Our four-day stay in Bario came to an end too soon. We spent the morning soaking in final sights, smells and sounds of the long house, which was in a lull after the previous night’s festivities. After breakfast, we hopped onto the back of a pickup truck and headed for the airport.

Bidding adieu to the cool weather, clear blue skies and beautiful mountains. Was already dreading the crazy traffic jams and stressful workload waiting back home.

We got to the airport early, where we had Maggi Kari. This was recommended by Captain Mendoza, the pilot who flies the MASWings service between Bario – Miri: he says he always has a bowl before flying off . It was, if you can believe it, tastier than the one we had in town. The noodles were done perfectly with a springy, al dente texture, topped with a crisp fried egg and with just the right amount of seasoning and soup consistency. Who knew instant noodles could be so amazing?

There was a slight drizzle before take off, and during our flight back we saw multiple rainbows. It was my first time seeing rainbows from up above, formed in perfect arcs. The swathes of green hills were like a giant tapestry, and the floating clouds cast moving shadows over them. 

A beautiful U-shaped bend that we flew by which had distinct, inky black water, in stark contrast to the milky tea-colour of the adjacent river.

After 50 minutes, we touched down at Miri airport. Once we arrived, the messages started pinging in and everyone couldn’t keep their eyes off their phones, in stark contrast to when we had no internet reception in Bario and were actually forced to make conversation lol.

Had a lot of time to kill before our flight back, so we took an Uber to a restaurant called Awang Mahyan Corner, which was recommended by one of airport staff for its kolo mee.

A specialty in Sarawak, kolo mee (literally ‘dry’ noodles) is characterised by its springy, al dente texture, and is served tossed in a light sauce instead of dark soy sauce which is more popular in Peninsular Malaysia. They are usually served with a side of soup, and topped with bits of meat, fried onion and spring onion for crunch. The version here did not disappoint, with the right balance of flavours. I especially liked the springiness of the noodles!

Forgot the exact name of the dish but the place is also famous for its fried chicken done ayam-penyet style, which was crispy and tender, and served with an assortment of vegetables.

Just outside the restaurant is a small stand selling goreng pisang (fried banana). The version here is topped with cheese and a thick, caramel-like syrup. Extremely addictive. The banana and syrup’s sweetness is balanced out by the slight saltiness of the cheese, and crispy batter goes well with the softness of the fruit on the inside. I could easily polish off two plates by myself.

 AWANG MAHYAN CORNER

1068-1077, Jalan Bintang Jaya 1, Bintang Jaya, 98000 Miri, Sarawak. 

**Halal