Sunday, 30 July 2006:
Alas, along waited journey to Sarawak was finally here. After looking at my notes and self-drawn map for several years, I felt that I knew Sarawak in my fingertips. Nevertheless, the only stuff that I actually knew was the bus number, accommodation, location and cost of transportation to places such as Bako, Kubah Park, Santubong Beach, Cultural Village, Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Mulu (a mini project paper on Pinnacles and caves) and last but not least Niah cave. With that bible in hand, I begin my journey to Sarawak with partner in crime, my dear sister a.k.a Akka.
Our holiday motto has always been “to see beyond the world, in short period of time, budgeted”. Hence, we begin with our flight tickets. I preferred to climb first and do the outing later, but Akka’s preference was outing then climbing. She remembered our penguin/moon walk after Mount Kinabalu’s climb and refuses to repeat the same mistake again. After serious discussion with Akka, we mutually agreed to fly to Kuching and depart from Miri. It was cheaper and less chaotic. I was rather annoyed at first, but agreed anyway. Hence, we requested Pa to send us to KL Sentral at about five in the morning to catch the first Air Asia bus to LCCT, which cost us only RM9 each. We arrived LCCT at about 6 something. It was our first time in LCCT and I couldn’t believe my eyes to see so many people at that hour. It finally happened, now every one can fly. Hats off to Dato’ Tony.
The crowds at LCCT at wee hour. It looked like Thaipusam for a moment.
We reached Kuching Aiport at about 10 something. This time being so prepared, we took a cab straight to Tourist Information Centre, locally known as Visitors Information Centre or old courthouse in Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg. The courthouse was one of the British residues building in Kuching. It has really high ceiling, furnished with wooden floors, had huge pottery with green plants at the porch and was painted in classic black and white. Sigh! It was simply perfect.
Side view of Tourist Visitors Centre at Jln Tun Abang Haji Openg. They have a Lebanese restaurant above the center.
A friendly officer (I forgotten his name) greeted us. He informed us everything we need to know about Kuching, from tourist spot to best eateries, transportation, accommodation and above all, that its not blooming season for Raflesia (the largest flower in the world). There goes our visit to Kubah National Park. Sigh! We missed it in Sabah and now in Sarawak. However, he was kind enough to inform us that the Saturday market in Satok will be opened till 12 something and if we leave now, we can still make it in time. He also offered to take care of our bags but warned us to be back before the Visitors Centre closes at 3 o’clock.
Need not say more, we dumped our bags there and took a bus to Satok with our trustee Official Kuching Guide. Unlike Gaya Street market in Sabah, Satok market starts its operation on Saturday night and continues to Sunday afternoon. It was indeed a huge open market, three times bigger then Gaya Street market selling vide range of things from animals to vegetable, plants, groceries, food, clothes and souvenir. You name it, they sure got it.
Even though things were really cheap, we restricted on our spending as we decided to shop at the waterfront. Thus, we headed back to visitors centre to collect our bags. Upon arriving there, we made some calls to arrange for our accommodation. The cheapest room we could get was Anglican Guest House, in Anglican cathedral. The hostel was not far from the Visitors Centre. But since we just arrived and didn’t know the way, we ended up walking all over the area. We walked and walked and walked, by passed all the building in the map including Anglican cathedral but our hostel was nowhere around. Feeling frustrated, we called the caretaker for direction He was not helpful, yet we somehow managed to find the hostel, which was actually in Anglican cathedral compound itself and was locally known as St Thomas Diocesan Rest House. Sigh!
The outside of our hostel, Anglican Guest House.
The hostel was great. Despite being old and sited next to an old graveyard, the place was very cosy and comfortable. For only RM18 per night, the room which was located at the second floor was well equipped with 3 beads, a dressing table, 3 cupboards, a fridge (outside the room) and 3 common bathroom that was located at the ground floor. Hence, we never got down to pee at night.
The inside view of Anglican Guest House..our room!Akka is packing for Bako.
Feeling so lazy, despites listing down things to be done for day, we slept and only woke up at 5 o’clock in the evening. With our tight schedule, there was only today left for us to go to temple situated at Jalan Ban Hock. Since it was raining and we were not sure about the places, we called for a taxi. The temple was very huge and clean. Unlike Sabah, Sarawak has more Indian community. So people basically ignored us when we entered the temple. Instead of lingering around till 7 o’clock for prayers, we left to hunt for food! Yummy!
The officer at the Visitors Centre told us that there is a popular open air Chinese food-stall centre called Top Spot Food Court specialises in seafood above a big car park near Hilton at Jalan Padungan. I didn’t want Akka to miss her seafood “session”, so agreed to dine there today. We walked and walked and walked all over Kuching’s town centre, but fail to spot Top Spot Food Court. Feeling really tired and hungry, we finally decided to eat else where. So we continued to walk and walk and walk and walk half of the town centre, but nothing engrossed Akka. Along the way we stopped at an old Chinese shop where Akka bought some Chinese pastries to munch and then we continued our walk, by passing all the creepy places in Kuching town centre till we finally ended up at a basement food court in Jalan Carpenter which was just behind our hostel. I knew there would be nothing vegetarian in food court so decline to eat and ended up buying fruit juice. Upon reaching our hostel, Akka ate her Chinese pastries and asked me to eat Maggie. I was too hungry and annoyed. I declined and survived with nips. She knew I was annoyed, so promised for nice breakfast tomorrow. Little did she realise that a good vegetarian breakfast consists of Indian food, which she is not fond off while travelling. So there goes my breakfast. I smiled and slept. She knew I was annoyed, again!
Jalan Carpenter, behind our hostel, Fomous for Bollywood cafe, Black Bean Cafe & Chinese Food Centre
The famous kittens surrounding the old clock tower ate the roundabout in Jln Pandungan, Kuching
An old Chinese Temple at the juction of our hostel near JlnCarpenter. The Dragon column at the entrance of the temple indicates the oldness of the temple. Hence, has been glass framed.
Indian street in Kuching is just beside the China Town. Despite the name, I never encountered a single Indian!
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