Kuching at a glance

Kuching Sarawak Malaysia

In just two days, you will get to explore the city of cats, Kuching, to the fullest.

Malaysia is a beautiful country with 14 states, all of which have their own unique charm. I was headed to Kuching, Sarawak, on the island of Borneo, and my heart was full of anticipation and warmth. I was eager to discover what Kuching had to offer.

“Kuching” translates to “cats” in English, which is why it has come to be known as “City of Cats”. There are many theories as to how the city got its name but nobody knows for sure. Some theories say Sarawak had many wild cats, or that it was named after Cochin (in India) or Mata Kuching the fruit!

The panoramic view of the Sarawak River was super clear from my hotel room at the Riverside Majestic Hotel. I was able to spot the picturesque Malay villages, a golden-domed mosque, Victorian fort, and streets filled with 19th-century Chinese shophouses as Kuching, formerly named Sarawak in the 19th century, translates to ‘cats’, earning it the affectionate nickname ‘City of Cats’. Nobody knows for sure why the state’s third capital was called Kuching and what originally connected today’s feline-centric city to their four-legged meowing friends. well as an imposing wooden- roof palace, all set against a background of distant mountains.

SARAWAK SPECIALTIES

A spicy noodle dish laced with beansprouts, shredded chicken and prawns in coconut gravy, Sarawak Laksa is one of the local specialities that you will need to try at least once in your lifetime. Just a four minute drive from the hotel is Mom’s Laksa Petanak, where you can enjoy this laksa’s spicy and bright flavours. If you are a fan of dry noodles, Kolo mee is another speciality that you can revel in. The egg noodles are served with shredded chicken and is the perfect example of a simple dish, with a hint of saltiness, which hits the right spot!

If you happen to walk on the Kuching Waterfront in the early evening, at around 4pm, you would spot a green neon light with the words “Restoran Budaya Sarawak”. The restaurant aims to promote Sarawak culture through cuisine, and as a Malaysian, I was pleasantly surprised by the dishes.

The Restoran Budaya Sarawak has curated a local combo menu where they provide five local dishes and Bario rice in a talam (traditional tray). It consists of Manuk Pansuh (chicken dish cooked in bamboo), Umai Ikan, Midin Kerabu, Sarawak black pepper beef and Sup Terung Asam. This restaurant serves local delicacies that will ensure you keep coming back for more.

Kuching Sarawak Malaysia
Kolo mee

HISTORICAL SITES

How many historical sites can you pack into a day? Try four! Located opposite of the Tua Pek Kong Temple, the Chinese History Museum shares community history including early trade routes, initial migration from various regions of China and the
involvement of the community in modern, multi-racial Sarawak.

After that, you can jump onto a water taxi at Penambang and travel down to Fort Margherita, a mini-museum that tells you the history of Sarawak during the time of the Brooke Dynasty and the White Rajahs. The three-level building features a collection of artefacts from the 1800s. The counterpart of Fort Margherita, the Ranee Museum, is located in the Old Courthouse and showcases a unique collection of keringkam, songket and kebarung that belong to the first Ranee of Sarawak.

If you want to know more about how these traditional costumes have been made, the Textile Museum Sarawak is a great place to visit. It showcases authentic local textiles such as Iban pua kumbu and Sarawak Malay kain songket.

SOUVENIR SHOPPING

Sarawak pepper and spices

Pepper played a significant role in Sarawak. You will have to get a souvenir or two of the high-quality spices that are available here. Gambier Street is one of the oldest and busiest streets that you can visit to get your pepper while you are in Kuching. I visited the Yacob Sahib Trading after going to the Indian Muslim Mosque. They have pre packed peppers and other spices such as Himalaya salt, cinnamon powder and spice mix, which will come in handy for your daily cooking.

Sarawak Kek Lapis

If you are still around Fort Margherita, you must not forget to get Sarawak Kek Lapis at Dayang Salhah! The colourful layer cake has more than a dozen flavours, and will be a treat for any dessert lover. Dayang Salhah is one of the popular places to shop for layer cake as they have over 80 options (Horlicks, Oreo and watermelon just to name a few)!

Kuching Sarawak Malaysia
More than 80 flavours of Sarawak layer cake at Dayang Salhah.

Quality Handicrafts

Kuching Main Bazaar has some superb examples of Chinese shophouse architecture, many of which have been occupied by the same family over many generations. There is the highest concentration of antique and handicraft shops here, and all offer reasonable prices. Woven rattan mats and bags, Pua Kumbu textiles and traditional bead necklaces are few souvenirs that you can pick up as gifts for family and friends.

One of the things that I realised was that many of these Kuching attractions are situated close to each other, and many were walking distance from the hotel I was at. The farthest you would have to go would be by water taxi or sampan to discover the northern part of the Sarawak River. On my way back home, as I cherished the short but extremely fruitful time I had in the city of cats, I started planning for my next visit, to the UNESCO sites and to get my music fix at Sarawak Festivals next time around!

This media junket to Kuching was sponsored by the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB). To know more about Sarawak, visit www.sarawaktourism.com.

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