(^56) Kuching
By then, I had done and seen practically all the attractions Kuching had to offer. The
one thing left to do was to investigate the cultural village, approximately a forty-five-
minute drive by shuttle. These villages were usually fake, but this one was quite a
surprise, and the dance show was thoroughly enjoyable. Scattered about were a few
show longhouses with nothing happening, except inside; they were surprisingly cool.
Upon returning to town, the markets were hectic as the following day was a public
holiday, marking the end of Ramadan. As a result, the bazaars were buzzing with
people shopping for food, clothes and gifts. Mobile carts sold the immensely popular
lemang (glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk in bamboo over an open fire), a
favourite at that time of year.
Kuching
I collected the passport in the morning and hopped on the night bus to Miri.
The day turned out to be Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which marked the end of Ramadan and is
considered one of the two most important celebrations for Muslims. Many Muslims (and
non-Muslims) return to their family homes (Balik Kampung) a couple of days during
Ramadan, and the bus, understandably, was crammed. We shook, rattled and rolled
through the night, only arriving in Miri at 09h30 the following day.
Miri
I headed straight to the inn where the bicycle was stowed, and was relieved to see
everything still in place. Already late, one more night was spent at the inn. Outside the
weather was boiling, and an air-con room was the best place to hide. At the end of the
day, a meander via the backstreets revealed a still open eatery largely frequented by
villagers, a fascinating experience.
leana
(Leana)
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