Sayang Sarawak - part 2

1. Notwithstanding hubby's not-so-good experience with AirAsia flight, I must admit that we had pretty much a great time in Kuching.

2. No, we didn't go the Cultural Village. Transport plus ticket from our hotel to the Cultural Village was RM80 per pax (Rm20 for transport and RM60 for the ticket) and I felt that it was ridiculously high since Sarawakian only have to pay RM20 for their ticket. I can understand if foreigners are charged higher - that's how things are done in say, Angkor Wat, where local and foreign visitors are charged differently, but why do fellow Malaysians from outside Sarawak have to pay such exorbitant price to enter the Culture Village? Shouldn't all Malaysians, regardless their state of origin (MyKad is used for verification purpose) - in the 1 Malaysia spirit - be charged the same for the ticket?

3. We were told that there was not much to see and do in Kuching itself - but I loved it anyway. The good thing about travel is that it breaks stereotypes, as we get to see for ourselves and form our own impressions. Yes Kuching is not that big compared to KL but my oh my, there are plenty of stuff to enjoy in Kuching.

4. When in Kuching, suggested things-to-do include:

• A stroll along the Water Front at night. Boarding the Equator for a cruise on the Sarawak River at sunset would be better.
• Shopping for souvenirs at Water Front area
• Sipping Teh C Peng Special or 3-layer-tea. Very unlike the normal teh tarik, its a concoction in three layers of (top-to-bottom) tea, evap­o­rated milk and gula melaka (palm sugar). Nice!
• Buying home-made Kek Lapis Sarawak (Sarawak Layer Cake) in Kampung Gersik, Petra Jaya - across the Sarawak river from the city centre. Dayang Salhah is arguably the most popular Kek Lapis cake house, but I was told that some smaller entrepreneurs use butter instead of margarine to make the cakes, hence theirs are superior in taste and texture. Kek Lapis Sarawak are also available from Mita or Taka cake houses with many outlets all over Kuching. Warning - home-made variants sold in Kampung Gersik do not last as long as those bought in Mita or Taka cake houses since they contain no artificial preservatives.
• A ride on the penambang boat. Hubby's group 'chartered' one boat for twenty minutes for a 'cruise' along the river for only RM20
• Trying out Mee Kolok in Satok
• Buying ikan terubok masin in the wet market
• Tasting local dishes like Laksa Sarawak or Mee Jawa with Sate in a local kopitiam
• Buying and tasting exotic Buah Hutan such as Dabai and Isau in the Pasar Tamu.

5. Other first time experiences? Tasted Ambal (bamboo clam) and Masak Lemak Cempedak. Yes, cempedak, not nangka as we in Semenanjung are used to. Interesting, eh?