49th trip to Kuching - 31 July'14 (60,000 km)

 We continue our adventure come this Hari Raya.  After spending 3 days of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri in Bintulu, fospa and fosma decided to spend the rest of the Hari Raya holidays in Kuching.  It is somewhat a family tradition now to spend the Hari Raya both at Bintulu and Kuching.  On this 49th trip, we gonna achieve a clean 60,000 km traveling record.  The worst stretch of road on the Sarawak country trunk road from Bintulu to Kuching is the Tatau- Selangau portion.  There are many pot holes, bumpy areas, depressions and patchy works along the stretch.   The journey was on the whole fine and we experienced no rain at all throughout the 11 hours journey.  We started from Bintulu at about 10 am and arrived Kuching by 9 pm.  We didn't have many pit stops.  We had pit stops at Selangau, Sibu and Sri Aman.  At Sri Aman pit stop called "Temudok Rest Area", situated just outside the Sri Aman town there were many varieties of local fruits sold.  What was important on this trip was to arrive in Kuching safely, which we did.

Temudok rest area, outside the town of Sri Aman.

Inul needing some comforting

Inul doesn't really care for Mama Daisy.  Poor Mama is growing old now and wouldn't like to fight for the jump seat with Inul.

A selection of fruits sold at the  Temudok rest area.

Nyekak, Pakan (Iban); Durian Kuning (Malay)
Durio kutejensis

Tampoi Paya (Malay)
Baccaurea bracteata

Arriving in Kuching at around 9 pm.

49th trip to Bintulu - 10 June'14 (57,400 km)

View of front gate and tall palm trees

 

 

 

At the jump seat

 There will be more pictures of Inul in this post.  Mama Daisy is not feeling well, so no need to show my self-portrait.  Inul is the heroine today.  She's an admirable adult now and getting used to traveling long distances.  This trip we started late at around 10 am because there were lots of packaging to be done.  Imagine the other day fospa stripped one whole mango tree of its fruits.  All the fruits were packed in boxes to be brought to Bintulu, though some we have shared among close friends and relatives in Kuching too.
 

Inul gets excited to kick off the journey..

Sharing the alley

 We did a few pit stops.  First was Serian for breakfast and reading the morning papers.  From Serian it was a direct route to Sarikei.  We did not enter Sarikei town proper, but instead opted to stop by at Jakar - a little town just outside Sarikei.  At Jakar fospa bought lots of the Kasai fruits.  Here the price per kilo was so far the cheapest in Sarawak i.e. RM 6 per kilo.

Pit-stop at Jakar, a small town outside Sarikei

Hawking at Jakar

Kasai ( Pometia pinnata) fruits sold quite cheaply in Jakar if compared to other towns ..RM 6/kilo

Rest area at Sri Aman.... while fospa and fosma having lunch

Arrived at Laman Kambatik...in pitch darkness, 10.30 pm
10 June'14

From Jakar, we proceeded straight to Sibu.  We stopped only for refueling at Sibu.  After Sibu we stopped at Selangau for dinner.  We arrived at about 10.30 pm.  On this trip our record reaches its  57,400 km mark.

46th trip to Bintulu - 11 November'13

Typical Sarawak country road, from Kuching to Bintulu

 With this 46th trip to Bintulu our accumulated distance traveled stands at 53,800 km. As usual on board this trip was  Inul, fospa and fosma.  We left Kuching at 9.30 am and this time around the trip took us a little longer time because of the rainy season or monsoon which brings in much rain throughout Sarawak for at least a duration of four months starting November.  Soon after leaving Kuching fospa had a short break at Serian for morning breakfast.  Thereafter it was an uninterrupted journey if not for three pit stops i.e. at Sri Aman for lunch, Sibu for refuelling and Selangau for dinner.
At the town of Sri Aman we had our lunch in the car while fospa and fosma ate at a cafetaria in the center of the town.  Fospa had a hearty meal of rice with fish and vegetables of the 'Cekur manis' (Savropus androgynus) with the local pumpkin or Labu merah fruit (Cucurbita moschata) (See picture at inset).

We had lunch inside the car at a cool and heavily shaded car parking area in the town center.

Fospa had to put the orchids inside the car to prevent damage to the flowers .

Sri Aman town

Vegetables and fruits at the tamu or jungle produce market

 We rested for about an hour at Sri Aman to check out the jungle produce market or locally called'Tamu' and for lunch.  Two items that were of interest to fospa were the 'Engkala' fruits ( inset shows the round green and unripe fruits of the Engkala) and the shoots of the 'Lalis' which is a rattan species is shown below.

Shoots of the 'Lalis' - Plectocomiopsis geminiflora, a rattan species which is cooked as vegetable.
At the top of the picture is the stem of the rattan climber not yet unbarked.

Rain most of the way because this is end of year monsoon period.

Cantin at Selangau pit stop

From Sri Aman to Bintulu we encountered heavy rains and thus the time to arrive Bintulu took a few hours longer.  We arrived home at 9.30 pm in rain and darkness but the journey was a safe one.

45th trip to Kuching - 53,200 km added

View of Sibu town in the distant as we drove on the Ulu Lanang tol bridge.

Road after Ulu Lanang tol bridge,Sibu.

ETD Bintulu - 10.00 am
ETA Kuching - 8.15 pm
 On this 45th trip to Kuching we encountered many stretches of the Sarawak trunk road under repair.  This is an ongoing project by the Federal government to make driving along the country road more safe.  Thus for many years to come they will be more such works undertaken and more inconvenience to road users.  First pit stop was at Selangau for an early lunch.  At the car park where we rested, we saw a small Pulasan (Malay) tree bearing young fruits.  Selangau is a convenient stop over between Bintulu and Sibu.  It is a one and a half hour drive from Bintulu.

Young fruits of the 'Pulasan' at car park, Selangau.

Mama Daisy resting on the dashboard at Sebangkoi rest area, Sarikei.

 After Selangau we drove direct to Sarikei, by-passing the town of Sibu.  As usual we prefer to take the 2nd pit stop at Selangau.  Fospa had a good stroll at the park.  Below are some views fospa took of the park at Selangau.

Water lily pond at Sebangkoi rest area, Sarikei.

Path walk around the Sebangkoi rest area, Sarikei.

Forest view at Sebangkoi rest area, Sarikei.

 Views of the federal project for Sarawak :
On many stretches of the Sarawak trunk road from Kuching to Miri will be constructed overtaking lanes to help out in the safety and driving convenience of the trunk road users.  This project will take on a few years and started in 2012 in a big way.....

Overtaking lane under construction

A completed overtaking lane along Sarawak trunk road

Entrance to Sri Aman town from Temudok rest area.

Mountain view on approaching Serian

Medium rain while approaching Kuching city.

It has been a long but safe journey.  Fospa and fosma shared the driving.  Inul was a good girl this time around. One a while she would allowed me to rest my head on her back as pillow.  Thanks Inul--you are a sweet girl!

38th trip to Kuching (44,800 km)

Scenes along the way on this 38th trip to Kuching.
Bush fire after Sibu town...

Road repairs from Selangau to Sibu.........

 Scooter convoy on the road towards Betong..

Betong town arch..

 

 Durian sellers on the way towards Selangau...

Typical Iban longhouse along Sarawak trunk road....

Rest area at Temudok, near Sri Aman town...