Kuching Things to Do

Go only if you like reading or like to find out more about Sarawak. Besides the large quantity of books and information about Sarawak, there are nothing special to me, except you may find a bit fun if you go in the evening where a lot of family will sit by the lake and feed the fish. You can almost touch the fish with your hand when they are feeding the fish.

P/s: The library do has as smart casual dress code

A place where cat lovers must go. There are so many different kind of cats' picture and model inside, even cartoon! But prepare to pay for your camera fee and video Fee. Anyway, is not expensive, cost only RM3 for camera and RM5 for video. Furthermore, entrance is free.

Please note that it is closed in public holiday.

As for us we get a tour guide to take us around and the rate is reasonable, RM250 for the whole day trip and it is sufficient to go most of the interesting places. We went to a few places like crocodile farm, See the Orang Utan and Cultural Village. Admission Fees: Adults RM60.00, Kids RM30.00. Opening hours: 9.00 - 16.45hrs. Cultural shows: 11.30hrs - 12.15hrs & 16.00 hrs- 16.45hrs.

Kuching or Cat City named because previously this city was full of cats. Dunno where they were come from.

In this unique museum you will see variety of cats, including the ones that cartoon or characters like : cat woman, hello kity, felix the cat etc.

I have no idea why this museum is dedicated for. But nice to go while you're spending time in Kuching.

This living museum depicts the heritage of the major racial groups in Sarawak and conveniently portrays the respective lifestyle amidst 14 acres of equatorial vegetation.

Here, it is possible to see Sarawak's ethnic diversity at a glance. The handicraft is both bewildering and tempting, including the Kain Songket (Malay cloth with gold inlay), Pua Kumbu (Iban housewives textiles), Melanau Terendak (sunhat), Bidayuh tambok (basket), Iban parang (swords), Orang Ulu wood carving and Chinese ceramic.

The 45-minute cultural performance of songs, dances and entertainment is something you will not want to miss out during your visit to Sarawak.

Entrance Fee

RM 60.00 (Adult)
RM 30.00 (Child : 6-12 years old)
Free for Children aged under 6.
(Effective 1st January, 2007)

Ticket can be purchased at the Entrance of Sarawak Cultural Village. You can also get it from the authorised local travel agents around Sarawak. Our Opening hours is:
0900 - 1715 daily

They are two Cultural Shows per day. Catch it at:
1130 - 1215
1600 - 1645

For more information regarding ticketing, please contact our sales office via email at: sales@scv.com.my

Entrance fee is RM40 if u buy through the travel agents, if get the ticket at the ticket counter, will be charged RM45. Will be given a green colour passport, a stamp will be given when u visit to each longhouse in the village, remember to chop your "passport"!!!

Completed in 1879, Fort Margherita commands a breathtaking and strategic position along the Sarawak River, with a location chosen to overlook the long stretch of river approaching Kuching. Named after the second Rajah, Charles Brooke's wife, the Ranee Margaret, it was built in the defensive edifice/castle style of the late English renaissance. Fort Margherita has been converted into a Police Museum and many of its old cannons, cannon balls, guns, pistols, swords and other vestiges of its artillery can still be seen. The armoury still exists as does the condemned prisoner's cell. The Police Museum has a display of old police weapons, reconstructed opium dens and scenes of hanging and other forms of criminal punishment.

You have to admit that the real adventure begins when you trek into the interior, seek out a village and stay overnight with the local tribe. The villagers in Seri Aman, Sarawak are mainly Ibans and Lun Bawangs while in other parts of Sarawak, such as the Bario, you'll encounter the Kelabit tribe. They all plant rice ranging from swamp rice to hill rice. The younger generation also work in pepper and oil palm estates.

The usual practice is to bring some raw chicken and vegetables into the village, and you'll be amazed at their counter-generosity. Bring a guitar and some balloons to entertain the children.

The Iban villages are known as Rapak and most have signboards leading you off the main highway, thanks to the local government who have done a great job! Some villages are still very dirty with no water or electricity while others are well-developed.

And did I mention why it's called a longhouse? Well, the entire village consists of a single long wooden house with a common corridor and verandah.

The Fort was completed in 1879 was named after the second Rajah's wife, the Ranee Margaret.

It is now the Sarawak Police Museum and many of its old cannons, cannon balls, guns, pistols, swords and other vestiges of its military are still on display.

Because of it's location, the view from the fort of the Sarawak River and back to Kuching is worth the trip. However , it is the northern banks of the Sarawak River is presently a giant construction site so the Fort/ Museum is not at it's best when I visited in April 2005.

If you are in Kuching over the weekend , make sure you go on Saturday evening or wake up early on Sunday morning and head to the weekend market. It's located at Satok . You will find all types of stores selling a wide variety of foods, fruits , plants , handicrafts, clothings , pets etc etc etc. When I was a boy my favorites stops were the pet stores areas where you can find all types of exotic animals and fish.

If you are a tourists this is where the locals shop for fresh produce such vegetables and jungle fruits where you are unlikely to find in the supermarkets.

If you are short of time and can't visit an real Longhouse of the local Dayaks or other local tribes in the interior of Sarawak, this is the place to go. It is touristy no doubt but it will give you a good taste of the different cultures of Sarawak including the Malays and chinese.

All the different styles of buildings of the local tribes are erected around large pond and you can have a go at Blow pipe, the traditional way where the dayaks used to hunt , bamboo dancing or making local delicacies as you walk around from one building to the other. There is also a great dance performance by the local troupe.

This is a living museum and they even organised weddings for couple who want to get married the traditional dayaks way. It is also the home of the annual Rainforest World Music Festival where performers from all round the world come to share their craft.

Once accessible only by river when I was little , Damai, on the Santubong Peninsula, is now just a 40 minutes drive from Kuching.

This is where the locals go to getaway from the city for the weekend. There is 3 international standard resorts here , namely Holiday Inn Resort Damai Beach, Damai Lagoon Resort and Santubong Kuching Resort.

This is where you can sit on the beach or the landscaped gardens or free form swimming pool. The water of the South China Sea is always warm and you can look up at the lush green Mt Santubong.There is also jet skiing, water-skiing, windsurfing, mountain biking, tennis, squash and fitness centers.

There is also the Arnold Palmer-designed course at Damai Golf & Country Club near the foot of Mt Santubong.

The mosque was completed in 1968. You can't missed it while waliking around the older part of the city with it's striking onion shaped golden domes. It was built on the site of an original old mosque that was built in 1852.

I personally have not been in the mosque but if you want to enter you are welcome to do so as long as you dress respectfully . During prayer times, non-Muslims may not enter .

The original Sarawak Museum building was completed in 1891 . Across the road and connected by a footbridge is new building of the museum built in the 1970s.

The original building was commissioned by Charles Brooke, and built in the style of a Normandy town house designed by the Rajah's butler as he distrusted architects.

It houses some interesting native artifacts.

Also across the river from the Kuching Waterfront is The Astana, built in 1870 by the second Rajah, Charles Brooke. It was then known as , Government House.

The Astana was originally built as a bridal gift for the Ranee Margaret by Charles Brooke. It is now the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, the Governor of Sarawak.

The Astana is not open to the public but Visitors are allowed to strolle around the Astana's beautifully landscaped garden.