KUCHING 26-27Feb2006

Sarawak Museum 260206

The venerable Sarawak Museum, built by the third (last) White Rajah Charles Brooke, for exhibiting the handicrafts of local indigineous people and fauna of Sarawak. It was copied after the town hall in Normandy, France (early 18th century design). Nice pedigree.

Built 1891, this building now houses the Museum of Ethnology.

Splat! I bet this guy's bike's front wheel went into a pothole, which sent him flying into the boulder.

[Sculpture outside the museum.]

The well-tended park across the museum. Great for a stroll.

The Aquarium 260206

Tucked behind the museum, is a pleasant little surprise - an aquarium. At first, I thought it was a seafood restaurant. Well, with all the tanks, it does look like a fancy seafood joint!

The corridor with the fish tanks. Quite a good exhibit.

The Long-house 260203

Here I am, walking along the spooky corridor of a long-house ...

... not really. Well-crafted models of various flavours of traditional long-houses.

In a Long-house 260203

Sleeping quarters, very spartan indeed.

Kitchen area.

Still in the kitchen.

Prized possesions all in a row.

Close-up of the prized possessions.

The Cemetery 260203

I exit the museum, turn right to cross the car-park, and come to this surreal Catholic cemetery, a far cry from Serikin's.

The University 260203

We leave Kuching and head east to Samarahan to check out a brand new campus belonging to Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), a public institution.

Gleaming and glassy futuristic buidings dot the campus. Hard to believe this used to be a huge swamp.

Sarawak is a huge state with lotsa terra firma. I wonder, why the need to destroy swamps which are ecologically important?

Men at Work 260203

As we re-enter Kuching metro, we spot these men hard at work. Hard hat and odd contraptions on their backs? Poles and pails in hands too? What the heck?!

Professional ball pickers on a driving range. I hope the dynamic duo have insurance.

Fire away, guys! Can try to hit the moving targets also.

The Yellow Culprit 270206

Last day in Kuching today, and we are due to leave 9.30am, but this cargo plane decided to overshoot the only runway at KCH at 6.00am, leaving it stranded in the mud. The whole airport is now closed, till the stricken machine is removed, and the runway cleaned and inspected.

Finally freed and being towed away (plane registration 9M-TGH). It's 11.00am and well past noon before the airport is re-opened.

The Departure Area 270206

Meanwhile all flights are in disarray. When the aiport reopens, planes are queueing to take off and to land. Imagine trying to make up the lost 6 hours!

Full house in the departure area.

And suddenly VIPs appear to do a quick walkabout.

[Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Alfred Jabu & tycoon Ting Pek Khing, main contractor for KCH upgrade work]

KCH Terminal Scenes 270206

With many hours to kill, I spend the time exploring the KCH terminal, in the process of being upgraded. Quite impressive, but the design seems to be generic among newer airports in this part of the world.

Ideal place to watch planes, provided the glass panes are squeaky clean.