Markets and shopping centres
City Point
Cheap shoes and DVDs are one of the big attractions here. The one and only cineplex in Bintulu and also the oldest cineplex in Malaysia! is also situated here. You can catch a glimpse of old machine where movies were played during the old days of Bintulu cineplex.
Sing Kwong Supermarket
Buy everyday necessities here.They have 2 huge locations in Bintulu which is by far, alot cheaper than Farley. They do also retail alot of Australian products and impose on freshness of thier quality goods. If your looking for something special or a better deal, just head right away to Singkwong.
studying
Bintulu is a place where several academic institution located. It has a branch campus Malaysian-renowned universiti, Universiti Putra Malaysia. It has also Sedamai College private institution. GGIFA Gulf Golden International Flying Academy, an academy for aspiring pilots, is based next to Bintulu Airport. Soon to be opened in Bintulu is ADTEC Advanced Technology College, a college offering diploma by Ministry of Human Resource Malaysia, and also IKM Institut Kemahiran Mara, a college specifically for disadvantaged Bumiputeras who wish to undergo hard skills.
fishing
Fishing is one of the popular hobbies in Bintulu. People can opt for fishing at the rivermouth of Kemena river, or at the sea for seafood, or if you are looking for freshwater food, you can go fishing at Tubau river, Tatau river upriver area or Jelalong river. However, beware of crocodiles and shallow water, your boat might hit those big trunks or rocks at the riverbed and it might spoil your mood for fishing.
belachan (shrimp paste)
Belachan in Bintulu is the most popular food ingredients in Sarawak. Most Sarawakians, especially Malay, cook their traditional cuisines using Bintulu Belachan. It is made from sun-dried shrimp, mixed with salt solution. It is a main ingredient for Midin Belachan, Mee Hoon Belachan, Laksa Sarawak and Nasi Goreng Belachan.
nightlife entertainment
Due to the sizeable expat population here thanks to its oil & gas industry, Bintulu is not lacking in night life entertainment. There are numerous bars, pubs, clubs & karaokes here for the working class to relax and enjoy themselves after a hectic day.
Unfortunately, the oil & gas boom era also brought in the vice of prostitution into the city. Although illegal, this vice, allegedly controlled by triad gangs, can still be found at some nightlife spots in Bintulu.
sagu products
Sagu is an extract of a trunk of Sagu tree. Traditionally, it was made by hard-pressing the trunk to extract its juice and the juice will be sun-dried to make a sagu flour. The sagu flour then can be made into different type of local delicacies like Tebaloi, Biji Sagu, Linut and Sagu biscuits. Most of sagu products are a 'dry product', so don't be afraid to take one if you are in the long journey to go home.
working
Bintulu is not a main tourist attraction. People say, you can spend money in Singapore, but you got to earn it in Bintulu! Bintulu is the place where the biggest integrated gas processing plant in the world and the first Shell Middle Distillate Synthesis SMDS in the world located, and also thriving industries taking place, from fertilizers ASEAN fertilizers plant is situated here to shipping, petrochemicals, palm oil processing & plantations as well as timber industries. World-renowned companies like Shell and Petronas made their home in Bintulu.
Don't forget, Bintulu is a core development area of Sarawak corridor SCORE. It will house bigger and more energy-intensive industries like aluminium smelting plant. It is also linked to the biggest hydroelectic dam in Malaysia, Bakun. More and more investors are interested in taking part of SCORE. An estimated 30,000 boost of jobs will flood Bintulu soon.
terendak (melanauh headgear)
If you notice in Bintulu, there are a lot of recreational parks or even the Pasar Tamu and Wisma Bintulu roof are in the shape of terendak, or Melanau headgear. It is normally used to protect oneself under the sun. Head on to local handicrafts store in Bintulu to get your very own Terendak.
cincaluk (fermented shrimp paste)
This salty shrimpy 'juice' is not to be consumed by a people who hate stinky food. It was made from fermented shrimp dipped in vinegar and salt with some other additives. Cincaluk in Bintulu is considered to be 'pure' and original due to the fact that there was no added colouring or preservatives in the making of this cincaluk.