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Kuching
North City Hall Emblem
South City Hall Emblem
Nickname: Cat City
Kuching (Malaysia)
Kuching
Kuching
Coordinates: 1°33′00″N 110°25′00″E / 1.55, 110.416667
Country
State		 Malaysia
Sarawak
Establishment Uncertain
Granted city status in 1988
Government
 - Mayors North: Abang Mohd Atei Abang Medaan[1]
South: James Chan Khay Syn [[2]]
Area
 - Total 1,863 (431. A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically Malaysia is a Federation which consists of thirteen '''states''' ( Negeri) and three '''federal territories''' ( Wilayah Persekutuan For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the Island of Borneo. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. 01 for city proper) km² (719 sq mi)
Population (2006)
 - Total 634,517 (7th)
 - Density 322/km² (834/sq mi)
Time zone MST (UTC+8)
 - Summer (DST) Not observed (UTC)
Flower: Allamanda
Website: North: http://www.dbku.gov.my/
South: http://www.mbks.gov.my/
Padawan: http://www.mpp.gov.my/

Kuching is the capital of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. To help compare different Orders of magnitude and geographical regions we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km² The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume Malaysian Standard Time (MST Malay: Waktu Piawai Malaysia is a Standard time used in Malaysia. UTC+8 is a band of Timezones separated from the Greenwich Mean Time by 8 hours Daylight saving time ( DST Allamanda, also known as Yellow Bell, Golden Trumpet or Buttercup Flower, is a genus of tropical shrubs or vines belonging to the dogbane family ( East Malaysia consists of the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, located on the island of Borneo to the east across the South Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the Island of Borneo. Kuching is the most populous city in the state of Sarawak and the fourth largest city in Malaysia. For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and [3][4] Kuching was elevated to city status on 1 August 1988. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar)

Contents

Administration

The city of Kuching is located in the district of Kuching. Districts in Malaysia are known as Daerah or Jajahan (in Kelantan The district covers an area of 1,863 square kilometres, and is one of three districts within Kuching Division. Kuching Division is one of the eleven administrative divisions in Sarawak, east Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. The district of Kuching is administered by three local governments. Local governments are administrative offices that are smaller than a State. The administration of Kuching city is divided into three local governments, with the two cities overseen by two mayors also known as Datuk Bandars in Malay.

The area north of the Sarawak River, parts of Old Kuching, Satok and the western CBD is within the jurisdiction of Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (Kuching North City Hall) covering an area of 369. 48 square kilometres. Kuching North City Hall is directly under the supervision of the Chief Minister of Sarawak. The area south of the Sarawak River, eastern CBD and towards the South China Sea is within the jurisdiction of Majlis Bandaraya Kuching Selatan (Kuching South City Council), covering a smaller but more densely populated area of 61. 53 square kilometres.

There are those who believe that the divisions in power for the Northern (primarily Malay and Bumi residents) and Southern (primarily Chinese residents) districts came about due to ethnic reasons in the 1980s. There are also those who believe the administration is divided due to geographical reasons, as the Northern and Southern districts are linked by only two bridges spanning the Sarawak River.

The third local government is Majlis Perbandaran Padawan or Padawan Municipal Council, formerly known as the Kuching Rural District Council, which administers the rural areas within Kuching district, Batu Kawah, Kota Sentosa and Third Mile. Rural areas can be large and isolated (also referred to as "the country" and/or "the countryside over the course of time It covers a large portion of Kuching district with an area of 1,431. 82 square kilometres.

List of areas in Kuching

Kuching North City Hall area

Kuching North City Hall Family Cat Statues
Kuching North City Hall Family Cat Statues

Kuching South City Council area

Kuching South City Council Cat Statue
Kuching South City Council Cat Statue

History

Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak
Sir James Brooke, Rajah of Sarawak

Sarawak was a part of the Sultanate of Brunei 200 years ago but as a reward for help in putting down a rebellion, it was ceded to the British adventurer James Brooke who ruled it as his personal kingdom. Kuching City Centre is the major city area in both Kuching north and south in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Petra Jaya is a suburb of Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The Kuching North City Hall (DBKU headquarters is located here Sątok is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Bierutów, within Oleśnica County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland Mount Santubong ( Gunung Santubong) is a Mountain in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Kuching City Centre is the major city area in both Kuching north and south in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Padungan is a main city area of Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The Kuching South City Council (MBKS headquarters is located there Brunei Darussalam, (bruːˈnaɪ in English officially the State of Brunei Abode of Peace (Negara Brunei Darussalam Jawi: برني دارالسلام James The Rajah of Sarawak (born James Brooke; 29 April 1803 – 11 June 1868) was the first White Rajah of Kuching was made his capital and headquarters. The Brooke Administration was given the status of Protectorate under Rajah Charles Brooke's rule and was placed behind the Indian Rajs and Princes. The Brooke family ruled Sarawak until the Japanese occupation in December 1941. The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku

Kuching was surrendered to the Japanese forces on 24 December 1941, and Sarawak was part of the Japanese Imperial Empire for three years and eight months, until the official Japanese surrender on 11 September 1945 on board HMAS Kapunda at Kuching. From March 1942 the Japanese operated a POW and civilian internee camp at Batu Lintang, three miles (5 km) outside Kuching. Batu Lintang camp (also known as Lintang Barracks and Kuching POW camp) at Kuching, Sarawak on the island of Borneo was a [5]

After the end of World War II the third and last Rajah, Sir Charles Vyner Brooke ceded Sarawak to the British Crown in 1946. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including For other uses see Raja (disambiguation and Rajah (disambiguation. Vyner The Rajah of Sarawak GCMG ( Charles Vyner deWindt Brooke) ( 26 September 1874 &ndash 9 May 1963) was the third Sarawak and the British Commonwealth fought an "Undeclared War" with Indonesia to keep Sarawak from being absorbed into Sukarno's Indonesia. The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Sukarno ( June 6, 1901 – June 21, 1970) was the first President of Indonesia. The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. The British gave Sarawak independence in 1963 and together with North Borneo, Sabah and Singapore, helped form Malaysia on 16 September 1963. Sabah is a Malaysian state located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. Singapore For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and Singapore became an independent nation in 1965.

Origin of name

The origins of the city's name have never been clear. "Kuching" does translate into "cat" in Malay [6] and "kuching" is an old Malay spelling. WikipediaManual of Style (spelling, articles should conform to one overall spelling style of English typically the one most linked to the article topic (if it is geographic The Malay language ( ISO 639-1 code MS is an Austronesian language spoken by the Malay people and people of other ethnic groups who reside in the However, the new official Malay spelling today would be "kucing," but both of them are pronounced the same. There is a separate theory whereby it may actually be a variation of the Indian name for "port" - "Cochin". Kuching was first settled by Indian traders who set up base at Santubong. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Mount Santubong ( Gunung Santubong) is a Mountain in the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Artifacts of Hindu origin can today be seen at the State Museum. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical

One highly unlikely theory is a story based on miscommunication. According to the story, when Rajah James Brooke arrived in Kuching on his yacht, the Royalist, he asked his local guide what the settlement's name was. The guide, thinking that the English adventurer was pointing towards a cat, said "Kuching. " However, Sarawakian Malay for cat is "pusa" and this theory does not hold much credibility.

Another theory is that the city was named after the "mata kucing" or "cat's eye" fruit. Trees bearing this fruit used to grow in abundance by the river banks - where the city's commercial heart, is located. There is a hill in the heart of the modern city called Bukit Mata Kuching, and was named after the fruit. Also, at the foot of the hill, there was once a stream called the Kuching River. The stream, located in front of the Tua Pek Kong temple, had large amount of silt deposit and during the 1950s, was filled in to make way for roads and the city's expansion eastwards.

There is another more credible theory and that Kuching actually means "Ku" - Old and "Ching" - Well or old well in Chinese. In the early days of Brooke's rule, there were no proper water supply and water borne diseases were common. In 1888, there was a Great Cholera epidemic. However, someone dug a well a the present day China Street in Main Bazaar area. From there, Kuchingites obtained their clean supply of water and communicable diseases become a thing of the past. Evidence of the well is still found at China Street. Clean water supply only came from Matang area later.

Despite those theories, the city was named Sarawak under Rajah Sir James Brooke's rule. Under Rajah Charles Brooke's rule, the city was renamed Sarawak Proper in order to avoid confusion with the ever expanding Kingdom of Sarawak. Only in the latter part of his reign was Sarawak Proper renamed Kuching.

The city has never been noted for having a significantly large population of cats. In fact, the many cat statues, the Kuching Cat Museum and other association with cats have been largely a recent phenomenon, part of a modern effort of tourism. Kuching Cat Museum is a cat museum in Kuching city of Malaysia. Many travel brochures refer to Kuching as "Cat City" or the "City of Cats". Otherwise, they hold no real meaning for the residents and are not considered by locals as romantic.

Geography

Kuching is situated at the banks of the Sarawak River on the North-Western part of the island of Borneo. Sarawak River or Sungai Sarawak is a river in Sarawak state of Malaysia. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia. The longitude and latitude of Kuching is 01°33' N, 110°25' E. Longitude (ˈlɒndʒɪˌtjuːd or ˈlɒŋgɪˌtjuːd symbolized by the Greek character Lambda (λ is the east-west Geographic coordinate measurement Latitude, usually denoted symbolically by the Greek letter phi ( Φ) gives the location of a place on Earth (or other planetary body north or south of the

The climate in Kuching is tropical, moderately hot and receives substantial rainfall. The Tropics are centered on the Equator and limited in Latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23 The average annual rainfall is approximately 4,000 mm or 160 inches[7]. Kuching is the wettest city in Malaysia. The wettest times are during the North-East Monsoon months of November to February. A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months The temperature of Kuching ranges from 20 °C to 36 °C but the average temperature is around 23 °C in the early hours of the morning and rises to around 32 °C in the mid afternoon. This temperature stays almost constant throughout the year if it is not affected by the heavy rain and strong winds during the early hours of the morning which would rarely bring the temperature down to 20 °C. The temperature would also rise to 38 °C under rare cases due to the haze caused by open burning from Indonesia during the dry season. The haze occurs annually around mid year in Kuching.

Weather averages for Kuching
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C 34 34 35 36 35 36 36 35 35 34 34 33 36
Average high °C 29. 6 30. 0 31. 0 32. 1 32. 7 32. 6 32. 3 31. 7 31. 5 31. 9 31. 4 30. 5 31. 44
Average low °C 22. 7 22. 9 23. 0 23. 2 23. 4 23. 0 22. 8 22. 7 22. 3 22. 8 22. 7 22. 8 22. 86
Record low °C 20 19 20 21 20 20 19 19 19 20 21 20 19
Precipitation mm 692 537 362 265 238 202 185 211 274 343 367 479 4,155
Record high °F 93 93 95 97 95 97 97 95 95 93 93 91 97
Average high °F 85 86 88 90 91 91 90 89 89 89 89 87 89
Average low °F 73 73 73 74 74 73 73 73 72 73 73 73 73
Record low °F 68 66 68 70 68 68 66 66 66 68 70 68 66
Precipitation inches
Source: National Environment Agency, Singapore [8] Jan 2007

Demographics

Kuching is the 4th largest urban area in Malaysia, after Kuala Lumpur-Klang Valley, Ipoh and Johor Bahru. In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric Kuala Lumpur (ˈkwɑːləlʊmˈpʊər Malay /kwɑlɑlʊmpʊ/ and locally /kwɑləlʊmpɔ/ or even /kɔlɔmpɔ/ or often abbreviated as K Klang Valley (Lembah Klang is an area in Malaysia comprising Kuala Lumpur and its suburbs and adjoining cities and towns in the state of Selangor Ipoh (ˈiːpoʊ ( is a city in Malaysia and is the capital of the state of Perak. Johor Bahru, also spelled Johor Baharu, Johor Baru, ( "Baru" means "new" in Malay) or Johore Bahru and abbreviated

The city is considered one of the cleanest cities in Malaysia and was voted as one of the world's healthiest cities, recognised and awarded by both United Nations (UN) and World Health Organisation (WHO) [9] and by the Alliance for Healthy Cities (AFHC) in Suzhou, China. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Suzhou ( ancient name 吳) is a City on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Lake Taihu in the province of Jiangsu China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National [10]

The population of 579,900 (2006 census; Kuching City South - 143,500; Kuching City North - 133,600; Padawan- 3rd Mile/ 7th Mile/ 10th Mile - 302,800) is made up of Chinese (220,400), Malays (207,000), Ibans (58,100), Indians and other ethnic groups. Malaysian Chinese is a Malaysian of Chinese origin Most are descendants of Chinese who arrived between the fifteenth and the mid-twentieth centuries Malays (Melayu are an Ethnic group of Austronesian peoples predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast Iban History See also Iban history The origin of the name Iban is a mystery although many theories exist The Demographics of India are overall remarkably diverse India's population of approximately 1 The Dayaks, the grouping of local indigenous tribes, can be categorized into Ibans, Bidayuhs, Melanaus and Orang Ulu, among others. The Chinese are made up of Fujianese (Hokkien) in the city areas and Hakka in the suburbs mainly. This article is about the People's Republic of China province The Hakkas ( Hakka language: Hak-kâ; Mandarin Chinese: Kèjiā) are a subgroup of the Han Chinese people who live predominantly Other Chinese consist of Foochow (Fuzhou), Teochew, Hainanese, Cantonese, Henghua and others. ( Foochow Romanized: Hók-ciŭ EFEO: Fou-Tcheou also seen as Foochow, Fuchow, Fuh-chau or Hokchew in earlier Western For the Teochew dialect of Min Nan Chinese see Teochew dialect. Hainan ( POJ: Hai-lam Pinyin:, Jyutping: hoi2 naam4 literal meaning "South of the Sea" is the smallest province of the People's Guangdong ( EFEO: Kouangtong; Pinyin Guǎngdōng; Postal map spelling: Kwangtung) is a province on the The Henghua people are from Fujian Province, China. Henghua (Simplified Chinese 兴化 Traditional Chinese 興化 Hanyu pinyin Xīnghuà are referring to Interracial marriages among those of different ethnic backgrounds are common in Kuching. Interracial marriage occurs when two people of differing racial groups marry, often creating Multiracial children

The main religions of the citizens are Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism and Islam. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Taoism (pronounced /ˈdaʊɪzəm/ or /ˈtaʊɪzəm/ also spelled '''Daoism''') refers to a variety of related Philosophical and Religious traditions For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. Malays practice Islam and all Malays are Muslim by definition. The Chinese practice either Buddhism, Taoism or Christianity. Most Dayaks are Christian, with the exception of the Melanaus, who are mainly Muslim. A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion

A majority of people in Kuching are capable of communicating in Bahasa Melayu (Malay Language) and English. The Malay language ( ISO 639-1 code MS is an Austronesian language spoken by the Malay people and people of other ethnic groups who reside in the The Malay language ( ISO 639-1 code MS is an Austronesian language spoken by the Malay people and people of other ethnic groups who reside in the English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States English is widely spoken in Kuching. The dialect of Malay spoken in Kuching is known as Bahasa Sarawak (Sarawakian Malay Language), which has lexical differences with the dialect spoken in Peninsular Malaysia.

On top of Malay and English, Kuchingites can usually speak his or her own ethnic dialect or language. An Iban can speak Iban, a Bidayuh can speak Bidayuh and the Chinese usually several Chinese dialects, the most common being Hokkien and Mandarin in Kuching. The Southern Min language or Min Nan ( POJ: Bân-lâm-gú or "Southern Fujian" language refers to a family of Chinese languages Dialects More recently, it has been argued that Mandarin has become more widely spoken than Hokkien since it is well known by other Chinese and is the language of instruction in Chinese vernacular schools. The Southern Min language or Min Nan ( POJ: Bân-lâm-gú or "Southern Fujian" language refers to a family of Chinese languages Dialects For the Bidayuhs, the dialect of Bidayuh spoken in one kampung/village may vary greatly with another kampung/village. It is also common to find people who can speak more than just Malay, English and their native tongue, not only due to the wide practice of mixed marriages but because of the close rapport amongst the people of Kuching.

Filming Location

Kuching offers some of the world's greatest natural flora and fauna. With this, several international film makers have made their ways to Kuching and chosen Kuching as their filming location.

One of the more famous Hollywood movies, The Sleeping Dictionary financed by Fine Line Features has shot up the film here in 2000. The Sleeping Dictionary is a 2003 film by Guy Jenkin. It was filmed in Sarawak and is set during the British colonial rule in the 1930s Up to date "The Sleeping Dictionary" is probably the most well-known Hollywood production which was filmed in Kuching, Sarawak. Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the Island of Borneo.

Other famous Hollywood movies shot in (and around) Kuching included:

Year Title Distributor Director Actor
1987 Farewell to the King Orion Pictures John Milius Nick Nolte
Nigel Havers
Frank Mcrae
Marilyn Tokuda

Year: 2002

The common link in the locations of these international productions is a Malaysian company named "Southeast Asia Film Locations Services" headed by a local Malaysian Chinese based in Kuching, Edgar Ong; whose partner, Chandran Rutnam (whose bases are in Sri Lanka, Berlin & Los Angeles) have jointly been instrumental in attracting these major studios and film producers to use Sarawak in Borneo as the backdrop. Chandran Rutnam is a well known film maker and director from Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the Island of Borneo. Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of Maritime Southeast Asia.

Rutnam is an Oscar winner for his film "Indochine" (starring Catherine Deneuve) which won the Foreign Film Oscar in 1991. Indochine is an 1992 Academy Award winning French film that tells the story of a young Indochinese woman named Camille Catherine Deneuve (French katʁin dəˈnœv born October 22 1943 is a two-time Cesar Award -winning BAFTA Award -nominated and Academy Award -nominated "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. In 2007,another co-production "Water" (Dir: Deepa Mehta) was nominated for a Foreign Film Oscar. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Deepa Mehta (दीपा मेहता (born 1 January 1950 in Amritsar, Punjab, India) is an Indian-born Canadian film

Besides Hollywood, Kuching is also a target film location for Hong Kong while Japan used to shoot a Japanese Series briefly in Kuching. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Currently, Indian's Bollywood are also making their ways to Kuching to shoot up an adventure Bollywood movie. Bollywood (बॉलीवूड بالی وڈ is the informal term popularly used for the Mumbai -based Hindi-language Film industry in India [11] This has indirectly attracted more Indian tourists to visit Sarawak because of the film. Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the Island of Borneo. [12]

Future & On going developments

Education

Swinburne Sarawak Campus
Swinburne Sarawak Campus

Kuching is home to the international campus of Swinburne University of Technology, a branch of a major university from Melbourne, Australia. Swinburne University of Technology is a university with a number of campuses based in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. The campus, known as Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, now currently on an expansion project. Swinburne University of Technology (Sarawak Campus is the only foreign branch campus of Swinburne University of Technology ( Melbourne, Australia) Branch campuses of Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and Open University Malaysia are located in Kuching. Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (University of Malaysia Sarawak or UNIMAS was officially incorporated on 24 December 1992. About OUM Open University Malaysia or OUM is the 7th Malaysian private university owned by the Multimedia Technology Enhancement Operations (METEOR Sdn (Technically, the campuses of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and UiTM are in the Samarahan Division). Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (University of Malaysia Sarawak or UNIMAS was officially incorporated on 24 December 1992. The Polytechnic of Kuching is located at the further end of Matang Road in the Serapi Mountain which provides further education at the diploma and certificate levels.

Private education in the city comes in the form of various private colleges as well as training institutes. Notable examples include Inti College, SeGI College, PTPL College and Stamford College. INTI International University College is a private university college in Putra Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Pusat Teknologi dan Pengurusan Lanjutan (PTPL or Advance Management and Technology Centre is a private college in Malaysia.

For primary and secondary education, like other towns in Malaysia, Kuching has 'Sekolah Kebangsaan' (National type schools), Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK (National Secondary School)), Chinese Schools and several International Schools.

The mission schools were founded by the Anglican missionaries (St Thomas' Primary and Secondary School for boys, St Mary's Primary and Secondary Schools for girls), and Catholic missionaries, Mill Hill and De La Salle Brothers (St Joseph's Primary and Secondary School for boys, Catholic English Primary co-ed school, St Teresa's Primary and Secondary School for girls) during Rajah James and Rajah Charles' reign.

Most Chinese schools were built and continuously sponsored by rich Chinese businessmen such as Chung Hua Middle School No. 3.

The two International Schools are Lodge School[1] and Tunku Putra. These were built to cater to the children of expatriates and parents who wish to have an English-based education for their children.

Transportation

Roads within the city are of a reasonable standard, though traffic congestion often leads to long tailbacks during rush hour, and especially on Saturday mornings. As Kuching is located near the equator, potholes have the tendency to develop on the roads during the monsoon season (usually around the end of the year, coinciding with winter in the northern hemisphere). Roads leading outside of Kuching to the interior are of a slightly more dubious quality but are being upgraded from time to time, although the main resort roads (e. g. leading to Damai) are also reasonable.

Transport by taxi is reasonable but it is usually difficult to flag down one on the street since there are only popular amongst tourists. One can get a taxi from the taxi stand near the corner of the Electra House/end of India Street, in front of hotels or by contacting them through the telephone. Intrepid back-packers can try the public transport by antiquated, smoky, non-air-conditioned buses or the 'van sapu' (mini-van converted into mini-buses) which offer cheaper mean of getting to places. Air transport is served by Kuching International Airport, 12km away from the city, currently the subject of several expansion projects. Kuching International Airport (KIA is Sarawak 's main international Airport and is situated 11 km (6NM south of the city of Kuching. Those trying to get a bird-eye's view of the city have the option of hiring a helicopter or small plane from Hornbill Skyways.

Kuching is served by several major bus companies. Among others, Chin Liang Long Motor Vehicle Co. (traditionally blue) serving Kuching South, Matang Transport Company (yellow and orange) serving Matang-Kubah and Petra Jaya Transport Company (Black, yellow and red strips) serving Kuching North. The Sarawak Transport Company (traditionally green) and Bau Transport Company (Red) have routes from Kuching to other smaller towns. A large portion of the buses in service are antiquated and not air conditioned. The fares are low. Although, the routes are poorly documented, the stops have no names and the buses not well known for being punctual - it is not difficult to get to places because Kuching is a friendly city and most are able to communicate in English. For tourists, the State Ministry of Tourism has provided bus shuttles to transport tourists around Kuching.

Road signs adhere to the Road Sign Standards issued by the Ministry of Transportation. Kuching is famous for many large traffic circles or roundabouts. The roundabouts are efficient at handling medium scale traffic. However, as traffic continues to rise in Kuching several roundabouts have given way to traffic lights and over and underpasses. These traffic circles are usually well landscaped.

Kuching, like most towns in Sarawak, has connections to other urban centres and settlements by water transportation. Between the banks of Sarawak River, near the city center, many 'tambang' (small boats) can be seen ferrying passengers from one riverbank to the other. For those staying along the river banks, it is a faster means of getting to the city-proper. The wharf for express boats servicing transport to further areas such as Sibu and Bintulu, is located in the east of the city, near the Sim Keng Hong Port, also known as the Tanah Puteh Port, in Pending.

List of highways in Kuching city

Tourist attractions

The old Sarawak Museum was built by Rajah Charles Brooke in 1891 and modelled on a town hall in Normandy
The old Sarawak Museum was built by Rajah Charles Brooke in 1891 and modelled on a town hall in Normandy

Within the town, there are several museums such as the well-known Sarawak Museum, Chinese Museum, Cat Museum, etc, which are definitely not to be missed when visiting Kuching. Kuching-Serian Highway, Federal Route is a major highway in Kuching and Samarahan Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. Kuching Bypass consisting Jalan Datu Bandar Mustapha, Jalan Tun Jugah and Jalan Tun Razak is a major highway in Kuching city Sarawak The Sarawak State Museum is the oldest museum in Borneo. It was established in 1888 and opened in 1891 in a purpose-built building in Kuching, Sarawak. The Sarawak State Museum is the oldest museum in Borneo. It was established in 1888 and opened in 1891 in a purpose-built building in Kuching, Sarawak. Interesting landmarks and sites are the Astana (the Rajah's former palace), Fort Margherita, Tua Pek Kong temple and Main Bazaar. Tua Pek Kong ( Da Bo Gong) is one of the pantheon of Malaysian Chinese Gods. The Kuching waterfront, which is really a riverside esplanade, is situated right next to the main hotels and commercial heartland of the city, and offers a pleasant walk in the evening. When you are tired of strolling, the old shops on the opposite side of the waterfront will gladly sell you all manner of 'antiques' and tradecraft.

Some other interesting areas near the centre of town include Padungan Street, which is the main Chinatown area of the city. Shops here appear virtually unchanged from 20 years ago, and offer fascinating insights into life as it was then. Meanwhile, Carpenter Street and India Street still maintain their olde world charm, though the relentless process of globalisation is slowly encroaching. The old Courthouse building forms the link between Carpenter Street and India Street, and is well worth a quick stroll as you re-live the faded colonial splendour (now restored and modernised). The many well-manicured parks dotted around the city are also great to visit.

Numerous natural attractions including National Parks (notably Bako & Kuching Wetlands National Park) and the Semenggoh Wildlife Center which places an orang utan orphanage and rehabilitation program are also popular attractions. Kuching Wetlands National Park (KWNP is a National park in Malaysia.

Kuching is also noted for its intense and beautiful sunsets, often complimented by tourists as "one of the most beautiful in the world".

Cuisine

Kuching Kolo Mee
Kuching Kolo Mee
Sarawak Laksa
Sarawak Laksa
Tomato Mee
Tomato Mee

Kuching has a number of notable local dishes served at hawker stalls:

Custom ordered dishes (usually called the "special") are available on request. Most hawker stalls serve a variety of these three dishes, but locals often debate vigorously as to where to find the best variety. Visitors should be aware that portions are half of what is usually commonly found at Chinatowns in the West.

Kuching has some very good local seafood restaurants, often run by the Chinese residents serving prime local shellfish. Prices are usually very reasonable. There are many such establishments in and around the city, most notably along the way to popular seaside resorts located on the island of Santubong.

While global chain outlets (McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Starbucks) are ubiquitous in the prime commercial complexes, a local fast food chain "Sugarbun" also serves a variety of Malaysian food in a more Western (plastic trays, brightly-lit menus, uniformed staff) style. Kentucky Fried Chicken, usually known as KFC, is a chain of Fast food restaurants based in Louisville Kentucky. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (sometimes shortened to simply "The Coffee Bean" is a Los Angeles California -based Coffee chain owned and operated by International Starbucks Corporation ( is an international Coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle Washington.

External links

References

  1. ^ North Kuching New Mayor
  2. ^ Chan appointed mayor of Kuching Retrieved 1st June 2008 from The Star
  3. ^ Sarawak Government Official Website. Wikitravel is a Web -based project "to create a free, complete up-to-date and reliable worldwide travel guide. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.
  4. ^ Malaysia Cities Ranking
  5. ^ Ooi, Keat Gin (1998) Japanese Empire in the Tropics: Selected Documents and Reports of the Japanese Period in Sarawak, Northwest Borneo, 1941-1945 Ohio University Center for International Studies, Monographs in International Studies, SE Asia Series 101 (2 vols) ISBN 0-89680-199-3, pages 6-11
  6. ^ Cat Translation to Malay
  7. ^ Kuching, Malaysia Weather History and Climate Data.
  8. ^ THE CLIMATE OF MALAYSIA (English). Retrieved on Jan 12, 2007.
  9. ^ WHO Healthiest City Award
  10. ^ AFHC Healthiest City Award
  11. ^ Bollywood debut in Kuching
  12. ^ Indian tourists attraction
  13. ^ Boulevard Shopping Complex
  14. ^ Dewan Undangan Negeri
  15. ^ ICONmall @ Kuching: Shopping Mall, Cinema & Hotel
  16. ^ Green Heights Mall
  17. ^ Kuching Tower
  18. ^ Mudajaya New Township
  19. ^ Novotel Interhill Kuching
  20. ^ Plaza Merdeka
  21. ^ Plaza Merdeka
  22. ^ Plaza Merdeka
  23. ^ Sarawak Convention and Exhibition Centre
  24. ^ The Spring
  25. ^ The Spring
  26. ^ Four Points Hotel
  27. ^ Four Points Hotel By Sheraton
  28. ^ Four Points Hotel By Sheraton
  29. ^ Four Points Hotel By Sheraton
  30. ^ Proposed Upscale Hotel

Dictionary

Kuching

-proper noun

  1. The state capital of Sarawak (Malaysia).
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