Malaysia: Top Things to Do and See in Kuching

Having just returned from Kuching, Sarawak on Malaysian part of Borneo earlier this month, I feel compelled to write another list of Top Things to Do and See in Kuching. This is not because I suddenly have become an expert on destinations in Kuching, but rather, I feel the places and activities that I went to and did with Sarawak Tourism Board whilst I was in town for the #TSDayOut Special Edition programme with Tourism Selangor deserve a mention in such a list. If you like, you can read an earlier list of Top Things to Do and See in Kuching based on the recommendation of Noel Lau (of Wander2Nowhere), a Sarawakian travel blogger, here.

The following list is basically in addition to the first one, as I see it. :) 

1. Kuching Waterfront

Kuching Waterfront and its surrounding areas seem to be where most interesting activities in Kuching happen. It's probably the easiest place to find local food without having to travel far, get entertained with some live performance by talented buskers by the river, learn about history of the area and the city, browse and shop at Main Bazaar, Little India and even Chinatown. While you're exploring the area, don't forget to be on the lookout for some cool street art and cat statues too! There are plenty of them around town. Kuching after all means "cat" in Malay.

TopSpot, a popular seafood food court that is located on the top floor of a car park building, is also located within walking distance from here.

Read the blog post here: A Walk Down the Memory Lane: Kuching Waterfront

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2. Sarawak River Cruise

Taking this late afternoon river cruise is just perfect for the romantic-at-heart as you can watch the sun sets for the day and welcome the night whilst travelling along Sarawak River. For the not-so-romantic-at-heart however, don't worry, you can still enjoy the sunset and capture lots of photos of the locals and scenes along the river over this 1.5-hour cruise. A short cultural show that showcases the traditional attires and dances of Sarawak's 3 major tribes is just icing on the cake.

If you don't have the time for the cruise, try one of the local "bot penambang" (passenger boats) that plies and crosses the river from one side to another. There are some kek lapis - Sarawak's popular layer cake - bakeries located just across the river from the Waterfront. 

Read the blog post here: Sarawak River Cruise

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3. See Orang-Utans at Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is the place to go if you plan on watching orang-utans. Their appearance (during set meal times) however is not guaranteed as they lead a semi-wild life in their natural habitat at the centre. You'd have better chances to "catch" them in action outside of fruit seasons. If you're lucky, you might get to see Ritchie, the dominant orang-utan male, which weighs about 120 kg. However, even if you don't get to see him, watching any orang-utan at the centre is enough to leave you in awe of these creatures.

Read the blog post here: Getting in Touch with Nature: Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

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4. Explore Fairy Cave & Wind Cave

Even if you're not into caves, you should still make the time to visit these 2 caves which are located just outside of Kuching. A visit to one is not complete without a visit to the other as they both offer very contrasting sights and experience. While the cavern at Fairy Cave is huge, well-lit and quite magical, Wind Cave on the other hand is pretty much enclosed, dark and somewhat mysterious. 

Read the blog post here: Caving in Into Nature: Fairy Cave & Wind Cave, Sarawak

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5. Go Kayaking in Semadang

Would like to experience some adrenaline-pumping activities whilst in Kuching? Go kayaking in Semadang! Not only you'd get the rush feeling that you crave for, you'd also be rewarded with some pretty interesting sights along the river and not to forget, a delicious traditional meal of the local tribe, Bidayuh, which is one of the main indigenous groups in Sarawak.

Read the blog post here: Semadang Kayaking

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6. Sarawak Cultural Village

I did not visit Sarawak Cultural Village during the last trip but it was one of the highlights during my first trip to Kuching, Sarawak. While some might find Cultural Village a bit touristy, it's actually a living museum, where over 100 local folks live there, helping to preserve and showcase the cultural heritage of the various local tribes. This is the place where you can learn and observe the cultures & traditions of major ethnic groups of Sarawak. Sarawak Cultural Village is also the place where the annual Rainforest World Music Festival takes place.

Address: Pantai Damai, Santubong, 93752 Kuching, Sarawak | Website | Map

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Read More:

Previous Entry on #TSDayOut Special Edition

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What do you think of the list? Care to share with us your thoughts on the above places? And if you have been to Kuching, Sarawak before, what other sights do you think are also a must see?

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A Thank You and Disclosure Note
I would like to thank the organiser of #TSDayOut Special Edition Selangor Meets Sarawak, Tourism Selangor, for the opportunity to be part of the programme. A big thank you also goes to other official sponsors, which include Sarawak Tourism Board, AirAsia and Empire Hotel Subang.

#TSDayOut is a Tourism Selangor programme that introduces and promotes interesting places as a day out/day trip destinations in the state of Selangor in Malaysia. The programme is opened to bloggers, media practitioners, and social media influencers. #TSDayOut Special Edition programme combines a trip in Selangor and a visit to another destination outside of the state. For this second #TSDayOut Special Edition, the destination is Kuching, Sarawak.

Going to Kuching, Malaysia? Do check out these Kuching hotels for your accommodation requirements there. For other blog entries on #TSDayOut Special Edition, click here. For other blog entries on Malaysia, click here. For other blog entries in "Top Things to Do and See in..." series, click here.