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Premier Hotel , Sibu - Booking Goes Online Now!

Premier Hotel has just launched online booking. With this, booking for rooms is just a click away now!

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Sweet Love Band At Premier Hotel

Philip Hii and Need Lee are caught in action. It was a fun time photoshooting the band last night with plenty bursts of laughters.

Sweet Love Band posed for a shot. From left to right: Jojo, Leah, Bianne and Chicca, all hailing from the Philippines.

Bianne put on a sweet smile for a snapshot.

Leah was slightly caught by surprise.

Chicca was all ready when I snapped her.

The photoshooting was in progress. There was some innovation here - shooting down from high up.

They tried very hard to relax in order to look natural.

Then came the sharing time!

We moved over to the games room for a few more shots.

Food Promotions At Premier Hotel

We gave a release on our current food promotions covering the months of June and July through the local press and the blogsphere.

Invited were See Hua Daily News, United Daily, Sin Chew Daily, The Borneo Post, The Eastern Times, Utusan Borneo, Utusan Sarawak and The Chinese Methodist Message.

Also joining us were Liong (www.thesibu.blogspot.com , www.sibu.org ), Yong Sun (www.yongsun101.blogspot.com ) and Leng Kieh (www.sibudongcheng.blogspot.com )who are all active bloggers in Sibu.

It was wholly the Chicken Rice and Laksa affair, all priced to make you wow, wow!

Succulent and sumptuous, our chicken rice is simply the best deal in town. At RM 5++, it is steamed chicken with vegetables, chicken liver and gizzard, marinated boneless chicken feet, soy egg, double cooked flavoured rice and piping hot soup. If you wish, you may add on some supplementary side orders all at unbelievable pricing.

The Chicken Rice is available from Monday to Friday daily from 11:30 a.m. till 2:00 p.m. It is not available if the day falls on a public holiday.

It is our heritage dish! Sarawak Laksa is blanched vermicelli with fresh prawns, shredded chicken, shredded egg omelette and beansprouts in a mildly spiced laksa soup.

At RM 6++ per serve, you will find it value for money.

Absolutely hot, sour and spicy, Penang Asam Laksa is explosive flavoursome vermicelli soup with fresh prawns, wolf herring flakes, preserved cuttlefish, fish ball,egg and assorted vegetables, accompanied with prawn paste at only RM 7.50++.

The above Sarawak Laksa and Penang Asam Laksa are served only on every Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Come and try out!

Our Chicken Rice And Side Orders

Promise yourself not to miss them after we have launched the promotions!

The delicacies are going to be surprisingly affordable.

See you at Cafe Palmelia.

Penang Asam Laksa - You Would Love It!

We had a food tasting this morning for the promotion we are going to launch soon. Penang Asam Laksa was second in a series of tasting for the delicacies we are planning to promote to whet the appetite of the local food lovers.

Penang Asam Laksa is hot and spicy. If you love that burning feeling in your mouth, then this has got to be your choice.

Don't miss our Penang hawker food when it goes on serving.

Photo Gallery In Premier Hotel

We posed for a historic photo - (L to R) me, Liong, Steve and Philip.

The trio - Liong, Steve and Philip are all renowned locally.

Our Bell Captain Renang lent a helping hand to fix the photos.

A section of our lobby has just been turned into a photo gallery for the benefits of the tourism development in the central region.

Two years ago, we zoned this section for exhibiting tourism posters with a view to promote our tourist products to hotel guests.

However, tourism posters have been persistently scarce. As such, the tourism corner has been very much underutilized.

Then Steve, Philip and Liong came in with the idea of turning the corner into a photo gallery.

This brainchild of the three renowned photographers was well received by us. We worked it out on a smart partnership basis, with the trio contributing works to the gallery.

After some brainstorming, we launched the gallery on April 29. This marked a very humble begining, but we hope to do our bits to the local tourism.

If you happen to be passing by, you are welcome to pop in for a visit.

The photo shows Liong with his right-hand lady.

Premier Hotel Wishing You A Good Day

It was a hectic day! The streams of guests kept us on our toes, making the day a really brisk one at Premier Hotel.

When our lobby was swamped by guests, I grabbed the opportunity to snap the bustling moments for sharing with my readers.

Have a good day!

Visitors' Guide To Sibu & Central Sarawak

A few years ago, Sarawak Tourism Board came out with this visitors' guide with a view to spur the central region to tourism growth. The effort was laudable and the publication of this handy booklet filled up partly the information vacuum in this region of Sarawak.

Humble as it may look, Visitors' Guide is pretty informative and up to date. Visitors who are on tour in the central region would find the guidebook of great help. Even locals may find this publication a helpful source of information.

This guide was last updated in 2006. I hope a new edition incorporating some latest changes and developments would be forthcoming.

Business Trip To Kuching - (Part 7- Final)

I placed order for chicken curry rice and iced lemon drink. At less than RM 5 for the whole set, it was pretty value -for -money!

Lachau Food Corner did a brisk business.

A group of foreign tourists were seen taking a moment off for some local specialties.

Lachau Food Corner is pretty well-stuffed.

A presentable market next to the coffeeshop.

On the following morning, we took a sumptuous buffet breakfast at Hotel Grand Continental Kuching before we set out for one morning of meeting up with business associates. we looked forward to a hectic day ahead.

Raymond was a lot more confident with the ways in Kuching after some wild goose chase the day before. As such, we experienced much less snags on the way, making us feel at ease for the whole of the morning.

At midday, we finished off what was in hand and headed our way back to Sibu.

As it was already time for lunch, we started ti feel the hunger striking. Serian flashed across my mind and we all agreed to take a stop-over break at the small town for a quick lunch.

Although it was past lunch hour when we reached there, Serian was still bustling with crowds. We popped in several coffeeshops and were amazed to see them running to a full house.

When we were at the verge of giving up, we came across one with a vacant table. We could not afford the luxury to hestitate and had to settle down for a decent meal there.

We were like wolfing down our late lunch. Right after our lunch break , we got back on the road for our onward journey back home.

At Lachau, we made another stop for a lazy afternoon coffee. The coffeeshop that we patronized was really doing brisk business where a mix of locals and foreign tourists took up almost the whole of the space.

After Lachau, we made no more stop and drove straight on for the rest of the journey.

Business Trip To Kuching (Part 6)

After checking in at Hotel Grand Continental Kuching, we could not afford to settle down for a rest. Straightaway we set out to our serious business.

Again, our driver Raymond is not at all versed in the ways of Kuching. Such being the case, we really had a donkey-work to look up for all the places. Despite all the vain rounds of driving, we had had a fun time experiencing all the uneasiness on the way.

After an exhausting day, we planned for a more relaxing evening. After taking a toss, we settled on tHE Spring for our dinner.

Night driving in Kuching proved to be much worse than wild-goose chasing for Raymond. We were like in a maze, completely, driving around heading to nowhere. Raymond said he got lost in the course of driving. Eventually Tiong called her friend to come to our rescue with a helpful guide to tHE spring and later on back to the hotel.

Hotel Grand Continental Kuching is a plush hotel located at Jalan Ban Hock. Rated 4-star, HGCK is affordable in pricing. We have been working on a smart partnership with the hotel for years and it has been proven to be mutually beneficial.

One thing admirable about Hotel Grand Continental Kuching is its relentless efforts in promoting environment conservation. The above photo shows its notice to guests on environment-friendly water usage.

Business Trip To Kuching (Part 5)

Chillipeppers is just two rows of shophouses away from Hotel Grand Continental Kuching. This eatery serves mainly oriental delicacies with a wide array of menu selections.

Chillipeppers is not air-conditioned, presumably to give a tropical touch and to make it a place of difference. One section of it is partitioned off and equipped with air-conditioning facility for those who opt for cooler environment. I believe there is surcharge imposed for greater comfort.

On arrival, we noticed that the business was brisk. We had to take a just-vacated table, with no luxury for us to go for one of our choice.

The pricing in Chillipeppers is not steep. It falls in the range between coffeeshop and cafeteria, making it affordable to a wider public.

I placed orders for kung pao fish rice and teh tarik. The beverage came out just right in aroma and taste. The portioning for kung pao fish rice was below my expectation. Tastewise, I gave it a thumb up.

We had a satisfying meal at this bustling eatery. Thereafter, we proceeded to check in to Hotel Grand Continental Kuching.

Business Trip To kuching (Part 4)

When passing by Serian, we decided not to drop in due to time constraint. We were already behind our time, so we just zoomed past this small town.

My driver is not too well versed with Kuching city. As such, when we arrived there, we drove around having a good wild-goose chase before finding Hotel Grand Continental, our place of stay in Cat City.

The time then was almost 2:30 pm which was well past the lunch time. Naturally a burning desire for foods shot up.

We opted for a nearby eatery called Chillipeppers.

Business Trip To Kuching (Part 3)

When driving past the fork leading to Lubok Antu, I developed an urge to pop over to the small town which is now in the limelight. The upcoming by-election has drawn in heavyweight like DSAI to drum up support for the opposition front.

But, after taking a look at the sign on the roadside, I decided to give up the idea as Lubok Antu is located 38 km away from the Kuching-Miri Highway. Dropping in for some coffee and feverish feel of the sizzling hot by-election would disrupt my itineary.

Moving on from there was another hour of drive before reaching Lachau where we made a brief stop-over for some much-needed coffee.

Lachau comprises of three rows of shophouses in L-shape. This small marketplace serves mainly the needs of the nearby natives and the travellers passing by.

We went to one of the two coffeeshops there for a break. The coffee came out below my expectation, hardly with the aroma any coffee lovers would crave for. But, coming to think of it, I shouldn't be so demanding of a small place like Lachau.

After refreshing, we took a short stroll along the five-foot way where local produce was displayed for sale.

Business Trip To Kuching (Part 2)

We zoomed towards Kuching right after our quick breakfast at Sarikei. Checking on the time, it was 8:30 am. By a rough count, the remaining journey would take about five solid hours with one or two stop on the way for a break or ease-off.

Travelling by air and land alike produces hypnotic effect on me. I still recall an official travelling trip by coach to Mukah during which I slept like a log right through.

As such, I had to keep awake to catch all the glimpses alongside the Kuching-Miri highway, fearing that if I dozed off, I might miss some of the fascinating scenes.

When the huge sign of Sebangkoi Country Resort on the roadside came into my sight, I was very much drawn to it.

This country resort was a significant effort by our state government to develop the local tourism industry. A combination of country park and resort uniquely laid out and designed to give visitors a touch of tropical setting, SCR is excellent for a breakaway or a brief sojourn.

My tight itineary did not permit me to pop in for a quick stop-over. As the resort faded away from my sight, there was a strong urge rising up for me to come here for a visit.

Business Trip To Kuching (Part 1)

Travelling by land to Kuching has always been a fascinating experience. You can't afford to miss it out if you have never gone through it.

When I planned for a two-day business trip to Cat City, I decided to drive rather fly. Land travelling is alluring in many ways on this Land of Hornbill.

We departed at 7:00 am from Premier Hotel which was a little bit late for this 6-hour driving journey. On the itineary, Sarikei was our first stop.

Sarikei, a growing town, is not too far off the main road. The location is, therefore, strategic enough to take in long-distance travellers for a stop-over. In comparision with Sri Aman, Sarikei is better off in this sense.

We popped in for a quick breakfast with no extra time for other pursuits. When I checked out with a blogger in Sarikei www.wongsiewping.blogspot.com , a few recommendations were put forth for eateries of fineness in local cuisine. But, alas, my drop-in was very much just touch-and-go, so I could not afford the luxury of sampling them with ease and leisure. For that I need a food savouring trip with some other bloggers to Sarikei to poke my nose near to every dish and dip my finger in to whet my appetite.

We chose the food centre (gee, there is absolutely no official name for it after years of operation) where food varieties are aplenty. The interior of it is pretty spacious and hygienic with good ventilation, making it a place of comfort for a decently priced breakfast. I placed order for kampua and teh chi kosong for sampling. Woah, the taste turned out to be quite appetizing and the serving time was surprisingly satisfying. I gave a plus to the stall.

We set out on our onward journey after our Sarikei experience!

Borneo Talk - A Mission Possible

Bumi Serasi started off the magazine to call it "Kuching Talk". Although the horizon was not just confined to the capital city, but the name itself was a limiting factor.

Probably with that in mind, the publisher recently renamed the tourism publication "Borneo Talk" to give a sense of wider geographical coverage.

With the name change, I hope Bumi Serasi would set a greater mission to take the state's tourism to a greater height.

Cheers!

Cheers With Teh Tarik

Our gang finally settled down for a refreshing moment in Cafe Palmelia where both oriental and international cuisine is served. By the way, Cafe Palmelia is a plush cosy corner and well-decorated eatery at Premier Hotel that offers guests an idyllic view of scenic Sibu and its traffic.

We opted for teh tarik which is a de facto national drink by virtue of its popularity.

Literally teh tarik is pulled tea. The beverage is now our flagship product enjoying good demand. It is served in a gigantic mug and it comes with a chocolate cookie. With refreshing aroma, creamy taste and a thick frothy top, our teh tarik makes an excellent beverage for you to chat away with friends or laze in a dull afternoon.

Not forgetting the inauguration of the new president on the day in U.S., the gang gave cheers to President Barack Obama and wished him good luck!

Photo courtesy: www.mengleiwong.blogspot.com

At The Top Of Sibu

It was a fun time photoshooting Sibu scenes from a high-rise. Meng Lei initiated it and it was well received by Steve Ling, Liong Khing Ying, Ling Ung Huat and Ting Leng Kieh. I extended my invitation to the gang to ascend to the top of Premier Hotel for a combination of photoshooting and hotel room inspection.

When Barack Obama made it to the top of the global power on Jan. 20 to become the world's most powerful man, we went up to the roof-top of Premier Hotel which commands excellent views of the whole Sibu town and the mighty Rajang River to feel the greatness of height.

It was a hectic half an hour of shooting before we descended to the top floor for a room inspection. I opened up our King's Suite to let them open their eyes to our best room.

Thereafter, we retreated to Cafe Palmelia for our flagship beverage - teh tarik. We chatted over the authentic Malaysian beverage and some luscious cakes before we called it a day.

The photo shows the gang at the great height. (Courtesy: Steve Ling)

News Release - In Press And Blogsphere

A sampling time-You have to try out to find out!

It was a meet for bloggers also!

A photoshooting session - Andy Chua of Eastern Times (on the extreme right) is a veteran journalist.

Victor Kiu (on the extreme left) was spotted shooting.

Blogsphere is popping out to be a medium increasingly gaining popularity for promotional activities. In West Malaysia, bloggers are making inroad into commercial world of advertisements to gain a foothold. This trend is likely to gather momentum in time to come.

The idea came from Philip Hii about three months back. I tried it out this morning with our publicity release on our new band "The Life Line Band" and our food promotions.

Besides the mainstream news media, I also called in some popular local bloggers to cover the session. It worked out qyite well for the first try-out.

Philip Hii (www.rubberseeds.blogspot.com ), Steve Ling (www.stevelinglt.blogspot.com ) and Victor Kiu (www.victorkiu.com ) are obliging enough to turn up for both a meet and a session of promotions.

The morning was more than just getting down serious on foods and artistes - the occasion proved to be an excellent time for the few bloggers and reporters to rub shoulders and chat over foods and drinks. It was a sort of mini bloggers' meet!

Our hotel is promoting several food items at both cafe Palmelia and Bamboo House to entice customers. To whet their appetite, we seek to blend quality, creativity and tastes into one to come out with delectable delicacies. From claypot to seafood galore, you stand a good chance to have your taste buds tickled and mouth watering.

You don't have have to be a gourmet to appreciate all the promoted dishes. Come and dip your fingers in to find out!

Nicholas Lo (right) of The Borneo Post has never failed us.