Walking around Kuching In Memories

Unlike my previous back packing trip to Sarawak where my sister and I have started our journey from Anglican Guest House, this time around I started from the City Centre where Kuching Hilton was located. Despite being two years, the city never change. Its always bustling with people, great food and easy to move around. It felt like i was just there yesterday. The movement of my hotel from Anglican Guest House to Hilton, made it it much more easier to move around.

So a day in Kuching town went this way (follow the map):

Take Diversion: Right Of Hilton Kuching

(Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman)

On the right hand side of the Hilton , walking towards Holiday Inn still in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, is where this beautiful cat statue is located.

On the opposite of the Cat Statue is the famous Top Spot Food Court: Food Court on top of parking roof top..yah coo! And apparently cheap and delicious

Walk further up to Jalan Abbel is where the famous vegetarian shop, "The Servant " is located. It served amazing food.


Take Diversion: Turn Right

Famous statue at Jalan Padungan Road

When you walk further up on the next lane towards Jalan Ban Hock, you can see a Hindu temple. Every time I go in the temple will be closed. ..

Take Diversion: Left of Hilton (Main Bazaar)

The view of the street towards Main Bazaar. The little house on the hill top was where my previous guesthouse was back in 2006

The Chinese Museum on the left by the waterfront.

The view of the waterfront form Hilton.

Beautiful scenic river

The sampan (boat) by the waterfront. The fastest mode of transport to get to the other side.

Apparently its the cheap mode of advertisement....look, you can see "hotlink" on the roof top!!

Across Waterfront:

Across waterfront, first you see this magnificent new mosque on construction. It was not there in 2006. I am not sure why all structures now a days looks like some building in Putrajaya !!!It looks like MOF building only with dome!!!

Further up across, is where the Astana is as well as the Fort Margherita is.

The old observation tower at Kuching Waterfront..

Take Diversion: Cross the Road (Right)

Rows of shops selling crafts and souvenir stuff at main bazaar. Also locals selling local cakes called kek lapis (layer cake). But what i like most about the picture is the 3 stooges at the back wearing colourful mask and was singing along main Bazar. Amazing things happen in Kuching.

3 little stooges..so cute..

(Left)

Across the road from the Observation Tower is the Old Court House, now known as the Tourist Information Centre.

Attached and behind the Tourist Information Centre is the Little Lebanon Cafe.

Take Diversion: Cross the road

Opposite the old court, is the Indian street. Though you can find Indian selling spices and lentils, the main shops are conquered by garments.

In between those shops, there lies the old Indian Muslim Mosque.

Take Diversion : (i) Turn Behind of Main Bazaar

Walk further up and the second lane of Main Bazaar is the China town at Carpenter Street . Picture above is the entrance to China Town.

Road along Carpenter Street is the best place to see old building and amazing kopitiam. This particular one serves the best kolok me...

An old Chinese Temple near China Town. There was some celebration going on and it had 6 lion wiggling their butt.

Take Diversion : (II) Go Straight

(Barrack road)

Kuching Post Office Building

Pavilion Kuching:Sarawak Textile Museum

Sarawak Craft School

Take Diversion: Opposite Barrack Road /Behind China Street

Anglican Cathedral (Bishop house)

Diocesan Guest House (My old guesthouse back in 2006)

From Barrack Road

Sarawak Museum

Reservoir Park

Statues at Aquarium, Reservoir Park

My journey ends at Roman Catholic Cathedral church

The eagle has landed!

Whats surprise me most about this whole trip was for the fact that Kuching City has

honoured President Obama before he even visited Malaysia.

Surprised??

Me too!!!

You don't believe me?

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Tada..."Barrack" Cool huh!

Food in Sarawak

Where ever I go I try my level best to eat what the local does even though I am vegetarian. This time around, instead of usual Inidan food, i hunted for Chinese vegetarian shop. Despite having a hard time locationg the shop and being expensive dinner for 1, I loved my food.

"The servant", located in Jalan Abbel, served something amazing:

The perfect ice lemon tea

My soft rice with vege and mock meat

"Muraga keerai" or better known as Changkuk Manis was suppuerbly cooked.

Sweet Sour Spicey Chicken was just simply delicious

You get What You Pay For!

There is famous cliché "You get what you pay for". Going backpacking for the past 5 years using Low Cost Carrier and living in guesthouses, I came to realization that as long you have roof over the head, stock of musli/icelemon tea (refer here for essential packing goods backpacking), 3 t-shirt, enough cash and have return tickets, you will be fine. To date, I never complained.

But at times traveling in style is nice and I just happen to get that opportunity by attending MOF Inc’s company’s Annual General Meeting.

Clothes:

Since it was official matter, instead of my worn out cargo pants, baby T and slippers, I actually decided to be presentable by wearing jean and blouse. However, I just can take away the habit of caring backpack rather then suits.

Transports:

Then there was the Malaysian Airline. Being government servant, it’s mandatory to use our national carrier. Flying with MAS is always superb even if it’s just economy class. No complains about that. The crew was polite; the space was amazing and the food wonderful. I was just lucky, despite not telling them that I was vegetarian, they just happen has something for me to eat. Here was what I ate:

Ok. I know what you are thing. Uppuma and vadai with dhal, bread and drinks was sufficient. But yogurt drink, Ferrero Rocher and Baskins was just bizarre. Sometimes I wonder with all that money spend on food and ticketing and whole lots of staff, I am surprise that MAS can keep up with Airasia and declare profit. Today, I am proud MAS is part of my organization and has live up to his moto “we serve first class service.” It was indeed!

Accommodation:

It was then followed by Hilton. Since, most directors were Tan Sri and Dato’s and CEO of the company, I just happen to get a place to stay in Hilton just like them. Probably not the luxury suits, but as long as it says Hilton it was good, clean and superb. It always worth what you pay for.

Food:

What I miss most was the dinner at the stake house. Being vegetarian, I opt to miss that but breakfast was simply superb.


So the moral of the story is “At times, it’s nice to travel in style” You get what you pay for!

Once in a life time

Unlike many girls I know, I never had dream guy, dream wedding, or dream family. But I knew someday, I would put my creativeness, passion and hard work constructing something, someday for someone. And it just happened through my sister’s wedding of the year.

Even though it took me weeks to do planning, purchasing and preparing decoration for engagement, yet it only took me couple of days to visualize and creating something out of nothing. Things just popped out of my brains. Reading all the decoration books and watching tv programs as well as surfing from nets was just wortlwhile and made things less complicating.

After weeks of preparation, arguments and frustration, I finished my bits and pieces of the decoration with no interference of others. I guess, sometimes, something’s just better done alone.

The big day finally arrived, and it was time to reassemble all the bits and pieces together into something that I have been visualizing. Nevertheless when several troupe of army decided to take the lead on their own, it just became to complicating and I decided to back off. So for anyone that came for the engagement or by looking at these pictures here thought the decoration was remarkable, all applaud should be given to my sisters BFF and my uncles, aunts and cousins that has worked hard putting it together. Here was the result. Once in a lifetime project:

At the end, it wasn’t exactly what I have pictured but close enough to satisfy all. But was I satisfied? Was all the hassle worthwhile? Will I do it ever again? As of now, the answer is a big NO! That was probably the first and the last. I wanted to do more but circumstances prevails me. I guess perfectionist never get satisfied.

Note:

Pictures by SL, Kutty and Myself