Where is kuching located

Moving about is easy as the city and its surrounding areas are well serviced by taxis and buses. The fares are reasonably low. Taxis are only a phone call away and many queue at major hotels. Bus fares are cheap and moving about by this means of transportation is a good way to see the town. Sarawak, the largest state in the country with a population of only 2.

Its 29 ethnic communities are well-known for their friendliness and hospitality. Each community practices their own customs and traditions and no where else in Malaysia can such colourful diversity be found. This vast state is linked to other parts of Malaysia and the rest of the world via air.

Internally, Sarawak is well-connected by a network of air, road and river transportation. Its numerous national parks are known for their many natural wonders.

Sarawak also revels in showcasing major events. One of these is the annual Rainforest World Music Festival, a unique festival that brings together on the same stage renowned world musicians from all continents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of Borneo.

While it may be better known for its ethnic diversity and natural wonders, each year Sarawak plays host to a multitude of sports events. There are ornate Chinese temples, many fine examples of colonial-style architecture, a beautiful waterfront and a number of interesting museums, including the historic Sarawak Museum. There is an excellent range of accommodation, from luxury via boutique to budget, good restaurants, and nightlife to suit most tastes and pockets.

There are a number of stories as to how this name came about, but it is unlikely that it has anything to do with cats. Sarawak is a unique and enjoyable tourism destination, and Kuching is the ideal base from which to go exploring. The nearby national parks include the famous Bako, home of the rare proboscis monkey, Gunung Gading, where giant rafflesia flowers bloom, Kuching Wetlands, which protects a fascinating mangrove ecosystem, Kubah, with its rare palms and orchids, and Semenggoh and Matang Wildlife Centres with their resident orangutans.

Literally hundreds of Iban and Bidayuh longhouses are within easy travelling distance. Kuching is also the ideal base for visiting longhouses. At night this is the place to see and be seen, and many young couples from Kuching choose this spot for a leisurely romantic stroll. You will also find a selection of small cafes here and although the prices are a little higher than in other spots, the views more than make up for it.

Astana is the Malay word for Palace and this iconic building dates from during the time of Charles Brooke who was also known as the Second White Rajah of Sarawak. The Astana is now the official home of the Governor of Sarawak but it was originally built as a wedding gift for Ranee Margaret, the wife of Charles Brooke. The complex is made up of three different bungalow areas which are joined by walkways and the Astana enjoys panoramic views over the waterfront of Kuching.

As this is an official state residence however, visitors are not permitted to enter the Astana grounds and you will have to make do with admiring this historical gem from afar. Kuching means cat in Malay, and as you will soon discover on a trip here, this is a city obsessed with cats. To that end, make your way to the Cat Museum where you will learn all about the historical and cultural significance of these felines with over 2, cat-related exhibits on show.

Some of the highlights include a cat in mummified form that hails from Egypt and is said to date back 5, years as well as a mounted example of a Bay Cat which is a kind of wild feline that is indigenous to the island of Borneo. Certainly if you are looking for a quirky attraction to visit on a rainy day in Kuching then this is hard to beat.

Kuching Mosque used to be known as the State Mosque of Sarawak so you may still hear it referred to by this name occasionally.

The original building would have been constructed as far back as and was made of wood, although it has since been upgraded and the building that stands now was completed in The mosque is decorated in pretty pink and white designs and is topped with a large gold dome that glints under the fierce Malaysian sun. If you only have time to visit one museum in Kuching then the Sarawak Museum is an excellent pick. The museum also has the claim to fame of being the oldest in Borneo and was founded in under Charles Brooke.

The museum is housed in a huge building that dates from the Victorian period and is, somewhat surprisingly, modeled on a traditional Normandy townhouse.

If you are interested in the culture of Sarawak, then the museum is a treasure trove of antiquities that include tribal weapons, models of longhouses, and a plethora of stuffed animals. Another highlight is a model of the Niah Caves which are thought to be the source of the first human settlement in Borneo. The Main Bazaar is actually something of a misleading name as this actually refers to a row of traditional shop houses that line the main street in Kuching.

The shop houses face the water and this is the place to come if you are looking for souvenirs or traditional arts and crafts. Some of the items you are likely to find here include beautiful beads and jewelry as well as textiles that show off the intricate weaving techniques of the indigenous groups here.

In additional to the many tribal communities here, Kuching also has a sizeable Chinese population and to that end you will find a number of Chinese buildings in the city including the Tau Pek Kong Chinese Temple which is an important place of worship for the Chinese community.

The temple is said to date from which makes it the oldest of its kind in Kuching and you can expect to find a riot of color here as well as intricate carvings that tell the stories of the various Chinese deities.

Bako National Park has the claim to fame of being the oldest national park in Sarawak and sprawls across almost 3, hectares of land. This however actually makes it one of the smallest parks in Borneo in terms of its area which means that it is easy to visit as part of a day trip from Kuching and you can still manage to see a lot of the park in a short space of time. The park lies on the Sarawak and Bako rivers and has an impressive seven different eco-systems within its boundaries including towering cliff sides and mangrove swamps.

You will also find scrubby grasslands here and animals abound including proboscis monkeys, macaques, and bearded pigs. The Old Courthouse is now actually the building that houses the official Sarawak Tourism Complex and dates from The complex is a great spot for history buffs to visit as it includes a wealth of interesting buildings such as a clock tower built during the colonial period in the Baroque style as well as a Renaissance Pavilion which is now used as the Textile Museum.