Fun Times

Even though Bangkok is just 2 hours 5 minutes from Kuala Lumpur, I never stepped into the capital of Thailand before. I have been to other cities of Thailand but not Bangkok.

We went to Bangkok during the Deepavali holidays which stretched over 5 days including weekend. Besides our family, my parents in law are with us on the trip. Except my wife, J and K have never been to Bangkok as well.

My wife already planned for this vacation months before the trip. First by making a flight reservation, of course. Then booking of accommodation and planning out the itinerary.

We have planned the itinerary almost perfectly but as it turns out, not all are being followed. Below is what we do in Bangkok, written in chronological order, day by day.

Insider Tips

But first, let me share some insider tips that you should know when traveling to Bangkok.

• Communication still a problem as majority of Thai people can’t speak basic English even taxi drivers and waitresses. Fortunately our hotel staff are quite fluent in the language.
• Bangkok’s traffic is one of the most notorious in the world. Be prepared for it especially when you travel to the airport during peak hours. Make a buffer in case you’re caught in the jam.
• The weather can be extremely hot during this time of year. Bring along your hat or umbrella. Wear breathable clothing. Even we go prepared, we still can’t stand the heat.
• If you travel in a group (4 or 6), it’s cheaper to travel by taxi or Grab. If you travel alone, bus or train (BTS) is your best friend.
• Bargain, bargain, bargain. Bargain and agree with a price when you shop at a market (eg: Chatuchak). It’s even more so for taxi. I find the fare of a taxi (who doesn’t use meter) is much higher than a Grab taxi . To give a proper perspective, I can take a Grab for 72 baht while a taxi not using meter or tuk tuk ask for 100 baht for the same ride. On one instance, they even ask for 200 baht!). The taxi drivers don’t usually use meters but if you can find one who does, grab it. For our group of six, Grab is our goto transportation. If we can’t get a SUV or MPV, we split into two sedan cars.
• For those who want to be connected all the time in a foreign land and don’t want to pay an exorbitant price of international roaming, there’s a highly affordable solution that is to use a local SIM card provided by a local telco DTAC. Details below.
• For accommodation, we use Agoda. Over there you can find any type of stay that suits your budget and lifestyle.
• For other travel packages that make your life easier such as private transfers, group tour packages, entrance tickets, we use Klook. Sometimes, what you pay at Klook is cheaper than what you pay at the establishment.

Day 1: 25 October

Parking at airport and flight to Bangkok

As with our Kuching trip last year, we park our car at the airport car park. As it turns out, based on our calculation, the car park fee is cheaper than if we were to take a cab to the airport and back. In this case, we need two cabs. So the fare is double. For 4 days of parking, the fee is RM178.

Flight from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok takes 2 hours and 10 minutes. We reach Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) in Bangkok at 8.17 pm local time.

Immediately after exiting the arrival hall, I collect my pre-booked local SIM card at a counter in the airport. I purchased this “4G SIM Card for Thailand” via Klook. The price of RM18 (100 baht) is highly affordable and the SIM card lasts for 8 days with unlimited data, calls, and texts. I can even do Hotspot sharing with this card.

Checking in hotel

To get to our hotel, we have arranged for a private transfer before hand, also through Klook. The cost is RM131 but if you’re in a small group, taking a cab might be a cheaper alternative. We wait for the driver based on instructions in the email but nobody is there waiting for me. I immediately put the newly inserted SIM card to use.

I contact Klook to seek clarification. Luckily there’s reply from them on WhatsApp. It happens that we are waiting at the wrong place due to an outdated instruction in the email. We are supposed to wait for the driver in front of Gate 2, the meeting point. There’s a Klook staff (with other operators as well) manning the makeshift kiosk with all the customers’ names pinned up.

After the minor hiccup, we finally board a van. A huge, nicely decorated VIP van. We reach hotel in 40 minutes. After checking in and putting away our luggage, we go down to look for dinner. It’s already over 10 pm by then and the hotel receptionist tells us that all shops are closed by now.

Luckily, there’s a McDonald’s just next block, only one minute walk. I try the pork burger which is not available in Malaysia. Anyway I don’t find the burger good. That dinner wraps up our first day in Bangkok.

Day 2: 26 October

Chatuchak Market

Despite the reputation as the “world’s largest” market with 10,000 stalls, we almost skip Chatuchak Market as I think it’s too touristy and only cheap and low quality products are found there.

It turns out I was wrong after I go there.

Fortunately we go ahead somehow. The hotel receptionist advises us to call for a taxi instead of  taking BTS train to Chatuchak Market as we are in a large group. It works out that the train tickets cost almost as much as a taxi, if not more expensive. By taking a taxi, we don’t need to walk so much as we will be dropped at the market entrance. The taxi fare arranged by our hotel costs 350 baht.

It is about 20 minutes of drive to Chatuchak from where we stay (Bangkok CBD).

Chatuchak Market is seriously a huge area and we can get lost easily if not careful. You can get a map of Chatuchak Market at Gate 1. The market sells everything under the sun, literally. From foodstuff to pet stuff, from clothes to souvenirs, from medicine to aromatherapy, from Thai silk to Thai massage. You name it, they have it.

We buy some bags, purses, and clothes. Plus Tiger balm for my mother; ChaTraMue green tea and Nestea.

I hunt for roast pork which I read about while doing research about Chatuchak. It’s so tempting that I have to buy it and chew it down there and then.

We spend about 4 hours here and still not done yet. Were it not for the hot weather, we might be able to finish walking the market. We give up and call a taxi back to hotel at Gate 2 of Chatuchak Market. The taxi driver offered 400 baht but we managed to bargain for 300 baht. They do have big taxi such as Innova for 6 persons which suits us perfectly well.

Note: We go to the Chatuchak in the morning around 9:30. But my wife’s Thai friend advises that the best time to go there is in the evening. While it’s not too hot and many peddlers are throwing discounts on their products before the day ends. That’s the right timing if you want to buy more with less.

Opening hours: Saturdays and Sundays, 09:00 – 18:00
Fridays 18:00 – 24:00

Lunch at Pordee

We ask the taxi to drop us at a pad Thai restaurant near our hotel so we can grab our lunch. Pordee Pad Thai’s specialty is pad Thai. About 90 baht per plate. After that we walk around the area where many shops sell sports equipment. We dropped by 7-Eleven to check out their products. We buy Oishi black tea lemon and Betagen yogurt drink.

My wife buys Lays potato chips with special Thai flavours such as tom yum, salted egg from Tesco. We find that the chips are so much cheaper at a supermarket than Chatuchak Market.

Thai Massage

Most people will agree with me that if we don’t go for a massage in Thailand, your trip will not be complete. Hence, my wife and I head to a nearby parlor (walking distance from hotel) for a neck and shoulder massage: 200 baht for a 30-minute session. It is reasonably well. Other than that, it offers various types of massages: foot, oil, Thai, neck and shoulder, and even manicure and pedicure. A great way to relax your stiff muscles after a day’s of intensive walking.

Dinner with a Thai Friend

We have dinner with my wife’s former colleague who lives in Bangkok. He takes us to a hugely popular restaurant called Ohkajhu. Why I say popular? He is so kind to be there early and he has to wait for one hour to have a seat. You can’t make a reservation unless you’re somewhere near the restaurant and you can only do so with their app.

We walk there by following Google Maps. It’s about 20 minutes’ walk from our hotel. The restaurant is just opposite Hard Rock. The place is packed to the brim with people.

Our friend orders on our behalf. He showers us with Thai’s warm hospitality and generosity by ordering a lot of food for us. It is so much that we can’t finish our food. Even K who always complain about not enough food surrenders.

The portion is scaringly huge and the food is fresh and tasty and healthy without overpowering seasoning. We are really grateful to him for bringing us there.

What makes this restaurant popular is the concept of farm to table. That means they plant their own vegetables in Chiang Mai and it’s transported to their restaurants around Thailand. And it’s all organic. It has 3 restaurants the same vicinity and yet it’s still very crowded. 

Erawan Shrine

Later we walk to Erawan Shrine. It’s quite a distance from the restaurant; about 30 minutes. Erawan Shrine is one of the most popular Hindu shrines in downtown Bangkok. It’s in front of Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, at the corner of Ploenchit and Ratchadamri Road.

Throughout the day (and night), you’ll often see crowds (locals as well as foreigners) paying their respects, presenting flowers and incense sticks to a gold sculpture of Brahma God, Than Tao Mahaprom. Some prayers even dedicate dance to the four faced Lord.

We are too tired to walk back to our hotel and we try to hail a taxi that stuck in the jam. He quoted us 200 baht which I think is too expensive. We walk away and find a tuk tuk who also offered us 200. I too find the price is ridiculous and I slash the price to 50 baht but he rolls his eyes and drive away in an unbelievably look. I finally use Grab and the fare is only 72 baht. However we have to wait for about 15 minutes due to traffic congestion. 

Lesson learned: It’s better to use proper taxi and negotiate for a more reasonable fare. Tuk tuk can be quite a risk unless you want the thrills of the ride.

Erawan Shrine

Day 3: 27 October

Day Trip to Ayutthaya UNESCO Town

Before the trip, I contacted a driver I found on Facebook to book for a day trip. After comparing 3, I finally picked one with the best rating but not the cheapest. The transport from Bangkok to Ayutthaya costs 3400 baht (initial quote is 3500) for a 10-hour tour. The van is nicely decorated with lights and comfortable upholstery.

Ayutthaya is 80km north of Bangkok and the historical town is about an hour’s drive from the Thai capital. It’s awarded UNESCO world heritage status in 1991.

Bang Pa-in Summer Palace

First stop is Bang Pa-in palace. An old palace with an area of 46 acres, a huge compound with a lake. The view is grandiose and serene but you have to walk a bit. With the hot weather it doesn’t help. If walking is not your thing, you can rent a buggy for 400 baht per hour. And you can choose to have a driver or you can choose to drive yourself.

The palace has many interesting structures such as a Chinese temple, a lookout tower, a bridge. The palace is well maintained and clean. We sweat like hell and we can’t finish touring the whole palace.

Bang Pa-in Summer Palace

Address: Bang Pa-In District Ayutthaya District.

Opening Hours: 8 am to 4 pm. Dress appropriately, no shorts and slippers.

Admission: 100 baht

Wat Yai Chai Mongkol

The second stop is Wat Yai Chai Mongkol (Mongkhon). It was built by King U-thong in 1357 A.D. for the use of the monks who had returned from Ceylon after studying under Phra Vanarat Maha Thera. Wat Yai Chai Mongkol is located a few kilometers southeast of Ayutthaya (island). You’ll have to cross the Pridithamrong bridge out of the city.

A totally different kind of view. The Buddhist monastery is majestic and breathtaking. And there’s huge statue of the Buddha with flight of steps. A nice spot for pictures.

Also there’s a reclining Buddha near the entrance.

I am not sure if we need to pay for the entrance but when we are there, nobody asks us to buy any tickets.

Lunch at Kauy Tiew Pak Wan

I found a few places for lunch while in Ayutthaya and propose to the driver and he picks Kauy Tiew Pak Wan. I thought it was small outlet but boy was I wrong. The restaurant is huge and packed with hungry customers when we arrive. The place is extremely popular with the locals and its Ayutthaya specialty — kuay tiew. We wait for a while to be seated. Again, language is a problem here because they can’t explain to us what they have on the menu. We just guess our way through. Some we get it correct, some wrong. The food turns out okay but most of it very sourish and super hot.

In fact, there’s not much choice for food in Ayutthaya and we can’t be picky about what we eat.

Kauy Tiew Pak Wan

48/3 ซ.อู่ทอง 4, Tambon Ho Rattanachai Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, 13000, Thailand

Restaurant, Thai, Halal, Asian, Vegetarian

Everyday 7.30 am to 9 pm

Wat Maha That

After lunch, we continue our tour and this time we stop at Wat Maha That.

Wat Phra Mahathat is mostly famous for having a buddha’s head entwined in the roots of a banyan tree. It’s more than that.

It’s a huge area with an ancient temple around it. It takes a while for us to complete the tour. It’s even longer if you stop and take pictures.

Admission 50 baht.

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

We walk until the entrance but we don’t go in. Too hot and too tired.

Along the road to the entrance of this monastery, you can spot some elephants ferrying people on the roadside.

Admission 50 baht.

Locals free.

We can’t continue sight seeing anymore due to its super hot weather. We ask the driver to drop us at a cafe for us to cool down and relax.

Malakor Cafe

Based on my research this is one of the best cafes in Ayutthaya. It has a restaurant and a cafe. We don’t dine at the restaurant but drink at the cafe. They serve coffee, cold drinks and pastries. We bump into a British who teaches in Ayutthaya at the cafe and he recommends us to go to Krungsri Night Market. He highly recommends it as its not too touristy and it’s beautiful. But it only opens at 6pm which is too late for us. We have to give it a skip this time as we need to reach the city before 8 pm.

Malakor Kitchen and Cafe à¸–นน, ซอย à¸Šà¸µà¸à¸¸à¸™,

Tambon Tha Wa Su Kri Chang Wat Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, 13000, Thailand

10 am -10 pm everyday

Chocolate Ville

Since we did not finish what we planned out to do in Ayutthaya, the driver is kind enough to suggest an alternative place we can visit before we call it a day. The place is in the suburb of Bangkok and it’s called Chocolate Ville.

When you’re there, it’s like you are transported to a European country. You don’t feel like in Bangkok anymore. You won’t find chocolate there but the view is breathtaking. It’s an excellent place to to take stunning pictures. Best of all, the entrance is free.

Inside the “theme park” is an open air restaurant, serving fusion food of Italian, Thai, and Asian. Chocolate Ville takes up a huge area and it takes at least an hour for you to enjoy the view on a stroll. The park cum restaurant is about 30 – 45 minutes from Bangkok CBD depending in traffic.

Chocolate Ville

Soi Nawamin 74, Yak 3-8, Kaset-Nawamin Road, Klong Kum Subdistrict, Bueng Kum District.

Bangkok, Thailand 10230

Dinner at MBK Mall

We ask the driver to take us to MBK Mall which is near to our hotel for a quick dinner. After searching around, we finally settle at Yum Saap, a local Thai food chain. Unfortunately, overall we don’t like the food there.

To compensate for that, we have dessert at After You, one of the up and coming dessert cafes in Thailand, on the third floor. Though the price is steep but we enjoy the desserts. K especially loves the Shibuya Honey Toast (195 baht). The toast is yummy and the butter smells good.

Mango sticky rice kakigori shaved iced (265 baht) is another dessert we order which is fine too. It’s cooling and its melt-in-the-mouth goodness will make you forget where you are. After You can be found all over Bangkok in every mall. You won’t have a hard time looking for it.

Day 4: 28 October

Based on our original itinerary, we plan to go temple and palace hopping (Gand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Wan Arun. And we will end up in Chinatown in the evening) today along the river. From our experience yesterday, we can’t stand the heat of Bangkok. With great sadness, we scrap the plan.

We have to go for an alternative instead.

Baan Silapin (The Artist’s House)

I wanted the driver to Ayutthaya to drive us to Baan Silapin on the way back from the ancient city but he refused as he claimed that it was out of the way. He will do it unless we pay extra. Of course I didn’t.

What we do instead is we get the help of hotel receptionist to rent a taxi to Baan Silapin. It turns out to be a Toyota Fortuner, for 400 baht. I read about this place while doing research and many tourists recommend this place. So I put in on my list of places to visit in Bangkok. The most popular activity there is puppet show and it’s free. Unfortunately, no puppet show that day.

So there’s nothing to do there really. You can get yourself some souvenirs or have a cup of coffee.

I just stroll along the river on the platform. You can have a closer look at the houses along the river. These are real people living there. The houses on tilt are old but some are well maintained.

Or you can buy colorful fish food to feed the fish in the river.

We also want to visit a nearby floating market but it’s not open that day. 

Central World Shopping Mall

We go back to the city and do some shopping at Central World by Grab taxis. Almost the same price as we came here: 400 baht. Not easy to book a big taxi. So we book 2 Grab taxis. Due to heavy traffic we took 45 minutes to reach Central World Shopping Mall.

We have lunch at Nara Thai Cuisine on the 7th floor. The decor is cosy and feels luxurious. The restaurant is packed and full of customers.

We go to Uniqlo and are in shock to still find KAWS X UNIQLO t-shirts there. They are on sale. These t-shirts caused a huge stir in most Asian countries when they were launched about 6 months ago and it ran out of stock literally the minute the shops were opened.

We also try Thailand’s famous Thai milk tea, Cha Tra Mue. But I find the jasmine flavor is overpowering.

We take a Grab taxi back to hotel. Again it’s proven that normal taxi and tuk tuk are more expensive. They don’t want to use meter as it’s cheaper by 50 percent. The taxi and tuk tuk quote me 100 baht. But Grab only costs me 72 baht.

Chinatown

We plan to go to Chinatown in the evening but the hotel staff advise us not to as street food is not allowed to open on Mondays in Bangkok. The main attraction of Chinatown is food. If you go there and there’s not much food available, then it defeats the purpose of going there.

We end up having dinner at Tesco Lotus, near our hotel. We dine at MK Restaurant, a steamboat restaurant. The dinner sets us back by 1300 baht. Again, language is a huge barrier as not many waitresses speak English. We can’t even managed to get soy sauce for the dinner, for God’s sake.

Later we go to Tesco to buy more Lays chips with exotic Thai flavors (self consumed and as gifts) and Mama instant noodles – Thailand’s home brand. 

Supper at Jeh O Chula

One of the hottest dining places in Bangkok. We are prepared to wait long for this. We walk to Jeh O Chula for its famous Mama tom yum noodles. We reach 10:14 pm and are told the waiting time is one hour.

First thing when you reach is to get a queue number. In anticipation of a huge crowd, there are stools provided while waiting. Have a drink first if you’d like.

Our number is called at 10.53 pm, quite a relief as it’s less than one hour. Besides tom yum noodles, they do serve other dishes.

We order roast pork (100 baht), Chinese sausage (40 baht), and the main attraction of the night tom yum noodle. There are 3 varieties (seafood, pork balls, roast pork, or all-in-one) but we order the all-in-one good for 3 with medium level of spiciness. It turns out the noodles are not spicy at all. So we can order the high spicy level next time. Though the Michelin rated restaurant is packed, the crowd is well organized. The service is excellent and prices are highly affordable. We are done in 30 minutes. Total bill is 450 baht.

Insider tip: you can call in to make booking. Waiting time is just 30 minutes.  

Day 5: October 29

Last day of our trip. We have only first half of the day to spend in Bangkok before taking a taxi to the airport.

Jim Thompson House

As usual, we have breakfast at the hotel. After which, we walk to Jim Thompson House which is about 250m from where we stay.

Jim Thompson is famous for Thai silk. From dresses to scarfs, from handkerchiefs to hats.

If you like architecture and gardening, Jim Thompson House is a must go. It consists of a boutique, cafe, a Thai restaurant, and the main star attraction: museum. The admission is free except the museum. JTH is well maintained and it has a well-manicured garden.

We take the elegant tuk tuk provided by JTH back to our hotel.

Jim Thompson House

Address: Soi Kasemsan 2, opposite the National Stadium on Rama I Road.

BTS: National Stadium Address: 6/1 Soi Kasemsan 2, Rama 1 Road

Tel: +66 (0)2 216 7368

How to get there: Take exit 1 from the BTS National Stadium Station, turn right into Soi Kasemsan 2 and continue walking all the way to the very end. The museum will be on your left-hand side.

Entrance fees: 200 baht entrance fees and 100 baht for under 22.

Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00 (last guided tour at 17:00)

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC)

Another attraction that is close to where we stay. Only a 5-minute walk from our hotel and it’s located opposite MBK Mall. The Art and Cultural Centre is the hub of Bangkok’s burgeoning art scene and offers the widest range of contemporary art, design, music, theater and film in the city. Located only a few minutes walk National Stadium BTS it hosts a number of changing exhibitions from both Thai and International artists.

The architecture of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre is also unique with its spiral stairs. Many shops and cafes lined up the hallways of the art centre; selling handicrafts, stationery, jewelry, books, paintings.

Bangkok Art and Culture Centre 

Location: Rama I Road (Opposite MBK shopping mall)

BTS: National Stadium

Opening Hours: 10:00-21:00, Closed Mondays

Free Admission

We take a private taxi we booked through Klook to the airport after we have lunch at the hotel.

My wife needs to clear her annual leave before being forfeited. So she took two days off this week to coincide with the one-week school holiday.

After brainstorming, and since it was last minute, we didn’t have much choice but decided to go to Genting Highlands for a day trip last Monday.

In fact, we were trying to take Simba on another trip but as someone who has stayed long enough in Malaysia will know pet friendly accommodation is few and far between.

It’s been at least 10 years since our last visit to the hill resort when J and K were still very young. We think it would be the right time to pay a visit and see what changes the entertainment city has gone through since.

We rarely drive to the peak of the highlands. We always stop in Awana and take a cable car up. We did the same for this trip.

Awana Skyway

We were searching high and low for car park at the Awana Skyway station but there’s none. In the end, we parked our car at Genting Highlands Premium Outlet. The outlet is connected to Awana Skyway station and bus station. From GHPO, walk over to the cable car station. We hit the maximum rate for car park which is RM24 for the trip, exceeding 7 hours.

You can purchase gondola tickets at the counter or self-service kiosks. We used self-service kiosk as the queue was shorter. One way RM9 while return tickets RM16.

Everyone is entitled to a free stop at Chin Swee Temple, also happens to be the only stop before reaching the peak.

Genting Sky Avenue

While you are in Genting, the place that most visitors hang out in is Sky Avenue. It is an integrated shopping mall which connects to many buildings such as casino, Arena of Stars, hotels, arcade and more. If you’re not into gambling and not staying overnight like us, Sky Avenue seems to be the place to kill your time there.

If you’re in for some adventure, take some gravity-defying rides at it’s indoor theme park, Skytropolis Funland, which is on the ground floor. Each ride is RM16; unlimited ride pass is RM64.

We walked around Sky Avenue. We ate when hungry. We went downhill when we’re tired. In total, we spent about 4 hours there before we took the cable car down back to Genting Highlands Premium Outlet.

Genting Highlands Premium Outlet

GHPO’s setup is the same as Johor Premium Outlet, if you know what I mean. They are more or less the same. Many designer fashion and clothing brands available with discounted prices. We toured around the outlet for a while before we called it a day. If you’re hungry, there’s a special section in the outlet that is purely dedicated to food.

Dinner in Gohtong Jaya

For tourists who are careful with spending, Gohtong Jaya is a cheaper option for dinner. It has many restaurants at more affordable prices.

The small town consists of a row of shophouses. It’s about 5 minutes’ drive from GHPO.

That’s where we had our dinner. After dinner, as recommended by one of the staff at GHPO, we had dessert at Songlin Restaurant. A great place for dessert lovers.

Conclusion

I thought this recent trip would change my opinion about Genting Highlands. Why I didn’t visit Genting Highlands for such a long time because I don’t have good impression of the gambling and entertainment city. In my previous visit, the tourists smoked like there’s no tomorrow everywhere polluting the air which was otherwise cool and fresh. Imagine taking young children there and inhaling the second hand smoke.

As for the latest trip? I feel the highlands resort only carries one objective: Ask you to spend. Nothing else. It is just a shopping and entertainment center on a hill scattered with temptations to lure money out of your pocket. That’s about it.

I know many people swear by Genting’s uniqueness and it has successfully attracted many visitors, local and abroad. But my stand still holds.

Will I visit Genting Highlands again? Maybe not until 10 years later.

Towards the end of the academic year, after J and K were done with their respective public exams, we took the opportunity to go to Kuching for a short trip.

The excuse? The fares were low.

Kuching (cat in Malay) is the capital of Sarawak, one of the two states that form East Malaysia. Sarawak is also the largest state of Malaysia and it’s located northwest of Borneo Island.

My parents-in-law are with us on the trip. Making a total of six persons. The 5D4N trip is full of fun adventures and it also brings us closer to nature.

We rent a car (MPV in our case) before the trip. We arrange pick-up and drop-off at the airport.

If you are driving in Kuching, parking coupons are needed in the city area. RM5 fine if not displayed. I forgot to display while having breakfast and I received the compound. However there’s good news: There’s no tolled highway in Sarawak.

Of course, itinerary has been planned out before hand but we are flexible to adopt and adapt.

We didn’t go to Fairy Cave and Wind Cave in Bau due to mobility problems. My mother-in-law is not as fit as she once was and long and tough walking is not advisable.

Overall, my favourites are Bako National Park, Semenggoh Nature Reserve and Siniawan. Food wise, kolo mee ranks top on my list.

Going to the airport

We were thinking whether we should drive or take a cab to the airport. After comparing the costs of parking the car at the airport for 5 days with the price of taking a cab to and fro, we decided to drive and park our car at the airport. It’s much cheaper this way. Parking on Level 4 of Car Park B at klia2 is convenient when you come back from your trip because the arrival hall is on the same level as Level 4 of the car park. For more info on klia2 car park and calculating parking rate, click here.

Day 1: November 8 Thursday

We reached Kuching Airport at 11 a.m. After collecting the car, we headed for breakfast near the airport. Undoubtedly, famous food for breakfast in Kuching are kolo mee (RM3.50) and Sarawak laksa (RM7-8 depending on the restaurant).

Cat Museum

Since we arrived early in Kuching and had plenty of time to spend, we kicked off our trip right after breakfast by visiting Cat Museum. I thought it was free but it’s not. Don’t worry, the entrance fee is highly affordable.

As the name suggests, Cat Museum houses everything about the animal from the feline family. From paintings, toys, and famous cat owners to mugs and statues. You name it. It takes about 30 minutes to tour the one-level museum. After visiting, you’ll walk out of the museum as a cat expert.

Address: Located in the DBKU City Council Building
RM3 for adults; RM2 for children

Orchid Park

While we were in that area (north of Sarawak River), we also visited Orchid Park which is not very far from Cat Museum. In Orchid Park, you’ll be mesmerized by many species of orchid. The area is quite huge and it can get very hot in the afternoon.

However, there’s a “cold room” where exotic orchid species can be seen. Entrance is free.

Fresh Food Court 新鲜美食坊

We went to the birthplace of teh c peng special (West Malaysians call it 3-layered tea). Not sure if this is the right teh c peng as my friend who recommended this place said it’s served by the shop and not the stall next to it. But when we were there (around 2:30 pm) the shop was closed. Perhaps we should go in the morning to try out the real teh c peng special.

Fresh Food Court 新鲜美食坊
Kota Sentosa, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.

Checked in Apartment

Everybody loved this place. This is one spacious and clean apartment. We are super impressed with Imperial Suites. On the 19th floor, the unit comfortably sleeps 6 persons with 3 king-sized beds. Equipped with every facility you can imagine. From hot and cold water dispenser, cooking utensils, washing machine and dryer, hot and cold shower, and to even a safe deposit box. Besides that you can enjoy the gym, sauna, or swimming pool at the apartment. Not to mention friendly and helpful staff to help you with your stay.

Click here to book this highly rated Kuching apartment

Dinner at Topspot Food Court

After resting at the apartment, we went to one of the famous dinner places in Kuching: Topspot. There are a few stalls selling fresh seafood where you can handpick your ingredients before being cooked by the chef. We settled at Stall #6 Ling Loong.

We ordered steamed fish, salted egg butter prawns, oh chien (fried oyster), bamboo clams, and of course the famous local delicacy belacan midin.

Top on my list is the fish; fresh, sweet and juicy. Salted egg butter prawns are powderish, and not to my liking. Oh chien is overpriced with too few oysters. Their version of oh chien is different from West Malaysia’s. Midin and bamboo clams are good.

Overall the price is reasonable and I must say the seafood is super fresh. While you are there, you can try out lemon and sugar cane drink. Personally I think it’s nothing out of the ordinary. RM7/big cup.

Besides this stall, all-time favorites are Stall #10 (Ah Seng ABC Seafood) and many prefer stall number 25.

Topspot Food Court
Jalan Bukit Mata Kuching, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
Top floor (6th Floor) of Kuching UTC building
HOURS: 6pm to 11pm daily

Day 2: November 9 Friday

Chong Choon Cafe (泉春茶室)

I was told this eatery tended to be crowded. For this reason, we tried to go there early for our Sarawakian breakfast at 8:15 am.

The cafe is famous for its Sarawak laksa (Poh Lam Laksa, off Tues) and kolo mee – both meet my high standards of approval. Garlic bread is also good and it’s crispy. However mee goreng is average.

The cafe is located in the city of Kuching. And if you’re driving, remember to display your parking coupon (20 sen for 30 minutes). This is where we got our ticket for not displaying it.

Bako National Park

Headed straight to Bako National Park after breakfast. You can’t find Bako National Park on Waze (as there’s no road leads there but boat) but “Bako National Park Terminal” is the closest you can find on Waze. The park is 20 minutes’ drive from Kuching city.

From the terminal, the boat ride takes about 20 minutes to reach the jetty of the national park. It’s advisable to go there before 10 am to avoid low tide. Last trip back to terminal is 3pm. We were assigned the same boatman to and fro.

Even though we reached terminal at around 9:40 am, the boat couldn’t reach the jetty due to low tide. We had to walk about 500-700m in mud to the national park. Register yourself first when you’re there. And when you’re done hiking, sign out. This is for the authority to keep track of visitors as well as for safety precautions.

Advisable to wear shorts, breathable shirts, and hiking shoes.

Bako is an excellent place for nature lovers as this is where you see untouched forest and wild animals on the loose.

Wild boars are aplenty while it depends on your luck if you want to see other animals such as proboscis monkeys.

The receptionist recommended 3 trails to us. We picked the shortest one which is 2 hours two ways. Big mistake. The trail is tough. My parents-in-law who are considered fit and strong gave up toward the two thirds of the trail. The possibility of seeing proboscis motivated us to move on. But while on the way, we checked with a couple guides and they told us there was no guarantee that we could spot proboscis at the end of the trail. For this reason, we too decided to turn back.

To our relief, we managed to see a proboscis on a tree while exiting the trail on the way to the reception office. We were grateful being able to see one though it’s far and it’s not clear to see the proboscis. It’s better to go to Bako National Park in the morning as the place tends to get very hot in the afternoon. I got serious sun tan from the hot sun while in the boat.

The spectacular views that we see on the way (and back) to the national park compensate the heat we need to endure. They will take your breath away.

On the way back, the boatman took us to see the icon of Bako National Park: Sea Stack. It’s magical that the enormous piece of rock can balance itself with its smaller bottom. I must say that the view on the boat is as captivating as the national park itself. You must see it for yourself to believe.

There are two types of fees you need to pay: the boat ride as well as national park entrance fee. Boat ride RM30 adults; RM20 children – up to 11 years old (privately run). Entrance fee 10 for adults; RM5 senior citizens; RM3 for children aged from 6 – 18  (collected by the government). Foreigners charged differently.

Bako Seafood Restaurant

Out of pure coincidence, the boatman recommended this restaurant to us while I waved at a woman just happened to stand in front of this restaurant on the way back to the terminal. The restaurant is operated by local Chinese. It is located just a street away down from the terminal in an old wooden shop. In fact the place is a bit run down and I hesitated if we should have lunch there.

Despite of the aging looks of the eatery, the food there is fantastic. The fried squids are crispy and fresh. The black pomfret is flavorful and crispy.

What’s more? The price is reasonable. The restaurant closes at 3pm. We managed to go there one hour before it closed.

Afternoon coffee at Black Bean Cafe

Back to city from Bako. Another friend of mine who recently went to Kuching told me about this cafe. And the reviews I read about it are excellent. Hence I give it a try. Black Bean Cafe is located in Chinatown (Jalan Ewe Hai, adjoining Jalan Attap).

Local coffee beans brewed in different ways such as espresso and latte. Despite Black Bean Cafe is a little cafe with a unassuming decor, it has big taste in coffee. Highly affordable prices too.

We walked around Jalan Carpenter after the coffee break but there was not many happenings around in the afternoon. Many shops are closed.

The only thing we can do is to admire the beauty of the old buildings in the Chinatown area.

Day 3: November 10 Saturday

Semenggoh Nature Reserve

There’s not much chance to meet orang utan in person and this place is one of few ones that allow you to do so. It’s a great experience to have up close personal encounter with our hairy friends. Feeding time is at 9 am.

We reached Semenggoh Nature Reserve around 8:30 am. Park your car at the entrance and buy entrance tickets. Then drive your car into the reserve and park at the designated place. You can walk to the feeding spot from the entrance gate; it’s about 1 km in distance.

Follow along the road and gather at the nearest feeding platform for a safety briefing conducted by a reserve ranger. There are a few feeding spots. Not sure if this is pure luck but we managed to view the orang utan at two feeding spots. The animals look more beautiful in real life than in pictures.

While you are there, keep your voice down.

Orang utan is highly agile and flexible. They can hang on a rope and eat at the same time. It’s genius how orang utans crack coconuts for water and flesh. The park closes at 10 am and open again for the second and last feeding time of the day at 3. The good news is tickets are valid for the whole day and if you have nothing to do, you can come for the all two feeding sessions.

As a bonus, there’s a crocodile in a confinement area near one of the feeding spots. If you are brave enough, take a peep and say hi to the crawling creature.

I highly recommend this place. More so if you have young children.

Lunch in Kota Padawan

We had an early lunch in Kota Padawan on the way to Serikin Border Market; passing through Siniawan and Bau. We made a quick round of the small town of Kota Padawan and picked one restaurant that looked crowded and decent for our energy refuel.

Serikin Border Market

The weekend market (bordering Indonesia) is one hour’s drive from Kota Padawan. It was not a good timing as it was raining heavily when reached. We waited at the car park for almost an hour but the rain only subsided a little, and turned heavy again. Patience was running low. We took the plunge and strolled around the market with umbrellas.

The are stalls on both sides of the road and most of them sell similar items: fruits, low quality clothes (and counterfeits), souvenirs, and a few stalls selling antique. We didn’t finish walking the whole market due to the rain and similar items being sold. Nothing much. We didn’t buy anything.

In my opinion, Serikin Border Market is not worth going judging from the distance you have to travel and there’s nothing much to be seen and bought.

Tasik Biru (Blue Lake)

As Bau used to be famous for gold mining, I understand that Tasik Biru is a legacy of that: a former mine. The lake is used purely for recreational purposes now. You can take a boat ride or cycle on the lake. A great spot for photo taking as well.

Later, we had afternoon tea in Bau. We stopped at Lok Koi Fol. The food we ordered was not bad. We ate soup noodles, fried bihun, and tomato fried kuey teow. Later, we spotted about three food courts in the town which I would have gone to if I knew it sooner.

Siniawan Heritage Town

On the way back to Kuching city, we stopped by in Siniawan. It’s just a short distance from Bau, Siniawan is a small heritage town that is lined with two rows of wooden shop houses.

On every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the only road in Siniawan will be closed for night market. The Hakka town will turn into a street food galore starting 5:30 pm. We reached there at 4pm and it was too early for that. We didn’t wait until the market opened. But some of the stalls had opened then and we bought some local delicacies back to the apartment to enjoy. The chang (Chinese dumplings) and kuih are good and cheap.

Besides food, the heritage town is similar to a Western cowboy town and an excellent place for photo session.

If you’re a an old building enthusiast, this is must-go place for a nostalgic tour of old architecture.

Day 4: November 11 Sunday

Satok Weekend Market

Another weekend market that is located in the city itself. The car park turned market sells lots of local produce, snacks, fruits and vegetables. The area is huge and adjacent the normal market that is open everyday.

We wanted to try some of the local fruits but for some reason we didn’t. The souvenirs here are cheaper compared to Main Bazaar. In my opinion, Satok Market is much better than Serikin Border Market.

Fort Margherita

Next destination is Fort Margherita. To go there by river, we’ll have get down the boat in Kampong Boyan.

First we parked our rented car on the roadside near the Chinese History Museum (Don’t worry, no car park coupons required on Sundays). While enjoying the magnificent view of Kuching Waterfront, we walked to jetty to take a boat (it’s called Tambang) across the river to Kampong Boyan. To do that, just go down to jetty and wait for the boat to come. You pay to the boatman while alighting the boat. RM1/trip/person regardless of age.

After reaching Kampong Boyan, follow along the tarmac road through a village, guided by signs to Fort Margherita. The walk takes about 15 minutes. Named after Charles Brooke’s wife, Ranee Margaret, Fort Margherita was built in 1879 used to be a fort and surveillance tower. It was used to guard Kuching’s river approaches from pirates. But now it houses a gallery about the Brooke empire in Sarawak. It has 3 floors and a top floor for viewing.

Ticket prices: RM 10 adults /RM3 senior citizens/RM2 children.

Chinese History Museum

The best thing about Chinese History Museum is it’s free. It an easy-to-walk-one-floor museum which is located not far from the jetty. A great place to get to know about Chinese immigrants and their culture at a glance.

Insider tip: Also, due to the fact that this museum is air-conditioned, it makes an excellent place to escape the heat of the afternoon sun.

Lunch at Song Hai Kheng Hawker Centre

We tried kolo mee, gong pia (this is good!), chicken rice and coconut and sugar cane drink. This hawker center is patronized by many locals.

We went back to apartment and had a rest.

Dinner at Rumah Asap

Based on a recommendation by my wife’s friend who lives in Kuching, we went to Rumah Asap for dinner.

The main attraction that drew me there was Dayak’s BBQ pork! True enough, this food court is haven for food lovers and it’s crowded with hungry customers. This is the place to savour local dishes especially Dayak food.

BBQ pork belly (RM6/10g), pansoh chicken (ie: bamboo chicken, RM7 with rice), grilled fish, banana fritters with cheese, fried rice, burgers. Personally I find grilled fish is the best. Prices are highly affordable. Bored? Get entertained by a live sape performance.

The eatery gets a bit smokey due to the BBQ grills and it’s better sit outdoor.

Rumah Asap Smoke House
Address: Jalan Tabuan Dayak, Tabuan Dayak, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak.

Note: Another great place to devour Dayak food is Lepau Restaurant. It’s on our itinerary but we didn’t have time to dine there.

Darul Hana Bridge

The latest addition to Kuching attraction. Opened in November 2017, Darul Hana Bridge is a pedestrian bridge that connects both sides of Sarawak River.

It is more interesting and beautiful in the evening as it turns into a breath-taking bridge that changes colors like a chameleon.

On weekends, visitors are presented with musical performances on the riverside of State Legislative Building (DUN). The session that we saw was at 10 pm. The performance lasted for about 10 minutes. You can view the musical fountain from the bridge or on steps on the opposite riverside.

Opening hours: 6 am – 12 am

Taking photo with Kuching’s most popular landmark

There are many cat statues around the city. I was told the most popular one can be found at the end (or start?) Jalan Padungan. The white cat is dressed according to the current festival. When we were there, it was dressed up for Deepavali.

Cool eh?

Day 5: November 12 Monday

Last day of our trip. We had fruits for breakfast at the apartment. As we had covered pretty much what needed to cover, we chilled at the apartment until checkout time before we hit the road.

Lunch at Meekwong

No kolo mee for once. We tried something new for lunch: Foochow food. We ordered a few Foochow delicacies for lunch.

I am fine with the food there but J and K are not so excited. I understand that this coffee shop is famous for Foochow food among locals.

Damai Beach Resort

Since we had run out of places to go, I had no choice but to go to Damai beach. I am not so keen as I don’t think the beach is nice. We went to Damai Beach Resort but were not allowed to enter as the resort is reserved for guests only. No sightseeing and strolling on the beach for public. We managed to enter on the premise that we wanted to dine at the restaurant. Not quite but we had coffee at the cafe. The beach is very hot in the afternoon. So be prepared. Sarawak Cultural Village is nearby but we didn’t go.

Textile Museum

Another free museum. Located opposite the General Post Office and next to Plaza Merdeka Shopping Mall. It was raining heavily when we were there and we parked our car in the mall. Textile Museum has three floors. It’s a very clean and well organized museum. It introduces textile and costumes of the people of Sarawak including the aborigines’.

Kek Lapis Dayang Salhah

Purposely save this for the last day to maintain the freshness of kek lapis (layered cake). It’s one of the Kuching specialties. We bought these as souvenirs for friends at home. Kek Lapis Dayang Salhah located in Kampong Gersik. They sell two types of kek lapis: margarine and butter based. The prices are RM25 for butter and RM10 for margarine regardless of flavors.

Free tasting is available. Staff are friendly and service is excellent. If you buy in bulk, the staff has a creative way to pack in such a way that you can carry without the risk of damaging the cake. If you buy more than RM100, you’ll get one free.

Dinner at Bla Bla Bla Restaurant

Of all the restaurants we’d been to in Kuching, not that we’d been to many, Bla Bla Bla receives my “Beat Ambience Award.”

The narrow and long restaurant is very warmly decorated and plants make up the most of it. We made a mistake of over-ordering as the servings here are surprisingly huge. The waitress should have advised us the appropriate order based on the size of the group. Despite the awesome ambience and decor, the food is generally below average.

I might even say it’s one of the worst of the trip. But if you haven’t been there, it’s okay to pay a visit for the ambience and decor.