Land of the Hornbills

Thursday 13 - Monday 17 May 2010

My cousin Alicia told me that her friend opened this new boutique hotel in Kuching that I had to check out. The owner Jacqueline, extended an invitation and we were off to see what this Batik Boutique Hotel is all about.

It’s a small, cosy, modern-like place. Only 15 rooms at RM250 a night. Batik’s the theme with the design covering the doors, beds, walls, lights, carpets and even toilets. Like the batik designs on the mosaic floor. She said they invested a lot on the design.

Batik-themed rooms

Jacky just opened a month ago in April and response has been encouraging although it could do better. She’s on a 6 month sabbatical (CIMB offers these schemes to staff. It’s called the Spa Programme - wtf???!!!) and decided to concentrate on this new project of hers during that time. Lucky CIMB staff. The other corporate companies should follow their example.

Kuching’s quite a nice, laid back town. There’s the waterfront, the historical streets, the really cool museum and the small handricraft shops. Make sure you try their Sarawak Laksa & Kolo Mee. The best ones are served during breakfast so get up early!

Kuching river during a downpour

Friday morning, another cousin Tracy picked us up to balik kampung to Bau, an hour away from town. Luckily my auntie & uncle were not working that day else I wouldn’t know what to say to my grandparents as they don’t speak English! Walked around the back to the farm where they grew crops and all the school kids were wondering what a sesat gwailo was doing in the kampung ha!

Went to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre on Saturday to see the orang utans as both Jerry and Alicia have never seen them live before. There are about more than 20 semi-wild orang utans there with Ritchie (who’s the same age as me) being the largest alpha male.

One of the cheeky orang utans at the centre

There were so many rules to adhere too.. don't make unneccesarily noise, don't laugh at Ritchie, don't let your kids cry, hide your food & water bottle, no flash, etc. There's been a few attacks on stupid people so don't think the orang utans are all cute and tame. They are wild, after all. The ranger said no one has ever won a wrestling match with an orang utan so don't even try. Hell yea, looking at Ritchie's size.. i wouldn't even think about it.

Part of the reason I was in Sarawak was to interview a local designer who's been promoting and expanding Sarawak art to the world. When to see Edric Ong at his gallery along the Waterfront (opposite the Chinese Museum) and he proudly showcased his work with the various indeginous Sarawakian tribes. His proudest achievement he said, was reviving and sustaining the pua kumbu weaving done by the Iban tribe.

Edric Ong showing us some of his work

Sarawak Laksa Lunch & a Blogger Bday Party next

Saturday 1 August 2009

Woke up surprisingly early today even after a night out and decided to pay my cousin Irina in Puchong a visit. Haven’t been to her place in a while. Quite proud of myself that I found her house all by myself - albeit a few wrong turns along the way :P

Boys called for Sarawak laksa so made the slow crawl back along the LDP to BU. Urgh! Curse the bloody cars on the road on a Saturday morning. Don’t you guys have anything else better to do?!! Took me 45 mins to get to BU.

Deep found this food blog that said this hawker place in Taman Megah called Restoran Megah Good Luck (it’s a corner place filled with individual food stalls opposite the big Ming Tien food Court) served Sarawak Laksa just like the real thing.

Reminiscing on the Telang Usan one, we wanted to see if it’s up to par. It’s not too bad la but they used mee hoon instead of Sarawak mee. Soup was pretty alright, bit herbally & spicy, quite similar to Sarawak’s. Didn’t like the sambal. Too watery. Not like the original one at all. Brought tuak to complete the experience. Khang was whacking it in the car even before we stepped into the restaurant.

Tuak and Sarawak Laksa Lunch

Went back home straight after and kept myself busy with some house work. Managed to collect a bag of clothes for charity. Yea! More closet space now.

My colleague Michael was hosting a birthday party at his place in Pantai Panorama for Elaine, one of his blogger friends. Party was attended by many other famous bloggers as well. Michael’s place is amazing! Let’s talk about the collection of alcho first. There’s an interesting collection of miniatures & collectibles in a cabinet from Polish Vodka to weird beers. We would have been drunk on the miniatures just alone.

The party table had a variety of stuff too - vodkas, whiskey, brandy, tequilas, kahlua, baileys, sake, soju, wine, tuak, beer, even some egg liquor which tasted like shit by the way. Few other stuff too can’t remember. Michael had a crate of coronas, Heineken, a rack of wines and a cupboard of Hennessy. He’s selling the Hennessy by the way - at RM130 or so per bottle (neg - ask him for exact price I can’t remember but it’s def cheaper than retail) coz he realised he's repenting as an alchoholic and can’t drink everything by himself :P

Miniature collection, booze for the guests

Besides alcho, Mike has cabinets and I mean cabinets FILLED with toys and collectibles. He’s a major fan of Transformers and he has some real serious shit lying around. Autographed posters, figurines of LOTR, X-Files, Batman, vintage classics, a full length Eragon’s sword...(hope I got that right). Don you even dare try & nick any coz he knows where every single thing is. He said he had tons more stored in his cupboard. Just one word - WOW.

Toys galore

Party was not too bad. Had good clean fun playing Jenga + drinking shots & watching this hilarious politically incorrect animation called Robot Chicken. Although I just only met 80% of the people there for the first time, it was a good night.

Birthday girl with her alcy bday pressies