"Beautiful City and Lovely People" a Kuching Travel Page by AlbuqRay

The Kuching Waterfront is a great place to walk with panoramic views, beautiful gardens, shops and restaurants. The locals use it extensively too, especially in the evening when the temperature cools. The people are very friendly. As I walked down the esplanade they would greet me... "Hello, Papa" or "Hello, Uncle." The young ladies in the picture are just one example of this. LOL, you know you are getting old when you get those kind of greetings.

Kuching is the capital of and largest city in Sarawak (East Malaysia). It is the fourth largest city in all Malaysia. Kuching is located ~32 km inland from the South China Sea on the Sarawak River. "Kuching" does translate into "cat" in Malay and is pronounced "KOO-ching."

Sarawak was a part of the Sultanate of Brunei 200 years ago but as a reward for help in putting down a rebellion, it was ceded to the British adventurer James Brooke (the first "white rajah") who ruled it as his personal kingdom. Kuching was his capital and headquarters. The Brooke Administration was given the status of Protectorate under Rajah Charles Brooke's rule and was placed behind the Indian Rajs and Princes. The Brooke family ruled Sarawak until the Japanese occupation in December 1941.

The new Sarawak State Assembly Building is still under construction. Fort Margherita was built by Charles Brooke in 1879 to protect Kuching from priates. He named it after his wife, Rani Margaret. For some reason, the fort is not being maintained now. The small boats are tambangs (small river ferries). I read that they are 30 sen for each ride but did not actually take one myself. The Annah Rais Longhouse Adventure website has an excellent summary of Kuching travel tips.