Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Tourist Information
www.sarawakforestry.com
;
Sarawak Tourism Complex, Jln Tun Abang Haji Openg;
8am-5pm Mon-Fri)
Sells brochures on each of Sarawak's national parks and can supply
the latest news flash on Rafflesia sightings. Telephone enquiries are not only welcomed
but patiently answered. Bookings for accommodation at Bako, Gunung Gading and Ku-
bah National Parks and the Matang Wildlife Centre can be made in person, by phone or
via
http://ebooking.com.my
. Situated next door to the Visitors Information Centre.
Visa Department
(Bahagian Visa; 082-245661;
www.imi.gov.my
; 2nd fl, Bangunan
Sultan Iskandar, Kompleks Pejabat Persekutuan, cnr Jln Tun Razak & Jln Simpang Tiga;
8am-5pm Mon-Thu, 8-11.45am & 2.15-5pm Fri)
Situated in a 17-storey federal office
building about 3km south of the centre (along Jln Tabuan). Served by City Public Link
buses K8 or K11, which run every half-hour or so. A taxi from the centre costs RM15.
www.sarawaktourism.com
; Jln Tun Abang Haji Openg, Sarawak Tourism Complex;
8am-5pm Mon-Fri)
Located in the atmospheric old courthouse complex, this office has
helpful and well-informed staff, lots of brochures (including the useful
Kuching Visitors
Guide
) and oodles of practical information (eg bus schedules), much of it on bulletin
boards.
Waterfront Promenade; 8am-5pm Mon-Fri, closed public holidays)
This is mainly an
administrative office for local tourism professionals but Priscilla is happy to help travel-
lers with questions.
Getting There & Away
As more and more Sarawakians have acquired their own wheels, public bus networks -
especially short-haul routes in the Kuching area - have withered. For complicated politic-
al reasons, some services have been 'replaced' by unregulated and chaotic minibuses,
which have irregular times, lack fixed stops and are basically useless for tourists.
The only way to get to many nature sites in Western Sarawak is to hire a taxi or join a
tour. The exceptions are Bako National Park, Semenggoh Nature Reserve, Kubah Nation-
al Park, Matang Wildlife Centre and, somewhat less conveniently, the Wind Cave and the
Fairy Cave.
