Page 19 - Sarawak-Visitors-Guide-2014v1
P. 19
Jalan Padungan is
lined with Chinese
shophouses, mostly
built in the 1920’s and
30’s during the rubber
boom. Some are very
elegantly decorated, and
a walk round the back of
the buildings can reveal
fascinaing architectural details. The area has some
excellent cofee shops, pubs and restaurants, more tours, and bird watching at Buntal - one of Malaysia’s
handicrat shops and some unusual specialist retailers most important sites for migratory birds. Just ofshore
including an enire block of fruit and lower sellers. The are two small islands - Pulau Satang Besar and Pulau
Great Cat of Kuching, a monumental kitsch statue, is Satang Kecil, part of the Talang-Satang Naional Park.
situated at the juncion of Jln Padungan and Jln Central. Satang Besar is one of Sarawak’s three “Turtle Islands”
and an important conservaion zone for green turtles
The Jalan India pedestrian area is lined with shops which come ashore to lay eggs.
selling all kinds of goods, paricularly texiles, watches,
bags and gold jewellery. Mid-way down Jln India is a Transport: Santubong Village is roughly 31 km from
narrow passageway that passes by the entrance of the Kuching. The Damai Beach area is 35 km. If you are
Indian Mosque (see page 5) and leads to Jln Gambier, staying more than a day or two, a rental car, motorcycle
home of Kuching’s Indian spice traders. or bicycle is highly recommended. For transport details
see Travel Connecions lisings.
The Malay Kampungs (villages) along the riverside
next to Fort Margherita have some beauiful examples Tour Opions & Day Trips
of tradiional and modern Malay architecture and the Sarawak Cultural Village, Damai Beach (turn right
residents are very pleased to see visitors. Many families at roundabout): “See Sarawak in Half a Day” is the
here have developed a thriving cotage industry selling claim made by Sarawak Cultural Village, a unique
kek lapis (Sarawak layer cake) from their homes and award-winning living museum ofering an excellent
are generous with free samples. There are some more introducion to local
superb Malay houses south of the river around Jln cultures and lifestyles.
Datuk Ajibah Abol, past the Kuching Mosque. Both On a sprawling 17-acre
these areas are paricularly noteworthy as they are site just a short walk from
self-contained, intact tradiional communiies exising the nearby resort hotels,
within a modern city. there are replica buildings
represening every major
DAMAI AND SANTUBONG ethnic group in Sarawak;
Bidayuh, Iban and Orang
The Santubong Peninsula is located at the West Mouth Ulu longhouses, a Penan
of the Sarawak River. At its northern ip, Mount jungle setlement, a
Santubong (810 m) rises majesically from the sea. Melanau tall-house, a
The area has been setled since ancient imes, and was Malay town house with
once a major trading centre. The Peninsula, paricularly adjacent top-spinning
Damai, is a popular beach resort area and a good base court, a Chinese farm
for discovering the charms of Southwest Sarawak. All House and a Chinese pagoda. All the buildings are
manner of atracions are here; sleepy ishing villages, stafed with members of the various ethnic groups, in
tradiional costume, carrying out tradiional aciviies.
primary rainforest, superb seafood restaurants, an
Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, a “living museum”, Each building has a “storyteller” who is expert in
and a choice of beach resort hotels and guest houses. describing and interpreing tradiional cultures and
On a clear day, Santubong ofers spectacular sunsets, as lifestyles. Staf will happily pose with you for photos.
the sun sinks slowly into the sea framed by rolling hills
on one side and scatered islands on the other. Ater touring the village, you can enjoy a muli-cultural
dance performance in the village’s own theatre, or
Tours and excursions can be made from the various maybe take dance and music lessons for only RM10 per
hotels at Damai or from Kuching, and include jungle hour. There is also a good restaurant and a handicrats
treks to the summit of Mount Santubong (recently shop on-site. The Cultural Village can also host theme
gazeted as a Naional Park), Irrawaddy dolphin dinners and paries (check with your hotel), and you
can even get married here, in tradiional Iban, Bidayuh,
watching tours, river cruises and wildlife watching
10
lined with Chinese
shophouses, mostly
built in the 1920’s and
30’s during the rubber
boom. Some are very
elegantly decorated, and
a walk round the back of
the buildings can reveal
fascinaing architectural details. The area has some
excellent cofee shops, pubs and restaurants, more tours, and bird watching at Buntal - one of Malaysia’s
handicrat shops and some unusual specialist retailers most important sites for migratory birds. Just ofshore
including an enire block of fruit and lower sellers. The are two small islands - Pulau Satang Besar and Pulau
Great Cat of Kuching, a monumental kitsch statue, is Satang Kecil, part of the Talang-Satang Naional Park.
situated at the juncion of Jln Padungan and Jln Central. Satang Besar is one of Sarawak’s three “Turtle Islands”
and an important conservaion zone for green turtles
The Jalan India pedestrian area is lined with shops which come ashore to lay eggs.
selling all kinds of goods, paricularly texiles, watches,
bags and gold jewellery. Mid-way down Jln India is a Transport: Santubong Village is roughly 31 km from
narrow passageway that passes by the entrance of the Kuching. The Damai Beach area is 35 km. If you are
Indian Mosque (see page 5) and leads to Jln Gambier, staying more than a day or two, a rental car, motorcycle
home of Kuching’s Indian spice traders. or bicycle is highly recommended. For transport details
see Travel Connecions lisings.
The Malay Kampungs (villages) along the riverside
next to Fort Margherita have some beauiful examples Tour Opions & Day Trips
of tradiional and modern Malay architecture and the Sarawak Cultural Village, Damai Beach (turn right
residents are very pleased to see visitors. Many families at roundabout): “See Sarawak in Half a Day” is the
here have developed a thriving cotage industry selling claim made by Sarawak Cultural Village, a unique
kek lapis (Sarawak layer cake) from their homes and award-winning living museum ofering an excellent
are generous with free samples. There are some more introducion to local
superb Malay houses south of the river around Jln cultures and lifestyles.
Datuk Ajibah Abol, past the Kuching Mosque. Both On a sprawling 17-acre
these areas are paricularly noteworthy as they are site just a short walk from
self-contained, intact tradiional communiies exising the nearby resort hotels,
within a modern city. there are replica buildings
represening every major
DAMAI AND SANTUBONG ethnic group in Sarawak;
Bidayuh, Iban and Orang
The Santubong Peninsula is located at the West Mouth Ulu longhouses, a Penan
of the Sarawak River. At its northern ip, Mount jungle setlement, a
Santubong (810 m) rises majesically from the sea. Melanau tall-house, a
The area has been setled since ancient imes, and was Malay town house with
once a major trading centre. The Peninsula, paricularly adjacent top-spinning
Damai, is a popular beach resort area and a good base court, a Chinese farm
for discovering the charms of Southwest Sarawak. All House and a Chinese pagoda. All the buildings are
manner of atracions are here; sleepy ishing villages, stafed with members of the various ethnic groups, in
tradiional costume, carrying out tradiional aciviies.
primary rainforest, superb seafood restaurants, an
Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, a “living museum”, Each building has a “storyteller” who is expert in
and a choice of beach resort hotels and guest houses. describing and interpreing tradiional cultures and
On a clear day, Santubong ofers spectacular sunsets, as lifestyles. Staf will happily pose with you for photos.
the sun sinks slowly into the sea framed by rolling hills
on one side and scatered islands on the other. Ater touring the village, you can enjoy a muli-cultural
dance performance in the village’s own theatre, or
Tours and excursions can be made from the various maybe take dance and music lessons for only RM10 per
hotels at Damai or from Kuching, and include jungle hour. There is also a good restaurant and a handicrats
treks to the summit of Mount Santubong (recently shop on-site. The Cultural Village can also host theme
gazeted as a Naional Park), Irrawaddy dolphin dinners and paries (check with your hotel), and you
can even get married here, in tradiional Iban, Bidayuh,
watching tours, river cruises and wildlife watching
10
