The Waterfront at Cat City

Last week, I was sent early to Kuching, Sarawak to settle a couple of things for a bicycle race I volunteered for. I had two hotels to iron out the finer details with. After the first, I could have Grab’ed to the next but when I realised it was only 1.3km’s away, I took the chance to explore by walking over before it got really busy.

The Grand Margharita faces a roundabout with stone sculptures of cats. Kuching means cats in Malay and the locals sometimes refer to it as Cat City.

However, accoding to Wikitravel.org

... it more likely comes from the Chinese word for port ("cochin") coupled with the Malay name mata kucing (cat's-eye) for the longan fruit, a popular trade item.

The hotel is by the Waterfront, which is part of the long and winding Sarawak river.

Sampans, boats and yatchs dot the river, either sailing or docked.

The Waterfront has also many modern structures and pop-up shops. The shops were closed though, and I am guessing the place comes alive at night. There were a few sitting in the shade on chairs and benches, reading. There was one guy fishing, running up and down with his fishing rod.

The roads are paved with big, old trees. Look at this beauty!

Colonial buildings between the modern structures were like eye candy.

Pillars of the post office building.

And I finally reached the Mandarin Palace. Had a quick catch up with the person in charge, did the neccessary and quickly headed back.

But first a couple of snaps of their deco. This is a piece of our National Monument. I love the colours and how its lit.

In the same theme is this one of our day of independance. Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

My brisk walk back came to halt as I had to capture these girls, in their school uniforms, probably after school, waiting for their boat ride to cross the river.

I am so glad I took that walk even though it was very hot. And even happier to share it on @tattoodjay’s #wednesdaywalk challenge. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Thank you for reading,
Sh33la