Kuching, Sarawak - Day 1 (Kuching Town)

It takes 1 hour 10 minutes to fly from Kota Kinabalu (BKI) to Kuching (KCH) airport. We were supposed to visit Kuching last year but our flight via Air Asia was cancelled. This time we decided to fly with MAS and my partner redeemed a return business class ticket using 8,300 points. However, we still need to pay RM 111.90 per person for the taxes. So we woke up at 8am, took a Grab ride to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and checked in our luggage as soon as we arrived. Since the Malaysia Airlines Golden Lounge has permanently closed, we had our quick breakfast at McD.

Our flight was supposed to depart at 10.50am but was delayed to 11.20am. The differences between business class and economy class are quite significant because the seats are bigger, wider and more legroom. Apart from that, you get priority to board and disembark the flight first. The flight attendances remember your name and welcome drink will be served as soon as you arrived on board. Besides that, we don't need to fight who's going to sit in the middle seat. This aircraft is configured with 16 business class seats. Light refreshments was served after takeoff. 

MAS business class

Hot milo

Light refreshments - Chinese red bean pastry, curry puff, peanuts and Toblerone chocolate

Welcome to Kuching, Sarawak

Finally we reached Kuching International Airport at 12.30pm. We took a Grab ride from Kuching International Airport to Hilton, Kuching (Grab fare - RM 16). The room was not ready yet so we left our luggage in the hotel baggage storage room and walked to Kim Joo for our lunch. Kim Joo is just 7 minutes walking distance (550m) from Hilton, Kuching. We passed by Hong San Si Temple before we reached Kim Joo. We ordered one bowl of mixed pork soup that comes with meat balls, bean sprouts, seaweed, slices of meat and pork belly. First sip of the soup I can taste the rich aroma flavour of bean sprouts and sea weeds. Since I'm not a big fan of bean sprouts I don't really enjoy the soup. My partner on the other hand loves it.

We ordered two bowls of kolo mee comes with their homemade bbq pork slices. The noodles are firm and springy. There's a strong vinegar taste that totally turned me off. I have no idea they mix the noodles with vinegar. Ended up I couldn't finish my noodles as the vinegar taste is just too strong and sour for me. My partner ordered a glass of iced black coffee (Kopi O Peng). His iced black coffee is a bit too sweet for my liking. I prefer to quench my thirst with a glass of iced water. Basically we were their last customer and the shop closed at 2pm.

Total bill - RM 19.30

Hong San Si Temple

Kim Joo

Restaurant ambience

Mixed pork soup

Kolo mee

Chili sauce

Address:

Kim Joo

73, Jalan Ewe Hai St,

93000 Kuching,

Sarawak.

We took a Grab ride to Troots Dessert Cafe, 9 minutes drive (2.7km) (Grab fare - RM 6) from Kim Joo. There's only two customers and there's plenty of seats available. I'm a dessert lover and that's the best thing to eat on a hot and humid day. I wanted to try their bingsu (Korean shaved ice) and kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) but sadly both are unavailable. They only have paoping, a type of Taiwanese shaved ice. There's 7 types of paoping - Thai milk tea, strawberry, yoghurt charcoal, chocolate, green milk tea, mango and milk Hokkaido. Apart from that, out of 4 toppings (white chocolate chip, dark chocolate chip, Japan cheese cake or brownie) you can choose 2 toppings of your choice. I choose mango paoping topped with dark chocolate chips and brownies. Overall it's a bit too sweet for my liking. The mango shaved ice taste was quite artificial.

Right after we finished our dessert, hotel receptionist called us up to inform that our room is ready. So we took a Grab ride back to Hilton, Kuching (Grab fare - RM 6). We checked in at 3.20pm and my partner took a short nap before we went out for early dinner at 6pm.

Troots Dessert Cafe

Restaurant ambience

Restaurant ambience

Paoping with brownies and chocolate chip - RM 17.50

Address:

Troots Dessert Cafe

Ground Floor, Lot 434 & 435,

Jalan Rubber,

93000 Kuching,

Sarawak

We walked along the waterfront, passed by Tua Pek Kong Temple, Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak, Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple and finally reached our dinner place, Lau Ya Keng Foodcourt. However, it was closed on Wednesday. Then, we saw this Aladdin Chicken Rice Shop just opposite Lau Ya Keng Foodcourt. We decided to give it a try and ordered two plates of fried chicken rice as their roasted and steamed chicken already sold out! Surprisingly it tastes good. Fried chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The chicken rice is moist, fluffy and flavourful. Their chicken soup is very unique because they add in chili padi that makes it spicy. Overall we enjoyed our dinner very much.

Total bill - RM 20.50 (including 1 glass of herbal drink and iced water)

Tua Pek Kong Temple

Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak

Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple

Carpenter Street

Aladdin Chicken rice shop

Sauce and spicy chicken soup

Iced water and herbal drink

Fried chicken rice

Fried chicken rice

Address:

Aladdin Chicken Rice Shop

16, Carpenter Street,

93000 Kuching,

Sarawak.

We walked past Pejabat Pos besar, Padang Merdeka, Plaza Merdeka shopping mall before we reached Sin Kwang Heng hawker stall famous for their siobee (siu mai) and paos (steamed buns). We ordered two pieces of siobee, one bbq pork filled bun and a glass of soya bean. (Total bill - RM 8.10). Both of us are not impressed with the food and drink. Siobee's texture is soft, there's too much red artificial colouring on the bbq pork and the taste of soya bean is very mild.

One of the famous dessert in Kuching is ice cream gula apong. RG Ais Krim Bergula Apong is located inside this open air market, just few stalls away from Sin Kwang Heng. Flavour of the day is Pandan. You can go for small cup (RM 2.20), medium bowl (RM 4.80) or big bowl (RM 8.50). You may choose either crushed peanuts or corn flakes toppings. I ordered a small cup of ice cream gula apong with crushed peanuts. The pandan ice cream texture is rather icy and not creamy. Besides that, I don't think pandan flavour is a good combination with the gula apong. However, what I like about this ice cream is the gula apong that taste sweet and slightly salty. I love the crushed peanuts too.

Pejabat Pos besar

Padang Merdeka

Plaza Merdeka shopping mall

Sin Kwang Heng stall no. 30

Pao (bun) and siobee (siu mai)

Closer look at bbq pao

RG Ais Krim Bergula Apong stall no. 11

Ais Krim bergula apong - RM 2.20

Address

Sin Kwang Heng & RG Ais Krim Bergula Apong Open Air Market

Jalan Power,

93000 Kuching,

Sarawak.

We walked back to Hilton, Kuching and passed by Kuching Waterfront again. It's a beautiful place to relax and there's this stunning Darul Hana Bridge. Along the waterfront there's stalls selling popcorns, burgers, hot and cold drinks. Besides that, there's street performers and I spotted Pikachu, Transformers, Upin and Ipin. My partner wasn't feeling well that day. We went back to our hotel after dinner so that he can get some good rest.

Darul Hana Bridge

Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak (night view)

Prawn fishing in Sarawak river