Adventurous trip to Miri
By NYL

Students in a group photo with their teachers at Niah National Park.

Thirty-one Secondary Three students from Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Arabic Religious Secondary School for Girls (SUAMPRIPAD), along with their family members and 27 teachers, paid a three-day educational trip to Miri from December 12-14.

Organised by the school's co-curriculum, sports and recreational unit, the trip was aimed at exposing the students to history and geography first-hand while cultivating teamwork, endurance and a sense of adventure among them.

The group began their journey by bus on December 12 from the school.

After crossing the immigration checkpoint into Malaysia, they made their first stop at Miri Crocodile Farm, which houses more than 1,000 salt and fresh water crocodiles in a 22-acre landscaped setting with natural breeding enclosures and manmade sanctuary ponds. The farm also serves as a mini zoo, featuring various other species.

Some students overcame their fear of snakes at the zoo by holding a live python while others watched a cobra in the courtyard under the watchful eyes of a snake wrangler.

The next day, the group visited Miri's first oil well, located on Canada Hill. Also known as the Grand Old Lady of Miri, the well is gazetted as a historical monument.

There, the students took the opportunity to learn about the history of the oil industry in Sarawak. On the hill, they also got to enjoy one of the best scenic views of Miri city and its surrounding areas.

Their next stop was Miri Public Park, located about three kilometres from the town centre. It has facilities and attractions such as an observatory platform, flora gardens, fountains, hanging bridge, souvenir centre, stone carving, sculptures, pavilions, jogging track, playground and various sporting facilities.

The students had lunch at the park before proceeding to their next destination, Niah National Park.

Following an overnight stay at the park, the group visited the Niah Caves, located at the park. They first took a boat ride across a river and walked some 2.5 kilometres through a lowland forest before reaching the first cave, Traders' Cave, a low cave with old trading stalls made of ironwood, some of them nearly a hundred years old.

The next cave, Great Cave, has little houses and shelters. With the help of torches, the students explored the dark interior of the cave system, which houses bats, swifts, guano and bird's nest.

At the third cave, Painted Cave, the group examined red paintings on the walls, believed to have drawn a thousand years ago, and boat-shaped coffins on the cave floor.

After making the physically challenging journey of 9.3 kilometres through the Niah Caves, the students returned to Brunei late evening of December 14, feeling thoroughly exhausted.

For some, the trip to Miri and the Niah Caves was seen as an adventurous experience to be shared with their classmates, friends and teachers.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin