Countdown in Miri

For the New Year countdown this time, I celebrated it with Asri, Chad, Azam, DD and Aniz in Miri! This was my second trip to Miri together with them but forth time overall with friends.

The plan was made quite early but the confirmation depends on hotel availability. Chad managed to reserve 2 rooms for us in Grand Palace. This hotel used to be my family’s favourite. Anyway, Zali and Sheng cancelled their joining so DD and Aniz brought their sister to add more persons as well as to assist them.

Like previous Miri trip, we (myself, Azam, Asri, Aniz & her sister) left Bandar at 9AM straight to DD’s home. Chad and DD brought their cars for Miri so guys moved to Chad and the girls to DD. No breakfast this time because we afraid the queue might be long. Luckily, the Sg. Tujuh was clear and fine so off we went to Miri with no long queue.

First thing was to change our money at the Miri centre. The exchange rate that time was 2.40 which were quite high compared to last time. Once we got our money, we went directly to check in our hotel. We took the promotion room RM190.90 with free 2 person breakfast and already included government tax and service charge.

Entering the Grand Palace Hotel



Going up to our room!

Compare to Imperial apartment, I think Imperial was much more comfortable. Of course, hotel was only room but apartment was like home. We went for our lunch at McDonald in Bintang Plaza and then ice-cream dessert in Imperial while the girls did some shopping. Then we went back to the hotel to rest up.

It may be waste of time while in Miri but Asri, Chad, Azam and me played dotA there for 2 games! Yup we brought our laptop hoping there was an internet connection but it was not available. We considered playing games as a rest for us there. We just stayed at the hotel until around 8PM.

We had seafood for our dinner! We went to Yi Hak Hai seafood restaurant near the sea side of Miri. It was quite old restaurant and the view of the sea was not really amusing due to ‘pollution’ and ‘construction’ but it was great outdoor and many people ate here. We ordered Cheese Scallop, Tom Yam Prawn and Sweet & Sour Fish. Note that this restaurant “Serve No Pork”!

Choosing seafood for the dinner



Waiting for the foods!

After the dinner, we went round the pubs area near our hotel. There were 5 pubs at the area and for sure, they celebrated the countdown. No worry, we didn’t go for the pubs but for the New Year crowd there. We were in our car at the final minutes & seconds of the New Year 2009! However, we were near the crowd that celebrates the New Year. They were cheering & greet each other, then balloon fell to everyone and there were also fireworks. We open Pelangi, Kristal and Pilihan to hear the New Year words. Yeah! New Year! We managed to park our car and then blend in the crowd.

Walking around to see the crowd

After the countdown, we went back to the hotel. For our before-sleep activity, we played card games: ‘find 3 pair’ and ‘trade for complete shape’. Who lost have to drink! *LOL* No not that ‘special’ drinks! We could choose from Coke, 7UP, Mango, Ribena and plain water. We slept late, did some talking before we actually sleep, about 5AM.

Playing cards! Not gambling!

The next day, Asri & me went for breakfast (included with the room promo) so we woke up at 9AM. It was a breakfast buffet style anyway. After the breakfast we resumed our sleep while Azam, Chad, DD and Aniz went to the Poolside. They call our room twice before I joined them. The Poolside got swimming pool, whirlpool bath or jacuzzi, steam bath and sauna. Better than the Imperial especially the whirlpool bath! However, the swimming pool in Imperial was much better.

Help! Breathing too much steam!



The hot whirlpool bath. Jacuzzi is it?

After checking out, we went for Lunch at Pizza Hut, KFC and Sugarbun in Bintang Plaza. Then we went for the Archery! It was located at the top most of the plaza and it quite hidden. For RM15, you can try to use arch and shoot 40 bows. The people there taught you how to use the bow and aim. After we finished enjoying the archer, we went to Starbuck to have Latte and Cappucino.

Archer in training!



The targets! (Not Chad!)



The judges! Also audience!

For the final destination, we went to the Boulevard Plaza. I went to cut my hair at Alan Salon there and was not really nice. I should asked DD and Aniz to recommend my hair. We went to the arcade there and play games! I played shooting games with Chad & Asri because the Initial D was used. Then when no one played Initial D, we played Initial D many times. It was fun!

Before going back home, I bought some snacks at Boulevard and then fruits at e-mart. We also bought RM1 drinks there. Then we went back to DD’s home around 9 or 10PM. We had some talks there and finally went back home.