Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SHOPPING IN KUCHING
If you're after tribal handicrafts , textiles and more, Kuching is hands down the best place to
shop for them. This pleasure does not come cheap, though you can strike reasonable bargains.
It's possible to buy tribal artefacts elsewhere at a slightly cheaper rate, but Kuching offers by far
the best selection. Main Bazaar along the waterfront is lined with shops selling a mix of
mass-produced touristy tat and genuine gems - usually found towards the back of the shops.
If you know what you're after, don't be afraid to bargain, but be prepared to pay accordingly
for genuine Penan blowpipes, carved Iban shields, longhouse charms and rice paddy
guardians. Remember that shipping any part of an endangered animal or bird - hornbill, sun
bear, clouded leopard - carries a prison sentence and hefty fine if caught. Not all items you
find in the shops are from Sarawak, or, indeed, Borneo; Sarawak crafts are being pushed out of
the market by far cheaper Indonesian ones, so if you want to know more about an item's age
or origin, ask the sellers and they'll be happy to oblige. Be prepared to spend hours (or even
days) just browsing.
The most reputable shops to look out for along Main Bazaar are Kelvin Gallery, Nelson's
Antiques and Jewellery, John's Gallery, Bong Gallery and Borneo Tribal Arts.
If you're after some presents to take home, Main Bazaar is also a good spot to pick up Iban pua
kumbu textiles, Sarawak pepper, sago biscuits, and the ubiquitous kek lapiz - colourful, multi-
flavoured layer cakes that will survive the journey if you're heading straight home from Kuching.
6
Pharmacies Several around the Electra House shopping
centre on Jln Power.
Police There is a Tourist Police unit at Kuching Waterfront
( T 082 250522); most speak English.
Post o ce Jln Tun Haji Openg (Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun
10am-1pm).
World Music Festival ( W rainforestmusic
-borneo.com), held during three days
in July and featuring acts from around
the globe. To get here, take the shuttle
from the Singgahsana Lodge at Jln
Wayang (four daily from 9.15am; 45min;
RM20 return).
THE SARAWAK CULTURAL
VILLAGE
he Sarawak Cultural Village (daily
9am-5pm; RM60; T 082 846411,
W scv.com.my) is picturesquely located on
the Santubong Peninsula 35km north of
Kuching, and is very much a show for
tourists, but a great educational
experience nonetheless. A walkway loops
around a small lake, passing replicas of
traditional dwellings belonging to the
Penan, Iban, Malanau, Bidayuh and
other indigenous peoples of Sarawak. You
can visit all the dwellings, take part in
activities such as baking biscuits from
sago flour and blowpipe shooting, and
shop for traditional crafts such as batik
shirts and sarongs. here's an excellent
45-minute dance show at 11.30am and
4pm, featuring dancers in traditional
Iban, Malanau and Bidayuh costumes, a
hunter demonstrating blowpipe shooting
and those five minutes of non-obligatory
audience participation. he SCV also
hosts the renowned Sarawak Rainforest
SEMENGOH NATURE RESERVE
Semengoh Nature Reserve (daily
8am-5pm; feeding times 9am & 3pm;
RM5; W sarawakforestry.com) is home
to 25 semi-wild orang-utans that have
been orphaned or rescued from captivity.
Here they are trained in the vital skills
to survive in the wild and fend for
themselves. Although the main
programme has been transferred to
Matang Wildlife Centre, Semengoh
still has some younger orang-utans which
you can see swinging through the trees.
hey generally spend most of their time
roaming the surrounding forest, but some
usually come to the main platform for
feeding time (though a sighting is not
guaranteed during the wet season, when
there is plenty of fruit in the forest).
Most hostels offer transfers to and from
the nature reserve for RM35, entry
included. To get here by public transport,
catch bus #K6 to “Semenggok” (at
7.15am, 10.15am, 1pm and 3.30pm,
 
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