Things to do, places to see pt.2

Photo taken from inside Sampan.

The Sampan trip took about 5 minutes, if that, to cross Sarawak River. And that was an experience! It costs about RM0.50 (which is about NZD0.20), cheap as!!

After we reached the otherside of the river, we headed off to Fort Margherita.



The fort is built in 1879 to guard Kuching’s river approaches from pirates. Named after Charles Brooke’s wife, Ranee Margaret. The Fort is actually a Police Museum nowadays... well, not when I was there anyway. It was nothing but an empty building. The reason they hid all the weapons was because the guards were afraid that I might play around with it and shot myself...

The building has a spiral type stairs and quite steep.



It is a three storey building with large rooms on the first and second floor.



Third floor is a balcony where we can see the whole of Kuching waterfront clearly.





It also houses the famous 'laughing skulls', which many witnesses claim have the ability to emit an eerie laughing noise.


Dare to go inside?

I went in but to much disappointment, I didn't hear any laughing noise... Thou I can be sure that I won't be here blogging if I did hear the laughter. The chances are you will be able to find me at seven and a half mile Kuching Mental Hospital.


All the skulls are packed in this basket. It's really real skull!!

We left the place after 30 minutes. Empty building, although scenery was great upstairs, but there was nothing much to see lah really...

Then we went to our Kuching Civic Centre.



The building was officially opened on 1 August 1988 following the proclamation of Kuching as a city status. Civic Centre tower offers the best all-round views of Kuching and the surrounding area.



When I walked around happily snapping away with my camera, I saw a bizarre event which I believed it only happened in Malaysia... or in Kuching...

Building below is a place called The Sarawak Club providing its members a wide range of sporting facilities which includes squash, tennis, basketball, tennis, badminton, table tennis etc.. and of course swmming pool.



To my delight, I noticed a guy was swimming in the pool! I immediately zoomed in to that guy with my camera lense, like fully close-up zoom to see how the swimmer looks like... as we do (or more so of what he was wearing). Guess what I saw, a man with a very lickable body (slurp), in a pair of tight togs, swimming in a pool, with a pair of flippers...



Why on earth do you need flippers to swim in a pool? Maybe his feet are too small that he needed the flippers to help him moved around in the pool... You can only find this in Kuching! And I'm proud to be Kuchingites!! No I am not a weirdo~

Just going to show different places that I went to when I was in Kuching.

India Street is a pedestrian walkway of variety of colorful textiles, clothing, crockery and other essentials. It is the best place to shop for spices, clothing, textiles, souvenirs etc. Most of the shops now are Chinese operated. I had so much fun price bargaining for clothes and shoes that I bought, from sky-rocketed price bargained down to next to nothing. I went to The Warehouse in Auckland few days ago and just before I paid for those red undies at the counter, I almost asked: Dua Ringgit Boleh? (two dollar can?) I miss Kuching...


India Street

Khatulistiwa Cafe is situated along Sarawak River. I am not sure what sort of beverage and food they served but this building is very unique on its own. I am sure many tourists will choose this place to wine and dine due to its ambience. Once upon a time one of my friend told me that this is the place where gay people gather round and meet, I'm not sure about that as I wasnt' there. Only if I was, Kuching will never be the same again...


Khatulistiwa Cafe

Kuching Old Courthouse is a heritage building near the Kuching waterfront. It was built by Sir Charles Brooke, the second Rajah of Sarawak, in 1883. At the time of its construction, it was intended as government offices and venue for state ceremonies. But the Courthouse is today used as a tourist centre.


Kuching Old Courthouse

The Malaysia-China Friendship Garden, known as Taman Sahabat in Malay was built to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China. The RM12 Million Garden is located on Jalan Song in Kuching South and is beatifully designed in the styles of both Malaysia and China.



Although there were so many stunning features in the park but due to lack of lighting, my camera was not able to take clear shots for almost all of the features. I am very stubburn. I will try not to use flash light as much as possible when taking photos because flash light kills the colour of objects and make everything looks white. Hence I only posted this huge Chinese style arch entrance on here.


Nice night for dating in the park. Watch out for Manwolves.

Okay, tired now... More to be reveal in my following entries.

To be continue...

Things to do, places to see pt.1

My flight departed at 5.15am and to be honest, that was bloody tiring as I stayed up whole night just in case I slept in. So I was at the airport by 3am...

Chinese proverb said: Birds who get up early catches more worms. Well I didn't see any worm but all I see was this big bird..



After almost ten hours of long excruciating flight, my big arse was screaming for help as a result of sitting down too long. Thank God, I arrived in Brunei shortly after I started to give my arse a nice massage...


Brunei, bird's eyeview.


Happiest moment of my life, TOUCHED DOWN!!!

Although I read alot of not so good comments about Royal Brunei Airlines on internet, the impression they gave me was totally different. They offered really good service and the plane wasn't old at all, unlike the negative feedbacks people gave. It was a pleasant experience, and cheap fare!

After arrived in Brunei, I took a free bus tour which provided by Brunei International Airport into Bandar Seri Begawan. It was an hour city tour. I had about nine hours on my sleeve before the next flight back to Kuching so thought this is a good opportunity to see Brunei.

Brunei is an Islamic Country and alcohol is prohibited. Because of that the country is really peaceful... that was my personal thought by the way. Alcohol is the mother of all stupid behaviours...


Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, The country's major landmark is one of the most spectacular mosques in the Asia Pacific and a major tourist attraction.


The Water Village. It might look like a slum from a distance but the villagers enjoy modern amenities eg. PS2 and Home Theatre Sound Systems.

After an hour fun tour, I was brought back to the airport again and it was only 1pm. Meaning I had 6 hours to wait... let me tell you now... that was long and boring...


I sat on this seat for the whole of afternoon before my next flight... FYI

Finally the time came and I left Brunei, heading towards Kuching.

As the previous entry, I was ecstatic to be home.



After caught up with all of my relatives, I started venturing out with my friend to explore Kuching City.

First stop, Main Bazaar. Situated opposite the Waterfront, is the oldest street in the city and the heart of old Kuching. Kuching’s highest concentration of antique and handicraft shops can be found here.



Next to the shops is Tua Pek Kong Temple, the oldest Chinese temple in Kuching. It was believed to be built around the year 1800, more than two centuries ago. Old leh~



After a brief visit inside the holy place, we headed off to Kuching Waterfront which is right opposite the temple. It stretches with nearly 900m long esplanade, beautifully landscaped and dotted with wooden benches, food stalls, restaurants and entertainment facilities.


Long stretches of Waterfront, with a couple of Sampan (relatively flat bottomed wooden boat) parked alongside waiting for some lucky fella to hop on.




Kuching Waterfront at night.


Kuching Waterfront, with Tua Pek Kong in far distance.

The Waterfront offers excellent views of the Astana and Fort Margherita as well.

The Astana was built in 1870 by Charles Brooke as a bridal gift to his wife Margaret (bloody rich people). It is nowadays the official residence of the Head of State of Sarawak.


Astana.

And as we looked at Fort Margherita, we decided to venture across Sarawak River to see what's the best kept secret in the Fort. So we hopped into one of the Sampan and wah lah! We became the lucky fella in the end!



From outside the Sampan didn't look quite big enough for my elephant type size body but quite surprisingly it was real spacious inside.



Like to know what I did and saw across the river? Please come back again.

To be continue...

Many years before, many years ahead...

Ok. Trip back to Malaysia. I'd write about this trip in multiple entries as they are so much to show and write about.

Firstly, this is where I stay..



Our house in Kuching, a place called home. It was the most exciting feeling arrived home that day. All the childhood and teenage-hood memories rushed back to me.


Main lounge

I missed the days when I didn't have to worry about pressure from work, didn't have to worry about bosses to please...


And... second lounge which connect to the main lounge.. well sort of...

But saying that, people do age, and so do I. Furthermore, if I was to stay as a wee young boy forever, I wouldn't have the things that I have today eg. home to keep me warm, job to keep me out of mischief, vehicles to take me around town, some fish to keep me busy cleaning up their shit (although it is ridiculous to say, it is quite fun to clean up fish tanks then watch the fish pollute the tank again with more poo. Don't believe? Try it!)


Dining area

More importantly I have family and friends that care for me and, most importantly, a husband who loves me dearly for who I am. For all these, I believe I am very lucky and certainly feel absolutely contented and living a happy life.


Kitchen

Now this is my bedroom.



Some of you might think 'It's not a bedroom! There is no bed!' True but not quite, the grass mat was my 'bed'. The floor was hard but comfortable to sleep on, to much of my surprise. Admittedly who doesn't like hard stuff. I do anyway. It kept me old bones in place... that was sleeping on the floor I meant.

There is a huge notice board in my room which I used to chucked all sorts of junk on there. When I went back this time, I noticed that the board was filled with all my paintings (I used to paint ages ago by the way) and lots of greeting cards that my brothers and I sent back to mum and dad along these years.



I asked mum why did they do this and she said to me:' This is the only way for me and dad to remember you guys oversea.'

......



















That night, while staring at my notice board...

I cried...

I want to ride my bicycle~

Went to pick up our gift incentive from work during the weekend. It was my chosen bicycle!!



Guess all the hard work that we did last year paid off huh!