Spontaneously suggested to KL to come visit Kuching since she just recently graduated and is unemployed at the moment with nothing to do, and IT HAPPENED! It was also my first time being a proper tourist in my own hometown so here's our 4-Day Kuching tour. I didn't take photos for every location we visited so bear with some description too.
Day 1: Kuching Waterfront area
After a Kuching Kolo Mee fix, we started off our Kuching Adventure (lollll) at India Street. It was set up around 1850 and was occupied by Indians. Today it houses many shops selling cloths and clothes, in fact you probably see more Chinese shops. We went on to Carpenter Street, passed by the Main Bazaar (the oldest street in the city) where you find souvenir shops. Strolled down the Kuching Waterfront (by the Sarawak River) and crossed the new S Bridge (S for S shape/ Sarawak the state?)
In the background, you can see the iconic Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building (more commonly known as the DUN Building)
Sarawak River
Day 2: Sarawak Cultural Village, Fort Margherita
We drove about 50mins to the famous living museum in Sarawak, the Sarawak Cultural Village. Entrance fee is RM25 for Sarawakians, but RM60 for non-Sarawakians (just realised you can buy online for RM50) :X You get to see traditional house designs of 7 ethnic groups in Sarawak- Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau, Orang Ulu, Orang Penan, Malay and Chinese. The houses were built for the museum, they are not inhabited. The highlight of the Village is the dance performance at 11.30am & 4pm. We spent about 2.5hours there as we took our time and also spoke to some of the pak cik/mak ciks in the houses.
The friendly and chatty Bidayuh mak cik! She was so cute
We dropped by Damai Beach for a quick lunch break and then headed back to Kuching..
Fort Margherita was built ~1880 to guard Kuching's river from pirates. It was named after the 2nd Rajah's wife, Ranee Margaret. We went to the Brooke Gallery which explained Sarawak's history of the Brooke family's administration, which changed the land's course of history from then on and shaped what Sarawak is today. Entrance fee was RM10.
I actually did find the Brooke Gallery very interesting and spent lots of time there (partly because I am also a slow reader). I had been quite ignorant about Sarawak's history so it was enlightening (I just hope I remember what I've read)
Day 3: Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Fairy & Wind Caves, Tasik Biru
First stop in the morning was Semenggoh! This is a centre that releases orangutans into the wild (after they've been rehabilitated at Matang Wildlife Centre). The feeding times are 9am & 3pm, entrance fee is just RM5 (i think RM10 for non-Malaysians). Since the aim is that the orangutans can survive in the wild as much as possible without any help, there is no guarantee that you get to see orangutans. The orangutans only come to the centre if they are hungry. You also have to keep your distance from them as they are wild and can be aggressive (some people have been bitten). During fruiting seasons, they may not even show themselves at the centre for 2 weeks. But we were lucky to see 4 orangutans- Analisa, Mas (baby 2 year old!), Anaku and Edwin, the 22 year old male who is of 2nd rank among the "jungle men" after Ritchie the Big Boss (the centre came up with these terms btw).
Orang utan spotted!
Edwin dum dum dum
Next stop: Fairy Cave - it was used by the Japanese as a base. The name comes from the fact that one of the structures at the cave is thought to resemble a Chinese deity.
Reminds me of Niah Cave (the most famous cave in Sarawak)
We then went to Wind Cave. This cave is completely different to Fairy Cave. It is pitch-black in most parts (hence no photos), and has loads of bats! KL read a funny review online that said "I loved it because of the darkness and the bats. My girlfriend hated it because of the darkness and the bats". There are information boards along the way that tell you about stalagmites and stalactites etc. Entrance fee for each cave is just RM1. Thank God I came out without bat droppings :D
Tasik Biru (Blue Lake in Malay) is just a few minutes drive from Wind Cave. It was a popular gold mine pre-1900, and filled with water due to protests from the local residents.
What About Kuching happened to be organizing an "Oktoberfest" so we went along at night. I gave alcohol another change but I have proved to myself that I really am not a fan of beer xD
Day 4: Bako National Park
views from Teluk Pandan Kecil (you can see a sea stack far away)
About 50-60 minutes drive away from Kuching. We arrived at 9+am. Boat fee was RM30pp, entrance fee RM10 (locals). This is the top attraction of Kuching, and is the oldest National Park of Sarawak. You take a 20-minute boat from the Bako Boat Jetty to Bako National Park. The boat pak cik told us to be at the beach at 3pm for pick-up later on. We walked 500m to the Customer Service Centre to sign ourselves in, and decided to go on two popular trails- Teluk Pandan Kecil (1.5hrs one way) to see the sea stacks and Teluk Paku (1hour one way) for Proboscis Monkeys. We ended up taking 1hour and 30mins one way respectively.
Went for traditional cuisine at Lepau Restaurant for the night! It means farm-hut/home in the Kayan language. They serve Orang Ulu and Dayak food.
Clockwise from top left: Ayam pansuh, midin belacan, fish umai, rice in banana leaves
Ended the day with a stroll by Kuching Waterfront again, this time with a beautiful night view, wrapping up KL's exotic Bornean trip and my first home-discovery adventure :P
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