53rd trip to Bintulu (64,200 km) - 8th April'15

Mama Daisy all set to go back to Bintulu, not feeling well.
The growth on her right cheek is partly seen in the picture.

 We have been staying for about three weeks in Kuching.  Mama Daisy  wasn't feeling good throughout the stay because of the pain around her right cheek.  In Kuching we were able to get some medicine to cure it.  When the wound was about to dry out fospa decided to leave Kuching.  We left Kuching around 9.30 am on the 8th of April and arrived Bintulu around 8.30 pm.  The whole journey was fine but Mama did not eat much.  She has lost appetite to eat.  We made the following pit stops - Serian (for breakfast), Jakar (for a short a afternoon tea) and Selangau (last pit stop before proceeding to Bintulu, and for dinner).  With this trip our cumulative traveling distance reached 64,200 km.

Inul looks out at the Selangau pit stop area

Wide selection of cakes and goodies for breakfast at Serian

Typical Sarawak trunk road and country  view

50th trip to Kuching - 61,200 km (1 November'14)

Ibans starting to plant paddy in their village plots, near Sri Aman

Typical Sarawak trunk road

 We were happy to go to Kuching on this trip.  The reason being we were going to spend a holiday in Kuching with fosis and her husband.  We left Bintulu at 10.15 am and arrived Kuching at 8.30 pm, which was more or less within our normal traveling time.  As time goes by, fospa would habitually like to make many pit stops to cool the engines as well as to have much bodily rest.  On this journey we saw that the Ibans who stay along Sarawak's country roads were busy planting their paddy plots.   Here's more pictures showing the Sarawak trunk road that measures 600 km from Bintulu to Kuching.

Signboard before reaching Betong rest area
Typical view of Sarawak trunk road.

The kind of facilities provided at Temudok rest area, near Sri Aman
Translation : Surau (a small mosque); Kedai Runcit (Provision shop); Tandas (Toilet); Gerai Makanan (Food stalls)

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!

44th trip to Bintulu (51,400 km)

 On this 44th trip to Bintulu, Inul and Mama Daisy accompanied fospa.  Fosma decided to drive the black Myvi to Bintulu for use during the Hari Raya there because fosis and her husband  from KL will be spending a few days of raya in Bintulu.
We left Kuching at 9.30 in the morning and the whole journey took about 11 hours.
Here's more pics of our 44th trip to Bintulu.

Road under repair between Serian and Sri Aman

On this trip the sky was blue throughout Sarawak's countryside.  We encountered not a single drop of rain.

Just before reaching the Sebangkoi pit stop i.e. about 36 km away from Sarikei we passed by an accident scene.   The policemen were seen busy doing their investigation works .  Fospa took a bit of time to inquire from the people about the accident.  Apparently a motorcyclist that tried to overtake a lorry couldn't make it in time and instead got into a head-on collision with an oncoming Kancil car.  The woman driver and passenger of the car were badly hurt but unfortunately the young male motorcyclist was killed in the accident.

Scene of an accident involving a Kancil car and a motorcylce at Sg. Kedang, 36 km from Sarikei.

The black Myvi driven by fosma is ahead of us...

Inul takes a rest at Selangau pit stop.

Driving closer to Bintulu we saw the moonlight night.  Fospa decided to take a picture of the moon (see inset).
Fosma arrived earlier at the farm than us.
We only arrived home at 8.30 pm.
With this trip we clocked in another 600 km, thus making a total of 51,400 km of  accumulated travelling time for Mama.
Mama Daisy is a calm, patient and keen traveller.  Inul is just following in her catwalk ......

The moon at the farm on our arrival.

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...