Kuching Things to Do Tips by Robdaz

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.

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Directions: Satok Area. Ask you friendly hotel staff for direction and transport tips.

This is the oldest Chinese temple in Sarawak. The Tua Pek Kong Temple is believed to have been around since 1843.

During the days leading to the Chinese new Year, the chinese population pay homage by placing giant joss stick round the temple and burning for peace and prosperity as can be seen in the photo I taken.

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Address: Main Bazaar Kuching .
Directions: It is across the road from the Kuching Waterfront next to the Hilton.

This was built in 1879 as a prison and was later converted into a fortress and then a dance hall, which seem a bit small to me.

Today the Square Tower is a multimedia information center and video theatre providing information on Sarawak's tourist attractions.

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Address: Kuching Waterfront, Main Bazaar Kuching.

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 .

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Address: At the end of Gambier Road.

The is the administrative center of the White Rajahs of Sarawak, the Brooke Raj family since its completion in 1874.

In 1847, this was the site of a mission, which was turned into a judicial administration office. In 1858 ,the mission was demolished and two more buildings were erected put up in its place before the Court House came into being.

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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.

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Directions: If you stand at the Kuching Waterfront , the Fort is located across the river on the other side. You can catch a sampan (boat) at one of the pier across the river and wander through Kampung ( village) to the fort.

If you stroll along the Kuching Waterfront you will come across the chinese museum . The building itself was built in 1912 and was originally a courthouse for Sarawak's Chinese community.

In 1930 it became the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and is currently the Chinese History Museum. It traces the history Sarawak's Chinese population, which makes uo about 30% of the State's population.

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Address: Kuching Waterfront at Main Bazzar.

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.

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Directions: Across the river from the Kuching Waterfront.

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.

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Directions: Near the Central Padang beside the Merdeka Palace Hotel.

This building which is located next to the Round Tower in vacinity of the Court House complex is the Pavilion. It was built in 1909.and originally used as the General Hospital until 1947.

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