

UPDATE - 19 NOVEMBER 2012

Stay here for two nights. Lovely room. It comes with a huge bed. King Size. Full amenities...comes with slippers.

Ocean Inn Bintulu

2012-06-08T20:04:00.001-07:00

This Inn is located at Medan Commercial Square. Below this Inn is a shop serving home made pau. I have yet to try it.

Midming Inn Bintulu

2012-06-08T20:02:00.001-07:00

This inn is located in Medan Commercial Square area.

Klang Bak Kut Teh In Bintulu

2012-06-05T18:41:00.001-07:00

Bak Kut Teh one of my favourite food. I must go and eat this dish at least once a month. I will order just meat with no fat, the pork balls and liver. I do not eat the other parts of the porkie.

Now about Klang Bak Kut Teh Bintulu, the one thing that I find very interesting is that they make their own pork balls. Its a little peppery but quite good. They served Bak Kut Teh for morning breakfast and lunch. The other day I went there for dinner but they did not have any so best to go for lunch if you want to catch some.

CT1 Inn Bintulu

2012-06-05T18:36:00.001-07:00

Drove by Parkcity Commercial Square and spotted this newly opened CT1 Inn. No time to hop off and check out the place yet. Maybe in my next visit. However heard from the locals that the chicken rice offered in their restaurant is not bad.

Bintang Warisan Restaurant Bintulu

2012-05-24T01:46:00.003-07:00

If you drive along Tun Razak road in the evening, you will not miss to notice a brightly colored neon restaurant by the side of the road.

The place is called Bintang Warisan. It looks quaintly at night but if you go there when there is still ample of day light, it can look pretty dreary. It seemed the owners are still in the midst of putting up the finishing touches on their property. There seemed to be plenty of stuff to upgrade but I am not sure if the owners are aware or even bother to do it.

The huts looks nice but it would be crucifying to sit one hour without proper chair. The wooden chairs that we sat on were shaky and hard. Not the kind of place you will spend sitting surfing the net and chatting for hours.

As for the food, well, they offered mostly Malay Thai cooking so be prepared for the spiciness. There are also some western dishes if you want to try.

We ordered their 3 flavored fried fish, belacan kai lan and a plate of Nasi Goreng Kampong (Village fried rice). All the dishes were nice, tasty and super hot. Yup, it was a bad idea to order all spicy items.

3D Movie In Bintulu

2012-05-23T19:03:00.003-07:00

3D movie, anyone?

Finally someone decides to open a mini Cineplex. Can you call it that? I am not sure. It is definitely not a Cineplex. On the outside, the place looks more like a karaoke pub than anything else.

The receptionist provided us with a catalogue containing all the popular movies with credit ratings. If you are a movie freak like me then nothing on their list you have not watch. It’s a waste of money to watch the same movie so we ended up watching a Korean movie called sector 7. I tell you now that it is not the wisest move I have ever made. Really really slow movie. It would have been wiser to watch a block buster movie the 2^nd time round than to watch crappy movies.

Nevertheless, the room, sofa and pillow provided were very comfy. They had a huge SONY television and of course SONY 3D glasses. I must say those glasses are not comfortable as those you get at the cinema. After one hour of used it hurt the side of both my ears from its tight crimping frames.

I guess, no matter how much television has improved over the years, you still cannot beat the atmosphere of a wide screen movie theater. Maybe it’s the smell of popcorn or that annoying bad body odor guy on the next seat, maybe even the fellowship of brotherhood as we all scream together during those scary scenes in a movie. As for me, I still prefer watching movies at the cinema.

Midtown Bistro is located at the new Parkcity Commercial Square Shoplots.

Indian Food In Bintulu

2012-05-23T00:38:00.000-07:00

Finally someone decides to open a new trendy banana leaf restaurant in Parkcity Commercial Square. I like this restaurant because it has air condition and the food is not very spicy. Yup you heard it right here. In my opinion they don’t serve the typical taste of Indian food. It was strange that their food was not spicy hot and for once I was not screaming for tissues.

Although the restaurant name is called banana leaf but the food are served in stainless plates and bowls. The banana leaf is only for show and it is use to line the bottom of the tray.

We ordered the fish set and the biryani chicken rice. Like I already said, in taste, something was missing.

Kampung Baru Fish Market Bintulu

2012-04-23T01:16:00.000-07:00

Can't get enough of fishes at the main market? Then head down to Kampung baru wet market. It is located right at the end of the old airport runway.

Bintulu Waterfront Promenade

2012-04-13T21:23:00.003-07:00

If you come to Bintulu, you cannot not go to the waterfront promenade. Its the place to visit during sun set. Great view and very breezy too. Its quite close to New World Suite and Everly Hotel. As you can see in the picture, that is the water front car park area and at the distance is New World Suite.

Lai Lai Inn Bintulu

2012-04-13T20:53:00.002-07:00

That is Lai Lai Inn. Scary look.

Sunstar Inn Bintulu

2012-04-13T20:49:00.001-07:00

Introducing Sunstar Inn, also located in the main town area and right next door to Highlands Inn.

AA Inn Bintulu

2012-04-13T20:27:00.002-07:00

Walking along the old town of Bintulu, I just notice another budget inn. Its very close by to the other inns as seen in the picture below so if you do not like this one, just head down to the Lai Lai Inn, Welcome Inn, Centre Inn or Royal Inn and Sunshine Inn (which is not in the picture) located opposite the road. :)

D Codes Bistro Bintulu

2012-04-12T22:03:00.001-07:00

Look at those succulent prawns. It is huge and very tasty. This is their prawn salad. We also ordered their seafood fried kuey teow and a pot of honey lemon. Inside the fried kuey teow, more succulent prawns. Seriously this restaurant is very generous with their prawns. Not two, not four but at least SIX big prawns in each dish. I am not saying that the food was delicious. It was ok in taste but just having those big succulent prawns is enough to wow me over. With 6 huge prawns I felt it reasonable to pay a plate of Kuey Teow for RM8.00.00. This bistro also serves other western cooking. It is located below One Inn or opposite Tune Hotel at Assyakirin Commercial Square.

JD's Fine Food (Formerly Mr Ho Restaurant Bintulu)

2012-03-27T21:00:00.005-07:00

Mr Ho Fine Dinning Restaurant is located at Parkcity Commerical Square. They make their own sausages which is also for sale if you want to buy it. The cost of eating here is not so cheap but still its nice to be pampered from time to time. The sausages are not as tasty as I expect it to be. Cannot fight Gunter's Gasthaus restaurant in Kota Kinabalu. Mr Ho also serves Sau Nyuk freshly baked.

UPDATED - 25 OCTOBER 2012

Mr HO no more. Now it is called JD's Fine Food. Whether the quality is still the same I am not sure as this trip I had no time to give the new place a taste.

Another Kuching Laksa In Bintulu

2012-03-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

You can find another Kuching Laksa stall at Ho Ga Pang Shop located right opposite Farley Food Court in Parkcity Commercial Square. Beside that, there is another stall inside the shop serving pork noodle and dumplings. We tried some fried dumpling which was a little too dry for me.

Bintulu Night Market

2012-03-27T20:42:00.002-07:00

Bintulu does have a night market. Its a small one. Selling mostly fruits, vege and hawker food. Its located nearby to Ta Kiong Supermarket beside the old airport.

Similajau Beach Bintulu

2012-03-27T19:59:00.002-07:00

If you do not want to pay the park fee at Similajau Park and do not mind a treacherous hike down the cliff then follow my trail.

Take the same road going to Similajau Park. About 2km in after the camp, you see a road on your left. This will lead you to the Telecom station. Park your car by the side of the road. Along the way take note of the lovely orchid flowers that grew in abundance here. There are also see plenty of pine trees here and if you have the time to look around, you might notice some pitchers plants too.

Start hiking to path on your left. You will notice there is a stream that follows the rocky path and runs all the way to the beach. I guess on rainy days this path can be pretty flood so its a no no to go on rainy days k.

There is one very steep smooth spot to walk down so you have to be very careful. It was slow baby steps for me all the way. You will also have to pass through a narrow trail of tall grasses and bushes. Another steep rocky path as you get closer to the beach. When you come to a T junction, take the right path.

Almost to the bottom you will have to cross this rickety plank of wood as a bridge and finally you are down. Phew!

The beach is surrounded by high cliffs all the way. The sea shore are scattered with a lot of human debris and broken wood. Its sad to see a beautiful beach turn into dumping ground. Hopefully one day, the government will do something to improve this place.

If you feel like making a trip to this beach, the ariel view map of the location is given in the picture below. Take note of the telecom building with blue roof at the bottom left of the picture.

Ban Kee Cafe Restaurant Bintulu

2012-03-27T19:41:00.001-07:00

Lots of local come to this restaurant. Not for the delicious food but for the cheap price. Yup you heard it from me. Sorry this round I was too hungry and the guest were pretty entertaining that I forgot completely to take photograph of the food. :)

Anyhow the famous dish here is the pork with salt fish on claypot. My next visit I will sure to take lots of photo for you.

This restaurant is located in the middle of Bintulu Town. The whole alley turns into a bustling makan area at night. I do not know if they open in the day time but I assume so.