Day 5: Sibu - Kuching

Our trip was coming to an end. It was our final morning to be in Sibu. We were to take our morning flight back to Kuching and then from Kuching, to take an evening flight back to Penang.

Knowing that I would be away for a long time until I go back for Chinese New Year, my dad wanted to have breakfast with us. However, due to having breakfast that morning, we were rushing for our flight. Funny how all of us worked together as a team – who went to get the luggage, who went to get the trolley, who went to the check-in counter first and all. No worries. We made it in time, of course.

In Kuching, we went back to the food court we went on the first day in Kuching. We had Sarawak Laksa and gongpia for the last time. Awww, I feel like having them both now!

Knowing I will not have gongpia when I am back in Penang, trust me, I had loads of gongpia that morning. Damn! I am so going to have gongpia when I go back to Sibu.

Before we took our leave, we went to China Town to buy some food and snacks back as souvenir. Kuching does not have much but it has loads of nice snacks and food. We raided a shop and came out with bags of plastic bags.

It was indeed a memorable trip. I really had fun with them and I believe, now that we had travelled together, our bond is definitely stronger and tougher.  Since David is planning for a trip in Sabah, let’s all do it together again!

Day 4: Sibu

What did we do in Sibu for the whole day?

We ate and ate and ate non-stop. Trust me, we did. The friends joined my family and I for breakfast that morning.

We ate original kampua for breakfast.

We ate tomato koay tiaw for breakfast.

We ate soy sauced kampua for breakfast.

We did not stop there though. After sending my family back, I brought the friends out for second round – to one of my favourite places since I was younger.

We had fried noodles and fried noodles soup. Both also my favourite dishes. If I am not wrong, they preferred fried noodles, saying that the yellow noodles in Sarawak are so much different compared to the ones in Penang. I guess they are and that is why I do not fancy fried noodles here at all.

When we returned home, my grandmother prepared home cooked for lunch. Of course I sat down and had lunch. I do not have home cooked meals in Penang, alright? So I just had to eat as much as I can when I am at home.

We went out for food hunting again after we had our rest. I brought them to the famous dian bian hu. It is something we cannot find in Penang as well.

Since I know most of them visit temples, I brought them to Sibu’s oldest temple, Tua Peh Kong.

Took some photos at Pintu Gerbang Sibu before I sent my auntie back home and then came out by ourselves again.

I went back to my primary school and wow, though many years had passed and the school had moved to a new place, the building is still there and I heard a familiar voice. I walked towards where the voice came from and guess who I met?

I kindergarten school teacher! I was 5 years old when she taught me. She taught my older brother too. Then she was my tuition teacher when I was 7 and 8. She did not change at all, still looking the same apart from having shorter hair.

Later, I brought the friends to the park by the Rejang River before we ended the day with the last visit at the night market. I guess they were pretty hooked up with the night market here. It was my very first time to be at night market after I left home for so many years. Crazy, huh?

Day 3: Sibu

It was finally the day to go back Sibu. It was an early flight and boy was I glad that we caught our flight. It was about 30 minutes’ flight and therefore, before the friends could settle down in the aircraft, landing announcement was made.

We were picked up by my parents and baby brother. We went straight to Kanowit because I wanted to visit my maternal grandparents there. I informed the friends earlier and they did not mind following me wherever I had to go. Well, they had no choice but to follow me though.

Once we reached our destination, the first thing to do was to eat! I was so hungry and I had to eat! We went to the regular restaurant to have kampua. Trust me, that restaurant has the best kampua in town after my maternal grandparents stopped selling kampua.

We then went for a second round at another restaurant that we frequent. There we had iced kacang, pangngan with kaya jam and also toast.

Okay, we never stopped eating because when we finally got to my maternal grandparents’ home, my grandmother was already preparing lunch for us. I missed home cooked food so, that was the first home cooked food I had ever since I returned. My friends love it too!

When we finally left Kanowit and back to Sibu, my paternal grandparents had already arranged a dinner to welcome us. Yes, we never stopped eating. That is the beauty of coming back. I always eat non-stop when I am back home. I never went hungry. Not even the slightest chance.

And finally I could introduce the friends milin, one of my top favourites. I do not get to see this in Penang. However, you still can get it in Kuala Lumpur though. I remember I had it in Taman Connaught. I wonder if the restaurant is still there.

After dinner, I brought the friends to night market and Sibu’s shopping mall, Sanyan Tower. Some of the ladies fell in love with apom balik sold there. It is quite different that what you can get in Penang. As for the shopping mall, it certainly cannot be compared to the ones that we have in Penang.

First day had been a satisfactory one. Let’s see how it went for the next day in my next post.