Category: Uniquely Kuching

No other place like Kuching.

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

Posted on By sweet surrender No Comments on Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is where you can see semi-wild Orangutans and their babies roaming around the place freely. No cage at all. It’s located at Padawan area. Feeding time is between 9-10am and 3-3.30pm.

I can’t remember how many times I’ve visited this place. I think once or twice during primary and secondary school. Anyway, that was decades ago hehehe… Due to work, I have the chance to visit this place again last weekend. Can’t really recall much of the place except the one of the orangutan called Ritchie. So this recent trip can be considered a totally new experience for me.


We were lukcy that day to see 3 Orangutans. These photos were taken by one of the team members. My camera is just too hopeless to zoom this far.


How to get here? You can take the green CPL bus number K6, it will go all the way to the centre. Otherwise you can just drive there or hire taxi. From Kuching without heavy jam, it should take less than an hour to reach.

It’s an interesting place to go if you would like to see Orangutan without the cage. However, there is no guarantee to see one if you’re there. It’s all pure luck. If you can see one, you’re pretty lucky. Even the guide who went with us, the most he had came across was 5 Orangutans at one time.

Hmmm… I foresee that I might be coming to this place quite often from now on hahaha… We’ll see…

Going Places, Uniquely Kuching

Bako; Semadang River; Damai

Posted on By sweet surrender 2 Comments on Bako; Semadang River; Damai

So… I was busy last weekend. I had a date with mother nature around Kuching. Posts will come soon.

Friday, visited Semenggoh Nature Reserve, a place I went back then in school. It’s been so long! More than two decades ago! I sure sounded old hahaha… Had a date with our precious orangutan again after so many years. After that, went to Kampung Bengoh for my virgin Semadang River kayaking and received love bites from the nature.

Saturday, went to Bako National Park, my virgin trip there too! WOW! Living in Kuching for so many years yet it’s my first time there. It was hot! Went into the jungle and humidity was high, I’ve not been doing this kind of thing for decades as well! *BLEK* Lucky this time no love bites. After Bako, we headed to Damai. I didn’t do much there except trying to rest. I skipped all the jungle activities hehehe… Spent a night at Damai Beach Resort in the hilltop room for the first time as well.

Sunday, I skipped the jungle activity but went to Sarawak Cultural Village and did a hair spa at the resort. Didn’t get to do a massage as there’s not much time left, we’re behind schedule. Even for Sarawak Cultural Village, I went there decades ago and this is my second time but it was my first time having lunch there. Lastly, went to Escobar for dinner and first time seeing a breathtaking view of the moon and Mount Santubong at night.

There’s a lot of first-time and second-time-after-few-decades last weekend eh? I was expecting soreness from the arm, shoulder, and the legs but none except love bites *LOL* What a surprise!

Here’s some photos from Instagram before I post them here in detailed. Another busy weekend on the way!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFoY8llmoEr/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFpjRi4GoHC/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFq7sW6GoEw/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFtHudTmoLK/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BFyTfqPmoKo/

Going Places, Land of the Hornbills - Sarawak, Uniquely Kuching

Goodbye Star Cineplex

Posted on By sweet surrender 3 Comments on Goodbye Star Cineplex

3rd May 2016 marks the end of Star Cineplex operations. The door opened for Kuching’s movie goers in 1997. This place had been serving Kuchingites for almost 2 decades. Many of us grew up coming to this cineplex with friends and family.


1997, I was in secondary school. Came here few times with friends for movies and annual Chinese New Year movies with family. However, if you asked me what’s the first movie I watched here, I can’t remember.


Then, college years with college mates. Finished college, with workmates only for horror movies *LOL*.

I have no idea since when I stop coming here. I think maybe around 2006. Ever since then, I didn’t go to other cinemas in town as well. Maybe I did but it’s like once in a blue moon as I’m not a movie person.


Then, slowly big brands came to Kuching and stationed themselves in new shopping malls.


After so many years… Star Cineplex can no longer sustained its business. Competition was just too stiff. They decided to close it down for good. When the news came out, everyone was rather sad about it but what to do?


Before they closed it down for good, they had a sale to sell off things in the cineplex such as posters, souvenirs, merchandises, cinema chairs and more. I managed to go over there on their last day to have a look, nothing changed, still looked the same.


Took some photos and browsed through the area. They showcased their equipment as well. So… That’s how all these things look like.

After going around, we left the place for the last time.

Farewell Star Cineplex, one of the places in Kuching where most born in the 80’s and early 90’s spent their time with family and friends. All left now are memories.

Uniquely Kuching

MBO The Spring Makeover

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For months, MBO was undergoing a series of renovation. It’s now ready for movie goers to experience a whole new experience.


Was invited to the launch of MBO The Spring Makeover yesterday. We get to experience the Premier Lounge and Hall. Also, the first and only Auro 3D sound system in Sarawak which is only available in Hall 5, so does the Premier seating. Mariam Yazmin El-Bacha, the operations Director, was there to brief us on the whole new experience of MBO.


The makeover…

There’s also a cafe at the lobby area known as Cafecito. I forgot to take photos of the area. While waiting for your movie to start, just hang out at the cafe with great drinks, cakes, and snacks. There will be a kids’ playground built too soon.

Do sign up the loyalty programme either online or on the spot to enjoy special offers, benefits, and privileges. It’s FOC!


Official Makeover Launch of MBO Cinemas – The Spring by Mariam Yazmin El-Bacha. Joanne Kam Poh Poh, the Queen of Comedy, was also there for the launch. This is my first time seeing her in person.

Here’s a short video of Joanne’s performance:

Gonna start my CNY baking project tomorrow. πŸ˜‰

Entertainment Snippets, Public Events, Uniquely Kuching

Vivacity Megamall

Posted on By sweet surrender 7 Comments on Vivacity Megamall

After a month of opening then I featured Vivacity Megamall in this blog. I didn’t go there on the opening due to work commitment. I was supposed to go there to cover the opening of one of the outlets. Then, I managed to go there on Christmas’ eve, very lucky to not get stuck in the jam. I went and took some photos but didn’t blog about it until today.


To date, I’ve been there 4 times. Out of 4 times, 3 times in January. Always parked at the basement parking near to the entrance because I’m afraid of getting lost hahah… It’s big. No doubt. There’s also multi level carpark. I still prefer parking in the basement.

The mall is big. However, cannot rival those in KL. Of course! Duh… Quite easy to navigate though as it’s rectangular.


They have two food courts. This does not serve pork.


While this one served pork, known as Kuching Flavors. Both located at two separate ends.

The food court does not accept cash, you need to purchase the card to get your meal. To me, it’s too troublesome. Till now, I’ve not dine there simply because of the need of purchasing the card. So far, only went to Nando’s, Tony Romas’, Sushi Zanmai, and Tiamo.


Left: There’s also and event hall.

Right: You get nice views of Kuching from both food courts. This was taken on Christmas’ Eve.


This is also taken from the food court. Today.

Overall, the mall is easy to navigate, lots of shops, lots of food choices. They seriously need to get it ready as they opened it when it’s not all completed. Lots of people complaining about their parking charges too. It’s indeed higher than the rest. The crowd was not as many as expected. Other older malls still have more people than this, even today, on a Sunday. A new mall without the usual Kuching crowd, something is definitely not quite right. There’s still a lot of improvements needed I guess. I’m sure it will be more once the cinema is done.

That’s all about Vivacity Megamall. The latest and the largest shopping mall in Kuching as of January 2016.

Uniquely Kuching