It was 6.30am when I received sms from Air Asia that flight to Kuching was cancelled. Not to spoiled my kids eagerness to fly, I drove to LCCT just to find out Air Asia AK5218 was skidded in Kuching Airport due to heavy downpur and all flights were cancelled. Thanks to a friendlly staff, my flights was reschedule to the next day i.e. delay by 24 hours.
The second day going very smooth with clear skies in Kuala Lumpur and with great flight to Kuching. This time around a smooth touch down in Kucking Airport. Prior to this journey, I google some info on budget hotel i.e. Singahsana Lodge, Kuching Waterfront, Tune Hotel and many more, though looks pretty promising I did not made any booking as January is not a peak season, so it should not be a big problem to look for a hotel on walk-in.
It was not the case however, the first question by the Taxi driver.. where to go? Waterfront I said! Which waterfront? he asked.. Alamak!!! which one..? Tune Hotel! immediately I responded... my wife look at me with quriousity.. Tune Hotel? Yup I said.. <silence>
At Tune Hotel, we were offered 2 separate rooms for me and wife and another room for my childrens, with aircond and towel charge separately. At less than RM300 for 3D 2 N, its a good package. But not for my wife, she wanted all of us in one room. What to do.. look for other hotle lah, next to it a Hilton Hotel, but no room available. Got a friendly taxi and was recommended to Waterfront Lodge, great price, but a Hailam style (hehe).. so again look for other hotel. Saw the Singgahsana Lodge (recommended by my officemate) the answer No (this time my elder children said).
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| Cat (Kuching in Malay).. where the City get its name |
Finally end up at the Grand Margareita hotel (ex-Holiday Inn). Check the price and immediately check-in.. nice hotel, nice view, nice room...everybody happy. After almost half a day travel, we just spend our time in the 'so cooled' room (until I have to switch off aircond). It is still rain outside, luckily the hotel connected to Sarawak Plaza, so no problem to find food for dinner. But don't look for mamak stall ya.. you will never find one.
2nd day, still raining, we rent a car, a Saga BLM and round the bandar (City) Kuching, cross the bridge to look out for the famous Kek Lapis (Layer Cake) Sarawak. Spoiled by choices from one to another cake maker, we end up at Dayang Salhah, a place where the famous celebraties purchase the layer cake such as Datuk Siti Nurhaliza among others. Interestingly, the place actually just across the river from our hotel, and the fares is just RM3/pax for less than 10 minutes rides as compared to by car at least half an hour and with RM1.50 toll. Spend RM100 on the 10 nos Kek Lapis with 1 roll free (in KL it could cost you RM300 - RM500) for 10 rolls of the original Kek Lapis Sarawak.
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| The famous Kek Lapis Sarawak |
Next location to Sarawak Cultural Village... somehow, no GPS (tak bawak), no signboard and poor direction from the gadis toll, ended no where. Then saw the Bako National Park, a place to far to reach (hehe) with a heavy downpour, we decided a U turn back to the city.
3rd day, rain and rain and rain (what a 24 hours rain?), uhh! what a bad day (oh yelah it was monsoon from Nov-March every year).
Anyway, Kuching is a nice city, clean and no traffic jam. The taxi, wow better than KL (even at KLCC - mengecewakan), they are so friendly, charge user using other than the meter. And most importantly, clean taxi with good condition and service with a smile.. also peramah :).
So next time if you visit Kuching without a GPS, do not rent a car, just rent a taxi, with almost the same rates, they could chauffer you to all the nice places in Kuching.. that what I will do next time visit this Cat City yeah!
