Sarawak Trip Day 3

Assalammualaikum wbt,

Here comes our day 3 or final day of our vacation here in Kuching. Initially, we didn't make any plans, at first we thought we just want to stay in our room, because we're lazy like that. Haha. After breakfast, we thought, heck, we don't always come here, just go anywhere as long as not in this hotel room! So, we checked out earlier, leave our luggages at the lobby and went to Sarawak State Museum. Basically...there's nothing much in here. The museum in fact is quite erm...eerie. They have these sculptures of dead animals displayed, and somehow I could feel their dead soul whispering to me. Hahahha. The air ventilation is quite poor and with dim lights, make it even scarier to be inside there. Being chicken, I said to my husband that I am going to wait for him outside. I think the officials has plan to renovate this place soon, because I can see the other part of museum are closed down for renovations too. We even went to the other building, it is newly refurbished with air condition and has even more interactive display. The butterfly museum is also there but it was closed that day for some renovation works. 

 

 

 

 

 

Then, from the museum, we went to Sarawak Cat Museum using our main transportation here, Grab. Well, again, nothing much in here too. I am a cat lover but somehow I found it just too much of cats here, it makes me sick hahahaha. There are a lot of cats frame and I feel they are all staring at me begging me to help release their trapped soul or something. Haha, because of dim light and poor ventilation, I felt nauseous and asked my husband to cut it short here too. Don't get me wrong, I love museum, but I prefer to see on history and old stuff, not the dead animals or ancient people's bones display in a glass. We ran out of idea where to go next and I remember about our previous Grab car recommendation to go to Pasar Sitok since it is Sunday. 

 

 

We had our lunch there. I ordered Nasi Goreng Dabai, I remembered Dabai fruits can only be found here in Sarawak. I swear, I had no idea how does it looks like or taste, so when the order is arrived, I confidently eat it and nodded to my amuse, talking to myself "Ahh...this is what Dabai taste like". Which I felt stupid afterwards because it was actually my husband's Nasi Goreng Kampung! HAHAHA. I'm such an idiot, because I even offered it ro my husband, "Hey baby, you gotta taste this Dabai thingy, we don't have it back in Semenanjung". 

So, this is what Nasi Goreng Dabai should looks like; That purple plum-alike taste is the Dabai fruit.

 

Here also, I found my favourite biscuit which are only available in Sarawak, the Gery cheese biscuit. It went viral recently, and I already planned to buy a box but yeah, we don't have enough space nor hand to carry :( So I just bought 2 packets.. jadilah.. Maybe I'll get my friend to buy it for me and post it later. Then, we took a tour around this Pasar, buying some kuih sagoo which I tasted a day before at Nady's wedding. Hanif Aiden got so restless because the weather getting hotter so we decided to get back to our hotel and wait at the lobby (since we already checking out). 

 

 

 

 

 

Our flight that evening was delayed for an hour, but luckily after like endless running, Hanif Aiden was flat and slept all the way through even in the flight..pheww.. Thank God. Overall, I think I would love to visit Kuching again, Sarawak is so big you guys, there are many other places to discover. But mostly, I love the people here, they are so warm and friendly and helpful. They greeted us inside the lift, at the restaurant, at the lobby.. Unlike here, everybody is doing their own business, not give any care what others are doing or even a smile.. It teaches me how arrogant we, or at least myself used to be, ignoring my surrounding and strangers around me. I feel ashamed thinking about it. It's a lesson for me to always be kind, and be nice to people. Even when people don't reciprocate, don't worry, there are millions other people and they aren't all bad :) If you haven't been to Kuching, please pay a visit soon, the energy is great, the people are warm and the places are beautiful. Now that we have introduced Hanif Aiden to airplane experience, I think my husband and I are ready for our next family holiday. Maybe somewhere outside Malaysia soon? Insha Allah :) 

 

 

Sarawak Trip Day 2

Assalammualaikum wbt,

So, here comes the second day of our trip. We went to breakfast at Hotel's Coffee House and the buffet spread weren't so bad. But, there are a lot of people hereeee. Maybe because school holiday just started. Today is the highlight of our trip and the main reason why we're here. We need to attend my UiTM best friend, Nady's wedding in Matang, Kuching. Since we're staying at the main town, there is no difficulty in getting a Grab car to fetch us. The journey took about 30 minutes drive. We had a blast at the wedding. It's a typical Malay wedding but I was so excited to see the buffet spread. All Sarawak local delicacies guysssss. I no need to go one place after another to taste each food as they're all here. Save cost haha. There were Mee Kolok, Laksa Sarawak, Ice Cream Gula Apong and some others which I do not know what the names are. But too bad, I only managed to eat Mee Kolok and that's it, I was full. The noodles are starchy, it makes you full easily. Even that, I couldn't finish. The people are so warm and friendly, once they know we're from Semenanjung, they treated us so good, introducing us to local food and they even helped to serve us food! Nady's relatives treated us so well, kept on checking us whether are we ok or not, have we eaten yet.. Even her mother gave us so much of wedding goodies. Nady is sooooo pretty, I love her stories on her veil she wore that day. It's called Keringkam, and it's basically a piece of cloth sewn with gold thread and usually worn on special occasion. This keringkam is generally expensive, I Googled the price, the basic ones are about RM1k, and it usually passed down through generations. The more the gold thread are, the more expensive it would cost. The one that Nady wore has a heavy gold thread. I'm scared to even touch it hehehe. The wedding here starts early, at 10am and finished at 2pm. 

 

 

 

The interesting part was, when we tried to get a Grab car to send us back after the event, there were none available. NOT.A.SINGLE.FREAKING.GRAB.CAR! Luckily we saved the number from our previous Grab car driver, the one who sent us there, called him up and cried a river begging to fetch us back. Haha. That was exaggerate, but that basically what happened, we practically begged and offered to pay double for this trip. Luckily, he is so kind and being an awesome Grab driver that he is, he agreed to it! Which kind of remind me today that I should write a compliment letter for him. There were other UiTM acquaintances were on the same boat with us that day so we shared the same car. It was kind of awkward because we already bid our goodbyes to Nady and her family but we still there shamelessly waiting for Grab car while other guests has left the event. Haha. 

We rested for a while at the hotel, and later that evening went to visit Kuching town, specifically the famous Waterfront. My mission is to buy Kek Lapis and Ikan Terubuk Masin for souvenirs. I already Googled up on the famous Kek Lapis here and many suggested to go to Kek Lapis Dayang Salhah. Even our Grab car drivers recommended it as well. I went crazy when I entered the shop guys... ahh not such new news, I can went loco even at night market #shopaholiclife. I spent about RM300 for about 20 or so cakes and they even give me 3 free cakes! Don't worry, they provide us the testers as well if you can't decide which flavors to buy. There are so many of themmm! However, I didn't buy any on cakes that contain cheese because you need to refrigerate them. Then, you can request them to wrap in a box for airport purposes. Even they put the "FRAGILE" sticker, I didn't dare to check it in the cargo, afraid the cakes would damage and I ended up with cake crumbs(which if they do, I would spoon it, I don't care). So I carried them in a cabin instead. Heavy, but at least they're safe. I was lucky because in front of this cake shop, there are also people selling Ikan Terubuk Masin. Make it much convenient for me. No need to go to Pasar anymore. I bought about medium size for 7 pieces at RM70 and also, they wrapped it with layers of newspapers and secured box. I'm regretting my decision not getting much of it. They're so tasty!! Okey, now I am salivating over it.

 

 

 

With the help of the locals, we walked from the Kek Lapis shop to to the Waterfront which was actually opposite the shop. Ahaha. We thought we really far from it and thinking to take Grab car to bring us there. Lucky we didn't. You know, the thought of carrying one big box of Kek Lapis and a stroller and a Ikan Terubuk box some more, the idea of walking is seems so inconvenient. At this area, there are many other Kek Lapis and Ikan Terubuk shops too, but I think I bought from the best ones. It really is, I received a lot of good feedback from those I had given the cakes, despite its cheap price tag. 

At the riverbank, while looking for available boat, my idea is to just cross the river to the other side, little did I know, my husband is actually requested for a boat cruising. I didn't know it at first, but when the journey that supposed to be less than 5 minutes, and the boat was heading opposite way, I was still thinking positive that maybe this guy is being kind to give us extra tour, go this side s bit, that side a bit and that's it. Then, when the next 10 minutes we were even farther from the stop, I started to get nervous, I asked my husband, why are they taking us too far, then only I knew we were actually on a cruise tour (-___-) I was scared because the boat is made out of woods, very basic Nelayan alike boat, so low that you could actually touch the water. The boat guys even told us that there are crocodiles underneath but not to worry because they never appeared for quite some time now. I don't know how is that supposed to make me calm?! Plus, because I thought it just a "crossing" only, I didn't put any life jackets and neither my husband nor I know how to swim! Great. I was restless and worry as hell, but keep my cool. I was dreading for the whole journey wanting this cruising whatever that is to stop soon. Luckily Hanif Aiden fell asleep, making it easier to handle. Who wouldn't, with bumpy ride and windy and mother's comfort arms, anyone would be sleepy too. After taking like forever, they dropped us at the Kuching Waterfront. Oh, the guy who took us the boat ride is so kind and nice, I forgot his name. The ride costed us RM30. The Waterfront is so lively with people and shops and malls, this is where the true Kuching city is. We saw the famous Kuching statue but we thought it was quite dangerous to walk there with stroller, carrying many stuff and to cross the busy roads, so we gave it a pass. 

 

 

  

Since it is already 7pm, it started to get dark, we have decided to go back to our hotel. Hanif Aiden also was restless and tired. We tapau food from the famous local restaurant here, 'Sugar Bun'. The food was ok lah. Just a typical fast food menu, but I kind of like the butter rice though. We are all pengsan that night from our packed day. Will update more on our last day on next post. Thanks for reading!