Malaysia is one of the famous travel spots in Southeast Asia. Whenever someone said Malaysia, they always think of Kuala Lumpur or the West Malaysia. Do you know that if there is a west, there is an east? Kuching is one of the hidden travel gems in the East besides Mulu National Park, Niah Caves, Mount Kinabalu or Pulau Sipadan!
((-----Just sharing a joke. A West Malaysian once asked an East Malaysian studying in West Malaysia, "So, when are you coming back to Malaysia when the university holiday ends?" ----Because often in people's mindset, the East doesn't exist because they always sleep late and misses seeing the sun which rises in the east.-----LOL. Lame joke......))
Kuching is founded by the Sultanate of Brunei in 1827 and settled by James Brooke in 1842 then granted city status in 1988. It has a population of around 60000 in 2010.
Forget about history.. What is fun in Kuching?
1. Eat, eat, drink, drink...
2. Museums
3. Beaches, Lakes, Caves...
4. Wildlife centres- Orang Utan, Hornbill, Crocodiles...
5. National Parks- Trees, Waterfall, Rafflesia...
Doesn't seem exciting? Let's read further then...
Q&A:
How to get in?
By flight. The only international flight is to and from Singapore and Hong Kong(in April 2016). If you traveled to Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu, you can take a direct flight to Kuching.
How much is the airticket?
From Kuala Lumpur-Kuching is around RM100 per way.
How to get around Kuching?
Our public transport is not effective. The best way is renting a car and use Waze or any other GPS.
Will it cost a lot?
Not at all. We only spend around RM200 for 5D4N for eating and admission fees for Malaysian at student price. All museums are free of charge.
Where to stay?
The best place to stay is in the city near the waterfront because there are a lot of budget hotels less than RM100 per night. You can stroll along the busy waterfront promenade at night then walk back to your hotel.
Day 1 (9 Jan)
The golden Kuching International Airport
1. Siniawan Night Market
A busy night market, 30 minutes drive from Airport, selling a lot of food, which is an initiative by the local council to improve the local economy.
Teh C Special originated from Kuching
Lady Finger coated with meat
Grilled Stingray Fish
Ou Jian- Oyster Pancake
2. Waiting Room Skybar, Carpenter Street
You may have been to Skybar Traders Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, but have you been to a 4th floor Skybar?
Even the waterfront hotel is higher...
Day 2 (10 Jan)
1. Sarawak Laksa at Chong Choon Cafe
Best laksa in town
Yummy Yummy
2. Kuching Civic Centre
Enjoy the bird's eye view of Kuching here. Although it is closed to visitors for many years already, but you can still secretly access to it through the kitchen door. YOLO!
Sarawak Club
3. Sarawak Museum
The oldest museum in Borneo and has one of the best collections in South East Asia.
Aquarium behind Sarawak Museum
There are Dewan Tun Abdul Razak Museum opposite Sarawak Museum and Warrior Memorial Park behind the aquarium too.
4. Padang Merdeka
Take photo with this near century old tree.
RM 1 billion tree??!!
Padang Merdeka
Plaza Merdeka Shopping Mall
St. Thomas Cathedral
5. Chinatown at Padungan
Try mouth-watering traditional bun and local product-Rice Crackers at any of the shops here.
Also, take a photo with this famous cat!
6. Chinese History Museum
7. Tua Pek Kong Temple
8. Cat Monuments near Tun Jugah
So many cats here and there.
9. Sampan-Fort Margherita
Dewan Undangan Negeri/State Assembly
A mosquitoes-biting long journey
Fort Margherita
10. Waterfront area- Astana(where James Brooke lived)
Astana
11. Post Office, Old Courthouse
Carpenter Street-Post Office-Textile Museum
Courthouse
Inside the courthouse
Front of courthouse
12. India Street and surrounding
India Street with its new roof
Robotic cats?
13. Open Air Food Court Non Halal Section - Sio Bee/Sau Mai
Famous!
14. Life Cafe, Jalan Kereta Api (Lunch)-Spicy Taiwanese Noodle
15. ABC/Ais Kacang at Jubilee Ground
Famous!
White Lady is among the famous ABC
16. Cat Museum
A museum which might seem interesting to tourists as first-timers, but is actually indeed boring.
17. Sarawak State Library
Take photo with this nice architecture. A lot of wedding photos are taken here.
18. Dinner- Top Spot Seafood/ Carpark Seafood
Tourist area, however, even locals also like to come here.
We tried prawns, buttered chicken, snails, midin and manicai (local vegetables).
19. Waterfront Promenade at night
#tanahairku
Try out their sunset river cruise if you are interested!
Astana at night
Hornbill statue
20. Tomato Mee, Petanak Market
Day 3 (11 Jan)
1. Hakka Homemade Mee, Carpenter Street
2. Souveneir Shops along Carpenter Street
3. Mount Santubong- On the way to Sarawak Cultural Village
Look like volcanic eruption. Haha.
4. Sarawak Cultural Village
One of the places you definitely can't miss visiting in Kuching. First thing first, do not miss their cultural show. Timing available online.
For students, bring student card to get very low price.
The guy with his old tricks.
Pity the girl for being the chosen one.. HAHA..
Selling kuih jala, a crispy food. Sweet and delicious.
Harvesting the rice.
5. Kampung Buntal Seafood
Like their nestum prawns.
6. Buntal Beach
A viewing area which is built for tourists who don't like dirt. Haha..
7. Damai Central+Damai Beach
8. Muara Tebas Ma Zhu Temple
Built 200 years ago by Chinese migrants who were thankful to their Gods for allowing them to arrive in Sarawak safely.
9. Vivacity Megamall, Jalan Wan Alwi
The largest megamall in Sarawak which is just recently opened on 12.12.2015.
10. Lepau Restaurant, Ban Hock Road-Behind Supreme Hotel, Beside Sharing Planet Downtown
We had a late dinner trying out the orang Ulu cuisine.
Pansoh Chicken- Cooked in bamboo.
Day 4 (12 Jan)
1. Kueh Chap and Cha Kueh at Woon Lam Cafe, Ban Hock Road
Cha Kueh- Fried Sweet Dough
Kueh Chap- Pork with Kuey Teow Soup
Kuey Teow Soup
2. Jong's Crocodile Farm
A private crocodile farm doing conservation work of crocodiles. It has a small zoo too. Take note of the crocodile feeding show before coming here.
Sunbear
Crocodile Feeding Show
Piggy
Peacock
3. Pitcher Plant Garden
Pitcher Plant collecting water and there are insects dying inside.
4. Kolo Mee at Padawan near the Pitcher Plant Garden
5. Matang Wildlife Centre
There are other trails that you can try too!
(Orang Utan/Hutan-Jungle Man)
All different funny acts by the orang utan
The one in cage just now trying to see us from afar.
Hornbill
Owl
6. Sarawak Club Hornbill Restaurant Dinner + Joyce's Early Birthday and Xiang Tian's Late Birthday Celebration
Hot&Sour Soup
Homemade Beancurd
With the civic centre
7. Friendship Garden, Jalan Song
Malaysia and China
8. 101 Food Court, Jalan Song
Day 5 (13 Jan)
1. Kolo mee, Jalan Kapor
2. Tasik Biru, Bau
A very nice photo especially the reflection of the leaves
3. Fairy Cave, Bau
4. Sunny Hill Ice-cream
The best ice cream in town
5. Song Kheng Hai Food Court
Foochow Kong Piang with meat
6. Mira Cake House, Jalan Haji Taha
7. Hui Sing Food Court
Fried Kuey Teow with Clam and Egg
8. Goodbye Group E!! See you soon!
