Kuching (Photo by Cahaya Dalam Kegelapan)
The city of Kuching is in Malaysia, on the northern coast of the island of Borneo near the border with Indonesia. Kuching was previously known as Sarawak. Kuching is the largest city in Borneo and capital of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, Kuching holidays becoming increasingly popular. Mount Santubong is the highest point in greater Kuching, reaching 2,658 feet high about 35 miles north of downtown. Temperatures are the same throughout the year, from 73 to 91 F with mostly rainy and humid days.
There is airline service from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Kuching International Airport, located six miles south of downtown. The State Ministry of Tourism provides buses for tourist visiting the beaches at Santubong and sights around Kuching such as the weekend market at Satok. Public buses are plentiful but usually not air-conditioned. Flagging cabs may be difficult, but are found at taxi stands serving major hotels. It is often easier to get across town by crossing the Sarawak River aboard a shuttle boat.
Padungan is the earliest commercial zone in Kuching and site of Chinatown, which is now a popular shopping and nightlife area where several luxury hotels are gathered. The Ringgit Malaysia is the local currency. With a long history of British colonial rule, Kuching has many Victorian buildings used for government offices. Considered one of the healthiest and cleanest cities in the world, English is widely spoken in Kuching. Kuching has a large Chinese population, plus many Indians, Indonesians, and several native ethnic groups.
