|  English Version  |  Bahasa Malaysia Version  |

Kuching Trip  25th May to 5th June 2008

25th Sun 26th Mon 27th Tue 28th Wed 29th Thu 30th Fri 31st Sat 1st Sun 2nd Mon 3rd Tue 4th Wed 5th Thu

27th May 2008 Tuesday

We walk along Jalan Carpenter (Carpenter Street) The street is known as  Jalan Carpenter because the street started a street used to house small carpenters workshops. No furniture's are machinery produced in furniture factories in separate industry area. The shops now served as furniture shop and show rooms. But many of the original carpenters has changed to other business

Jalan Carpenter is an interesting stroll along old Chinese shops dating back to the late 19th century.

At noon we checked out of hotel and moved to Grandfather's house at Kenyalang Park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We walked alone the Carpenter Street Westward toward India Street. There are 2 temples along Carpenter Street

1) . The Hockkien Temple on the East end and the Tee (Hong San) temple, at the junction of Jalan Carpenter and Jalan Wayang

2) Teochew Temple near the west end of the road. This temple called Shang Ti Temple (The Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple)
 

We passed by Hong San Si Temple (the Phoenix Mountain Temple) of the Hokkien clan. We went in and peek into this most ornately decorated temple in Kuching and marvel at the its bizarre roof.

Photo left below are the food being offered to the God of the temple whose name written on the above photo 'Guang Ze Tian Wang (广泽天王)'

We walked passed by the 2nd temple because the entrance gate was closed.

 
China Street打鐵街 joining between Carpenter Street and Main Bazaar 海唇街. Only 50 meters in length yet it is an importern part of the history of Kuching.

打鐵街舊巷子 / 古晉中國街

In the 1960 I used to come to one of the shops in this street because this shop has the richest  collection of Chinese comic books. Today I could not find the book shop but the iron work shops are still there. Somewhere in the middle of the old shop block is a Buan Choon T’ng Chinese herb shop with 100 years hostory. The first owner who started the shop ran the business for 20 years before selling sold it to the current owner who has it for more than 80 years. At the end of Carpenter Street, between the Harmony Arch and the Post Office building is the following very informative street direction board.
 

General Post Office

First thing in the morning I went to Tourist office to reconfirm my booking for Bako National Park accommodation for 2 night on 29th and 30th. After which has a stroll the surrounding area which has become historical now.  I had a chance to have a rear full front view of the old General Post Office building. Immediately opposite the post office was a row of shop building blocking a photographer to get a full complete  front view of the building.  All the photo graphs on this historical building were either shoot from the right building corner or from the left corner. But recently with the row of old shop building removed for new project. The majestic of this colonel building is fully review for a  front view in photograph.

This General Post Office building at Kuching which is situated just about 100 meters from the Clock Tower at the left of the building. It was designed by Singapore's Swan and Mclaren Architects and built in 1931. Swan and Mclaren is the same architects who designed Raffles Hotel of Singapore.

The grand façade of this building was emphasized by a central colonnade of 12 Corinthian columns supporting a pediment featuring the Sarawak crest combining the flag, one Brooke emblem of a badger and the motto ‘Dum Spiro – Spero” (While I live, I hope). This is the only building in Borneo to have Corinthian columns as part of its facade.

The empty space in front the post office was once a L shape block of old concrete building and now dismantled.  Replacing it will be a new Plaza Merdeka.

This modern state-of-the-art shopping mall and hotel is designed by Architect Yolanda David Reyes of Manila Philippines.

Once completed this plaza will add vibrancy and excitement to this landmark site in this historical district of Kuching city.

Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites is formerly Aurora Hotel, the best hotel during my time in Kuching (1960s). In front is the Padang Merdeka, the padang where I left some footprints during my school days parades in events such as National Days celebration.

Sarawak Museum is just behind the hotel

We have lunch at the open air market. Sarawak Kolo Mee is unique to Sarawak and is loved by all local  in Kuching. Available everywhere from morning till night, it is eaten for breakfast, lunch or supper.
 

Scenes of India Street, Kuching. Along this designated pedestrian walkway, there are old shop houses selling colorful textiles, clothing, crockery and others. The shops and walkway not much changes has occur here for decades except the street once jam with cars is now pedestrian walkway.

We spend some time window shopping for cloths in the India Street.

But more Chinese shops manned by local girls. A few food shops owned by Indian Muslims. Many temporary stalls selling snacks like fried nuggets or Chinese snack cha siew pau.

India Street has an Indian Mosque Lane.
 

After lunch, we checked out Mandarin Inn in Jalan Green Hills and  took a taxi to Kenyalang Park to put up with Grandfather and the 2 bachelor uncles.

Kenyalang Park is a Suburb 10 minutes by car from the city.  Our Wong family is the 3rd family to move in to  as soon as this Kenyalang housing was completed in 1972. Today,  Kenyalang is considered an old place. Kenyalang Park consists of a cluster of shop houses and a cinema which today has been converted to an enclosed shopping area. The shopping area is a place for cheap items like clothes, accessories and DVDs/VCDs.  Is there such shop in the world that give customer 100% discount ? There is one signboad in Kenyalang that say so.  Why not come to find out.

Around Jan-Feb, Chinese families come here to get supplies for the Chinese New Year celebrations - which are available only once a year.

Very few people using the public bus now. CLL Bus from Kenyalang to town is Rm1.10

Previous   Day 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  Next

Thursday, November 13, 2008 10:16:40 AM