Kuching

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Meow-Kuching

A travel journal to Kuching by S.L.Hii

Kuching is like between a city and country with multi races, cultures, food, and style of living, therefore life is colourful without too much black colour.

  • 19 reviews

Harbour ViewBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

It’s a hotel in the center of Kuching’s Golden Triangle. Very convenient to Kuching historical sites, food, souvenirs, etc. The rate is reasonable, at RM98nett for a single standard room, though the room is quite small (enough for one person only). For a bigger room, the price is around RM 130. The atmosphere of the room is like a budget hotel room, but the cleanliness and overall quality is like a three-star hotel. But it is the cheapest hotel in the Golden Triangle area and offers a convenient and moderate standard.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Harbour View
Carpenter Street Kuching, Malaysia

Penview InnBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

This hotel consists of clean, windowless rooms, which price at RM 55nett only. A bit on the outskirts as it is in an industrial area (by car around 5 minutes to the city). If you apply for corporate, the price may go for RM 44nett. Definitely worth the value as the room is clean, standard facilities, and cheap. The inconvenience is one has to take a taxi every time they head to the city.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Penview Inn
Pending/ Jln. Tun Razak Kuching, Malaysia

Regency Rajah Court HotelBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

It's like a resort commercial hotel. The hotel is built like a resort, with a manmade beautiful waterfall with swimming pools, but it is located in an industrial area. Standard room around RM 98nett and for a chalet RM120nett. There is no beach. Even though is not in the city, it provides daily shuttle service to the city for free, which therefore makes up for the location.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Regency Rajah Court Hotel
Pending/ Jln. Tun Razak Kuching, Malaysia

Santubong ResortBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

Best Things Nearby:
Cultural Village & Golf course

Best Things About the Resort:
Cheaper than other resorts yet the rooms are cosy and spacious ,and the beautiful view of beach from the swimming pool.

Resort Experience:
It’s like a resort without any beach but one can still relax at the pool where views of Mt. Santubong and the beach is there. And the place is quiet and relaxing. The room is spacious and with standard facilities. Not far from the Cultural Villages, other resorts and seafood restaurants. The room priced at around RM150.00nett. Sometimes they have promotion with prices like RM 98nett.

  • Unit Type: Other
  • Activities: Poor
  • Amenities: Good
  • Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
  • Family Friendliness: Fair
  • Service: Fair
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Santubong Resort
Jalan Santubong Kuching, Malaysia

Lok Thian RestaurantBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

It is a well knowned restaurant since my mother's youth. It consists of Japanese, Thai, Chinese, and local cuisines, whereby the quality of taste and presentation is up to standard though the price for us Malaysians is considered a little above average. Every wednesday they have this Chinese buffet lunch at RM 18nett/pax. Worth the value.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Lok Thian Restaurant
Jalan Pandungan Kuching, Malaysia

GamelanBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

The atmosphere of this restaurant is very cooling and cosy as it uses the Bali style to decorate the place. The food is very good especially the Telur Taufu (created like a volcano), beef rending, and Pisang Keju (banana fritters with cheese and chocolate syrup). The iced tea has a different flavour from other type of iced tea, with a flowery taste. The vegetables items are not so delicious. I highly recommend the Dancing Fish with its delicious, though a bit spicy, sauce.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Gamelan
Simpang Tiga Kuching, Malaysia

Poolside cafeBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

The signature dish for this cafe is the curry (Beef and Fish Head Curry, not too oily) and it comes with the side "salad" which consists of cucumber, pineapple and sambal. The texture of the curry is quite creamy and the taste is salty (most of the curry is sweet which I find to be quite revolting) and comes with fragrant rice price at RM11nett. Definitely worth the value. Other local cuisines like black pepper fish fillet, cheese omelet, Fried Kuay Teow with Beef, Kolo Mee, etc. are very tasty too. Overall the food is 7 or 8 out of 10.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Poolside cafe
Regency Rajah Court Hotel Kuching, Malaysia

Family CafeBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

It is a cafe which us Kuchingnites called "Kopitiam". A very casual eatery. The price is very reasonable with RM38nett there is a menu of 1/2 roasted chicken. Specialty home beancurd, rice, and drinks. The ingredients are fresh, the taste is great, and the price is cheap. Not much for the atmopshere but great food. One can order the "Lo Pork/duck", Oyster Omelet, Specialty Home Beacurd (the gravy is sweet and salty), etc.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Family Cafe
Hui Sing Garden Kuching, Malaysia

Top Spot Food CourtBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Topspot"

It’s a place where there are many stalls selling seafood. It is right at the golden triangle area and is therefore convenient just to walk over to eat. The variety is great and the seafood is fresh. If one is in favor for seafood, this is the place, though some seafood items are quite pricey. After dinner there is a great bistro named Tapanga at level 3&4 for a drinks or two or behind rows of pubs. Nice atmosphere.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Top Spot Food Court
Above Pelita Car Park Kuching, Malaysia

Pending Seafood CentreBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This place is like Topspot with varieties of stalls selling seafood items. But sometimes the stalls sell rare wildlife meat. Though the place is in the industrial area and quite hard to find, the seafood is definitely fresh.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Pending Seafood Centre
Pending Kuching, Malaysia

Palm Seafood, BuntalBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This has been a well-known seafood restaurant since my mother's younger time (my mom is about 60). The best time to go is around 6:30pm as it has a view to the sea. The deck is built out to the seashore. Very nice food. The owner also raises some animals like snakes. If it's full, there are other nearby seafood restaurants like the Dolphin Seafood Restaurant.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Palm Seafood, Buntal
Buntal/Santubong Road Kuching, Malaysia

Tua Pek KongBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

It’s a very casual and crowded place. It’s famous fishball soup is definitely a must-try, and it is only RM 2 - 3. Along the street you may find other eateries like this that are "old family" businesses. You must try this street for a truly local food experience. But the fishball just stands on its own.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Tua Pek Kong
Carpenter Street Kuching, Malaysia

Market ShoppingBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This market operate on Saturday evening only. It consists of areas for fruits and vegetables, fresh meats, souvenirs and shirts, plants, food stalls, antiques/ornaments, and pets. Bargain is expected but the discount is around 10-20%. More like the Chatuchak in Bangkok but in a much, much smaller scale like 1/10. But it is the biggest market in Kuching.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Market Shopping
Jalan Satok Kuching, Malaysia

Shopping for unbranded designBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The best women clothes shops are here. The fashion is mostly from Thailand and Hong Kong. Prices are reasonable with expected bargains around 10-30% discount. The atmosphere is nice, not too crowded. There is one special boutique named Orangeity which specialised in selling clothes, handbags, and shoes from Vietnam and Cambodia. The prices are reasonable. Women shoppers must go there.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Shopping for unbranded design
Hock Lee centre Kuching, Malaysia

Souvenirs ShoppingBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

It's a whole street where a variety of shops sell antiques: souvenirs like "pua" (a woven cloth), jewelry (the most reasonable price for jewelry will be in this street too with 10 - 60% discount pending on which jewel shops you shop at), and a whole lot of unique things to see.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Souvenirs Shopping
Carpenter Street Kuching, Malaysia

Races FestivalsBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Puasa Month (celebrated by Muslims)
This celebration will be around October 2004 (pending on the sighting of moon) for around one month. Not much of an event, but after their "buka puasa" time, there are many stalls selling our local sweet delicacies in the Satok area and Matang Jaya.

Hari Adilfitri (celebrated by Muslims)
After Puasa month comes another celebration where visiting homes and praying at mosques are the norm. Streets will be donned in the beautiful lighting of "ketupat" along the streets and trees. Very colourful. Some of the rich or well known will have open houses where anyone can go to the house for a visit and a meal. That is the time when Malay specialties like curry, rendang, kuih and ketupat is a norm.

Chinese New Year (celebrated by the Chinese)
It is a time when families reunite and friends visit. One to two weeks before this festival, normally at Carpenter Street/ Pandungan, red lanterns will don the streets and trees. Temples will be bustling with people giving offerings and praying. Chinese delicacies like kuih mangkit, sweet and sours are sold. During the evening, the noise of firecrackers can be heard. Normally shops will be closed for three to seven days.

"Shake God" (celebrated by Buddhists)
Events like this are celebrated normally during the beginning of half year. I am not well versed with this, but the events are quite a sight, like parades and praying at temples. You can inquire from our local travel agents. Normally it is the 15th of every month of the Chinese calendar.

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 9, 2004

Races Festivals
City Kuching, Malaysia

Hungry Ghost FestivalBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This festival is celebrated by the Chinese community. It normally begins at the end of August until September, which is the seventh month of the Chinese calendar (Hokkien people called it chik nguay pua, or the seventh and a half month ). The gate to hell will open for around 30 days whereby ghosts will mingle with the living.

It is when the believers offer food like chicken, buns, steam muffins, fruits, essence, money, ghost paper, and more to the ghosts so they will not make havoc or try to harm people - sort of a peace offering because, when in hell, it is said their appetite is locked, so only during this time will their appetite will be unlocked to eat. Sometimes, some temple guardians will organize Chinese operas late at night as entertainment for the ghost, which tourists can watch at Carpenter Street. It is free. You will see people burning and praying. There will be small flags along some dirty road to guide the ghost to where they go.

People are advised not to go out too late, as to avoid any bad encounters with the ghosts.

  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 22, 2004

Hungry Ghost Festival
Malaysia Kuching, Malaysia

Moon Cake FestivalBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This event takes place on 15th of August in the Chinese calender.

Rows of small red latterns line along this street. There are lantern riddles to be guessed and food stalls selling all sorts of food, like Moon Cakes, desserts like Mua Chee, and chicken wings. There are stalls selling crystal bracelets, lamps, and lanterns too. Bonsais are displayed to be admired; chess contest to be held; Malay cultural dances, like silat, to be awed; folk dancing; lion dancing; and, most of all, prayers in temples for peace.

Very crowded and a lot of traffic; best time to go there is around 6:30pm or 7pm. This event is normally organised for four days to one week.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on September 27, 2004

Moon Cake Festival
Carpenter Street Kuching, Malaysia

Great Bargain ShoppingBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Twenty Cent has a few branches throughout Sarawak, mainly Kuching. The goods are normally imported from China and are, therefore, very cheap, but still good quality. The ground floor sells a variety of foods, like snacks, canned food, bottled spice, etc. The price is a few cents cheaper than other supermarkets. But some items, even though air-packed, are not so fresh and are not advisable to buy.

The first floor sells women's, men's and kids' wears and shoes. It costs as low as $4 for children's clothes. When on sale, it can go as low as $2, and shoes can go as low as $1. They've got casual, evening wear, working clothes, fashion handbags, belts, hair accessories, toys, etc.

The second floor sells housewares, and you can find cheap, yet beautiful plates, crystal-like vases, house ornaments, etc. Overall, locals like to go there for shopping because of its very low prices.

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by S.L.Hii on November 19, 2004

Great Bargain Shopping
Twenty Cents at 3rd Mile Kuching, Malaysia

About the Writer

S.L.Hii
S.L.Hii
Kuching, Malaysia

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