BUDGET BUCKET LIST
  • Home
  • About
  • South America
    • Argentina >
      • Abra Pampa
      • Bariloche & Region
      • Buenos Aires
      • Buenos Aires Museums
      • Cachi
      • Cafayate
      • Cordoba City
      • Cordoba Province
      • El Calafate
      • El Chalten
      • Esquel
      • Humahuaca
      • Iguazu
      • Iruya
      • Jujuy
      • La Plata
      • Los Antiguos
      • Mendoza
      • Puerto Madryn / Peninsula Valdes
      • Purmamarca / Tilcara
      • Rosario
      • Salta
      • San Luis
      • San Miguel de Tucuman
      • Tafi / Amaicha del Valle
      • Ushuaia
      • Villaguay / Colon
      • Free Healthcare In Argentina
    • Bolivia >
      • Copacabana / Isla del Sol
      • La Paz
      • Potosi
      • Salar de Uyuni
      • Sorata
      • Sucre
      • Tarija
    • Brazil >
      • Belo Horizonte
      • Cambara do Sul
      • Florianopolis
      • Foz do Iguacu
      • Gramado / Canela
      • Ilha Grande
      • Itatiaia
      • Ouro Preto
      • Paraty / Angra dos Reis
      • Porto Alegre
      • Resende
      • Rio de Janeiro
      • Sao Paulo
      • Private Healthcare in Brazil
    • Chile >
      • Copiapó
      • Isla de Chiloe
      • Osorno / Puerto Varas
      • Pisco Elqui
      • San Pedro de Atacama
      • Santiago
      • Torres del Paine
      • Valparaiso
    • Colombia >
      • Barranquilla
      • Bogota
      • Cali
      • Cartagena
      • Manizales
      • Medellin Part I / Jardin
      • Medellin Part II / Guatape
      • Minca
      • Palomino
      • Salento
      • Santa Marta / Tayrona NP
    • Ecuador >
      • Banos
      • Cuenca / Cajas NP
      • Guayaquil
      • Quito
    • Paraguay >
      • Asuncion
      • Ciudad del Este
      • Encarnacion
      • Gran Chaco
      • Filadelfia
    • Peru >
      • Arequipa
      • Cajamarca
      • Cusco / Machu Picchu
      • Huacachina
      • Huaraz / Huascaran NP
      • Lima
      • Puno
      • Valle Sagrado: Ayahuasca
    • Uruguay >
      • Barra de Valizas
      • Cabo Polonio
      • Carmelo
      • Colonia del Sacramento
      • Minas
      • Montevideo
      • Punta del Diablo
  • Central America
    • Belize >
      • Belize City
      • Belmopan
      • Punta Gorda
      • San Ignacio
      • Sarteneja
    • Costa Rica >
      • Monteverde
      • Nicoya & The Coast
      • Paso Ancho
      • San Jose
      • Tortuguero NP
    • El Salvador >
      • San Salvador / El Zonte
      • Santa Ana
      • Suchitoto
    • Guatemala >
      • Antigua
      • Lago de Atitlan
      • Quetzaltenango (Xela)
      • Rio Dulce / Livingston
      • Semuc Champey
      • Tikal / Flores
    • Honduras >
      • Choluteca
      • Copan
      • El Zamorano
      • Roatan
      • Tela
    • Nicaragua >
      • Granada
      • Isla de Ometepe
      • Leon
      • Managua
      • Masaya
      • Matagalpa
      • Mombacho / Laguna Apoyo
      • Playa Gigante
      • Rivas / San Juan del Sur
      • San Sebastian de Yali
      • Somoto
    • Panama >
      • Bocas del Toro
      • Boquete
      • Costa Abajo
      • Panama City / San Blas
      • Santa Catalina
  • North America
    • Mexico >
      • Cancun
      • Ciudad de Mexico
      • Cozumel
      • Merida / Izamal
      • Oaxaca
      • Palenque
      • Puebla
      • Queretaro
      • San Cristobal De Las Casas
      • Tulum
      • Valladolid
  • Oceania
    • Australia
    • Fiji >
      • Viti Levu East
      • Viti Levu West - 11 Tips To Travel Fiji Budget-Style!
    • New Zealand >
      • North Island >
        • Auckland
        • Auckland Islands
        • Matamata / Hobbiton
        • Northland
        • Port Waikato
        • Rotorua
        • Taupo / Tongariro Crossing
        • Waitakere Ranges: Hillary Trail
        • Wellington
      • South Island >
        • Arthur's Pass
        • Christchurch
        • Cromwell
        • The Glaciers
        • Kinloch / Glenorchy
        • Nelson / Abel Tasman NP
        • Punakaiki / Hokitika
        • Queenstown
        • South East Coast
        • Stewart Island
        • Te Anau / Milford Sound
        • Wanaka
    • Samoa >
      • Samoa
  • Europe
    • Austria >
      • Austrian Alps: Top Winter Sport Destinations
      • Vienna
    • Belgium
    • Croatia
    • Czech Republic
    • Denmark >
      • Copenhagen
      • Mols Bjerge NP
      • Odense
    • England
    • France
    • Germany >
      • Frankfurt am Main
    • Gibraltar >
      • Gibraltar
    • Greece
    • Hungary
    • Italy
    • Lithuania >
      • Aukstaitija NP
      • Kaunas
      • Vilnius
    • Luxemburg
    • The Netherlands >
      • Den Bosch
      • Haarlem
      • Leeuwarden
      • 10 Typical Dutch Celebrations
    • Portugal >
      • Algarve Region
      • Lisbon
    • Romania >
      • Bucharest
    • Scotland >
      • Easdale
      • Edinburgh
      • Glasgow
      • Glencoe
      • Isle of Skye
    • Slovakia
    • Slovenia
    • Spain >
      • Barcelona
      • Malaga
      • Sevilla
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Turkey
  • Asia
    • Brunei >
      • Bandar Seri Begawan
    • Cambodia
    • Indonesia
    • Malaysia >
      • Cameron Highlands
      • Kota Kinabalu
      • Kuala Lumpur
      • Kuching
      • Melaka
      • Miri
      • Penang
      • Taman Negara
      • Tioman Island
    • North Korea >
      • DMZ Zone
    • Philippines >
      • Bohol
      • Manila
    • Singapore >
      • Singapore
    • South Korea >
      • Andong / Taebaek
      • Busan
      • Gyeongju
      • Jeju Island
      • Jirisan National Park & Surroundings
      • Seoraksan / Odaesan National Park
      • Seoul
      • 13 Strange Observations of South Korea
    • Thailand
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Vietnam
  • Africa
    • Morocco >
      • Marrakech
    • Tunisia
  • Thoughts
    • Anorexic
    • Dear Mama
    • Digital Danger
    • Restless
    • The One That Made Me Wonder
  • Steph Tracker
  • Media
  • Contact & Contribute

Miri


​For budget tips & compact place-specific travel info...  Download my FREE Budget Fact Sheets. You're welcome.​
Download Steph's MIRI Quick Budget Fact Sheet
File Size: 1005 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


An edited version of this post can be found on STEEMIT: Upvote me to support my travels for free!
​

It was never my intention to go to Miri. It’s the classic place you randomly end up in on your way elsewhere.

But as I was at the location mentioned anyway, I figured I might as well make an effort. My travellers blood got in the way.
Picture
I pointed my arrows at Niah National Park with one of the world’s biggest caves, but soon enough found out that’s not for the lazy laidback kind. Three (!) different buses you need to take over the duration of two full hours both ways, parts of it with cab drivers that are very likely not there to begin with. So I settled with Lambir National Park, a bit less south of this hardly inspiring border town. In order to split the Grab (local Uber) costs I had met up with Dutch countryside-chick Evelyn to hike this little pearl loaded with waterfalls. 
Picture
As the brutal Mount Santubong hike from a day before had left me slightly paralyzed and temporarily moving through life doing ‘the robot’ we opted for a short loop. Short but mercilessly steep, which is something my fellow Dutchie couldn’t handle as she was born with a short calve muscle causing her leg to (and I quote) simultaneously explode and implode, already forcing her to abandon her short-lived career in the army. Right: Young, wild and partly impaired.
​
Just when we were properly absorbing the splendour of the green and humidly damping scenery, sweating passionately until the very last drop of fluid had streamed out of our pores, an appropriate cool-off was presented in a traditional Borneo fashion: A merciless monsoon-shower thundered down over our faces.
In case you’ve never been to Asia: these kind of rain showers are slightly comparable to walking straight under a clattering waterfall for miles straight, soaking every inch of your body within a maximum duration of 2,5 seconds. A local experience indeed.
Picture
Back in Miri I decided I did deserve one of those widely-advertised local massages. Without a happy ending, thank you very much. In fact, the ending couldn’t be unhappier.
 
When Malays go for a massage it’s not relaxation they’re after, it can’t be. I think nerve-wrecking is the word I’m looking for, in all senses of the word. Full-body massage goes full-body warfare. That woman couldn’t possibly have any other intention than shattering my shoulders one bone at a time, while trying to crack my skull like an egg. She was an absolute expert in knowing exactly how to roll my muscles in the most agonizing fashion, squeezing downright excruciating screams out of me, responding to that with a classic “no spik Inglis, no spik”. Every minute of that hour I was absolutely terrified about her next move. And my upper legs that needed the kneading? She skipped them! Yes, good to know how Malays define a massage, you can scratch that one off the bucket list.

I needed a drink. And believe it or not, Miri has quite a vivid nightlife, related to the strict anti-alcohol-laws in neighbouring Brunei. I drank that whole glass of wine in one go, ready to leave Miri forever behind. 


Related:
​
​- Make it a Malaysia roundtrip: Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands, Taman Negara, Penang, Tioman Island, Kuching, Melaka and Sabah!
- The deception of northern Borneo: Don't ever go to Kota Kinabalu
​​- Visiting the tiny sultanate of Brunei
​
​- Comfortable with the uncomfortable? Bohol & Panglao Island, The Philippines
​
- Travel Asia off the grid… discover the magic of South Korea!
​
​- A little sneak-peek into North Korea!
​- Green wanderings in Tafí del Valle
- Sleeping in a hammock in Colombia's forest: Minca
- Jungle hiking in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica
- Stumbling upon a green gem along the way: San Sebastián de Yali, Nicaragua
- The hot hinterland of Malaga, Spain

In order to support the travelers’ community, I spend many hours per week to adequately document all information and advices for prospective visitors, accompanied by a (hopefully) entertaining insight into my personal observations and experiences. This service is and will remain free. However, if you voluntarily want to make a contribution and support my travels and thus the creation of new stories and information supply, here is the button you’re looking for:
Donate
© 2014-2019 Budget Bucket List
stephanie@budgetbucketlist.com
​
  • Home
  • About
  • South America
    • Argentina >
      • Abra Pampa
      • Bariloche & Region
      • Buenos Aires
      • Buenos Aires Museums
      • Cachi
      • Cafayate
      • Cordoba City
      • Cordoba Province
      • El Calafate
      • El Chalten
      • Esquel
      • Humahuaca
      • Iguazu
      • Iruya
      • Jujuy
      • La Plata
      • Los Antiguos
      • Mendoza
      • Puerto Madryn / Peninsula Valdes
      • Purmamarca / Tilcara
      • Rosario
      • Salta
      • San Luis
      • San Miguel de Tucuman
      • Tafi / Amaicha del Valle
      • Ushuaia
      • Villaguay / Colon
      • Free Healthcare In Argentina
    • Bolivia >
      • Copacabana / Isla del Sol
      • La Paz
      • Potosi
      • Salar de Uyuni
      • Sorata
      • Sucre
      • Tarija
    • Brazil >
      • Belo Horizonte
      • Cambara do Sul
      • Florianopolis
      • Foz do Iguacu
      • Gramado / Canela
      • Ilha Grande
      • Itatiaia
      • Ouro Preto
      • Paraty / Angra dos Reis
      • Porto Alegre
      • Resende
      • Rio de Janeiro
      • Sao Paulo
      • Private Healthcare in Brazil
    • Chile >
      • Copiapó
      • Isla de Chiloe
      • Osorno / Puerto Varas
      • Pisco Elqui
      • San Pedro de Atacama
      • Santiago
      • Torres del Paine
      • Valparaiso
    • Colombia >
      • Barranquilla
      • Bogota
      • Cali
      • Cartagena
      • Manizales
      • Medellin Part I / Jardin
      • Medellin Part II / Guatape
      • Minca
      • Palomino
      • Salento
      • Santa Marta / Tayrona NP
    • Ecuador >
      • Banos
      • Cuenca / Cajas NP
      • Guayaquil
      • Quito
    • Paraguay >
      • Asuncion
      • Ciudad del Este
      • Encarnacion
      • Gran Chaco
      • Filadelfia
    • Peru >
      • Arequipa
      • Cajamarca
      • Cusco / Machu Picchu
      • Huacachina
      • Huaraz / Huascaran NP
      • Lima
      • Puno
      • Valle Sagrado: Ayahuasca
    • Uruguay >
      • Barra de Valizas
      • Cabo Polonio
      • Carmelo
      • Colonia del Sacramento
      • Minas
      • Montevideo
      • Punta del Diablo
  • Central America
    • Belize >
      • Belize City
      • Belmopan
      • Punta Gorda
      • San Ignacio
      • Sarteneja
    • Costa Rica >
      • Monteverde
      • Nicoya & The Coast
      • Paso Ancho
      • San Jose
      • Tortuguero NP
    • El Salvador >
      • San Salvador / El Zonte
      • Santa Ana
      • Suchitoto
    • Guatemala >
      • Antigua
      • Lago de Atitlan
      • Quetzaltenango (Xela)
      • Rio Dulce / Livingston
      • Semuc Champey
      • Tikal / Flores
    • Honduras >
      • Choluteca
      • Copan
      • El Zamorano
      • Roatan
      • Tela
    • Nicaragua >
      • Granada
      • Isla de Ometepe
      • Leon
      • Managua
      • Masaya
      • Matagalpa
      • Mombacho / Laguna Apoyo
      • Playa Gigante
      • Rivas / San Juan del Sur
      • San Sebastian de Yali
      • Somoto
    • Panama >
      • Bocas del Toro
      • Boquete
      • Costa Abajo
      • Panama City / San Blas
      • Santa Catalina
  • North America
    • Mexico >
      • Cancun
      • Ciudad de Mexico
      • Cozumel
      • Merida / Izamal
      • Oaxaca
      • Palenque
      • Puebla
      • Queretaro
      • San Cristobal De Las Casas
      • Tulum
      • Valladolid
  • Oceania
    • Australia
    • Fiji >
      • Viti Levu East
      • Viti Levu West - 11 Tips To Travel Fiji Budget-Style!
    • New Zealand >
      • North Island >
        • Auckland
        • Auckland Islands
        • Matamata / Hobbiton
        • Northland
        • Port Waikato
        • Rotorua
        • Taupo / Tongariro Crossing
        • Waitakere Ranges: Hillary Trail
        • Wellington
      • South Island >
        • Arthur's Pass
        • Christchurch
        • Cromwell
        • The Glaciers
        • Kinloch / Glenorchy
        • Nelson / Abel Tasman NP
        • Punakaiki / Hokitika
        • Queenstown
        • South East Coast
        • Stewart Island
        • Te Anau / Milford Sound
        • Wanaka
    • Samoa >
      • Samoa
  • Europe
    • Austria >
      • Austrian Alps: Top Winter Sport Destinations
      • Vienna
    • Belgium
    • Croatia
    • Czech Republic
    • Denmark >
      • Copenhagen
      • Mols Bjerge NP
      • Odense
    • England
    • France
    • Germany >
      • Frankfurt am Main
    • Gibraltar >
      • Gibraltar
    • Greece
    • Hungary
    • Italy
    • Lithuania >
      • Aukstaitija NP
      • Kaunas
      • Vilnius
    • Luxemburg
    • The Netherlands >
      • Den Bosch
      • Haarlem
      • Leeuwarden
      • 10 Typical Dutch Celebrations
    • Portugal >
      • Algarve Region
      • Lisbon
    • Romania >
      • Bucharest
    • Scotland >
      • Easdale
      • Edinburgh
      • Glasgow
      • Glencoe
      • Isle of Skye
    • Slovakia
    • Slovenia
    • Spain >
      • Barcelona
      • Malaga
      • Sevilla
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Turkey
  • Asia
    • Brunei >
      • Bandar Seri Begawan
    • Cambodia
    • Indonesia
    • Malaysia >
      • Cameron Highlands
      • Kota Kinabalu
      • Kuala Lumpur
      • Kuching
      • Melaka
      • Miri
      • Penang
      • Taman Negara
      • Tioman Island
    • North Korea >
      • DMZ Zone
    • Philippines >
      • Bohol
      • Manila
    • Singapore >
      • Singapore
    • South Korea >
      • Andong / Taebaek
      • Busan
      • Gyeongju
      • Jeju Island
      • Jirisan National Park & Surroundings
      • Seoraksan / Odaesan National Park
      • Seoul
      • 13 Strange Observations of South Korea
    • Thailand
    • United Arab Emirates
    • Vietnam
  • Africa
    • Morocco >
      • Marrakech
    • Tunisia
  • Thoughts
    • Anorexic
    • Dear Mama
    • Digital Danger
    • Restless
    • The One That Made Me Wonder
  • Steph Tracker
  • Media
  • Contact & Contribute