My first day at Bario... 11th Oct 2003

I found my diary. This was my experienced from my Bario trip.... and this was what I wrote in my diary....

11/10/2003
Fly again at 9.35am to Bario from Miri. The plane is very small, its a (refer photo)


twin otter (Malaysia Airlines) MAS aircraft. The scenery along the journey is nice and we can see lots of green trees and blue clouds. The plane is a little bit noisy and bumpy along the way but it’s a good experience. We reach Bario around 10.45am. Before landing, the paddy fields sceneries are very nice (refer photos).Get to know that Vision Air and Hornbill Skyway did not provide flight to bring passenger but more for cargo purposes. MAS has 2 planes coming to Bario per day. 1 plane from Miri and 1 plane from Marudi (refer photo for a sample schedule that paste on the airport wall). This is the schedule we taken on 2003, its better to check with Malaysia Airlines for the latest update. For the first time visitor to Bario, make sure double check the schedule before starting your adventure. There is no announcements or arrival/departure screen to refer. Just remember the schedule on the airport wall... EXCITING!!At the airport, there was a café. It can accommodate around 20 peoples. The Café sell maggi mee with egg, carbonate drinks, sweets, junk foods and biscuits. We ate 3 maggi and 3 cups of tea cost RM9.00!!
After finished our high cost instant maggi mee and tea, Esther Bala paid a man called Julfiues Raddish (the owner of Raddish Lodge at Bario) to use his big 4WD truck to carry our luggage and also to send us to Bala Palaba's Lodge at Pa’ Umur. The road is very bumpy and full of water blots. The weather was sunny but cooling wind. This is raining season at Bario. The weather is quite cold same like Cameroon Highlands. When we reached Bala Palaba's Lodge, we take a rest. Bala Palaba (refer photo below) is a very good host. When we stayed at his homestay Lodge, we hardly to get hungry because of the huge amount of foods provided by him. Because of the cold weather, hahaha....we eat and eat and eat non-stop.
Around 4.30pm, we walk to Batu Narit. We reach at Batu Narit at 5pm, 30 minutes walk from Bala Palaba's lodge (refer photo). Along the way, we saw lots of pitcher plants beside the road. The road is wet and in bad condition. We pass by paddy fields, pineapples farms and fruits farms. The noise of the natural blowing wind is so peaceful. The paddy fields is nice and green. The weather is cold.
Before going to Batu Narit, we ate pineapple. It is juicy and sweet. “VERY NICE”.
We came back around 5.30pm and take bath. Water is freezing cold and I did not took bath that day. Anyone can take bath in the morning at Bario, I salute you. Even the Kelabits do not dare. The condition of the toilet is terrible. We ate dinner around 7pm. We ate Bario's rice, curry pine apple, vegetables and fish soup. The food was super nice thats why not even got time to take photos we already finished the food.
Around 8pm, we go to Pa’ Umur SIB church, which located just next door. Its so nice and happy to be in the House of The Lord. All the Pa' Umur's villagers were here for prayer meeting. Around 8.30pm come back to Bala Palaba’s house. 9.30pm generator turned off and we sleep.