Kuching for me is a melting pot of diverse cultures, races, religions and ethnicities
Kuching for me is a melting pot of
diverse cultures, races, religions and ethnicities with big chunks of
love and respect chopped in, blended together with equal servings of
trust, kindness and faith, topped off with a generous sprinkling of
friendliness and benevolence for good measure and served piping hot with
a hearty side of cheer and warm humour. This place dubbed as the “Cat
City” is where I have spent the past 19 years of my life. It’s where I
was born, where I took my first steps, where I grew up, where I went to
school and the place of so many other uncountable life experiences.
Kuching is so much more than just my hometown; it is a place I associate
with my fondest childhood memories and the place where more wonderful
memories will be made in time to come.
To someone, who does not hail from
Kuching, it may seem like just an average, humdrum, maybe even slightly
boring, run-of-the-mill town located in East Malaysia on the island of
Borneo. But I know better. If you look a little bit closer, you’ll find
that Kuching is in fact far more than ordinary; it is a vibrant city
teeming with life and joy. Where else can you find a city with people
who come from many races and religions not just tolerating but actually
understanding, respecting and cherishing each other’s cultures and
traditions?
Chinese. Malay. Iban. Melanau. Indian.
Bidayuh. Orang Ulu. These are just some of a few ethnicities of the
citizens of Kuching. One would think that there would be a fair share of
conflicts and disagreements due to so many ethnic groups but this is
far from the case in Kuching where the citizens whole-heartedly embrace
the customs and beliefs of others to the point where the process of
assimilation occurs.
The tradition of visiting each other’s
abodes to foster and strengthen ties between family and friends while
spreading goodwill and joy is a common act that is done by Kuchingnites
during major festivals be it Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Aidilfitri,
Deepavali or Gawai. During Chinese New Year, I invite all my friends
regardless of their race and religion to my open house where they can
feast on traditional Chinese delights such as chicken rice, dim sum and
laksa. Children and teenagers will customarily be given red packets for
auspiciousness. When Hari Raya rolls around, my Muslim friends will
return the favour by inviting me to their open houses. Muslim
Kuchingnites will also give out green packets; a tradition emulated from
the Chinese. Indians, Ibans and other ethnicities also carry out the
practise of holding open houses during their festivals.
Besides that, I have no qualms about
donning the garbs of other ethnicities and am as comfortable in a baju
kebaya as I am in a cheongsam or sari. Some of my favourite foods are
dishes which are not Chinese such as nasi lemak and roti canai. I do not
eat in front of my Muslim friends when they are fasting out of respect
to them. To me, it doesn’t matter what the colour of your skin is, what
religion you uphold or who you are descended from because Kuchingnites
don’t let such petty matters as ethnicity or cultures deter them from
being polite and gracious to each other.
Kuching is a place of architectural
structures combined with buildings dating back to the 19th century
giving the whole city a very unique feel of traditional meets modern.
Browse for designer gear in high-end boutiques located in various
shopping complexes around town. Wander down more rustic areas such as
India and Gambier Street where handmade trinkets and textiles can be
purchases. Visit the famous Siniawan Night Market to get a feel for
Chinese culture. Or take a stroll in Kuching’s famous Friendship Park
and admire the lush green scenery. Whatever your fancy, there is sure an
attraction in Kuching that will get you excited and raring to come back
and visit it again.
A wide variety of food is available
anytime, anywhere in Kuching. Be it time for breakfast or supper or even
in the wee hours of the morning, there is always someplace in Kuching
where I can grab a bite to eat. And I’m not talking about a 24
hours-open fast food outlet. I’m talking about authentic mamak stalls
and coffee shops where the owner upon seeing you his premise, will give
you a big, toothy grin and the standard greeting of “Boss! What do you
want to eat?”He will then reel off by heart a list of dishes his
proprietorship has to offer, all of them guaranteed to make your taste
buds sing with delights. Still not quite sure which dish tickles your
fancy? “No problem boss!! Let me recommend our famous…..! You’ll surely
like it-lah!” But what makes eating out at Kuching so special is not
only the abundance of sumptuous food but the added benefit of good
service. It is safe to say that a vast majority of Kuching’s eateries
are manned by proprietors and servers who are genial and welcoming,
making eating out a joyous delight in this town.
So, to answer the question of what
Kuching is for me, I say…it is everything. It is a beautiful city which
strikes the balance between modern structures and lush landscapes. It is
where you can find people of so many different ethnicities and cultures
co-existing in harmony. To me, Kuching and its residents truly embody
the human spirit of warmth, kindness and love. It has been said that
‘there is no place like home’ and no matter how many other places I
visit, no matter how far I travel, this beautiful, lively city will
always be home sweet home to me.
Kuching for me is home, family and friends
Kuching for me is home, family and friends.
“Are you someone famous in your hometown because everyone seems to know you!”
quipped my guest from New Zealand as we were waiting for our flight to
Singapore at the KIA Departure Lounge. I must have stopped by and said
hello to half a dozen people at least that morning.
“No way!! I’m just a regular middle class housewife.” I answered.
In my hometown Kuching being the very
small and communal city that it is, everyone knows just about almost
someone or anyone the reason being we are a small, unique and close knit
community. Not only that Kuchingites are well known for their warmth,
generosity and hospitality. A true charm of this place. And I must say I
like it this way. Very much. It makes me very proud to introduce myself
as a Kuchingite indeed!
You stop by to say and catch up at the
departing lounge, the kopitiams, at the park, your children s school, at
the wet market etc. Ha, even when queuing up for the toilets at the
mall.
You connect with your cousins, relatives, friends, friends of friends and your family’s friends and so and so’s next of kin.
Back at my “kampung” or residential area
where I’ve been staying close to two decades, acquaintances, and
friends at the neighborhood park where I exercise would notice if I were
to go missing for a few days sometimes due to travels or sheer
procrastination.
Wherever I may be traveling, I kind of
miss this city after a while. And when the plane touches down, I’m
already planning to hit my favorite kopitiam to indulge in the
Kuchingites’ staple, the “kolok mee”.
Last of all, Kuching to me is where I
can look up in the sky above after a thunderstorm and gawk in awe at the
beauty of the marshmallow clouds at dusk. Truly God s work of art. And
the tambang that leisurely takes you across the Sarawak river bring with
it a romantic and nostalgic feeling of another place in time.
Kuching maybe just a small city without
the hustle and bust of other cities like KL or Singpore but to me its
communal character with its small quaint old towns where you can escape
to for an indulgence of local delicacies is so very perfect for me. The
old and new interwoven in this city. So rich in colonial history and
traditions.
Its mostly awesome people, Its sunset
and my favorite food kachangma and tomato noodles – ah! Well, that sums
up what Kuching is for me.
Kuching for me is home
Kuching for me is home. Being born and
raised in Cat city has certainly moulded me into who I am today. There
are a lot of fond memories as well as bitter ones that always reminds me
how exciting it is to be in this city. Kuching is the state capital of
Sarawak and one of the major cities in Malaysia. Among all the cities in
Malaysia, of course I find Kuching the most special of them all. What’s
so special about Kuching you may ask? Every city has their own
attractiveness and so do Kuching.
Nestled in between two iconic mountains,
the legendary Santubong Mountain and the towering Serapi Mountain it
creates a scenic background for the city. Kuchingnites like myself truly
appreciate these two mountains because it creates a place to escape
from the hustling and bustling of the city. Since it is not that far
away from the city which is almost an hour’s drive for both mountains,
it is really convenient to go there. For me, I would say it is a must
for every Kuchingnites to climb this two mountain and reach the summit. I
would also recommend to spend a night on top of the summit and enjoy
the scenery whereby you could see the bright lights emitting from the
city. The fresh cold streams and waterfall, the fresh air and sounds and
smell of the jungles really makes you feel relaxed in peace and
serenity. Apart from that, the city is cut across by the mighty Sarawak
River which gives a romantic setting where couples would have a short
walk along its banks. Used by our ancestors as an important route for
transportation and business, it is now becoming a place for uniting
people. Every now and then, at the waterfront located at the city
centre, there would normally be held gatherings, functions, exhibitions,
concerts, water sports and various activities. Back when I was in
secondary school, I remembered I used to take one of the small boat or
‘sampan’ to cross the river and people still do it till this day. It is
also the best playground a Kuchingnite could have. As for me, I join the
Sarawak Regatta where categories from long boats, dragon bots and kayak
competitors race each other out to be the best in that year.
Besides being blessed by its beautiful
and magnificent landscape, Kuching inherited many infrastructures,
houses and buildings from the colonial era. Thanks to the local efforts
in preserving those architectures, younger generations like me are able
to appreciate these historic and iconic monuments. It was a privilege
for me to have the opportunity to study in the oldest school in Sarawak
which was built during the Brooke era. To beautify as well as taking
care of the school was certainly part of the contribution in preserving
one of the iconic monuments in the city. It is really wonderful to see
that many Kuchingnites are appreciating these buildings by taking care
of it. Some of the bigger buildings are used as government offices and
museum. Most of the smaller ones especially in the business districts
are turning into restaurants, cafes, bistros and other F&B outlets
which brings both contemporary and vintage ambiance for their customers.
Some of the coffee shops still remain as authentic as it was and you
could somehow fill that you are taken back in time while enjoying some
of the most delicious favourite Kuchingnites delicacies.
That brings me to the place where I live
to eat. Tuck away in the corners or alleys in the street, you could
always find good comfort food to replenish your hard day’s work. There
are the mouth-watering and spicy Sarawak Laksa which could tantalise
your taste buds for more. For a quick but yet fulfilling meal, I would
normally go for the Kolo Mee or Char Siew Pau and for a hearty meal I
would go for the Bak Kut Teh. These are just a few local Chinese
delicacies that are abundant especially in Padungan, Petanak or
Carpenter Street. There are also the Indian and Malay delicacies such as
the Nasi Briyani, Nasi Ayam Penyet, Roti Canai and countless of dishes
equipped with spices that really makes you want for more. What’s special
in Kuching is that Kuchingnites also get to enjoy Dayak cuisine. It is
now becoming popular among food lovers especially those who longed for
home cooked dishes or ‘kampung cooking’. Besides local dishes that are
widely available across town, it is also convenient enough to find some
international cuisines such as from the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam,
Korea, Japan and not to forget western dishes that are produced in
restaurants by both local and international talents.
What’s interesting about Kuching is that
although it is a city, somehow you would bumped into someone you know.
Besides that, being a multiracial city what’s special is that almost
everyone could speaks or understand a few local words from different
races. Some of the most well-known local language that is widely spoken
is the Sarawakian Malay. I think almost everyone in the city could
converse in this dialect followed by Iban language and Hokkien. As for
myself, I fell very lucky to be able to immerse myself in the
multicultural society which is packed with diverse traditions and
beliefs. Many of my friends and families in Kuching are from various
ethnicity which is why make it so special especially during celebrations
and festivities.
As time flies by, Kuching is
progressively becoming a modern city where skyscrapers are slowly
increasing in numbers and high rise shopping malls are becoming a trend.
In the wake of modernization, Kuching still manages to keeps its
authenticity by preserving its heritages as well as introducing and
merging the old with the new. For that I believe Kuching will always be
the city I know from my childhood because some old memories could still
be relived today. For that I will always find comfort in the city I call
home, Kuching.
“Kuching for me is….” I began before trailing off, trying to find the words
“Kuching for me is….” I began before
trailing off, trying to find the words. What exactly is it to me? It’s
definitely my hometown, but what else is it? “I’ll think of how I can
describe Kuching. You guys go ahead.”
The four Swinburne students I was with
chattered on about their respective hometowns. They were part of a youth
exchange trip to South Korea while I was supervising the trip as one of
the lecturer advisors. We were in Dankook University on a campus visit
and were chatting with Lee Jiseon, a senior editor with the university’s
newspaper. She was interested to find out about Malaysia for a possible
feature on the trip and its participants. It was a coincidence that we
came from different hometowns all over Malaysia.
As the others excitedly described what
the hometowns’ specialties, I was deep in thought. I could start by
explaining that Kuching was actually named because of the mata kucing
trees and cats. Or, I could talk about our delicacies such as laksa and
kolo mee, but those could be in Miri too. Having lived in Petaling Jaya
for work before, I’d been eager to move back to Kuching when I could.
Although not as happening as PJ, there was just something about Kuching
that appealed to me more than just being my hometown.
It’s easy to see that there is some
undefinable quality about Kuching that seduced visitors into becoming
citizens. While Malaysia is home to many nationalities and religions,
somehow Kuchingites seem more tolerant and accepting of one another.
There has always been mutual understanding and respect for the different
cultures, where it’s common to see people of different races sharing a
table at eateries and co-existing peacefully. It’s also small enough
that everyone seems to know one another but it’s easy enough to strike
up a friendly conversation with a new face. While the local mindset is
more relaxed compared to West Malaysia, there is no doubt that
Kuchingites are capable of producing high-quality work, as evident from
our various successes in the different fields. The rest of the world is
beginning to realize this as we see more multi-national companies coming
in to invest locally.
Although Kuching may still considered
small, it is blessed to be in Sarawak, where it is surrounded with
abundant and fertile land. It was known as a small town with nothing but
the local infrastructure is developing progressively. However, when
people talk of visiting East Malaysia, people automatically think of
Kota Kinabalu with its pristine beaches, blue waters, exciting islands,
mountains and more. Yet, Kuching has most of those things too. Problem
is, not many people have realized that, myself included until that
moment. Admittedly, more could be done by everyone to further promote
our natural heirlooms to tourists, while supporting transportation
systems need to be better planned and developed. One example is the
supply of parking spaces, especially since Kuchingites love to park as
close as possible to their destination.
There is definitely room for improvement
in Kuching. Despite being a friendly place, there seems to be a
decreasing sense of community nowadays, especially among the younger
generation. Everyone is glued to their technological devices that many
do not even know their own neighbours or what is going on outside their
own homes.
What Kuching lacks is a way for everyone
to be a part of a real community. The simplest, most effective solution
would be to create a gathering place which welcomes all to for events,
festivities, community projects and more. While some may claim that
existing shopping malls do so, most still lack that spark to bring
Kuchingites together. This place should make people excited to look
forward to keep going back. It should be lively and bustling, with a
steady flow of activities and events, in an easily accessible location
with features and facilities to encourage all Kuchingites to participate
as a whole, instead of individuals.
This place should celebrate the spirit
of Kuching by getting the citizens involved by asking them to help
decide on upcoming activities together. Besides being a communal area,
it could also be a convenient one-stop destination, well-equipped to
meet the appetites and retail needs of the people. In the present,
there’s currently no other Malaysian city with such a location for and
by the people, without any political or religious ties. To make this
place even more like home, and a representation of Kuching, it should
also have a green lung area planted with plants and trees indigenous to
the city or Sarawak. This would help educate the younger generation and
tourists alike in a convenient setting.
My mind started filling with ideas and
possibilities for humble Kuching. That’s the best thing about it,
there’s just so much to discover and to work on to bring out the best of
what it has to offer. It just takes the right people with the
appropriate mindset and opportunity to get it started. As I thought of
what else Kuching could do to improve, my musings were interrupted with
“Andrea, are you still with us? You seem to be thinking a lot,” Jiseon
waved her hand in front of me.
“Oh, yes. I’ve finally thought of what
to tell you about my hometown.” I said as she nodded in anticipation.
“Kuching for me is a well of untapped and never-ending potential,” I
began, this time excitedly and confidently. I went on to explain all
that is beloved of Kuching, how the little city is and will be even more
special. What I said must have struck a chord with them, as every
Korean whom I told about Kuching has decided to visit in December. I
really can’t wait to show them our little gem of a hometown.
Kuching for me is where old meets new, traditional meets modern, and diverse cultural boundaries intertwine with one another
Kuching for me is where old meets new,
traditional meets modern, and diverse cultural boundaries intertwine
with one another. As the sleepy town acquired city status, many of the
old historical monuments stands side-by-side with the many modern
developments mushrooming around with the aim of becoming a developed
nation through Vision 2020. This can be seen extending from the city
centre to many parts of Kuching’s suburban areas. Seeing people from all
walks of life, young and old, buying groceries and wares, merchants
peddling their wares and citizens having their meals together with
friends of different race at a local coffee shop. It is also my
motherland, my home and my pride. A place where diverse race and culture
eat together, have fun together, live together and celebrates the
festive seasons together disregard of which religion you practice. And
not forgetting amidst all these things, we also have a crazy love for
all things cats. From the one of a kind cat museum, shops lined with cat
souvenirs and even our streets covered in cat motifs from wall painted
graffiti to statues of cats. It is a place where street photography is
at its best.
I love how the city has new developments
yet retains the old feel of the sleepy town. Areas around Gambier
Street, Carpenter Street and Main Bazaar are where the town grew from,
and nearby, a modern shopping mall incorporates colonial look to blend
with the surroundings making it look like it is part of the area. Even
with the new Sarawak State Legislative assembly building which stands
out yet blending in harmony with the natural surroundings, making it a
beautiful scenic icon where it becomes a photographic attraction for
tourist and locals alike. At Carpenter Street, where the many
backpackers lodging and new watering holes (drinking places for the
uninitiated) are mushrooming, they still retain the original look of the
buildings they reside in. All these historic buildings should be
preserved as they are unique and are one and only ones in the world.
Even as far as Siniawan, the old wooden shop houses which were built
decades ago still stands while owners still go about on their daily
business, giving the place a very cowboy-esque feel, and unaffected by
the rapid development of modernization.
There is something about Kuching that
makes it unique. To others, it might be the food, the people, or just
the place. But to me, one unique thing I find about Kuching is the
quirky weather we have. It can be all sunny and sweltering hot in the
morning, and the afternoon, it is pouring cats and dogs. Even growing up
here for nearly three decades, I still find it amazing as well as
frequently being caught off guard when it pours without warning. But
hey, the cooling rain is always welcoming as it plays its lullaby on the
zinc roof of many shops and houses but deafening when one is in the
car. Aside from the the rain, there is also the beautiful sunset if one
catches it during a perfect weather there are lots of clear sky and a
little scattered clouds to capture the sun’s ray.
And that is how Kuching for to me. There may be more but these are what I feel makes Kuching, well, Kuching!
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