There is something in the air here.
It’s the shape of the clouds, how they pass by, and how they elegantly fit in the blue sky scenery. That peaceful glow during sunset. You can feel that there is something here. It’s the feeling you get when you sit peacefully at a semi-secluded beach, watching the ocean.
I felt it last year already when I visited the city. It might be one of the decisive reasons why I decided to move to Kuching. It’s the 10th largest city in Malaysia with ~630,000 residents. I read several stories about how the city got its name; the town was named after the river (Kuching used to be called Sarawak). Other origin stories involve cats, a Chinese Well, and even a city in India. A vigorous debate by professional historians and kopitiam (traditional coffeehouse serving Malaysian/ Chinese breakfast) folks has been ongoing for a long time. Some believe wild cats were involved in the original naming, while others refute that theory, saying that the local name for cats is “Pusa”.
The main (tourist) attractions are in Padungan, which is an urban area in Kuching. Many historical texts state that it was named after a Kampong Padungan, a Malay village which used to be in this area in the late 19th until early 20th century. It is likely that the kampong was named after the river (Sungai) Padungan, on the banks of which it developed.
Besides the Waterfront area, which is a must-see, you can visit the Bazaar and Carpenter Street, as well as the wonderful Borneo Cultures Museum and many other attractions. Other (less-known) sights can be seen across the Kuching area. As an example, the Pustaka Negeri Sarawak (Sarawak State Library) and the Cat Museum can be found in Petra Jaya, which lies north of the Sarawak River, about 30 minutes from Kuching downtown.
It sometimes feels like a village where everyone knows each other.
I met a new friend during a poetry event. A week later, I met her again in a shopping mall where I participated in a training. After ten minutes, I received a message from another friend with a question about whether I’m still in the mall. It’s a small world. I also noticed that everyone knows each other when I meet new people. This ensures a sense of togetherness, and hopefully, for people taking care of each other as a community.
Something you might only feel in a village nowadays?
There are plenty of things to do. Lots of events, gatherings, and parks if you know where to find the information.
It’s exciting to start a new life in a new city, even if it’s alone. It helps to become even more self-sustainable and to learn about different ways of living without judging. It sands down the rough edges of your personality. Meeting new people, starting new friendships, listening to other people’s stories, changing perspectives. It helps not to get stuck in only your own way of thinking.
There are so many things that I don’t know, and I’m looking forward to finding out.
References:
Book: Padungan: History & Humanity in a Heritage precinct of Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia by James S L Yong with John CH Soo (2023)