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Malaysia Travel Guide

Kuching Awarded “World Craft City” Status

Kuching Awarded “World Craft City” Status

Kuching has been awarded the status “World Craft City” by the World Crafts Council.

Karim and others having a look at the AHPADA-WEFT Forum poster’s during the launching of conferment on Kuching City for Craft by World Craft Council at Old Court House, Kuching. Photo Credit: New Sarawak Tribune

The city has the reputation of being the hub and gateway to the crafts of the indigenous tribes of Sarawak and entire Borneo. These crafts are testaments to the wealth and diversity of their traditions and cultures in the forms of textiles, fibres, ceramics and wood.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the state has many other sub-ethnics groups. These are what make Sarawak a great place to discover for tourists, and therefore it has won the heart of the judges to declare Kuching as City for Crafts.

“I was also informed that the city has been conferred as the World Crafts Council-City for Crafts thereby joining the ranks of other Crafts Cities around the world in countries such as India, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Iran and twenty other cities the world over,” Karim said at the launch of conferment on Kuching as city for crafts.

Continue reading here:
Kuching to be Promoted as ‘craft paradise’, says Karim; by New Sarawak Tribune.

 

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Malaysia Travel Guide

Kuching Awarded “World Craft City” Status by the World Crafts Council.

Kuching Awarded “World Craft City” Status by the World Crafts Council.

Kuching has been awarded the status “World Craft City” by the World Crafts Council.

Karim and others having a look at the AHPADA-WEFT Forum poster’s during the launching of conferment on Kuching City for Craft by World Craft Council at Old Court House, Kuching. Photo Credit: New Sarawak Tribune

The city has the reputation of being the hub and gateway to the crafts of the indigenous tribes of Sarawak and entire Borneo. These crafts are testaments to the wealth and diversity of their traditions and cultures in the forms of textiles, fibres, ceramics and wood.

Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the state has many other sub-ethnics groups. These are what make Sarawak a great place to discover for tourists, and therefore it has won the heart of the judges to declare Kuching as City for Crafts.

“I was also informed that the city has been conferred as the World Crafts Council-City for Crafts thereby joining the ranks of other Crafts Cities around the world in countries such as India, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Iran and twenty other cities the world over,” Karim said at the launch of conferment on Kuching as city for crafts.

Continue reading here:
Kuching to be Promoted as ‘craft paradise’, says Karim; by New Sarawak Tribune.

 

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Malaysia Travel Guide

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

For the visitor to Kuching, the best way to explore this unique city is by foot.  This means, you simply need a pair of good walking shoes and you can walk around the old part of Kuching to see some of its tourist sites.

Kuching City is usually the main gateway into Sarawak as the main airport is located about 20 minutes from the city. Often called Cat City, because Kuching translates from Malay to cat, you will easily spot multiple cat structures which are also great for photo stops.

I would also like to share with you that Kuching city is a morning city, which means this place is best explored in the mornings when it is not too hot and humid. Most of the businesses close by 5.00PM and by 7.00PM, everything comes to a standstill here.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

Tua Pek Kong Temple along Jalan Main Bazaar

Where to start in Kuching?

The best place to start your walking tours are from the Main Bazaar area where the Kuching Waterfront is located. I started in the morning about 9.00 AM and found that this is a great place to walk around, where I visited the Chinese History Museum and the prominent Chinese Temple called Tua Pek Kong.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

Kuching’s vibrant Main Bazaar

From these two landmarks, just walk along the Main Bazaar where you will pass through a series of shops that sell ethnic Sarawakian antiques, collectibles and souvenir. This is probably the best place to get your souvenirs for Sarawak.

Along the Main Bazaar, you can spot some decades old businesses that are still trading goods like pepper, rice and so on. Once you reach the end, look across the road and you will see the Kuching Waterfront Bazaar, where you can find more authentic souvenirs.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

The new Darul Hana Bridge across the Sarawak River on the left

Crossing the New Darul Hana Bridge

From there, you can either take the newly opened 335m-long S-shaped bridge called Darul Hana Bridge that goes over the Sarawak River that links Pangkalan Batu and Pangkalan Sapi.

Visitors can now walk over to the Old State Legislative Assembly building passing through Botanic Gardens and Orchid Garden and also to the iconic Fort Margherita.

After this, head back across the Darul Hana Bridge and walk towards the Brooke Monument for a photo moment. This is also where the old Court House is located at. Walk into Jalan Barrack and you will find the entrance to India Street.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

India Street and the covered walkway

Called the India Street Pedestrian Mall, this old area has been given a beautiful makeover and is now a covered walkway. Traders are seen on both sides of the street selling all sorts of wares as I walk through and exit at Japan Power.

From the exit, keep walking along Jalan Market to see the old Kuching trading and business communities. While walking around here, do look out for some of the well known local eateries or coffee shops.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

Carpenter Street in Kuching

After I explored this part of the city, I headed back to Carpenter Street which is just behind the Main Bazaar. I selected this because by the time I was done, it was lunch time and at Carpenter Street, there is a great place to try which is the Temple Food Court. It is located just opposite the Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple at the end of Carpenter Street in Kuching

After lunch, I continued along Carpenter Street towards the end where I ended my walking tour of Kuching. This I where you will find the Hong San Si Temple, which is one of the most beautiful temples in Kuching.

In general, you can see this interesting part of Kuching in just under four hours on foot and very suitable for anyone who has half a day free in Kuching.

___________________
Photos by David Hogan Jr

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Malaysia Travel Guide

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

For the visitor to Kuching, the best way to explore this unique city is by foot.  This means, you simply need a pair of good walking shoes and you can walk around the old part of Kuching to see some of its tourist sites.

Kuching City is usually the main gateway into Sarawak as the main airport is located about 20 minutes from the city. Often called Cat City, because Kuching translates from Malay to cat, you will easily spot multiple cat structures which are also great for photo stops.

I would also like to share with you that Kuching city is a morning city, which means this place is best explored in the mornings when it is not too hot and humid. Most of the businesses close by 5.00PM and by 7.00PM, everything comes to a standstill here.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

Tua Pek Kong Temple along Jalan Main Bazaar

Where to start in Kuching?

The best place to start your walking tours are from the Main Bazaar area where the Kuching Waterfront is located. I started in the morning about 9.00 AM and found that this is a great place to walk around, where I visited the Chinese History Museum and the prominent Chinese Temple called Tua Pek Kong.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

Kuching’s vibrant Main Bazaar

From these two landmarks, just walk along the Main Bazaar where you will pass through a series of shops that sell ethnic Sarawakian antiques, collectibles and souvenir. This is probably the best place to get your souvenirs for Sarawak.

Along the Main Bazaar, you can spot some decades old businesses that are still trading goods like pepper, rice and so on. Once you reach the end, look across the road and you will see the Kuching Waterfront Bazaar, where you can find more authentic souvenirs.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

The new Darul Hana Bridge across the Sarawak River on the left

Crossing the New Darul Hana Bridge

From there, you can either take the newly opened 335m-long S-shaped bridge called Darul Hana Bridge that goes over the Sarawak River that links Pangkalan Batu and Pangkalan Sapi.

Visitors can now walk over to the Old State Legislative Assembly building passing through Botanic Gardens and Orchid Garden and also to the iconic Fort Margherita.

After this, head back across the Darul Hana Bridge and walk towards the Brooke Monument for a photo moment. This is also where the old Court House is located at. Walk into Jalan Barrack and you will find the entrance to India Street.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

India Street and the covered walkway

Called the India Street Pedestrian Mall, this old area has been given a beautiful makeover and is now a covered walkway. Traders are seen on both sides of the street selling all sorts of wares as I walk through and exit at Japan Power.

From the exit, keep walking along Jalan Market to see the old Kuching trading and business communities. While walking around here, do look out for some of the well known local eateries or coffee shops.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

Carpenter Street in Kuching

After I explored this part of the city, I headed back to Carpenter Street which is just behind the Main Bazaar. I selected this because by the time I was done, it was lunch time and at Carpenter Street, there is a great place to try which is the Temple Food Court. It is located just opposite the Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple.

Seeing Kuching City on Foot

Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple at the end of Carpenter Street in Kuching

After lunch, I continued along Carpenter Street towards the end where I ended my walking tour of Kuching. This I where you will find the Hong San Si Temple, which is one of the most beautiful temples in Kuching.

In general, you can see this interesting part of Kuching in just under four hours on foot and very suitable for anyone who has half a day free in Kuching.

___________________
Photos by David Hogan Jr

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Malaysia Travel Guide

30 Fun Things to do in Kuching Sarawak

30 Fun Things to do in Kuching Sarawak

Written by: Jyotsna Ramani

Kuching, the famous cat city of Sarawak, stole my heart. I went there as a volunteer for MonkeeBar which helps raise funds for Project Orangutan but soon fell in love with the laid back Bornean lifestyle. So much so that I had my parents visit, plus I revisited as press for Rainforest world music festival.  Here’s my personal experiences in the cat city and top 30 fun and interesting things to do in and around Kuching.

30 Things to do in Kuching City in 2017:

  1. Hike in Bako national park
  2. Look for Sea Turtles in Satang Island
  3. Enter the world of Cats at the Cat Museum
  4. Volunteer at the Monkee bar
  5. Get a tan at Damai Beach
  6. Walk along the Waterfront
  7. Hop on the Irrawady dolphin tour
  8. High Five the Cat Statues
  9. Stay at Fancy Hotels
  10. Bask in the Cafe Culture
  11. Visit the Quirky Upside Down Museum aka Rumah Terbalik
  12. Attend the Rainforest World Music Festival
  13. Gulp Beer in Cool Drinking Holes
  14. Orangutan Feeding at Semenggoh Nature Reserve
  15. India Street
  16. Check out the Kuching Mosque
  17. Bird Watching in Kuching
  18. Orchid garden
  19. Shopping in Kuching
  20. Sarawak museum
  21. Watch a Muay Thai match
  22. See the Famous Fort Margherita
  23. Loiter around Padungan Street
  24. Kuching Old Courthouse
  25. Buy Cat Souvenirs
  26. Try Local Food
  27. Be Mesmerized by the best Sunsets in Malaysia
  28. Stay Fit at Kuching Integrated Recreational center
  29. Meow Meow Cat Cafe
  30. Cooking class with a local

Read more on: https://www.wanderwithjo.com/things-to-do-in-kuching/
Photo courtesy: https://www.wanderwithjo.com/

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