Sibu Gateway 詩巫之窗

The Sibu Gateway, situated at Kampung Nyabor Road, serves as a tangible 'entry point' to Sibu town. It is also located to the east of the Central Market, just right besides Lin's Swan Garden。

More photo can be found on Facebook.

Lin's Swan Garden

Located behind the Sibu Gateway, this small garden is a joint venture project between the Municipal Council and the Lin Clan Association. It was officially opened on 24th July 2005.

Swan has been adopted as the symbol of Sibu to symbolize her pace of development over time. The Swan Statue is positioned to face south which symbolises peace and prosperity. Surrounding it are the 12 zodiac animals. Next to it are 8 smaller swans with different pose. The whole setup underlines the meaning that it wishes to bring about a perfect happiness and good luck to all peoples of Sibu.

Location: Persiaran Brooke, Sibu (In front of the KFC@Tanamas[Jalan Nyabor, 96000, Sibu, Sarawak, 96000, Malaysia])

Wisma Sanyan

Wisma Sanyan (Mandarin:三洋大厦) located in Sibu town, the building has the capacity to hold 10,000 people at any single time. It is the tallest building in Sibu, a shopping complex with lot of variety and it has some restaurants like KFC, Pizza Hut, Japanese restaurant etc

There is Giant Supermarket.

Rajang(Rejang) Esplanade 江濱公園

An ideal place to relax or take an evening stroll, the Esplanade was completed in 1987, using reclaimed land along the river front. it is frequently used for cultural performances and public events. It is located along Maju Road and strategically facing the mighty Sungai Rejang (Rajang River), the longest river in Malaysia.

You may check out the local tour that run for Sibu Rajang Esplanade Walking Tour. Some local tour that I found online as reference. I have to claim that I had never visit via the tour and do not know the standard, but cannot advise which is the one to go for.

http://rajangtourism.blogspot.sg/2009/09/sibu-rajang-esplanade-walking-tour.html
http://borneotip.blogspot.sg/2009/08/rajang-esplanade.html
http://www.sarawaktourism.com/en/itinerary-detail/itin-detail?catid=5&itinid=99

This place used to have a fountain but it had been removed and replaced with below.

The Swan - Sibu's Majestic Icon. You will see quite a lot of swan statue like this in Sibu town.

There is a restaurant by the river at Rajang Esplanade. I never try before but heard that it is expensive.

Sibu

Sibu is an inland town, and the capital of Sibu District (229.8 square kilometres) in Sibu Division, Sarawak, east Malaysia. It is located at the confluence of the Rajang and Igan Rivers, some 60 kilometres from the ocean and approximately 183.3 kilometres (114 mi) east-north-east of the state capital Kuching. The population is dominated by Chinese especially the Fuzhou as well as indigenous Melanau, Malay, and Iban.
** Description from Wikipedia - Sibu

Sibu is the gateway to the mighty Rajang River and its vast hinterland. As the main commercial centre and port for the Rajang Basin, Sibu is the starting point for one of the world's great river journeys. The second largest town in Sarawak, Sibu is situated on the confluence of the Rajang and Igan River, 130 km from the South China Sea. It is a thriving, modern town dominated by its bustling and crowded waterfront.

Sibu's wealth and fame are largely due to its enterprising, hard working Foochow community, who arrived in Sarawak from Southern China during the reign of Rajah Charles Brooke (1900 - 1917), and the town is still frequently referred to as "New Foochow". Nowadays, however, Sibu's populaton of 180,000 is a colourful mix of Chinese, Malays, Ibans and other ethnic races. Each race takes great pride in its own traditions and customs, but racial harmony and unity are the norm here.

Native Handicrafts

As the entrecote for the Rajang Basin, Sibu is an excellent place to go shopping for native handicrafts. The indigenous people of Sarawak produce very fine wood-carvings, bean work, rattan baskets and mats and woven textiles. Each tribal group has its own unique designs and artistic style. Several shops in Sibu sell a full range of these handicrafts, both antique and new.

Sarawak Pottery

A wide range of specialist shops and department stores offer the kind of shopping possibilities associated with any sizable, prosperous town. However, Sibu has a number of particularly interesting opportunities for the bargain hunter.

Sibu is a major centre for the production of fine quality Sarawak pottery. Some of the designs are traditional, whilst modern items incorporate elements of indigenous art and design. Local ceramics are reasonably priced, and make excellent souvenirs or presents.

KTM Edible Mushroom Culture Farm

The first large scale mushroom farm in Sarawak has generated much interest among locals and foreign visitors alike. Set up with the expertise of a grower from China, the farm produces some 8 to 9 varieties of edible mushroom for local consumption and propagation. The main varieties produced here are the Lingzi (chinese medicinal applications), Oyster and Abalone mushrooms (culinary usage). Seedlings are available for sale to add to your private vegetable garden.
 An interesting specie found here is the Bamboo mushroom. Although it requires 60 days of germination, it only takes half an hour to bloom before it is ready for harvesting, failing which rot will set in. Large size abalone mushrooms make delicious "steak" a la black pepper.

Come 1996, the farm will be re-located to a bigger premise at Km 18, jalan Ulu Oya. In the meantime the farm welcomes visitors at its Jalan Umpi Rantai location, Off Upper Lanang Road. However, one is advised to pre-arange for a view of one man's fascination affair with fungus.

Foochow people福州人

Fuzhou People福州人 is the largest population in Sibu. The people of Fuzhou (福州人), also known as Foochowese and Hokchewese, usually refers to people who originate from Fuzhou region and adjacent Gutian district(古田县), Pingnan district (屏南县)，MingChing(闽清县) district in Fujian province of the People's Republic of China and in Matsu Islands of the Republic of China. Majority of native Foochowese are Han Chinese and are a part of Min-speaking group, who speaks Eastern Min language or specifically Fuzhou/Foochow dialect.

In Malaysia Fuzhou people are referred to as "Hockchiu". There are significant numbers of Fuzhou people in Malaysia, mainly in Sibu, Sarawak; Sitiawan, Perak; and Sri Jaya, Pahang. In fact, there is a saying that Sibu is the “small Hock Chew province”, Sitiawan is the “small Sibu” and Sri Jaya is the “small Sitiawan”.

I myself never been to Sitiawan and Sri Jaya, so I am not too sure if the traditional culture is still maintain in both of the places. In Sibu, we do keep some traditional but along with the time going, more youngster start to forget where we from and normally do not practice the traditional culture. However, it is glad that there are certain Foochow society in Sibu try to maintain and educate the next generation on our mother culture.

**Some information taken from the sources below:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuzhou_people

Bawang Assan Iban Longhouse

A trip to the Sibu area is incomplete without taking the opportunity to visit an Iban longhouse. Although the Ibans in the Sibu area are modern people who have fully embraced the 20th century, they still practise many traditional customs and retain their 'adat' or traditional law. The Ibans are a warm and hospitable people, and this hospitality, coupled with their rich and colourful customs and traditions, can be a memorable experience.

I am not too sure if the normal Iban house is open for visiting but if you have any Iban friends, make sure you request them for a tour to their house.

There is one homestay at Bawang Assan, you can experience the tradition there. Bawang Assan Iban Longhouse Stay Program is the first homestay program develop by Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism. If you are driving at your own, do get the address or ask the local people for the direction, I followed the big sign board but it is lost somewhere. You will reach Bawang Assan River, drive straight you will see the Iban long house. if you want to go to the homestay, you have to turn right just after you cross the bridge of Bawang Assan River.

To get to Bawang Assan, take a taxi (RM50), a van from outside the Sibu Central Market (every 2 hours, RM 2) or an express boat (every 2 hours from the Kapit Wharf, RM 2.50) or liaise with local travel agent to arrange the whole tour.  ***Information from Sarawak Tourism Board

For more information on homestay, please visit the Iban Longhouse Stay. 

Contact

Mr Marcathy Gindau

c/o Rh James Semilan

Bawang Assan, 96000 Sibu

Tel: 014-5828105

Email: bawangassan@gmail.com

Pepper Marketing Board Malaysia - Sibu 诗巫胡椒局

The state of Sarawak produces 95% of Malaysian pepper hence the trade name, Sarawak Pepper. Over 90% of the 25,000 tonnes produced annually is exported to some 40 countries around the world. Traditionally, 80% of the crop is processed into black pepper with the remainder being turned into white pepper. At the moment Malaysia ranks 4th as a pepper producing nation. Today, pepper production has taken a different approach with the introudction of Specialty Pepper (creamy pepper, naturally clean black pepper and extra bold black pepper), Sarawak Green Pepper products (pepper sauce and pickle) and processed pepper products (sweets and perfume). The Rajang riverine towns of Sarikei and Bintangor accounts for 40% of the State's total production.

 The Pepper Marketing Board - Sibu Branch located at Jalan Then Kung Suk at Upper Lanang Light Industrial Estate welcomes visitors and is open during office hours. At a pre-arranged time, visitors will be taken on a guided tour of how Sarawak pepper is processed and packed for export. There are processed pepper products available for sale.

For more pictures, you can visit the Facebook.