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During this time of the month, you may find people doing some burnings and place offerings (foods, fruits..)  infront of their houses, by the road sides or at corner of the shops houses. If you do see it, just ignore it and do not disturb what is being placed there. Those are not for you.

KUCHING: Kuching City is gearing up to celebrate its 21st anniversary as a city in August with the annual Kuching Festival and Fair 2009.

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will officiate at the fair on Aug 2.

Taib will be accompanied by the Mayor of Kuching City South (MBKS) James Chan, local dignitaries and invited guests.

Chan can’t wait for the people to see what they have in store this year.

“There’s a change in the manner we do the festival,” he said during a press conference at MBKS’ Council Chambers yesterday.

“We have a new stage this year. The rationale is to separate those who are there to watch the entertainment and those going to the food fair.”

A wide variety of entertainment and games will be sponsored by Astro that night at the open air stage by the man made lake behind Dewan Masyarakat.

It will feature winners of the popular Classic Golden Melody 2009, Lee Si Wei and Classic Golden Melody 2008, Fang Ai Ling; Rizal and Candy from Akademi Fantasia, Iban recording artiste Felicia Gek and more.

“Anyone who is here for the entertainment can sit at the man-made lake. It’s a relaxing and cooling environment. Those who want to eat can go to the fair,” added Chan.

The food fair will feature many stalls, about 80 per cent of which are Chinese while the rest sell other local and international cuisine.

There will be a Chinese Homecook Delicacy Corner where stallholders have three days to sell traditional cuisine: Hainanese (Jul 31 - Aug 2), Chawan (Aug 3 - 6), Hin Ann (Aug 7-9), Teochew (Aug 10-12), Hakka (Aug 13-16), Hokkien (Aug 17-20) and Foochow (Aug 21-23).

“This is our way of promoting the community spirit,” Chan said.

Visitors can also go to the Kuching Festival Trade Fair comprising 44 stalls in the air-conditioned Dewan Masyarakat and 113 outdoor stalls.

It will display a large variety of high-tech products, machinery, health and exercise equipment, telecommunication equipment, furniture, quality household items, building and interior design materials.

Plant enthusiasts can revel in the Garden Show, which demonstrates the bond between horticulture and the environment, and inspire people to beautify their homes and community.

A wide variety of plants will be incorporated in the garden displays with orchids for sale.

On health, Chan said there are no plans to screen the body temperature of visitors.

“I think these days we are all aware of Influenza A (H1N1). If you are sick, please don’t come.”

He said all stallholders have been briefed on hygiene and are required to wear aprons and caps provided by MBKS.

“Those with family, please look after your children. We expect a huge crowd. We had half a million visitors. Enjoy yourself but look after your family,” he said.

Kuching’s 21st anniversary celebration begins with a City Day commemoration at Kuching Waterfront on Aug 1. The grand finale will be held at the Amphitheatre on Aug 15.

The Festival Fair and Garden Show will run from July 31 to Aug 23.

Apart from that Isuzu Night is on Aug 8 while Charity Night on Aug 20.

The Festival of Music & Arts will feature several performances including the Yuanji Mass Dance (Jubilee Ground) on Aug 8, Concert of Traditional Oriental Music (Auditorium MBKS) on Aug 9, and Folk Dance display (Jubilee Ground) on Aug 21.

Sports Toto Community Cup 22 and Basketball Championship 2009 run at MBKS Indoor Stadium until Aug 7, while Sports Toto Basketball Jamboree will be held at the MBKS foyer on Aug 2.

Other events include ‘Good Employer, Excellent Employee’ Search Technique Seminar at Job Auditorium MBKS on Aug 23, and 2009 Kuching City Day Chinese Story Telling and Speech Competition at MBKS Auditorium on Aug 30.

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Summaried List of Events

Chinese Homecook Delicacy Corner Traditional Cuisine
- Hainanese (31st July to 2nd August)
- Chawan (3rd Aug to 6th August)
- Hin Ann (7 to 9th August)
- Teochew (10th to 12 August)
- Hakka (13th to 16 August)
- Hokkien (17-20 August)
- Foochow (21-23 August)

Festival Fair and Garden Show
(31st July to 23rd August)

Isuzu Night (8th August)

Charity Night (20th August)

Yuanji Masss Dance at Jubilee Ground
(8th August)

Concert of Traditional Oriental Music (MBKS Auditorium)
(9th August)

Folk Dance Display at Jubilee Ground
(21st August)

Kuching City Day Chinese Story Telling and Speech Competition
(30th August)

Sports Toto Community Cup 22 and Basketball Championship 2009 run at MBKS Indoor Stadium until Aug 7, while Sports Toto Basketball Jamboree will be held at the MBKS foyer on Aug 2.

Satok Sunday Market

The Sunday Market starts on Saturday afternoon despite the name. It is held at Jalan Satok. You will find variety of stalls run by different races and dialects which mainly consist of the natives, malay and chinese. Goods offer includes handicrafts, fruits, vegetables, snacks, foods, groceries. You can also find rare forest products like delicious wild honey, pitcher plants, orchids and live fish. The market is a must for weekend visitors as it is very colourful and teeming with shoppers. The best tune to go is during Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

Note of caution: Always be alert of pickpockets

Ordered few dishes. I ordered the Taiwanese Style Pork and rice. Its about RM6.00 if not mistaken. Comes with vege and taufu. Nothing much to comment on it. So-so taste. Could have tried other more unique dishes. The side dishes, I ordered the bittergourd with salted egg. I think its very good. 5/5 for it. Not too bitter and not to salty. Just the right taste. Rm6.00 for that.

Another dish was the Spicy noodle with medium level of spiciness. You can ordered spicy, medium spicy or very spicy. Its advisable that you order the normal spicy. The medium spicy gave me a volcanic sensation in my mouth. It was good but at the same time suffering. Can’t recall the price for it but its about the average RM5 or so.

Inside Taipei 101 restaurant

Bittergourd With Salted Egg

Spicy Noodle

Taiwanese Style Pork with Rice

Map to Taipei 101 restaurant in Kuching

Taipei 101 Kuching Map

Cost me total of RM7.20 for the whole set. Drink not included. Rating 5/5.

Bak Kut Teh with yu cha kueh

Bak Kut Teh

Map to Sin Chew Cafe

Sin Chew Cafe

I find this one from this particular stall taste good and still maintain the quality. Some other stalls, you may find the sauce abit bitter due to the mixture of the KangKong vege or some sauce are too watery.

Ah Liong Cafe at BDC

Sotong KangKong

Stall

Map to Ah Liong Cafe at BDC

Ah Liong Cafe BDC Map

Hup Ghim Heng - Stall no 9

Hong Kong Stylke Crispy Noodle

The Map to Hui Sing Food Court

Hui Sing Map

Another one which I always ordered, the Kay See Mee / KC Mee. No its not a person’s name. It basically means chicken meat noodle.  Noodle portion is generous. Can’t recall the price for this, I think its about rm3.00

Healthy Laksa

Kay See Mee

Sin Chew Cafe Map Kuching

Kuching City Car Rental

This is a review on car rental service in Kuchihng. If you ever need a car, always go for the licensed car rental. The real problem lies ahead when the car involves in any accidents which will then involves claims and insurance. Yes there are few companies that lower their rental rates to very low. Would you take the risk or would you rather pay a little more for security.

Kuching City Car Rental is well established in both services and problem management. It takes cost to maintain the cars, after sales service, on time delivery, and credit cards facility. All these require some man power and overhead cost coverage. That makes the car rental service slightly higher than the non licensed car rental.

if you have further enquiries, kindly go to the website at http://www.auto.catscity.com.my or http://www.carrentalkuching.com