Accommodation & food in Sibu

Sibu International Airport is quite a distance away from the town, 30 km, the taxi will charge you RM 35, with the taxi coupon sold at the counter. The airport was under renovation. So, the scenes showed might look different upon your visit. If you opt to rent a car, well, two companies for you to choose- Kong Teck Car Rental and Team Leisure Travel Agency. The rate? Please visit the respective website of the respective company. As Sibu is not a big town, nor a tourists' magnet, do expect that the rate for the car rental might be a little bit higher than other places (low demand, no competition). Anyway, good negotiation skill might be a little bit helpful.

Kiosk for Kong Teck Car Rental is in the arrival hall (left). Team Leisure is just outside of the hall (middle). The construction is going on as we can see behind Team Leisure's booth. The booth for the taxi coupon is located far opposite of the arrival hall. As Sibu Airport is undergoing major renovation, the location of the booths might be scrambled in future.

The inter-city bus terminal is located at Pahlawan Road, around 3 km from the town center. However, there are many shops and eateries nearby. Some of them, in our opinion, are quite well. The best way to get to the town center from the terminal or via versa is by taking taxi or bus.

Hotel and accommodation are available mostly in the town center area. The world class, Kingwood and RH Hotel. Kingwood Hotel was the place where we hosted our wedding dinner. Other hotels of good choice are Tanahmas, Premier, Orchid and Garden with private carpark, while Sarawak Hotel, Phoenix Hotel, Kawan Hotel, Li Hua Hotel, and Zuhra are those without private carpark. Those without private carpark might require you to park your vehicles on the street, and of course, need to pay for the parking. The good directory for the hotels are available at Sarawak Tourism Board (go to "directory", "accommodation", and then from "sort town", choose Sibu). All the hotels listed here are within walking distance (10-20 minutes) from most of the attractions in Sibu town center. However, Premier Hotel, Tanahmas Hotel, RH Hotel, Kingwood Hotel, Li Hua Hotel, Garden Hotel, and Sarawak Hotel are closer to some of the hot spots in Sibu. Hotel Bahagia and Zuhra Hotel are some of the budget hotels with very good location.

RH Hotel has unbeatable location with few steps away from Sibu Square and connected to Sanyan shopping center through a sky-bridge (left). Anyway, the price might be a little bit higher than the others. Paramount Hotel is connected to Sibu Square through a small bridge. The view is ok, but the location is a little bit isolated (5 minutes walk to Sanyan).

Kingwood on the other hand, has a nice view over the longest river in Malaysia- the Rejang River (right). Make sure you make a request for river view room upon check in. Li Hua is located just beside Kingwood Hotel.

Premier, Tanahmas, and Garden Hotel are located within 50 meters to each other. Garden Hotel is located opposite of Premier Hotel.

Premier Hotel.

Kawan Hotel is located 15 minutes away from town center by foot. The location is quite isolated beside Lanang Road.

The following are the ranges of room rates for some of the hotels (note: in case of discrepancies of room rates, please take the information of the hotel's website as final):

Kingwood Hotel:
Tel: +6084-335888
- RH Hotel:
RM 260 (superior) - RM 4000++ (presidential). Tel: +6084-365888
- Premier Hotel:
RM 180 (single deluxe) - RM 900 (king suite). Tel: +6084-323222
- Tanahmas Hotel:
RM 245 (single superior) - RM 850 (pemainsuri suite). Tel: +6084- 333188
- Paramount Hotel:
RM 165 (standard room) - RM 550 (Paramount suite). Tel: +6084-331122
-Li Hua Hotel:
RM 88 - RM 300. Tel: +6084-324000
Garden Hotel:
RM 98 (single standard) - RM 160 (superior deluxe). Tel: +6084-317888
-Kawan Hotel:
Starting from RM 80++ (call to confirm). Tel: +6084-315888
-Orchid Hotel:
Starting from RM 60 ++ (call to confirm). Tel: +6084-331999
-Zuhra Hotel:
Starting from RM 58++. Tel: +084-310711
-Hotel Bahagia:
RM 55 (twin sharing) - RM 155 (family deluxe). Tel: +6084-331131
-Sarawak Hotel:
Tel: +084333455

The food is good, and and cheap in Sibu. Several local food and delicacies that we should not miss- "kampua", "char-kueh tiaw", "char-mee", laksa, "har-mee", "dian-bian-hu", "gom-bian", and "pom-bian" are some of them. Do you know what are these things have in common? All of them are made by flour.

Kampua is the water-boiled noodle, mixed with oil and fried onion (and some other seasoning). It is a simple but popular food in Sibu... not without a reason. Why don't you find out by trying? Kampua comes with different "flavors", such as the white kampua (left) and black kampua (darkened by soya sauces).

Kampua with wantan (left). Wantan is a kind of Chinese dumpling. Wantan in kampua seasoning is another unique dish in Sibu.

Porridge with side dishes (left). The price, RM3.50 (no joking). "Dian-bian-hu" is another unique dish in Sibu (please don't mistaken it as Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam). It is basically a dish made by mixed flour boiled at the edge of the wok. Nice dian-bian-hu is very hard to get nowadays in Sibu.

Laksa is available almost everywhere in Malaysia, but Sibu laksa has its own taste that we can't resist (left). Sibu har mee (or prawn noodle) is good, because the prawns used for the dish is freshwater prawns of the nearby rivers.

Gom-bian, char-dried bun made by flour and sesame is an authentic Foochow delicacy. The best way to eat the bun is to eat it fresh, when it is still hot, with some smell of charcoal.

Midin and paku are some authentic Borneo edible ferns, which is available throughout the restaurants.

Seafood- prawn, fish, crab, cuttlefish, shrimp, to jellyfish, mussel, shark fin, etc. are served in great taste, and most importantly, fairly low price.

As we write about food, the struggle whether to list the name and location of the shop is always there. And again, we made a negative decision. Anyway, if you know or had tried some nice food in Sibu, please share with us and other readers (about the name and location of the shop), you are most welcomed to leave a message as a comment.

For more information about Sibu (or whole Sarawak), you can always visit:
- Sibu Official Website
- Sarawak Tourism Board
- Tripadvisor
- Hotels in Sibu (with photos, but without rates)

- Back to Attractions in Sibu

Take a look on our sharing about the other places in Sarawak:

[Kuching] [A Day Trip around Sibu] [Sibu- Attractions] [Sibu Airport is Now Upgraded]
[Tanjung Manis] [Matu-Daro to Dalat] [Mukah]
[All Our Destinations]

Perdana Park Putrajaya

Not more than a big nice garden, that was all we can say about the park. It is good for a afternoon jog or a family outing. But, if you are a foreign visitor, the park should not be your first priority, unless you are staying in Shangri-La Hotel Putrajaya. Without nice view on the top of the hill, or the reflection from the nicely landscaped Putrajaya lake, Perdana Park is inferior to many other parks and gardens in Putrajaya, such as Wawasan Park, Botanical Park, and Agriculture Heritage Park.

The broad walkway that spans to the heart of the park, where the New Millennium Point stands, is the center of the park.

New Millennium Point is located at the middle of the park.

However, there are something that the garden can offer. Firstly, with a blast of trees and shrubs, flowers and vines, the garden didn't lack of any of the sense of greenery. Secondly, the jogging track, well shaded and enough to soak our sportswear. Thirdly, the megalith garden, not impressive but offer a little bit of surprise, and last but not least, several playgrounds for kids.

One of the playgrounds for children (upper left). Well shaded jogging track by trees (upper right). Chairs are available, good for a sweet chat, or just stay quiet to listen to the chirping birds and blowing wind (lower left). Car park is ample, not only for the park's visitors, but for many conference participants at Shangri-La Hotel Putrajaya.

Pond and vines along the walkway.

Megalith garden filled with many megaliths. Ranged from ankle height to several feet tall, the stone garden offers some element of surprise to the first timer.

The focus of the children- the playground. They are several of them all together.

A view from the top of the hill, 50 m away from the New Millennium point.

The residential area can be seen from the hill. However, the overgrown trees blocked the nice continuous view from there.

The park is located at Presinct 2 of Putrajaya. A car is the most ideal way to reach there, while Nadi Putrajaya bus service is available from Putrajaya Central. The park is located beside Shangri-La Hotel Putrajaya. So, if you have the chance to visit or stay in the hotel, you may take a walk in the park, if you have nothing better to do. There is no vendor available. Therefore food and drink have to be prepared beforehand, to quench thirst and hunger.

Three good things about the park, on top of everything mentioned, good security (at least some patrols were sighted), and very clean toilets, and good maintenance.

More places in Putrajaya on our list:

[Botanical Garden] [Agricultural Herritage Park] [Wawasan Park] [Ministry Precinct]
[Floria 2010] [All Our Destinations]

Wawasan Park Putrajaya

A Hidden Gem! That's what we felt on our first visit on Taman Wawasan Putrajaya. "Wawasan Park" is our direct translation, Wawasan means Vision. The garden was named align to the Malaysian "Vision 2020", a vision for Malaysian to push our country to become a developed country, on or before 2020.

Come back to the park. It is really a huge park, touches the Boulevard on one end, while the lakeside of the Ministry of Foregn Affair, flanking Lebuh Ehsan (Ehsan Evenue) on another. Still have no idea how big it is? Well, if we jog slowly, we might have to take 1 hour to make a full round of the garden. Got it? Nevermind, visit on your own and you will know it for sure :)

Pond with water lily is an antidote for pressured mind (upper left). Peaceful and greenery surrounded walkway is the main theme of the park, with some nature blending landscapes.

The landscape beside the Ministry of Finance at Putrajaya, with a tidy row of yellow flowered tree (upper and lower left). Staircase lead to the Hibiscus Courtyard (upper right). The water fountain which is not operational during our visit.

The garden is a gem. Of course, the flora, the design, the maintenance, and the landscape count. But the best part, the tranquillity- very very few visitors. As far as we could go, we encounter many fauna, but zero human being. Quiet and peace, interrupted only by chirping birds, buzzing bees, whirling lepidoptera and darting odonata.That was 5 pm, on a nice Sunday afternoon.

A nice theater without audience. An ideal place for you to practice for the next Malaysia Idol :p

Jogging track checked, resting gazebos checked, flowers checked, shaddy walkway, fresh air, fountains, lily ponds and beautiful lakeside, all checked. So, why don't we endulge our weekends with a quiet full-of-nature experience at Putrajaya? Bring along your sport shoes, small towel, drinking water, and maybe your DSLR. Most importantly, find one or two companions, to cleave the feeling of alone-in-the-garden.

Nice landscape with resting area around the park.

Flowers available around the park.

Hibiscus is abundant at the Hibiscus Courtyard.

Fountains at the Hibiscus Courtyard. The building on the right is a part of the Ministry of Finance, while the staircase on far left leads to the rest of the Taman Wawasan.

How to access to Taman Wawasan? Several ways. First, from Masjid Putra at Precinct 1, walk down the Boulevard towards the building for Ministry of Finance. The Hibiscus Courtyard, which is a part of Taman Wawasan is on the left, just after the bridge. Secondly, drive to Ministry of Foreign Affair through Lebuh Ehsan. The parking area is located right on the opposite of the main ministry building.

Do not want to drive? Hop onto a Nadi Putrajaya shuttle Bus from Putrajaya Central ERL station and get to Putra Mosque of The Ministry of Foreign Affair. You can access to the park from that two locations.

A scene from Pebbled Beach in Taman Wawasan, with Perdana Putra- the office of Prime Minister well reflected on the calm lake.

A nice view downcast from the top of the hill in Taman Wawasan. The Boulevard starts with the bridge span across the lake.

If you are a visitor from another country, for frank, please forget about this park. You should fill your itinarary with more fascinating places such as Petronas Twin Towers, Aquaria KLCC, KL Bird Park, KL National Museum, etc. However, it is a good place for our locals to spend a whole afternoon, instead of lying lazily at home.

Some advices, no hawker nor vendor, no food nor drink is available in the park. So, please bring along your own supplies. Mosquito repellent is essential to keep the mosquitoes away. You might regret without it, if you are the kind of mosquitoes attractor. The park is quite hidden from public, so try your best not to be alone in the park (although security guards are available at some points). The toilets, clean and well distributed. So, no issue on that.

More places in Putrajaya on our list:

[Botanical Garden] [Agricultural Herritage Park] [Ministry Precinct] [Perdana Park]
[Floria 2010] [All Our Destinations]