What’s the deal, Kuching?
Kuching is the capital of Sarawak, one of the two Malaysian states on Borneo island. After reading about the charm of Kuching I got excited about it and made it a point to get there, but I have to say I was rather underwhelmed by the town itself. All the guidebooks and online sources seem to describe Kuching as charming and relaxing , but to me it seemed more like a sleepy by day, dead by night sort of place.
I’ll admit that the riverside (Kuching is sprawled along the banks of the Sarawak River) is quite picturesque, especially in the evening.
Sarawak River, Kuching
Sarawak River, Kuching
But if you decide to continue your evening elsewhere, if only to have dinner any later than 8pm, you’ll be faced with a challenge, because around that time Chinatown and the neighbouring areas at least turn into a ghost town.
The temples save the day
On a positive note, Kuching has some stunning Chinese temples, of which I am a huge fan in general (I could probably live in a Chinese temple if it were possible).
Chinese temple, Kuching
Chinese temple, Kuching
Chinese temple, Kuching
Chinese temple, Kuching
So why are you here?
Most people don’t come to Sarawak or Borneo for the sake of seeing Kuching. The main attractions are of course the wildlife, the Natural Parks and all the activities they offer. There are various tours you can sign up for with the local tourist agencies, ranging from half a day to 3 or more days in length. They can often be quite pricey, though.
What is also interesting is Sarawak’s cultural heritage, which you can sample in the Sarawak Cultural Village (there are tours from Kutching that can take you there with a minivan). It is a living museum showcasing traditional dwellings, customs and arts and crafts of the tribes that originally populated the area. The residents of the village, dressed in their respective tribes’ costumes and demonstrating what daily life used to look like, are also very open to interaction with visitors.
longhouse, Sarawak Cultural Village
Sarawak Cultural Village
Sarawak Cultural Village
Sarawak Cultural Village
Sarawak Cultural Village
On top of that, twice a day there is a performance of the traditional dance styles (some of them verging on acrobatic performances), mixed with a good dose of humor and cheeky interactions with the audience, which makes them pretty entertaining. It’s definitely worth staying for the show while there.
