MALAYSIABook your stay at lonelyplanet.com/hotels MALAYSIAN BORNEO – SARAWAK •• Kuching
Margherita, both on the northern banks of the
Sungai Sarawak, are not currently open to
the public.
The south bank of the Sungai Sarawak
has been tastefully developed with a paved
walkway, lawns and flowerbeds, a children’s
playground, cafes and food stalls. It’s a quiet,
pleasant place to walk or sit and watch the
tambang glide past with their glowing lan-
terns. In the evening it’s full of couples and
families strolling by or eating snacks. While
you’re strolling, be sure to have a look at
the Brooke Memorial, in front of the Visitors
Information Centre.
Kuching’s Chinatown is centred on Jln
Carpenter and runs roughly from Jln Wayang
to Jln Tun Abang Haji Openg. It’s a collec-
tion of beautiful colonial-era shophouses and
Chinese temples that is conducive to strolling
(if you can take the heat).
Established in 1891, the Sarawak Museum
(%082-244232; http://www.museum.sarawak.gov.my; Jln Tun
Abang Haji Openg; admission free; h9am-6pm) has a
fascinating collection of cultural artefacts
and is a must-visit for anyone who wants
to learn more about the region’s indigenous
peoples and natural environment. It consists
of two wings connected by an ornate foot-
bridge. While you’re at the Sarawak Museum,
be sure to have a look at its Art Museum and
Natural Science Museum, both of which are just
down the hill from the museum’s Old Wing.
Over the hill from the Sarawak Museum, the
Islamic Museum (Muzium Islam Sarawak; %082-244232;
Jln P Ramlee; admission free; h9am-6pm) is well worth
the walk.
Kuching’s best and busiest market, the week-
end market (known locally as Pasar Minggu)
sits along Jln Satok. The market begins late on
Saturday afternoon, when villagers bring in
their produce and livestock and start trading.
They sleep at their stalls and resume trading
at around 5am on Sunday.Festivals & Events
The three-day Rainforest World Music Festival
(www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com) unites Borneo’s
indigenous tribes with international artists
for a musical extravaganza in the Sarawak
Cultural Village outside Kuching. It’s held
annually in the middle of July. Check out our
website (lonelyplanet.com) for an informative
podcast about the festival.Sleeping
Mr D’s B&B (%082-248852; http://www.misterdbnb.com; 26 Jln
Carpenter; dm/s/tw/d from RM20/55/65/75; aiW)
‘Tribal chic’ is the name of the game here – the
hang-out room at the entrance is stuffed with
leopard-skin pillows and there are arty black-
and-white prints of tribal warriors on the wall.INFORMATION Sarawak Museum Natural Little Lebanon................................... 29 B2
Cyber City ............................................. 1 D3 Science Museum........................... 16 B3 Living Room ...................................... 30 C3
Everrise Money Changer.................. 2 E3 Top Spot Food Court ...................... 31 D3
Indonesian Consulate ....................... 3 F4 SLEEPINGi
Main Post Office.................................. 4 C2 Fairview ............................................... 17 B4 DRINKING?
Majid & Sons ........................................ 5 B2 Kuching Waterfront Lodge ........... 18 C2 99 .......................................................... 32 D3
Maybank................................................ 6 E2 Lodge 121........................................... 19 C4 Ipanema.............................................. 33 E3
Mohamed Yahia & Sons ................... 7 E2 Mr D's B&B .......................................... 20 C2 Mojo ..................................................... 34 E3
Mr Clean ................................................ 8 C3 Nomad ................................................. 21 C3 Ruai......................................................(see 21)
National Parks & Wildlife Singgahsana Lodge ........................ 22 C3 Soho ..................................................... 35 E3
Booking Office ................................. 9 C2
Popular Book Co ............................... 10 E3 EATING@ TRANSPORT
Visitors Information Centre........... 11 C2 43 Jalan Carpenter Chinese Bus Stop for Pending Wharf......... 36 D2
Food Stalls....................................... 23 C2 Bus Stop for STC Bus to
SIGHTS & ACTIVITIES a-ha Café ............................................. 24 C3 Express Bus Terminal .................. 37 B2
Brooke Memorial .............................. 12 C2 Bla Bla Bla............................................ 25 C3 Petra Jaya Bus Station .................... 38 B2
Islamic Museum ................................ 13 B3 Black Bean Coffee & Tea Shuttle buses to Sarawak
Sarawak Museum ............................. 14 B3 Company ......................................... 26 C2 Cultural Village.............................. 39 D2
Sarawak Museum Art Green Hill Corner ............................. 27 C3 STC–CLL Bus Stand ......................... 40 B2
Museum ........................................... 15 B3 Junk ...................................................... 28 C3 Taxi Stand........................................... 41 B2GETTING TO INDONESIA: TEBEDU TO
ENTIKONG
There is only one official land border cross-
ing between Sarawak and Kalimantan, at
Tededu (M) and Entikong (I). Located close
to Kuching, this crossing point is used
on the tourist trail as the gateway be-
tween nations for the Miri–Pontianak and
KK–Pontianak buses. A series of unofficial
crossings line the border throughout the
Kelabit Highlands; a vestige of blurred tribal
grounds.511