Bario Rice

Have you heard about Bario rice? Bario rice is named after the name of the town (Northern part) in Sarawak.  It is grown on cool climates at an elevation above 1,200 metres. According to the natives, the rice is only eaten by the longhouse chief on special occasion. It is long been regarded as one of the finest rice grains of the world. It is famous for its soft texture, fine and elongated grains with mild aromas and splendid taste. The rice is a home-grown, laboriously planted and harvested by hands using age-old traditional methods. In the planting of the Bario rice, there is no usage of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Bario Rice is specially air-flown out of Bario and Ba’kelalan highlands to enable the rest of Malaysians to sample the finest rice derived from the Land of the Hornbills. 
Source: (http://www.sarawaktourism.com)

I tried Bario rice when I was 10 years old in my uncle’s home. It’s long long time ago however I still can remember how’s feel when it in my mouth. The rice texture was very soft and has an aroma. Trust me, it’s very nice. Due to my craving to Bario rice which was not really available in Sibu, Sarikei and Saratok, Rosamond will kept on searching the Bario rice especially in the Supermarket. (Rosamond understand my desire). There was having the Bario rice in the Supermarket but the mild aroma of Bario rice was gone. I heard that Bario rice was available in Miri and finally found it. I bought 1 kg Pa Lungan Bario rice that costs RM 16.  It disappointed me because the texture look like ordinary rice and the aroma also gone. I should go to Bario to try the fresh Bario rice. That’s the place that I really looking forward when step in Miri.

 Pa Lungan Bario Rice. I bought from the sundry shop next to 2020 Restaurant Miri

It look like ordinary rice

Curry Vegetables

I tried this recipe yesterday. I went to Sin Loong Market for those ingredients that needed: tomatoes, ladies finger, taufu pok, brinjals, curry powder. I started to fall in love with curry taufu pok (when I have the steamboat dinner with the youths of Chang De Temple)

 1. Heat up the 2 tablespoon of oil and stir fried the chopped onions, garlic until fragrant

 2. Stir fried all the ingredients

 3. Add in the curry powder with water and coconut milk (if you desire). Add more water to soften the brinjals and lady fingers for few minutes. 

Rainforest Borneo Resort, Miri

Update on **19 May 2013**

During the night around 10.30pm on 16 May 2013, my Nigeria housemate, Sarah asked me whether wanted to go to Rainforest Borneo Resort, Miri. After that, she showed me the brochures of that resort and further explain to me the recreational activities offered. (If I’m not working in same college with you, I thought you are the staff in the Rainforest Borneo Resort) Without hesitation, I replied “yes”. The main objectives that I was following the Sunday outings not because of joined her farewell ceremony but I wished to snap the photos to fill my blog. How’s the bad intention of mine!

I understand that Sunday outing to the resort was the farewell party organized by her old friend, Xue Chi (one of the friends that I know her in Chang De Temple).   Xue Chi worked as sales personnel in Rainforest Borneo Resort. She really treated Sarah as her friend by organizing farewell trip for her. Only the friend that was appreciating the true friendship will do until that extent. Of course this included the sadness of leaving each other. It brought back my fond memories towards Soo Wen Liann. She used to treat me like that 3 years ago in UMS. I was in teary eyes when flipped through the outings photos in Kota Kinabalu with her together.

Sarah was the type that liked the group outings since more people more laughter and enjoyed most. That’s why she invited all the housemate around 10 people include me as well to participate in the Sunday outings to Rainforest Borneo Resort. However, there were 5 people decided to join while the rest were busy with their part-time job and the fee was so expensive (RM 70). In my opinion, the RM70 is worthwhile because it included buffet lunch and afternoon snack.

In the early morning on 19 May 2013, Xue Chi with her Proton Persona came to fetch 3 of us. The other 3 housemate will use her boyfriend car to Resort. After 50 minutes, we arrived Rainforest. The Resort was located in Miri-Bintulu road.  

excited housemates that were wake up early to wait the arrival of Xue Chi

The girls that was standing next to me was Xue Chi (sales personnel of resort).

Sigh, the bright sunshine cause my eyes becomes small.

The happy and cheerful girl, Sarah (Nigeria housemate)

Sarah suggested us to walk into the resort but Xue Chi teased her that she drove her and waited us while had a drink since we needed 2 hours to reach the resort inside.

What a nice view!

Love this picture

It really looked like the stone road in my grandmother's farm in Roban

 

Oops, I can't remembered the name and purpose building although Xue Chi briefed about that. Sorry!

One of her cute pose

Meal vouchers

Sarah and her roommate, Viommi (one of my students in this semester)

I was quite to make myself in the photos, but Sarah insisted I must inside the photo in order to bring significance to the photos

 Pony family

 Police, bomba and ambulance area. Other people were restricted to enter this area

 Be careful. There were a lot of signboard to warn the guests

 The back of the car belonged to the owner of the Resort

  Fresh water from Lambir Hill

 A lot of construction works were carried out

  Xue Chi was registering on behalf of us. Our responsibilities were took more photos and strolling round the front area resort.

 The youngest guy in the photo was the Director of the Resort, which was the owner's son. The 2 women were the owner's wife and daughter

 

 Can't imagine the front area resort was located in 5th floor

 

One of the recreational activity: pony ride.

 Quite scare when I sat in the upper body of Pony. It required body balance. At first , I screamed due to unable to balance my body.  Sigh, everyone just laughed at me.

  When it ride me in the middle short trip, it stop for a while for a pee. The staff teased me wasn't I was too heavy until it turned like that? What the hell it was!

 It was a short ride with the help of the staff there

 

We enjoyed out time by playing football in here (2nd recreational activity-playing football)

 

 The first candidate that wish to challenge the wall climbing (the 3nd recreational activity-wall climbing)

 

 Quiet funny her climbing pose!

  Lot 37 Taman Merbau, Miri Group photo

 4th recreational activity (flying fox)

 Look at the two higher ropes 

  Lifejacket - safety precaution was a must

 I was smile but I was in nervous wanted to try the flying fox

 Buffet lunch time

 After took the lunch, felt lazy to move to the next recreational activity

 

 The guy was the boyfriend of Chia Shi Xin (the girl in red colour), one of my students

 Laundry department

 It was very cold compare to Four Points laundry department

 According to Xue Chi, the selling point of the resort was the team building facilities. A lot of companies utilized the facilities to inspire leadership and build team spirit on the weekdays. She brought to have a look about the team-building facility. One of the facility was high rope station course

 

 The ending was went to the giant net whereby Sarah stood there

 It was very high

 

 Water park. The water was quite cold and all of us played like the children

 Waterpark (5 recreactional activity)

 Boating was the 6th recreational activity however I forgot to take the boating photo

 

 Take a rest and accumulate the energy to play the water park

 visit the fierce monkeys

 

After we indulge the afternoon snack time, we headed back to Miri city. Around 6pm we reached home. What a tired body, that’s why I sleep early (around 9pm). My feelings towards Rainforest Borneo Resort was equal to my grandmother’s farm in Roban. I was grew up in the rural area, hence I was quite familiar with the shades of breezy green forest and wide varieties of jungles trees. Few years living in the concrete city, I was suppose to fall in love with the jungle. However, the fact was not like that. I can’t stand myself in the sights and sounds of the jungle because I had the sensitive skin bite by mosquitoes. For those that are loved the nature and jungle, definitely this place will be your heave or the second home.