This year’s trip to Kuching, Sarawak was planned since January after the advertisement for free flights offered by Air Asia, recently awarded world’s best low cost carrier by SkyTrax. Since I always had the luxury of a place to stay when I’m at Kuching, I planned my travel risking the fact that I might have been working somewhere by July. All I had to lose was the airport tax amounting to RM180 if I couldn’t make it for any reasons whatsoever. Little did I know I ended up living in India for 4 months since February.
Wonderful memories aside, Tomi booked another one way ticket returning from Kuching to Kuala Lumpur wanting me to spend more time there with his family. Since I was supposed to notify Petronas that I back and available for work again, I thought I would not get a job till at least September since Petronas will take time to process my application and such. However, as explained in my previous blog entry, I was expected to report for work on August 1st after much persuasion for a 2 week postponement, enough for me to savor all that Kuching has to offer.
I was on the same flight as Juliza, not before we managed to be one of the first few in Malaysia (all other people would either be working or at school) to watch Harry’s 5th movie. It was fun getting excited and trying to remember the plot twists since it was more than 2 years ago since I read that book. In addition was the fact that what was written in the book did not tally with what was shown in the movie. Jules and I dozed off in the plane despite its narrow seats and constant noises coming from flight attendants trying to sell souvenirs and that one person who bought nasi lemak and ate it that everyone that didnt had their mouth watering and hoping that the aircraft will land as soon as possible.
I was welcomed by Chin, Siang Yeek, Douglas, Tuck Fai and Tomi in his new Avanza, just in time to bring our batchmates around sightseeing and such. I tried my best to stay at arms length from each of them (except Tomi) after the initial hugs because i did not want them to get a whiff of myself not having a shower since early morning. We met the rest (Roy, Freddy, Ravon (Ravin and Evon from this point forward), Thana, Fish ) at a nearby 24 hour hawker center for Teh Si Peng (iced tea with Ideal milk) and dinner since i took a late flight. Didnt sleep much since i was decidedly hyper from the caffeine in the drink.
After saying Hi to Tomi's parents who are currently busy renovating around their house to build a nice patio, we head off for lunch and then Jong's crocodile farm and Annah Rais Longhouse and Homestay. It wasnt new for me but i was sure it was a nice experience to have when visiting Borneo for my friends. Had to play travel guide since it is the 4th time i have been to Kuching.
The first weekend i was there was spent at Sarawak Cultural Village at Santubong, host to the 10th Rainforest World Music Festival. Can't describe how refreshing it is to totally be immersed in music from various parts of the world, this year namely Celtic, Latin American, South American, Russian throat singing, hip shaking that would give Shakira a run for her money from Madagascar, A Capella singing from Zimbabwe, American skiffle, Sape music and lots more.
This year's ticket sales hit an ultimate high of RM1million in value. The place was packed with people mostly enjoying music while sipping(or chugging alcohol) with the beautiful rainforest as the background. Organization of this event always seem like a trial and error process. But i dont really understand why it is still so after 10 years of attempting to get it right. Hope the situation improves next year. But i usually forget about its setbacks immediately when i listen to the music that these people churn out. My favourite this year would be Hun huur tu and Malerija from Tuva, Russia, Shannon from Poland and Shooglenifty from Scotland (hope i got the spellings right). Managed to see Denise Keller but didnt have any camera so it was a mental picture i made for that moment.
Can't upload any pics from the RWMF website so feel free to browse http://www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com/
The next few days were spent recovering from the weekend at the music festival and driving friends around sightseeing Kuching town and not to mention a whole lot of eating and discovering new "famous somethings" places. after dropping off these people one by one, Tuckfai, Tomi and i decided to attempt to climb Mount Santubong the next Saturday. there were 15 checkpoints in which i decided to give up after the 5th. Had lots of persuasion to move forward and i managed to scale the peak after a 3.5 hour climb primarily by adrenaline (the usual climb was 3 hours) and coming down took longer because there were many parts where i actually just sat there and tried controlling my tears from not wanting to go down anymore. And not to mention us diverging into a denser path away from the summit trail. Thank God for His protection else we could have ended up in another episode of Discovery Channel's I shouldn't be alive:SI am really amazed by the fact that i reached the peak, and the pain after coming down was real enough to prove that i made it. Since i was always making excuses especially when i climbed Mount Kinabalu last year. I was already making up a story to explain why i didnt reach the peak this time if anyone were to ask me, but i didnt have to this time! Tomi got to realise his dream of becoming a mountain guide by being so patient with me even though i was either tearing, screaming, cursing or being really quiet all the way down.
A day after that saw Tomi and I heading to Bako National Park, 45 minutes drive from Kuching town and another 20 minutes boat ride. It was where Nike filmed a football ad with people like Ronaldo kicking by the beach. This park is known for the home of all the species of wild animals available in Borneo, although sightings really depends on your luck. Trekking in the jungle was a piece of cake if you climbed a mountain a day before. We managed to spot Proboscis, macaque, and gibbon monkeys, squirrels and bearded pigs that had wisker-like beards similar to walruses just right outside the hostel where we stayed. too bad it rained the next morning before we left so we could not spend more time exploring other trails.
Click to view my Bako pics from Tomi's camera
The last few days i was there were spent at Tomi's house watching TV and i had a chance to cook for his family. my family would have laughed if they tasted my cooking since my dad cooks so well it would be impossible to even match, let alone be better. And i took a flight home alone to attend David and Cheryl's wedding, which was beautiful from beginning to the end. Congratulations for those two. So that marked the end of my holiday in Kuching. Do try to make it a point to visit. Don't jus take my words for how beautiful Borneo is.
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