Kuching to celebrate 21st anniversary as city
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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.

Ah Liong Cafe which is located at BDC is my usual stopover place before heading or returning from the Kuching International Airport. Its just about 5 mins away from the airport. Went there today and had some light snack. I ordered the Cuttlefish with KangKong vegetable. Cuttlefish is known as “sotong” locally. The portion is up to you, either order the RM3, RM4 or the RM5 for larger portion. I had the RM4.00 which is enough for two person. Its rather hard to find a well prepared one in Kuching recently. Maybe the good old recipe is dying out.

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

Crispy noodle, or more commonly known as Hong Kong Style Fried Noodle. In local hokkien dialect, its known as “Kwong Hu Cha Mee”. You can find this at stall number 9 and its on the signage menu infront of the stall at Hui Sing open air food market. Another common eatery place among the locals. There are many stalls there which offers variety of different food. Pork Satay, Noodle, chicken rice, fast food, finger foods etc etc..

Hup Ghim Heng - Stall no 9

Hong Kong Stylke Crispy Noodle

The Map to Hui Sing Food Court

Hui Sing Map

Here is one of the new and popular kopitiam, located towards the back of Premier 101. Name of the place is Yeow Kee Kopitiam. They got nice wooden chairs and tables unlike most kopitiam which only use plastic chairs. A typical kopitiam with several stalls which brings you alot of food choices. The place is usually full and overcrowded in the morning. The inside is quite stuffy during the morning or day time so I’ll usually sit in the openair.

Though crowded, the waiter and waitress still manage to keep up. We were entertained as soon as we sat down and the drinks ordered came pretty quickly. Efficient I would say.There are few popular choice of food. One is the charcoal toasted bread with butter and kaya. Hardly can find toast with charcoal. It taste much better.

I ordered the hand made noodle which is shown below. One of my favourite from this kopitiam. mix ingredient. As for the laksa, no comment as I didn’t try it.

Kuching hand made noodle

Kuching hand made noodle closeup

Laksa Sarawak with prawn

Yeow Kee Kopitiam at Premier 101

Location Map to Yeow Kee Kopitiam.

Yeow Kee Kopitiam Map Kuching

Went to After Three cafe for my dinner/supper. I like the environment. Has usable Wi-fi connection. open air, air conditioned interior, good seating and tables.  My only complain is that they don’t update their menu. Kinda tired of whats on the menu already.

I ordered Butter diced fish with rice as usual. RM6.00 for it. I give it a rating 3/5.  They have butter diced chicken also which I sometimes order. They started shooing people away at 10.30pm by giving signs. Turning off the fans, clearing the table we were sitting.

I ordered their cheapest drink there is on the menu, Chinese Tea Hot - RM1.00

After Three

Butter diced fish with rice

Burger

The burger top was sliding off from the melting cheese.

Here is the location map to After 3 Cafe.

Map to After Three Cafe