Kuching

October 2 – October 4 Kuching

Following the greeting at the airport it was off to lunch. Bac Kuh Teh was the focus of this meal Much less frenetic than our last adventure with Bac Kuh Teh in KL @ 2am. We had “dry bac kuh teh” or a dry soup made from pork products. It was great, and foretold the meals to come.

It was back to the house, newly constructed and occupied since our last visit. We first viewed the plans in 2002 when it was a gleam in Clarence’s mind. The house is that of a designer. It has an open floor plan flowing from room to room. To accommodate the climate, there are multiple windows, and doors. Bedrooms are on the second floor at the top of a curving staircase. A third floor tower allows the breezes to flow through and up as a chimney. A/C is present, but always is controlled in each room. Typically we used it in the family room (TV) and in the bedrooms. The tile work is wonderful, in the kitchens (both regular and wet) and in the bathrooms. The patterns chosen reflect the light.

Saturday night was a return to an isolated seafood restaurant in Kuching. The proprietor (a friend of Clarence) is also a commercial fisherman, golfer, etc. The fish (seabass) was caught earlier in the afternoon. One of the dishes had the fish roasted over a grill. The other main dish was a steamed fresh fish. It was so sweet. It that was not enough fiddlehead ferns we served. We regaled the Kuchingites with the cost of fiddleheads at the Whole Foods in Raleigh ($15/lb.). They are purchased in the local market at a fraction of the price. For Liz the highlight of the meal was the small sago balls. Made to the specification of the proprietor these dry sago treats contained coconut milk and other ingredients. Great fun and the food was appreciated by all.

Sunday morning we got off to a late start. Breakfast was taken at a local market. Each of us went to a stall, picked our dish and had it delivered to table 94. The assembled meal was good, but Liz and Leonard complained about the lack of spice and flavor in their mee dishes. Personally, I enjoyed the griddle fried radish cake and the pohieh (similar to a fresh spring roll).

Tourist activities filled the remainder of the afternoon. We visited the old parliament building built in the style of a Sawarak longhouse, to be replaced by a newer structure, RM300 million with a gleaming bronze colored dome. It is located directly across the waterfront from downtown Kuching. This was followed by a tour to local industrial sites, a new convention center, and high rise office buildings.
Home again/home again to watch the Ryder Cup with Amanda, Leonard, and Clarence roots for the European team.

Sunday night found us at the birthday party for Ian (five years old). The Chin clan was all present as were the paternal family. Again the food was great, particularly the tofu dish. The real adventure of the night was in the women’s car (by happenstance). Amanda has a learner’s permit and this was one of her first nighttime forays into traffic after dark. She chose not to drive back. BTW Amanda is a great driver who is frequently driving her grandfather’s car under his supervision. Great confidence by a grandfather in his granddaughter’s driving.

Monday started with a trip to a vegetarian shop for breakfast. We had a bowl full of various herbs and peanuts with a soup broth base of green tea. It must do wonders for the body, as it is an acquired taste. Mooi Lain was off to work, so a troop of us set of to the local mall. We all went to the Starbucks for coffee (two generations: retirees and secondary school kids). So we talked about college, retirement locations, while others were studying for exams, and learning their math times tables (Aaron).

In the afternoon, Clarence took off from work and we went to the mouth of the Kuching River. We had lunch at a seafood café, with extremely fresh fish. Lobsters were not available any more as they had been overharvested. We then climbed the hill to visit the Chinese temple. In place, for several hundred years, it also marks the site were sailor gave thanks for a safe crossing of the South China Sea. Dinner was had at a restaurant near the airport….We had a 9PM flight to Penang and needed to check in by 8PM. (Here is a cultural conflict: I am always worried about being late for flights, and our friends are just in time folks. I ned to adjust). It was a light meal with fresh fruit as a finish.

Leaving Kuching was bittersweet. We were leaving friends/almost family whom we will probably next see in Australia.