Visiting the Oil Town

I know it's really been a long time since my last update. Geez, I'm already feeling lazy about updating so soon into my new blog :P That's not good. Anyway, I was in Miri in early July together with Mika Kuan for the InteRota Zone Assembly, as hosted by the Rotaract Club of Curtin. However, once we reached there, it turned out that bsides the Miri Rotaractors, there were only 5 other Rotaractors from Kch and Sibu *sweatdrops* There were about 50-60 Interactors from Miri tho. It was a 3 day 2 nite event, but we decided to stay one extra day just to see some of Miri. The last time I was in Miri, it was about 9-10 years ago, and I'd heard that it's really changed to be almost more modern than Kch. Especially the shopping!

We first arrived on a Friday, 3oth of June, coincidentally, the last day in the Rotary year, meaning, my official last day as Rotaract president. After some crazy driving from the Rotaractor who picked us up from the airport, we met up with the rest of the Rotaractors from Miri and Sibu, who'd come in by bus. The rest of the day was spent settling into our accomodation for the trip, the newly constructed Curtin Villa houses (which are meant for Curtin students), and getting to know the rest of the participants. We're kinda like the guinea pigs for the Villas, coz it was very dusty everywhere, tho it was all completed.

My 1st hostel! Home for 3 days

We were brought for a campus tour of Curtin, which really looks like a western campus, and is pretty big. Next, the Interactors were bundled into the bus, while Rotaractors were in various cars and we all headed to Tanjung Selera, which is a public park by the sea. The Interactors played ice breaking games while us OLD ppl walked around. Lol...of coz we felt old in comparison. Dinner was fairly simple, and was also at Tanjung. Didn't do much after reaching 'home' as Mika abandoned me for more 'luxurious' accomodation at his relative's house. There was TV in the living room, but since like every other thing in the house, it's from China and needs a different plug. So ....nothing to do!

Before: The beach looking pretty dull and stormy

After: Lighted up by a spectacular sunset

I woke up earlier than my alarm, due to the boys playing football just outside my 'house'. But the rest of the day was spent in Curtin's lecture theatre, listening to some speeches, lectures and training on being in the BOD. Sad news was that I had to give a presentation on Rotaract on all levels. It was supposed to b one hour long...but bcoz the speech b4 mine took too long, i had less time. Which was good tho!..Ended speaking for bout 40 mins. That interesting speech b4 mine was by Dato Lau Siu Wai, who is this rich entrepreneur guy who owns and sponsored our accomodation, and was 'instrumental' in bringing Curtin to Miri. But, a lot of the Miri participants complained that it's their 4th or 5th time listening to the same speech. Lol! To me, my observation is simply this: "Are all Datos like tat....kinda 'ham' and loso old men?"

Anyway, that nite was slightly better, since there was a BBQ. Well..an attempted one. Managed to start talking to the others lo....coz din know what to say to them earlier..Lolz, i'm so useless. No choice anyway, Mika abandoned me yet again! Hung out with all the Rotaractors and around 11pm, the Miri guys asked if I wanted to join them to watch the England VS Portugal match in town. So yeah, since there wasn't much, and it's England....I went along. Turns out all the other guys who were under 18..wanted to tag along. So we brought along some of them, including some gals. Felt like such a mum, constantly nagging them that they can't drink or we'd all be in trouble. Several places were full, so we ended up at this food place owned by Alan Salon's owner, bhind San Francisco Coffee. It was actually my 1st time watching a footie match outside of home, and it was kinda strange that it was with these ppl i'd never met b4 the past few days. Interesting match, but disappointing for England fans. Stupid sissy Ronaldo....sheesh...

Noticed something bout one of the other customers at the place...earlier in the match..he was wearing a Portugal jersey...but when England seemed to improve, he disappeared..and reappeared in a white England jersey!! Talk about fickle. But it was off to sleep as we had to wake up early that morning. We went to the Old Folks Home to do some painting and cleaning up. I ended up working in the garden, but bcoz we didn't have appropriate tools, there wasn't much we could do. But they did managed to repaint their hall and it looked pretty good. There were some more talks and a Q&A session back at Curtin. Then we were back at Curtin Villa, RUSHING to get ready for that nite's Closing Ceremony cum RAC Curtin's Installation at Dynasty Hotel. The hardest part of getting ready...was that there were no mirrors at all! I had to resort to using my hp to check how i looked *sweatdrops*.

All the Rotaractors of Kch and Miri (Sibu went home first)

The bad thing about their installation, was that i ended up at the VIP table. I didn't know most of the ppl there...so I was quiet, unless Bay, the outgoing President was there. But though it was his un-installation, he was bz running around too. The food was pretty nice tho and all the different groups of Interactors had to perform and most were interestingly fun. After all that, the Rotaractors brought us for drinks at this place near Cheerie Berries and the rest of the nightspots. But since it was a Sunday nite...it was pretty quiet. We went back to Curtin Villa, and it was supposed to be just me and Mika. But 3 of the Miri guys decided to accompany us. We ended up staying up chatting from 12-3am. About what? Chasing gals...lol...we were asked for advise on how to chase gals...mayb should consider setting up some courses! AHhahah

Few hrs later, we went for a dimsum breakfast..which was cheap for what we ordered....if only Kch had cheap dimsum too!...Most of the day was spent bowling, the guys playing at the arcades....looking around all the diff shopping centers...about 3-4? Shopping wise...I only bought a Adidas World Cup shirt...to match Michael's blue Japan shirt...and I also got him this white Adidas England shirt...so impulsive! But it was one of the Rotarian's shop..so..it's ok. Yeah, there were some shops that kch and KL have..but...nothing much lo. We had lunch at this Jap restaurant, near the schools of the girls the 2 guys were chasing. Later we had a rushed dinner at Dynasty Hotel *sweatdrops* as we had to rush off to the airport. Luckily we made it with some time to spare. Phew!

Mika & his Miri sidekicks..lol!

All in all, it was a pretty ok trip. I mostly enjoyed the last 2 nites and the last day, coz of the fellowship with the Rotaractors. It was nice that they brought us around and accompanied us here and there. Hope they'll look us up when they come over.