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irisundfranziunterwegs · 6 years ago

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Malaysia - The Culvert Tag19

Heute wollen wir es uns richtig gut gehen lassen. Haben für 2 Nächte eine total abgefahrene Unterkunft gebucht. Wir fahren nach Santubong 45 Minuten von der Stadt entfernt.

Unsere Unterkuft heißt " the culvert". ( übersetzt der Abwasserkanal ) Geschlafen wird in riesengroßen Kanalröhren. Auf kleinstem Raum ist hier alles untergebracht. Sportlich sollte man schon sein, denn um ins Bad zu kommen , musst du dich übers Bett rollen. Total irre. Aber sonst fehlt es hier an nichts. Musst nur alles im Backpack lassen und unters Bett schieben, da sonst kein Platz ist.

Wir nehmen Platz in der Lobby mit angrenzender Bar. Es scheint nicht viel los zu sein.

Mit uns sind vielleicht nur noch 6 Urlauber hier.

Möchte wenigstens noch eine Tour unternehmen. Damit nerve ich so lange, bis wir endlich eine Nachttour auf dem River buchen. Hatten wir bisher noch nicht.

Die Zwischenzeit wollen wir am Pool verbringen. Es gibt einen direkt bei der Bar. Die Liegemöglichkeiten sind überdacht , jedoch hat sich durch den Regen das Wasser in der Überdachung gesammelt und tropft auf die Kissen der Liege. Es scheint hier auch keinen zu interessieren. Naja ist auch nicht Hauptreisezeit und je weniger Gäste da sind desto unmotivierter ist man. Kenn ich ja auch von früher aus der Gastro.

Also versuche ich kurzerhand selbst das Wasser aus der Plane rauszubekommen. Man muss ja nur mit etwas Schwung von unten dagegendrücken....Nun ja ......das ging wohl etwas daneben. Plötzlich nimmt das Wasser Fahrt in eine andere Richtung auf und ergießt sich über mich ...zur Freude von Franzi und Heiko.😂

15 Minuten später zeigt uns ein Mitarbeiter, wie das geht. Er kippt die Liegen einfach im Ganzen an und schon läuft das Wasser nach hinten ab.

Nun ja. Es gibt ja noch einen zweiten Pool. Nur da gerade nicht viel Betrieb ist, nutzen sie hier die Zeit zum umbauen. Verständlich , nur es macht auch die zweite Poolbenutzung für uns unbrauchbar.

Na dann eben ab zum Strand. Da steht aber " schwimmen auf eigene Gefahr" . Es wird gewarnt vor Schlangen und Krokodilen.

Zum Glück gibt es noch eine Lounge hier. Mit etwas weniger Lärm warten wir dort auf unsere Abholung zur Rivernight.

Kurz vor der Abholung sehen wir noch einen Makaken in der Nähe von unseren "Röhren". Heißt also, keine Türen offen lassen, sonst fehlt wieder was....

Pünktlich 17.00 Uhr werden wir von unserem Hotel abgeholt. Eine Rivertour nur für uns drei. Sofort als wir die Anlegestelle verlassen haben, sichtet unser Guide Delphine. Es sind mindestes 5 an der Zahl. Es muss auch etwas ganz besonderes sein, da unser Guide selbst alles minutenlang mit dem Handy filmt. Er ist total aus dem Häuschen .

Es geht weiter und es fängt an zu dämmern. Jetzt wird es schwierig mit Tieren sichten. Aber ein paar Nasenaffen bekommen wir noch zu Gesicht. Wusste gar nicht, dass Affen auch große Strecken schwimmen können, denn unser Guide erzählt uns, dass sie von einem zu anderen Ufer schwimmen. Da würde selbst ich untergehen...

Versuchen noch Krokodile zu erspähen. Das bleibt uns aber verwehrt. Dafür sehen wir leuchtendes Plankton, eine riesige Qualle und noch viele Glühwürmchen.

Man sieht nicht mehr die Hand vor den Augen. In einem Affentempo geht es zurück durch die Nacht . Das Boot berührt kaum noch das Wasser und wenn doch , dann nur mir hartem Aufschlag . Wir sind mehr als erleichtert als wir anlegen.

Es wird noch ne Runde gespielt und dann ab in die Kiste...

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darkpeacecollection-univers-blog · 6 years ago

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10 Things to do in Kuching,Sarawak

After a 4 months stay at Swinburne University in Kuching I got many opportunities to discover Kuching within these months. Kuching is also know as “The Cat city” derived from the word “Kucing” in Bahasa Malay meaning as cat. Kuching is the most popular city and the capital of the Sarawak state of Malaysia.Since I was staying in the University hostel it was easy to get a Grab to these amazing places around the city. Because of this I got ample chances to explore this lovely city, Heart of Sarawak.

So, this is the start of the journey around Kuching, through my eyes.

Walk along Kuching Waterfront

The place to be in Kuching, to chill with your loved ones is the Kuching Waterfront. The Waterfront is an awesome place to walk around, eat out, grab a drink and to chill out with your friends and family. Evenings are dazzling and lively with the eye catching state legislate building, all lit ups around the waterfront as well as the Jambatan Darul Hana, the wonderful bridge shedding amazing reflections on the water surface.

There are lot to do at this wonderful place like listening to live music by many talented people as well as you can enjoy the live music from the tribal people from Sarawak. Moreover you can enjoy local dishes and different types of food(at cheap rates) from the night food stoles along the waterfront. You can even opt to take a river cruse or you can chose to take a walk along the Kuching waterfront. In the evening you can watch the sunset down the mountains from here.The sunset point is right at the corner of the Waterfront. If you are wondering what to do at nights in Kuching, Waterfront is a great place to hangout and you’ll be able to grab a beer from pubs and bars around this area.

Hike to Santubong

If you are a nature lover and an adventure seeker this will be a good news for you. Kuching is a place filled with adventures and a very good place for hiking. The first place I went on a hike is the mount Santubong. It is located about 35km from the capital closer to Damai beach. It has many natural attractions in the middle of the rain forest of mount Santubong. The well kept Sarawak Cultural Village is also right at the corner. Santubong is a great place to have a good hike as well as to have a bath in the cold water from a waterfall. The waterfall is in the middle of the trail to the summit, so you can relax a bit and proceed with the hike.

To reach the summit it is better to start the hike early in the morning, so you can enjoy the waterfalls and the surrounding. On your way up there you have to use the ropes as well as rope ladders at some points which is 70 degrees inclined, which is quite challenging as well. Up from the summit you admire the tropical greenery and the landscapes as well as the coast of Borneo. In my opinion,Mount Santubong is one of the must seen in Kuching .

Get Tan at Damai Beach

Damai beach is one of the the best beach resort destinations in Kuching with a stunning coastal line. This is a popular place for locals as well as travelers who loves to have some time in the beach. Damai is dotted with resorts as well as food bazaars. You can enjoy your weekend while watching the sunset and get a tan while having a fresh Pineapple juice and some local snacks as well. The favorite dessert of mine was the mouth watering “ABC special “dessert,which is made up of crushed ice with fruits, corn and syrups to sweeten it. Here you are able to taste local food from the food court. In Damai beach area you can spend your time in well facilitated resorts and enjoy your vacation with your loved ones

Hike to Bako National Park

Bako National Park is one of the biggest rain forests in Borneo island. This is one of the best places to see the proboscis monkeys, beard pigs, various types of birds as well as the world largest flower Rafflesia. A hike to Bako National park is more than just hiking you need well packing and planing. This is a well guided place for night hike as well to see various nocturnal animals in the park. Bako is place with 16 various color coded trails with overnight expeditions as well as full day hikes. To reach this place it takes about 15-30 min from the Kuching central with a distance of RM 30. From the Bako market to the Bako National park you can have a boat ride for about 20 minutes which is pretty exciting.

The park is opened through out the week from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and the boat ride service starts from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and here you can have accommodation services for your over night stay as well. You can have permission for professional photography as well. From the top of these trails you can even see the coastal line of this area. If you are person who love to have a night hike and get closer to the wild life,this is a place for you in the midst of Borneo.

The upside down house aka Rumah Terbalik

Kuching’s upside house is a place to have fun with your friends while capturing some photographs as if you are hanging from the roof. Even if this is a small place, it is a very enthusiastic place with friendly staff and good service. The ticket price for foreigners is RM 20. And there’s a 3D wonders museum as well. This place is well structured and you can be crazy with your friends in this place.

Textile museum in Kuching

If you like to travel back in time in clothing industry, this place might take your interest. Textile museum in Kuching is situated right next to the Plaza Madeka shopping mall. Here you can see the evolution of clothing style of Sarawak people and the various styles of different ethnic groups in Sarawak. Here they display the different types of jewelries used by tribal people as well as their arts and sculpture. A live 3D structure representing how they made clothes as well as different styles of marital clothing in different ethnic groups are also represented here. You can pay a visit to this place on your way to shopping and this is also entrance free for all the visitors.

Have a Beer in cool Bars,Pubs and Clubs

Are you wondering where should you go to have a Beer and enjoy music around Kuching? This might be interesting for you. In the Kuching central you are able to find plenty of Pubs and Clubs to enjoy your night. The places that I loved are “The Monkey bar”, “The Junk” and “Borneo Red Necks”. If you are an EDM lover or loves to dance in my experience “The Junk” is the best place. This is one of the favorite places of locals as well as tourists. Here you can even enjoy the live music bands too. The Monkey bar and Borneo Red necks are cheap as well as you can enjoy the local musics and international music too. You can even watch your favorite sport here while having a beer. One of the other places is Culture club is another place with karaoke and live music bands as well. The best thing about this is all most all the clubs and pubs are around the Kuching central.

Western Food in Kuching center

The Brooke Cafe and the Container are the best places to fulfill your taste buds with Western food. Here you can try many western dishes like Pasta, different types of Steak, Bread and salads Burgers etc. The Brooke Cafe is situated near the Kuching waterfront with a great surrounding. Even from the name you can guess in what this cafe is opened, The Container cafe is a place with good architecture as well. Here you can have Burgers, pasta not only that you can enjoy various types of beers too. Moreover you can have your Birthday party even for a reasonable price and you can meet friendly and supportive staff here.

Fill your taste buds with Borneo specials

You will never have to worry about what to eat in Kuching. If you love to taste different kinds of local food while you are traveling this is about the local food in Sarawak. The most famous food in Sarawak is the “Sarawak Laksa” it is also called as Laksa Sarawak. This is mainly taken as the Breakfast in this area, but you can have it for any meal. This is like a noodle soup with different kind of combinations.Some can be ordered with prawns,fish balls or meat balls, bean sprouts etc. This is presented with a piece of lime to increase its’ taste. In Kuching you can even have different types of Fried food and rice too. You can even try sea food, different kind of vegetarian dishes at Top spot in Kuching central. This is my favorite sea food place, here you can try grilled fish, fried prawns etc. You can even try Sarawak special food in 101 food court as well which is near the City One mega mall.

Shopping in Kuching

The biggest mall in Kuching is “The Spring” shopping mall. Here you can find international brands as well as local brads too. Most of the shopping malls are with facilities of food courts, movie theaters, children’s play area etc. One of my favorite shopping malls is “The Plaza Madeka”, here you can go for souvenir shopping, branded shopping as well as grocery shopping for a reasonable price. Other malls that you can go for shopping are Viva mall, Aeon Mall,EG mall etc. The best places for street shopping are Indian street and open air market near waterfront and there are small souvenir shops to buy gifts around this area.

Kuching is one of the must seen in the Sarawak State of Malaysia. It’s a great place to enjoy your vacation and taste some Borneo cuisines and be engaged in various cultural activities as well as fun things. You can enjoy your vacation to its maximum while been closer to the nature as well.

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originofundershirt · 7 years ago

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A day off Kuching. We're almost reaching the end of the river as Santubong mountain looms ahead. This was right before our boat got stuck for about one hour due to the shallow river bed. The tide was rising super slow and the man who drove the boat just unproductively kept on ramming the engine churning muddy current behind which did not at all solve the problem. Patience running thin. A western passenger likened the moment to a National Geography episode. Cursing flew around with presence of locals and guides which would have made Anthony Bourdain proud. Definitely my most memorable experience. (at Bako National Park)

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traveljournalsg · 8 years ago

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A GUIDE TO SARAWAK’S BEST

Take a peek into the soul of Kuching, Sarawak!

A two-hour flight away from Singapore lies a piece of paradise that many have yet to uncover. Sarawak is a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, and is best known for its lush greenery and dense rainforests. It is a welcome change of scenery from the city life, but also offers so much more than just an idyllic escape from a concrete jungle. Let us take you through Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, for a time of grooving to world-class music, food trails, and river cruises! Food and Heritage Trail A Singaporean’s love for food knows no boundaries. The mere thought of a hot bowl of freshly made Kolo Mee (Sarawak’s comfort food), or a plate of authentic Ayam Penyet accompanied with sambal belachan is enough to make one’s mouth water. Sarawak has a total of 22 unique local dishes and the best way to enjoy this gastronomic experience is by embarking on a Kuching Food Trail. The Food Trail, like a scavenger food hunt, brings you to various local eateries where you can find the food that is not only unique to Sarawak, but considered by most to be the best of its kind. To walk off all the calories, one might be interested in learning more about Sarawak’s history and culture with a Heritage Trail. The Heritage trail is a culmination of the Sarawak Heritage Society’s efforts, and is a walkabout tour that begins at the Kuching waterfront, working its way through historical monuments, temples, museums and galleries, as well as living heritage sites. Hire a local guide to take you on an in-depth tour of Kuching of you could venture out on your own by downloading an e-copy of the walking trails!

Rainforest World Music Festival

The Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique, annual music festival taking place this year from the 14th to 16th of July. Taking place at the Sarawak Cultural Village - at the foot of the majestic Mt. Santubong - the jungle comes alive with music and dance, thanks to the renowned musicians who travel down from all the corners of the earth. The line-up includes musicians from the different parts of Borneo as well, allowing you move to the rhythms of the third-largest island in the world.

Its formula of an afternoon full of informative workshops, followed by evening performances on the main stage has proven to be a hit with the audience, made up of locals as well as international fans. The festival grounds will be littered with food and drink stalls, an arts and crafts area, as well as festival memorabilia, Sarawak souvenirs, and merchandise by the performing artistes. So, bring along a picnic mat or a lawn chair, and get ready to celebrate quality music in the great outdoors!

Sunset Cruise on the Sarawak River

End a day in Sarawak by watching the sun set while on board a relaxing river cruise. Enjoy the fiery hues of the setting sun as you cruise along the Sarawak River and take in the magic that is Kuching’s Waterfront. The 900-meter long esplanade is filled with restaurants, food stalls, and entertainment. Many of Kuching’s historical buildings have also been incorporated into the overall design, allowing you to glance into the city’s humble beginnings and colonial past.

For more information, please visit https://sarawaktourism.com/

#sarawak #kuching #travel features

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viralhottopics · 8 years ago

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Kuching, Malaysia: what to see plus the best restaurants, hotels and bars

The capital of Malaysian Borneo is one of Asias most alluring cities, with fabulous food and new hotels, but little traffic and few high-rises to spoil the laid-back vibe

Just as Penang was swiftly transformed into one of Asias hottest destinations a few years ago, the buzz in Malaysia right now is all about another under-the-radar spot, the little-known city of Kuching, riverside capital of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. There are several theories as to how the city got its name (Kuching is cat in Malay), but its roots are as a trading post, built up by the family of Sir James Brooke, the first of the white rajahs who ruled Sarawak for a century. When I first visited 20 years ago, Kuching was a backwater, where tourists would hardly break their journey on their way to trek in Borneos rainforests and national parks.

Kuching, Malaysia, map

Going there today still reminds me of a time when Asian cities were not clogged with traffic, pollution and skyscrapers. Kuchings architectural heritage and historic Chinatown are well-preserved, even though it lacks Unesco protection, and there is scarcely a high-rise to spoil the skyline.

The street food has always been spectacular here, but now there are also bistros and fun bars, and a great choice of accommodation from boutique hotels to backpacker hostels. Despite its growth it retains a laid-back, small-town ambiance, with friendly locals who love to meet travellers who have made it all the way to Borneo.

What to see and do

Ji India, a popular street in Kuching. Photograph: Alamy

Kuching is defined by its historic waterfront, and the perfect introduction is to take a sunset stroll along the one-mile pedestrian promenade that follows the snaking Sarawak river. Across the water lie sleepy Malay kampongs, the once-imposing colonial Fort Margherita and the White Rajahs palace, both dwarfed today by an immense modern parliament building resembling a surreal golden spaceship. There are river cruises, but the simple sampan ferry, which rows people back and forth for M$1 a ride (under 20p), is more fun.

A tambang (sampan water taxi) boatman on the Sarawak River. Photograph: Andrew Watson/Getty Images

At the end of the prom, opposite the ancient prison that is now a fashionable restaurant, is the jewel in Kuchings colonial crown, the 19th-century Old Court House withcolonnaded terraces, which has become a culture hub since it was taken over by the people behind Penangs bohemian China House arts and leisure centre. Today the various court buildings host exhibitions, theatre, poetry reading and live music, as well as a fashion boutique, cafe and restaurant. Parallel to the waterfront runs Main Bazaar Street, lined with shops selling tribal handicrafts. The back streets behind form Kuchings Chinatown, a maze of incense-filled temples, coffee shops, street food stalls and noisy workshops full of tinsmiths, cobblers, carpenters and tailors.

Kenyah Dayak mural in the Sarawak Museum. Photograph: Andrew Watson/Getty Images

Kuching is not big on sights, but one venue not to miss isSarawak Museum, which has barely changed since it first opened in 1891, with an incredible collection of local flora and fauna, and a genuine insight into the indigenous tribes of the Borneo rainforest.

Local designer Jacqueline Fong has opened Tanoti Crafts, a workshop/boutique for young weavers that produces ethnic silk songket cloth, including affordable accessories like shawls and bags.

Tanoti Crafts

No one could fail to notice the large number of tattooed people in Kuching: body art is an integral part of the indigenous culture, especially the Iban, once also known for headhunting. Today, more than 20 tattoo studios draw in travellers. The man to visit is the world-renowned Ernesto Kalum, whose Borneo Headhunter studio (47 Wayang Street) offers both contemporary tattoos using modern machines and tribal designs created with the traditional tap technique.

For a less invasive insight into local life, book a course at Bumbu Cooking Class (about 28pp), where Joseph Jissin, from the Bidayuh tribe, takes small groups to the market to shop for ingredients from the jungle such as ferns and pineapples, colourful Malinjau nuts and fragrant pandan leaves, which everyone then cooks under his supervision before eating everything for lunch.

Where to eat

Prawn laksa, a traditional Sarawak dish. Photograph: Andrew Watson/Getty Images

Kuching is a foodie paradise, particularly the street food, where most dishes cost less than a pound. Begin at Chinatowns Seng Kee (main dishes about 90p, 37 Carpenter Street), where theres a choice of fishball soup, pork satay, Sarawak laksa, Chinese rice porridge with salted egg and preserved vegetables, or the adventurous kueh chap, a feast of slow-braised pork ribs and intestines.

In nearby Padungan Road, theres always a queue for Noodle Descendents (188 Padungan Road) which serves an awesome bowl of kolo mee, the favourite local dish of minced pork and noodles, served by a tiny lady who has been cooking here since 1957.

Top Spot food court is on top of a multi-storey car park. Photograph: BobSam

At night, the crowds head to Top Spot (main dishes from 1.80, Bukit Mata Street), an immense open-air food court on the roof of a car park. More than 500 diners sit at communal tables, ordering from neon-lit seafood stalls displaying live crabs, prawns, razor clams, wriggling squid, grouper, pomfret and parrot fish.

There are plenty of fine dining addresses too, from Asian fusion cuisine at Bla Bla Bla (27 Tabuan Street, mains 7) to excellent pasta and pizza at Junk (mains from 4, 80 Wayang Street), decorated with eclectic antiques collected by flamboyant chef George Ling. He also owns a row of Chinese shophouses, the latest being the lovingly preserved Barber Cafe just up the road, serving comfort food: tangy prawn soup, chilli burgers and healthy salads accompanied by a bloody mary or dirty martini.

Kuching street food stall. Photograph: John Brunton for the Guardian

But what is really exciting in Kuching right now is the rediscovery of the cuisine of Sarawaks indigenous tribes in creative restaurants such as Lepau (395 Ban Hock Road) and the.Dyak (29 Simpang Tiga Road). Dishes include manok lulun (chicken stewed in bamboo with tapioca leaves and herbs); umai (thinly sliced river fish marinated ceviche-style); and vegetables such as cangkuk manis (star gooseberry leaves) and midin (wild ferns).

Where to drink

The Monkeebar

For the best river views, take afternoon tea or sunset cocktails at the James Brooke Bistro (7 Tunku Abdul Rahman Street), which recalls the days of the white rajahs. Locals, though, tend to prefer freshly roasted coffee from beans grown on Sarawak plantations, at Black Bean Coffee (87 Ewe Hai Street). From early evening happy hour until well after midnight, the Drunk Monkey (68 Carpenter Street), in Chinatown, is Kuchings latest hot spot, though easily confused with the equally popular Monkeebar (12 Song Thian Cheok Street), owned by a conservation NGO that gives a third of its profits to an orang-utan conservation project. For live reggae and heavy metal, head for The Canteen (7 Tun Haji Openg Street) at weekends. And21 Bistro (64 Padungan Road) is a gritty bar where Filipino musicians entertain a raucous crowd: its the place to try a glass of tuak, lethal home-brewed rice wine.

Where to stay

The Ranee hotel

Kuching has plenty of modern five-star hotels, but a much more original place to stay is the Ranee (doubles from 53 B&B), a romantic boutique hotel in two former Chinese shophouses, decorated with antiques and tribal handicrafts. Just next door is a charming budget alternative, the Waterfront Lodge (doubles 21) with a traditional interior courtyard. There are a host of inexpensive backpacker hostels, such as Singgahsana Lodge (dorm bed 6.50, singgahsana.com), which has a rooftop bar with pool tables and occasional live music, or in Chinatown, the hip DIY Dorm (dorm bed 4.60) with its popular Wrong Place cafe.

Trips out of town

Bako national park. Photograph: ElenaMirage/Getty Images/iStockphoto

There are several destinations an hour or so from Kuching that offer an exciting taste of Borneos ancient rainforests (see sarawaktourism.com for contacts). Bako national park, the oldest and one of the smallest national parks, is reached by a steamy boat ride along the Santubong river (full day 55pp). Jungle trails weave past mangrove swamps and dense tropical vegetation, with several coming out at quiet sandy beaches on the South China Sea. For staying overnight, there are simple two-person jungle chalets to rent (about 30) or dorm beds (under 4), with the chance to go on after-dark treks.

Mother and baby orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. Photograph: Grant Dixon/Getty/Lonely Planet

A trip to the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre (24) offers a rare opportunity to see orangutans in their natural habitat. Travellers need to understand though, that this is a rehabilitation centre for a species whose future is still seriously threatened, not a tourist attraction. Semenggohs 26 orang-utans roam free in the jungle and swing through the trees when forest wardens arrive for the twice-daily feeding. Visitors can respectfully watch in silence from a platform around 100 metres away.

The Night Market in Siniawan Old Town. Photograph: Chee Jiun Chong

Rarely mentioned in guidebooks is Siniawan Old Town whose night market held in an abandoned 1860s gold mining settlement makes an offbeat foodie escapade just 30km from Kuching (about 15pp). On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from sunset till 11pm, this riverside ghost town of clapboard houses comes alive as scores of food stalls set up shop, frying noodles and vegetables, grilling fish, chicken wings and satay. Tables are set up all along the high street, under red Chinese lanterns, to cater for hundreds of hungry visitors.