KUCHING 24Feb2006

START ~ The Red Devils 230206

A couple of hours to kill before our plane to Kuching (KCH) leaves and we saunter to the observation area, in time to see The Red Devils stroll by.

AirAsia Airbus A-320, registration 9M-AFC

Yes, one pale Red Devil, Ronaldo and Rooney ...

... Smith (hope his leg heals soon), van Nistelrooy ...

... and one awesome icon.

Heading to take off at Runway 32R, it passes by a specially-painted Malaysia Airlines B-777. We'll meet Blue Whale again later.

Somewhere above Kuching 230206

Engine #1 of AirAsia Boeing 737-300, in the night cabin light. Still in the air, but landing at KCH pretty soon.

Kampung Santubong 240206

Early in the morning, we drive to the coastal fishing village of Kampung Santubong, with the spectacular peak of Mt Santubong still wrapped in mountain clouds. Just 35km from Kuching, it started life as an important port way back before 10th century, to become capital of old Sarawak in the 15th century.

Legend has it that the 810-metre Mt Santubong was formed when Princess Santubong was speared by jealous sister Princess Sejinjang. Well there are at least 3 other (less romantic) versions how the mountain came into being.

Two Buddies 240206

The egret takes care of the cow's ticks and when the cow grazes and exposes the soil, the bird comes and gets the worms. Talk about smart partnership.

And I'm pretty sure the bird is the smarter one - look at the way it's eye-balling me. The bovine, as usual, remains clueless.

Proton Saga 1.5S

At the side of a house, I spot this abandoned beauty. It's a Proton Saga 1.5S vintage 1985, the very same model and colour as my first car, which I sold off in '93. Old memories flooding back ...

Santubong Beach 240206

The pristine beach at Kg Santubong. Low tide and it's rocky and muddy, flanked by mangroves. Hard to imagine that in the mid-1850s, the famous naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace (Darwin's rival) did spend some time here working on his seminal work on evolution.

Kampung Bako 240206

From Kg Santubong, we drive to Kg Bako, gateway to the famed Bako National Park, home of the proboscis monkeys.

The bulk of the village is on the other side of river and there's no bridge, but hey, you can laze at the cafe on the riviera sipping iced tea.

For folks living on the other side of the river, they built these private locked sheds where they keep their precious cars, before hopping onto the boats for the final ride home.

In the hot noon sun, boatmen wait for passengers in the shade of a mangrove tree. The jetty for Bako National Park visitors is in the background.

With fares at 30 sen for adults and 10 sen for kids, these commuter boat rides are real bargain, but nobody seems to care about safety.

Pepper Plants 240206

Back at the hotel, and near the car-park, the legendary pepper of Sarawak.

Kuching Skyline 240206

I think Kuching has the highest per capita ownership of Kancils!

Sarawak River Boats 240206

Beneath the majestic Fort Margherita (built 1879 by Rajah Charles Brooke), colourful sampans take commuters across the river. Motorized, the engine is only used for the upstream leg.

River cruise ship.

And ocean-going trawlers too.

The Esplanade 240206

The 900-metre-long Waterfront Esplanade is a very pleasant spot to while the time away, even for old folks.

There are restaurants and kiosks for all manner of drinks and foods ...

... and roasted critters.

And you can soak in a view ...