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Leisure trip at a glance
Country: Malaysia
Period: 01 May to 05 May 2009
Flight timings:
01 May: AK 5842, JHB–KCH, ETD 1235 ETA 1400
05 May: AK 6673, KCH–SIN, ETD 1840 ETA 2005
Air tickets: Return tickets at SGD 100.90 (inclusive of airport taxes)
Accommodations:
Permai Rainforest Resort (01 to 03 May)
Hilton Kuching Hotel (03 to 05 May)
Currency exchange rate: MYR 100 = SGD 41.84 (May ’09 period)
Here's the overview of the trip itinerary:
Day 1 – Went across the causeway to Senai Airport for afternoon flight AK 5842 to Kuching. Took cab to Damai beach area and checked in at Permai Rainforest Resort for subsequent 2 nights. Explored Damai Beach area.
Day 2 – Visited Sarawak Cultural Village and completed forest-tracking within Permai Rainforest Resort.
Day 3 – Took cab to Kuching city and checked in at Hilton Kuching hotel for subsequent 2 nights. Visited Sunday market, Sarawak Museum and Textile Museum. Strolled along India Street and visited Cat Museum. Walked along waterfront and shopped at Main Bazaar.
Day 4 – Took full day tour to Bako National Park. Shopped at Tun Jungah, Riverside Shopping Complex and Sarawak Plaza.
Day 5 – Visited Tua Pek Kong Temple and Chinese History Museum. Collected Sarawak Kuih Lapis and strolled along Chinatown (Carpenter street). Took a cab to Airport for flight AK 6673 back to Singapore.
Travel Experiences:
- Most taxis in Kuching city (left photo below) do not follow meters when charging. Therefore it is important to negotiate and confirm the fare before boarding. As a guide, taxi from Kuching airport to Damai costs MYR 62 while to City/ hotel costs only MYR 22 (right photo below).
- When tracking without any guide, it is important to let the resort stuff or someone knows that you’re in the forest in case of any emergency. Contingency planning such as preparation of sudden downpour is required; bring raincoats and touch-lights along when tracking.
Interesting Observations:
- Cat sculptures / images can be found everywhere in Kuching city, even on drainage covers. Just need to be observant in finding them (photos below).
- Beverage sachet packs have contents of medicinal plants such as Tongkat Ali (for males) and Kacip Fatimah (for females). Sometimes Ginseng is also added into these beverages. These sachet packs are commonly found in Kuching supermarkets.
Beverages with Tongkat Ali contents (photos below):
Beverages with Kacip Fatimah contents (photos below):
Souvenirs
Bought some Sarawak Kuih Lapis back. Unlike the traditional Kuih Lapis in Singapore, Sarawak ones are more colorful and have a variety of flavor. Most stores selling them will allow customers to sample before buying. Bought 2 types of Kuih Lapis back: Traditional Kuih Lapis with 'Shan Zha' (山楂) candy inserted to form fish scales (top) and Pandan Kuih Lapis (bottom) (photos below).
This brand 'Liza Binti Husin' is better in taste and each cake weighed 600-grams. According to the salesgirl, this type of Kuih Lapis contain butter rather than margarine, therefore heavier and tastier. Each Kuih Lapis costs MYR 18, but willing to offer 3 for MYR 50.
I've also bought some fridge magnets in a cartoon form of Sarawak's ethnic groups (photo below). Depending on the souvenir shops (behind waterfront), each magnets can cost MYR 1.00 (MYR 2 per pair) to MYR 2.50 (MYR 10 for 4).
Useful links:
Sarawak Tourism Board:
http://sarawaktourism.com/content.cfm
Kuching Guide:
http://kuching.outer-court.com/
A Travel Guide To Kuching:
http://www.travelguideskuching.com/
Kuching city map (from travel brochure):
http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x320/Daniel134_photo/Kuchingcitymap.jpg