Malaysia's 50th Anniversary Padawan Fest 2007 Main Bazaar ...

ISSN 1823-9625 | PPK380/10/2007 

VOL.5 JUL-SEPT 2007 

Endorsed by 

Ministry Of Urban Development & 

Tourism Sarawak 

Sarawak Tourism Board 

Also 

Malaysia’s 50th Anniversary Padawan Fest 2007 Main Bazaar 

Rainforest World Music Festival 2007 Secret Recipe Rock Road Seafood Restaurant

Foreword by the Right Honourable Chief Minister Of Sarawak 

YAB Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud 

Malaysia is celebrating her 50th Anniversary this year and Sarawak also rejoices in this celebration. We are proud that 

Malaysia is now being regularly used as a model state in the international arena for her achievements as one of the 

most developed countries in the developing world where ethnic, racial and religious harmony exist amongst its diverse 

population. Our national policies of providing opportunities to everyone in all aspects of the nation’s progress have seen 

Malaysia developed into a modern nation where foreign investments flowed in freely and we trade with almost every 

nation where international trade agreements are practised. 

Sarawak as the largest state in Malaysia, has also one of the most diverse population comprising Ibans, Malays, Melanaus, 

Chinese, Orang Ulus and others where religious and customary traditions are celebrated by everyone in the spirit of 

“Open House”. Today the racial harmony that exist in Sarawak is a reminder of the sound policy of the government in 

encouraging the economic, social progress of every group of people, especially those in the remote, rural parts of our 

vast state. From the peaceful co-existence here, we have been able to attract investors and visitors from many parts of 

the world to come here and enjoy the serenity of the state and its visionary road map to become a developed state by 

2020. As a responsible government, our policies for the people and their future need careful planning and assistance from 

many quarters, including those experts from outside the country, that is why Sarawak enlist assistance from international 

organisations like International Timber Trade Organisation, Wildlife Conservation Society, United Nations Development 

Programme and others in the sustainable management of our natural resources which is now widely seen as a successful 

model in the tropical region. While many NGOs have tried to smear our reputation in the past, national governments 

around the world know that we have in fact put in place very sound policies for the future direction in the management 

of our forest and other resources, to the extent that we even set aside about 10 percent of our land for Totally Protected 

Areas where infringements of any kind are prohibited except for research purposes. Currently our Gunung Mulu National 

Park is listed as a World Heritage Site, reinforcing our claims of protecting our rich environment for the future generations. 

Sarawak’s annual Rainforest World Music Festival is now one of the most recognisable events in the music world, attracting 

thousands to the unique sounds of internationally renowned artists. Apart from this attraction, Sarawak’s pristine forest 

and warm, friendly people are natural attractions for those into nature, adventure and certainly for great conference 

venues like the world renowned Sarawak Cultural Village, often referred to as the “Living Museum”. 

Our current policy of engaging our native people in utilising their vast land resources under the Native Customary Rights 

legislation is to ensure that they will benefit from the economic returns generated by the planting of oil palm which is 

one of the most comprehensive schemes for landowners in the state. In this way, the vast rural hinterland will become 

viable entities by themselves and maintain the social and cultural traditions long practised in these regions. We cannot 

just have development of major town centres with a large group of people in the rural areas who are left in abject poverty, 

socially, economically and in educational attainment. 

I am pleased that Kuching Talk as a private initiative has been able to showcase the wonders and beauty of our state for 

the past year through its quarterly publications and the website. The number of government agencies working in close 

collaboration with the magazine is a reflection of the support from the government towards this venture and with the wide 

reach that Kuching Talk is now spreading locally and overseas, the private sector’s involvement and support will spur it to 

greater heights and make our state better known internationally. Lastly, I want to take this opportunity to thank the publisher 

for inviting me to say a few words for its 1st Anniversary edition and I look forward to its continued success. 

Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud 

Chief Minister of Sarawak 

2 KuchingTalkJul-Sept2007

Contents 

What’s in this issue . . . 

Sarawak Regatta 

CityTalk 

4 Sarawak Regatta 

Malaysia’s oldest sailing race comes alive 

again in Kuching 

6 Tourism & Cultural Carnival 

2007 

7 Malaysia’s 50th Anniversary 

A celebration of independence, cultural and 

ethnic diversity - Malaysia! 

8 Main Bazaar 

Strolling along Kuching’s antique street 

10 The Kuching Waterfront 

An unending adventure along the City’s river 

front 

DiningOutTalk 

20 Rock Road Seafood Restaurant 

Delicious delicacies . . . 

21 Secret Recipe 

Your lifestyle cafe 

22 Sarakraf Pavilion 

Traditional fare in fine dinner setting 

23 Win Fabulous Prizes At 

Participating Restaurants Pilihan 

Bernas 

ResortTalk 

24 Santubong Resort 

A place away from home 

Sarakraf Pavilion 

EventTalk 

11 Padawan Fest 2007 

It’s fun, it’s fresh, it’s for everyone! 

12 Rainforest World Music 

Festival 2007 

Music, culture and show extravaganza comes 

alive again! 

14 Sarawak Nature Challenge 


25 In.a.DayTalk 

PeopleTalk 

28 David Prince 

General Manager Hilton Kuching 

7 

Event/CharityTalk 

15 Salvation Army 

Because you care, we can be there 

DiningOutTalk 

16 Magenta 

Trendy meets traditional in fantastic fusion 

SARA Trading 

Company 

Contours 

Express Kuching 

Jade Pot 

Tea House 

Rojak Kucei 

17 Merdeka Palace Hotel & 

Suites 

Gastronomical Weekend Feast 

18 LocalityMap 

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED 

To Advertise In This Publication 

Call 6 082 427423 

Kuching Talk is published by Bumi Serasi. The 

contents of the magazine may not be reprinted or 

reproduced without prior written permission. The 

publisher is not liable for statements made and 

opinions expressed in the publication. 

Write to us at Kuching Talk, 242E, Lorong 3, 

Jalan Green, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: 6 082 427423/238968, Fax: 6 082 235152, 

email: iconnec@streamyx.com Editor-In-Chief Ivy 

Pan Editor Yahya M Iskandar Public Relations 

Christina Mamora Marketing Ivy Pan, Nancy Shukri 

Administration Rebina Noh Contributors S I Ten, 

Yahya M Iskandar, M Goh Design and Art Direction 

Steven Yap Photography Azariah Umar Front 

Cover Image Sarawak Information Department 

Printer Teknik Print Sdn Bhd, Malaysia. The next 

issue of Kuching Talk is out in October 2007. 

12 

21 

11 

HealthTalk 

29 Kuching Specialist Hospital 

Providing healthcare with a personal touch 

30 Contours Express 

BeautyTalk 

31 Making The Most Of Your 

Beautiful Body 

ConferenceTalk 

32 1 st IFOAM International Organic 

Rice Chain Conference 

33 AbsoluteEssentials 

&What’sOn 

34 RMBTalk 

35 PlacesOfWorship 

www.kuchingtalk.com 

Jul-Sept2007KuchingTalk 3

CityTalk 

REGATTA 

Malaysia’s oldest sailing race comes alive again in Kuching 

31 August - 2 September 2007 

In the annals of sailing and boat racing 

in Malaysia, the Sarawak Regatta is 

the oldest of them all; the earliest 

record dates back to 1872 in the 

Sarawak Gazette. This regatta most 

likely started way back when the 

early settlers first came together for 

the friendly boat races along the 

Sarawak river, an annual tradition 

that has not been broken since! 

Come 31 st August - 2 nd September 2007 

the grand daddy of all regattas will 

once again roar along the Kuching 

Waterfront facing the Astana with its 

splendid array of crafts, some dating 

back to the early days. There are boats 

of different shapes and sizes all vying 

for the coveted trophies and titles that 

go to the most successful ones each 

year and the fun part is that almost 

anyone can take part. Many of these 

racing boats are “professionally” run; 

the paddlers are sponsored by 

corporations with the boats spotting 

their logos and brands with the bosses 

among those cheering from the 

4 KuchingTalkJul-Sept2007 

stands. It is not uncommon to see 

these serious racers training along 

the river weeks before the race, rain or 

shine they are in their boats learning 

the fine art of synchronise paddling 

for maximum speed. 

To accommodate the numerous types 

of boat designs, the races are divided 

into categories and each has its 

own specifications and requirements 

to adhere to. For those who have 

witnessed these races before, the 

designs of the boats competing 

immediately highlight their origins, 

but the first time visitor will 

probably be left bewildered by the 

sight of it all. Apart from the serious 

business of racing for titles and cash 

rewards, these boat races are also 

for comradeship as can be seen by 

the mixture of different races of 

people in them. 

One spectacular boat is definitely the 

Chinese Dragon boat, so called due to 

the large dragon head and tail attached 

to each boat, all colourfully painted 

and requiring blessing ceremonies 

by Taoist priests before launching. 

Being a mythical figure the dragon 

is believed to have power over the 

arrival of rainfall and the tide and so 

sailors pay respect to it before setting 

sail. These boats are also built for 

racing. Apart from being a showpiece, 

each team tries to outdo the other 

for the coveted prizes. Incidentally 

the dragon was once believed to be 

responsible for bringing rainfall and 

water; hence the use of the head and 

tail pieces are to show respect to the 

mythical beast when the paddlers are 

in the water during the race. 

Of the ethnic boats in these regattas, 

a seasoned follower of the race knows 

exactly which type of boat belongs to 

which group but it can all be confusing 

to first timers and visitors. Melanaus 

in Sarawak are well known for their 

fishing skills as these people dominate 

the coastal fringes and have different 

crafts for deep sea, river fishing or just

CityTalk 

coastal forays in search of a livelihood. 

For racing they will use the “Bidar” 

type and these riverine races were once 

a common sight along other rivers in 

various parts of the state like Mukah 

and Dalat. Another unique boat at the 

race each year is the “Balok”, a craft 

designed and built by the Malays with 

a long tradition and history behind it. 

Originally only one piece of wood was 

used in its building but that changed 

with time and today these boats locally 

known as “sampans” are the colourful 

crafts plying the Waterfront. The boat 

not only can be used for racing but 

is equally adaptable for transporting 

goods and people, fishing and 

gathering of coastal materials like 

attap leaves which were once the 

mainstay for roof construction. 

When it comes to long boats, the 

Iban “Bidar” crafts come to mind; 

with a length span of up to 72 feet 

by 3 feet wide, these massive boats 

are a class of their own, capable of 

accommodating up to 30 paddlers at 

any one time! While the majority of 

the Ibans originate from the heartland 

of the mighty Rejang, the longest 

river in Malaysia, they have long 

constructed boats for transporting 

and also to reach rival longhouses in 

the early period of the state’s history. 

The Ibans are usually noted for the 

use of hard wood in the construction 

of their crafts which are both durable 

and water resistance. 

“Haruk Adang Usung Tingang” or 

Flying Boats with the Hornbill Bow 

are the Orang Ulus version of racing 

boats. In the warring days gone by 

these fast crafts were used to carry 

warriors for raids but without the 

modern additions seen in today’s 

crafts at the regatta. Colourful and 

beautifully decorated with fine wooden 

motifs, these racing boats now glide 

effortlessly along the river in their 

quest for glory. The Bidayuhs also live 

along river tributaries and have their 

own boat, the “Arud Diak”, a peculiar 

looking craft. Shallow and durable, 

and easy to manoeuvre, these crafts 

were the mainstay because they were 

suited to the fast flowing waters where 

most of the communities live. In the 

modern regatta, these boats can 

accommodate about 15 to 20 paddlers 

and the teams are usually well 

prepared with long training sessions 

to race to the finish line and glory. 

Though the regatta is well known for 

these boat races, there are a multitude 

of other events lined up usually for 

the occasion. These are meant to 

keep the crowd entertained and 

also to get them involved in the 

celebration like catching ducks, 

climbing grease poles and even 

“pillow” fights on the water’s edge. 

So, get on down to the Waterfront on 

race days and be thrilled by the race 

which is the longest boat race in the 

country and probably in the region! 

RESIDENT’s Office 

KUCHING DIVISION 

Jalan Barrack, 93300 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: +6 082 422263 Fax: +6 082 244435 

www.sarawakregatta.com 


CityTalk 

Tourism & Cultural 

Carnival 2007 

31 August – 2 September 

Experience the prospect of 

living across the river in Kuching’s other waterfront 

Visitors to this year’s Sarawak Regatta will be treated to even more 

excitement and fun as additional cultural and traditional adventures 

and excitement have been planned. While most are now familiar 

with the Kuching Waterfront, how about joining the folks on the 

other side of the river, at the BGS Waterfront. BGS is actually 

short for the kampung here, namely Boyan, Gersik and Surabaya 

which actually comprise more than 32,000 villagers in the 13 

kampung scattered across the river’s edge. 

Traditional 

Malay 

Weddings 


Among the events lined up for the big occasion will be 

traditional Malay weddings with their particular styles 

and rituals, cultural games, sports, kites flying, congkak, 

bergendang, zapin and the infamous joget Sarawak, a 

unique dance that is only found here! In fact, the whole area 

has come together for this auspicious occasion to also mark 

the 50 th Anniversary of the independence of the nation and also 

to open up the other side of the river to visitors, both locals 

and foreign. The Tourism and Cultural Carnival planned here 

is an extension of the activities linked to the annual regatta and 

offers people from all walks of life to sample kampung life for a 

change of scenery from the usual practices. 

What’s more, visitors can even stay here at the homestays 

where they will be accorded traditional food and learn the 

cultures of their Malay friends. Naturally, during the festive 

occasion they will have ample opportunities to sample the 

traditional cakes and dishes and may even learn from their 

hosts how to make them. There will be side stalls selling these 

traditional food and so add to the variety of dishes 

available locally. So, apart from the regatta, visitors too 

can experience a once in a lifetime thrill of living under 

the same roof as the Malay folks across the river and 

really get to know the finer aspects of living in a 

kampung atmosphere. 

Certainly, the spill-over effects of visiting and staying 

across the river will be felt by the folks here. Other 

than just earning some financial windfall from the tourism aspect, 

the folks too will be able to showcase their unique way of life 

and bring closer rapport among the people and visitors too. 

As neighbours, everyone will be sharing their space and 

experience, especially during get-togethers for dancing the 

joget and other folk dances. In many ways, this brings more 

activities to this side of the river too further enhance the image 

of the regatta as an event that is really symbolic of the spirit 

of the people here where everyone shares and enjoys each 

other’s company. 

For further information, 

please contact: 

Pantai Damai Arts 

& Cultural Unit 

Tel: 

6 082 413124 / 233605 

Fax: 

6 082 238206

CityTalk 

Malaysia’s 

50th Anniversary 

A celebration of independence, cultural and ethnic diversity 

Happy 50 th Anniversary Malaysia! This 

is the year 2007 and many have long 

known that it is the Visit Malaysia 

Year. It is celebrated in conjunction 

with the nation’s 50 th anniversary and 

there are various programmes being 

planned for the special occasion. 

Almost all Malaysians will remember 

the immortal words shouted by the first 

Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman 

at the historic Merdeka Stadium during 

the proclamation of the nation’s birth, 

“Merdeka!, Merdeka!” which means 

independence in English. Few would 

have thought that 50 years later, these 

words will once again be shouted by 

all Malaysians during the celebration 

day on 31 st August at the same venue 

at Merdeka Stadium. The celebrations 

will start from 17 th August with the 

launching at Malacca which was the 

venue from which the Prime Minister 

Tunku Abdul Rahman first announced 

the proclamation of independence. 

Closer to home, Sarawak too has a 

host of programmes for the national 

day celebration and these events will 

kick off from 17 th August in Kapit. It 

will involve the raising of the flag in 

the heartland of Sarawak with a host 

of interesting events lined up for the 

occasion. From there, the flag will 

continue to be hoisted in all divisions 

of the State. By then, locals and visitors 

will be swarmed by the sea of “Jalur 

Gemilang” as the national flag is called, 

all over the country and state, especially 

so in Miri where the parade will be 

held on 31 st August. The celebration 

will start with marching, a variety of 

dances and cultural performances 

depicting the various ethnic people 

in the country. Dressed in their finest, 

these dances will be accompanied by 

the display of other performances like 

lion dances, Malay silat, Iban warrior 

dances, Indian and Portuguese, as well 

as myriad of other ethnic influences 

that has created multi-cultural, multiethnic 

Malaysia! 

A special ceremony to mark the 

beginning of the 50 th year of 

independance will be held on 10 th 

September at the Stadium Negeri in 

Kuching starting at about 8pm. Steep 

in tradition, these events will be a 

historical journey leading to the 

formation of Malaysia 

which is the main theme 

for the celebration. 

There will be representatives 

from both 

the private and public 

sectors in the celebration 

including the 

students who will 

be staging performances to depict the 

history of the nation. As always, these 

annual celebrations will be graced 

by his majesty the Yang Di-Pertuan 

Agong and his entourage, as well as 

the Prime Minister and his cabinet 

members with a list of dignitaries 

from other countries who will be 

observing the events as guests. This 

joyous occasion will be celebrated by 

Malaysians right from that night through 

to the next National Day in 2008. 

Numerous activities are being organised 

in conjunction with these celebrations. 

So make sure that you have set 

aside your free days for these special 

dates as there will be lots of fun and 

interesting events for everyone in the 

family during the celebration. 


CityTalk 

Main Bazaar 

Strolling Along Kuching’s Antique Street 

The Main Bazaar in Kuching is actually a row of shophouses 

located directly in front of the Kuching Waterfront, so 

named because it has become synonymous with the street 

on which it is located. In fact, this is generally regarded as 

Kuching’s oldest street and the row of building is one of 

the oldest too. 

Way back when Kuching was just a 

riverine trading spot in the days of 

the White Rajahs, the uploading and 

unloading of goods was done there, 

just a stone’s throw from the famous 

Tua Pek Kong temple. The increase 

in trade necessitate the building of temporary shelter 

close to the trading area and that was the beginning of the 

shophouses then, a row of “atap” roof building with timber 

structures. The whole row was unceremoniously burnt 

down in a great fire in 1884, prompting the Rajah to 

declare that the new buildings there would be only 

masonry ones. Hence the row of shophouses was born 

and has existed since then and currently a pride of the 

heritage buildings of the state. 

Main Bazaar is actually quite a long stretch, starting from 

the temple on one end to the Square 

Tower site on the other side. The row 

is broken up into a few blocks with 

two small side streets separating 

them. From the temple the first 

dissecting street is the Bishopgate 

Street followed by China Street and along each of these 

streets, a wide array of trades and businesses are found. 

Originally the Main Bazaar and its side streets, including 

the Carpenter Street located adjacent to it, served mainly 

Kuching Heritage Trails The Brooke Legacy 


This book is now available for sale 

What makes Kuching so special is her 

historical buildings. The city’s wealth of 

heritage stem from the time of the White 

Rajah to her British legacy. Thus Kuching’s 

skyline is dotted with a myriad of distinctive 

building that embraces various architectural 

styles and influences. This once riverine 

trading post has since grown into a 

strategic port, administrative town, business 

centre and State capital city. There’s no 

Self-Guided Tours 

better way to experience all this than to 

take a leisurely scenic walk through some 

of the city’s historical landmarks. The 

Brooke Legacy self-guided tours highlight 

25 featured buildings all within walking 

distances and the streets along the routes 

are highlighted to provide a nostalgic 

look into the past. Two routes can be 

traversed. Route 1 encompasses the 

eastern part of the old Kuching town,

CityTalk 

the riverine trade and also the majority Malay population 

across the river. Today, the whole area is geared towards 

the booming tourist trade with services and goods that are 

bound to interest most travellers. 

With their antique looking buildings and contrasting styles 

of presentation, the rich array of shops here give a good 

glimpse of the old and new, always providing a surprise 

or two and simply irresistible to some! The ambience 

of some of these shops are indeed something to be 

experienced and the varieties of goods makes it a shopper’s 

paradise. Once in a while, a rare gem of an antique piece can 

surface, just waiting for those with the knowledgeable eye 

to snap it up. So browsing through these places is indeed 

a must for collectors. 

places scattered around the area apart from the ones at 

the Waterfront. It is especially a wonderful place for first 

time visitors to stroll along during the free days of their 

tour here; there is no shortage of new things to see and be 

prepared to bring home more than you actually anticipated! 

Small items like beads and carvings to huge art pieces are 

all available here and can be properly packed for travelling 

customers upon request. 

With its close proximity to the main tourist attractions in 

the city, Main Bazaar is one place that has to be explored 

to get a feel of it. Strolling along from one end to the 

other is a good exercise for many and the rewards are just 

amazing, especially if you happen to spot something you 

fancy or that which you know will light up the faces of 

those whom you love. Happy walking! 

While the main business is in the day time, the shops 

here also cater to tourists at night with some providing 

essentials for those in a hurry. There are also variety of food 

while Route 2 covers the west end of 

the old town. Both routes take about 2 

hours each to explore. The book is 

priced at RM3.50 and can be bought 

from PremierBookshop – 082 423378, 

Mohd Yahya Bookshop – 082 254282, 

My Bookstore – 082 416606, Magazino 

– 082 239126, Sarakraf – 082 258771 

and BumiSerasi – 082 427423. 


CityTalk 

The KuchingWaterfront 

An unending adventure along the City’s river front 

Landmarks are synonymous with all 

cities; Kuching Waterfront is certainly 

Sarawak’s capital city’s top choice. 

Located right in the heart of the 

city where the old meets the new, 

this former riverfront property of 

warehouses and old commercial 

buildings have given way to the 

city’s favourite past-time place, a onekilometer 

long open space rich with 

history, adventure and choices of 

food and beverages outlets. 

Within the Waterfront stretch is a 

museum, various works of art and 

artifacts as well as heritage buildings; 

modern art and traditional pieces vie 

for your attention here as there is no 

shortage of souvenirs and handicrafts 

to choose from. When done with the 

shopping adventure and exploration 

of the historic sites, relax at the meals 

outlets here. Again you are spoilt 

for choices as the place caters to 

both locals and visitors alike with 

combination of western and eastern 

favourites. While enjoying your meal 

here, you can witness the city transform 

from busy rush hour to the calm relaxed 

atmosphere of the romantic evenings. 

This is after all the place where couples 

come for their evening walk and talk, 

senior citizens come for their morning 

exercise and executives run for their 

health. 

At strategic points where pontoons 

are located, you can just hop into any 

one of the water-taxis or sampans for 

the short ride across the river and 

explore the opposite bank’s waterfront 

while not forgetting the scenic view 

of the city from there. Pay a little 

more and you can take a leisurely ride 

on the up-river cruise. 


EventTalk 

It’s fun, it’s fresh, 

it’s for everyone! 

Padawan is an area just on the fringe of Kuching City’s boundary; 

for all other purposes, it is often considered part of the city! 

However, long time residents will be quick to point out that 

Padawan is unique by itself too as it is a mystical area, as far as 

its oral history tells it. 

Apparently some 900 years ago, an elderly village leader came to 

the area which was then known as Sibanyai and found white beads 

which were said to have mystical powers to heal sickness and bring 

peace, prosperity and tranquillity to the inhabitants in the area. As a 

remembrance of the memory of his son, Padja, the elderly leader 

conjured up the name Padawan with the acronym of Padja the son and 

Birawan, the Bidayuh word for beads. 

Today, the Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) is a leading 

agency in providing excellent quality service to the people 

in the area with a committed workforce. It aims to enhance 

and sustain the good quality of life for the people living 

within the council’s jurisdiction with timely, reliable and 

effective services. 

While the city has its tourism hot spots, PMC too has numerous 

attractions including one of the most interesting nepenthes 

garden, where pitcher plants of various shapes, sizes, colours 

and origins can be found. In addition there are a number 

of highland places with interesting sceneries and even a golf 

course that is shrouded by the morning mist. There is also a wellknown 

Bidayuh longhouse where traditional customs, dances 

and food are served to tourists and visitors. The most famous 

of all is the Semonggok Wildlife Centre where captive and 

semi-wild orang utans roam in the nature reserve which is always 

a highlight among the visitors to Padawan. This trip can be 

arranged by travel agents and the best times to go are during the 

feeding times in the morning and afternoon. On the way back to 

the city, it is customary for the visitors to stop by the PMC market to 

look at the varieties of vegetables and other fruits available daily. 

In view of the Visit Malaysia Year 2007, PMC has put forward 

a long list of events for visitors to the area. 

Padawan Fest Activities 2007 

PMC Invitational Football League 2007 

19/5/2007/ – 26/8/2007, Padawan Sport Complex, Siburan 

Padawan Fest at Batu Kawah New Township 

(Food Fair, Fun Fair, Tradefair & Nightly Stage Entertainment) 

25/6/2007 – 29/7/2007, Batu Kawah New Township 

Customer’s Day 

30/06/2007 – 01/07/2007, MJC New Township 

31/07/2007, PMC Building, Kota Padawan 

Public Library Activities, Kota Sentosa 

29/07/2007, Public Library, Kota Sentosa (PAKS) 

PMC Commemoration Day 

31/07/2007, PMC Carpark, Kota Padawan 

Battle Of The Band 

03/08/2007 – 04/08/2007, Tapah Community Hall 

Padawan River Safari 2007 

21/10/2007, Kpg Danu to Kpg Git 

Integrity Day 

25/10/2007, PMC Chamber Room, Kota Padawan 

Landscape Competition 

May – November, Housing Area 

Property Fair 

October – November, Public Library, Kota Sentosa 

To get a full listing of the council’s activities, check out its website and contacts or call the council at the contact below: 

Padawan Municipal Council | Tel: 6 082 615566 Fax: 6 082 611832 Email: mpp@tm.net.my Website: www.mpp.gov.my 


EventTalk 

13 – 15 July 2007 


Music, culture and show extravaganza comes alive again! 

For music lovers the world over, the Rainforest World 

Music Festival in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, Borneo, is 

an annual music pilgrimage each July. Here renowned 

indigenous musicians from all corners of world gather to 

showcase their unique blend of instruments, dance 

routines and vocals on a stage in the heart of a tropical 

rainforest village which is also a living museum! 

What sets this unique festival apart from others is that it is not 

only about music that brings people together; the daily 

workshops, ethnic music talks, jamming sessions over the 3- 

day event brings a wealth of international experience to share 

with everyone present, culminating in the evenings’ concert 

style performances. The natural setting, casual atmosphere 

and love for ethnic inspired music bring people of all ages and 

background together, many coming 

back repeatedly as each year different 

groups are featured in their rich tapestry 

of sound, fashion and style. As 2007 

is the 10 th Anniversary of the event 

as well as the 50 th Anniversary of the 

nation’s independence and the Visit 

Malaysia Year 2007, this upcoming music 

extravaganza in the open air stage will be 

a show to remember! 


As before, the majority of the performers at this year’s 

festival are foreign groups, coming from Russia, Madagascar, 

Vietnam, Poland, UK, Afghanistan, USA, Italy, Scotland, 

Zimbabwe, Peru, Chile, Australia, Canada and host Malaysia 

and Sarawak’s own ethnic tribal groups. Different groups 

will be featured for the first two nights while the final night 

will see all the groups on stage strutting their stuff. 

The iconic logo of the festival, the Orang Ulu (one of 

the ethnic groups in Sarawak) with the guitar like instrument 

called a Sape, is represented each year by none other than 

internally renowned Jerry Kamit who hails from Sarawak. 

Incorporating electrical enhancement to the sape, Jerry’s 

wonderful touch on the strings brings out the rhythmical 

soul of the sape which is certain to always remain in your 

head as the distinct tunes are heard from no other 

instrument other than the sape. 

Held at the Sarawak Cultural Village, 

an award winning venue, festival 

enthusiasts get the best of both worlds 

with the tropical rainforest and the 

mountain in the background and the 

South China Sea a stone’s throw away. 

Guests and visitors to the Village can also 

experience indigenous recipes within the

EventTalk 

Musicians from all corners of world gather to showcase 

their unique blend of instruments, dance routines 

and vocals. 

confines of the traditional settings of each ethnic group 

in Sarawak, a luxury that is hard to match at any music festival. 

Excellent transportation links provide easy access to the city 

from the Village and just about anywhere telecommunication 

is possible. So you may get “lost” at the festival but you will 

always be within reach of your loved ones in an oasis of music 

away from the bustling city crowd and with a skyline of only 

the stars and treetops directly above you. 

Among the lucky ones who manage to stay within the 

Village area, getting to the festival is usually a short walk 

while those staying in the city can opt for a taxi or coach 

ride. Food and drinks are easily available at the site and 

also within walking distances around the Village. More 

importantly, party revellers should bring adequate sun 

protection gear and also a spare shirt or two in the tropical 

heat. Rainfalls are frequent at times but just as quickly 

disappear, so a plastic raincoat and also light clothing 

materials are useful if you are planning to stay in the 

Village the whole day. Caps and hats, sunglasses and insects 

repellents may come in handy too. Where possible women 

should try to limit accessories to manageable amounts in 

their backpacks as someone may mistakenly take away your 

bags if left unattended due to the large number of people 

there. Medical assistance are always present for those who are 

overwhelmed by the heat and for other minor ailments. 

Tickets to the festival are sold on-line and also at the Village 

entrance but always try to make sure to get there early if 

planning to buy daily tickets. The 3-day pass tickets for adults 

is RM200 and 1-day pass is RM80. For children aged between 

3 years – 12 years a 3-day pass is RM100 and 1-day pass is RM40. 

For more information on the Rainforest World Music Festival 2007, those interested can call the Sarawak Tourism Board at 

+6 082 423600, fax at +6 082 416700 or e-mail at: stb@sarawaktourism.com. 


EventTalk 

Sarawak 

Nature Challenge 2007 

A test for the mind, body and spirit - 28 July 2007 

It may not be the iron man race but it is 

a race that tests competitors endurance, 

stamina and mental capacity to the 

limit. Welcome to the Sarawak Nature 

Challenge 2007 which will be held in 

the heartland of the state, Kapit. 

Participants are required to register 

as a team which must comprise two 

persons per team, either both men 

or women or a mixed team of a man 

and a woman. The mixed team will 

be classified in the Men’s Category. 

For this category the event involves 

jungle trekking and trail running of 

approximately 50km with another 24 

km of river kayaking. The Women’s 

Category involves jungle trekking and 

trail running of approximately 40 km 

and river rafting of 17 km. There are 

10 awards for each category, with 

the winner of the Men’s category 

getting RM5000 and a trophy and 

certificate, RM 3000 and a trophy and 

certificate for second place finisher, 

while the third placed team will get 

RM2000 and a trophy and certificate. 

Other lesser cash prizes will be awarded 

for all subsequent finishers in the top 

ten of this category. The Women’s 

Category will get RM3000 and a trophy 

and certificate for winners with second 

place finishers getting RM2500 and a 

trophy and certificate while third place 

team gets RM1500 and a trophy and 

certificate. Other winners in the top ten 

will get lesser cash incentives awards. 

The special feature of this race is that 

it is a green race; everything about it 

is to be environmentally friendly and 

sustainable as possible which includes 

strict rules of do’s and dont’s! For 

example, participants will not be 

allowed to litter which means that any 

wrapper material brought into the race 

will have to be accounted for at the end 

of the race. In addition, campfires will 

not be allowed and during the race, 

participants are required to follow trails 

and there will be regular checks or 

Passport control points to authenticate 

the passage of each team. There will 

also be flagged routes which must be 

followed in addition to the participation 

of service project which all teams must 

be involved in. 

As this race is a challenging one, all 

participants must attain the age of 18 

and above to be eligible and the usage 

of electronic equipment of any kind 

will be prohibited. The organisers 

will provide the proper attire for all 

participants who must register with 

the event organiser with a payment of 

RM150 per team. The organiser will not 

be providing food so teams must bring 

their own essential items like water and 

food needed for the duration of the race 

other than the equipment like kayaks 

and paddles. All teams are required to 

have at least one first aid kit at all time 

during the event and every competitor 

is required to give assistance to another 

competitor in the event of emergency. 

For foreign participants, Kapit is 

a coastal town along the Rejang 

river in Sarawak. To get there, it is 

necessary to first fly into Kuching 

or Sibu and then take an express 

boat to the town which itself is a 

three hour journey up the river. The 

challenge is no easy measure for 

average participants and only those 

who have prior experience should 

take part or at least register with an 

experienced competitor. Good luck 

at the race! Closing date to register 

for the Challenge is on the 20 th July 

2007. 

For further information, please contact: 

Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation 

3 rd Floor Bangunan Baitul Makmur, Petra Jaya, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

John Nasuil Peter: 019 8799762 / James Ambau: 013 8259990 TeL: 6 082 440441 Fax: 6 082 446360 Email: johnnpt@sarawaknet.gov.my 


Event/CharityTalk 

This page is sponsored by 

GLOBAL UPLINE 

Because You Care, We Can Be There 

Salvation Army 

In Kuching, the Salvation Army has been providing 

care for underprivileged children since 1950, a 

service that has given hope and new meaning to 

life for countless hundreds of these children. 

Salvation Army 

Operating on a social basis, the organisation raises funds 

through donations, grants and its annual Sale of Work 

on 31 st August at its premise at Jalan Ban Hock. The sale 

starts from 8am until 12noon with over a hundred stores 

selling anything from food to clothes, used books to 

furniture, handicrafts from the Boy’s Home and others. 

Just a stone’s throw from the main hotels in the Padungan 

area, this event has always received good response from 

the general public and tickets for the sale has already been 

available since June. Make a date to patronise the Sale of 

Work this 31 st August which is also our Independence Day 

and make it a memorable one this year. 

The venue for the Sale of Work is also The Salvation Army 

Boys Home, established since 1956 for young boys from the 

children’s home when they reach the age of 12. Here the 

children are taught various skills like carpentry, fish rearing 

and computer studies which are geared towards preparing 

them for independent living later. At both places the children 

are given spiritual lessons and counselling classes too as these 

are important aspects which will make them responsible 

citizens of our society. Currently there are about 80 children 

in the care of the Salvation Army in these two places. 

Fun time for the children includes activities like Christmas 

parties, birthday celebrations and outings to various places 

courtesy of well-wishes. The Christmas spirit is kept very 

much alive with the organising of activities during the 

festive season and the children are the happiest when 

receiving presents from none other than Santa Claus 

himself! For this coming Merdeka day celebration, 

come to the Sale of Work and browse around the 

different stores with their varieties of goodies which 

some will surely be your favourite! It’s all for a good 

cause and you can be real proud of your contribution. 

In support of the community by GLOBAL UPLINE ˝Builders Par Excellence˝ 

Lot 5428-5429, Block 16 KCLD, Lorong Lapangan Terbang Baru 1, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: 6 082 462225, 462227, 462220 Fax: 6 082 462223 

International 

Construction Award 


DiningOutTalk 

Kuching is renowned for a smorgasbord of taste bud 

ticklers. Everything from ‘authentic Malaysian’ food 

served at hotels to the hawker food stalls (or kopitiam) 

that whip up wok-fried delicacies, are readily available. 

For those who want something Malaysian married to 

western food styles there’s Magenta, a trendy eating 

establishment set in a traditional Malay house on stilts. 

The wooden exterior and interior come to life with 

splashes of brilliant colours – yellow, turquoise and the 

ubiquitous magenta. Wispy floor-to-ceiling curtains 

open up to a world where old meets new, with a 

giant Buddha statue sitting serenely amid ocularpleasing 

Andy Warhol prints, and hundreds of candles 

and scented blossoms. 

Trendy Meets Traditional 

In Fantastic Fusion 

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and that 

is definitely where Magenta excels. Chef Sarah has 

created a mouthwatering menu to please any discerning 

palate. To reward her loyal patrons, Sarah has come 

up with a new menu that sees even more delectable 

delights while still maintaining her much heralded 

staples that includes Seafood Platter, Magenta Braised 

Lamb Shank, and the ever - popular Spaghetti Aglio-Olio, 

tossed with seafood in olive oil, garlic and chilli flakes. 

Now diners can feast on everything from Spicy Crabmeat 

and Prawn Pasta to Grilled Lamb Cutlets with 

Honey Mustard sauce. Sunday is Dessert Night, 

whereby a 50% discount is given for all desserts. 


Hours: 6:30pm till late / Closed Mondays 

For reservation, please call 

6 082 237878 

32, Lot 141, Jalan Nanas, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak. Email: magenta_restaurant@yahoo.com

DiningOutTalk 

Gastronomical 

Weekend Feast 

At Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites 

La Habana Cigar Divan 

Offers one of the most exquisite buffet in 

town including oysters, sushi, sashimi as well 

as Italian, Korean, Japanese, and western 

specialities. The cosy atmosphere serves to 

relax and comfort weary diners. 

Friday 

FINE FOOD EVENING 

7.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. 

RM 65++ per person 

Aurora Court 

Relish its local and international flavours 

including live cooking station where you will 

find your favourite seafood, meats, vegetables, 

pastas, and noodles cooked a la minute to 

your liking. 

Friday 

& Saturday 

FRESH & FABULOUS 

6.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. 

RM 55++ (Adult) 

RM 18++ (Children between 5 to 12 years old) 

Ristorante Beccari 

Featuring a fascinating kaleidoscope of 

dishes, from authentic Italian cuisine and 

sushi to your pick of meat or seafood grilled 

to perfection. 

Sunday 

THE GREAT SUNDAY BUFFET 

6.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. 

RM 59++ (Adult) 

RM 25++ (Children between 5 to 12 years old) 

www.merdekapalace.com 

. . . at Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites 

Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Telephone: 6 082 258000 Facsimile: 6 082 425400 E-mail: info@merdekapalace.com 


W 

E 

JALAN 

I 

H 

T 

A 

J 

V 

R 

S E 

M 

I 

S A R A W 

A K R I V E R 

Kampung Boyan 

Kampung Gersik Kampung Surabaya Kampung Panglima 

Seman Lama 

Kampung Semarang 

Wet Market & 

Hawker Centre 

JALAN 

ABELL 

JALAN 

PADUNGAN 

JALAN PETANAK 

H E N G H O 

J A L A N A N G C 

JALAN DATUK ABANG ABDUL RAHIM 

JALAN PADUNGAN 

Khatuistiwa 

Dewan 

Masyarakat MBKS 

Swimming Pool 

JALAN 

JUBILEE 

RECREATION 

GROUND 

PENDING 

JALAN CENTRAL TIMUR 

JALAN ELLIS 

J A L A N D A T U K 

J A L A N F O O C H O W 

W I 

N 

T A 

L L 

A 

J A L A N L U M B A K U D A 

JALAN SEKAMA 

JALAN 

Riverbank Suite 

ABDUL 

RAHMAN 

Wisma 

Ting Pek 

King 

Top Spot 

Food Court 

CAT 

Statue 

CAT 

Statue 

Chung Hua 

No. 3 School 

Kuching South City 

Council (MBKS) 

J A L A N P A D U N G A N 

CHEOK 

JALAN SONG THIAN 

H 

H 

H 

H 

Sri Shan 

BAN HOCK 

JALAN 

H 

Hockey Stadium 

JALAN DESHON 

JALAN TAN SRI ONG KEE HUI 

JALAN SIMPANG TIGA 

(JALAN CENTRAL BARAT) 

F R O N T 

H 

H 

Crowne 

Plaza 

Riverside 

Kuching 

H 

CAT 

Statue 

Sarawak 

Plaza 

Malaysia 

Airlines 

Tun Jugah 

Centrepoint 

Shopping Centre 

Great Wall 

Crossway 

Thiam Ming 

H 

Secret Recipe 

H 


Air Asia 

Tom’s 

Carus Wood 

4 

at&a Home 

Ideas Sdn. Bhd. 

Buan Kua Hng 

Sara Fruits 

Sdn. Bhd. 

Spring Organic 

Spring Florist & 

Gifts 

Police 

Station 

Fire 

Station 

H 

H 

Hock Lee Centre 

Crowne Square 

Police 

Station 

Hindu Temple 

Kua Ning 

Temple 

St. Peter’s Church 

B 

C 

LocalityMap 

S 

E 

Astana 

R 

E 

R I V 

S 

Wet Market 

K 

A R 

Fort Margherita 

Square Tower 

A 

JALAN GAMBIER 

A 

A 


India Mosque 

INDIA STREET 

PEDESTRIAN MALL 

Police 

Tourist Booth 

3 

K U 

R 

C H I N G 

T 

W A 

JALAN MAIN BAZAAR 

Sarawak 

Tourism 

Complex 

JALAN BARRACK 

Open Air 

Market 

Electra 

House 

MARKET 

Souvenirs Shops 

Siang Ti 

Temple 

JALAN KHOO 

HUN YEANG 

L E B U H 

CARPENTER STREET 

Chinese Museum 

CHINA STREET ULU CHINA STREET 

2 

Divisional Mosque 

Police 

Station 

General Post 

Office 

JALAN 

Residen Office 

Yayasan Sarawak 

D 

JALAN 

J A L A N TUN 

LEBUH WAYANG 

W AWASAN 2020 

OPENG 

PADANG 

MERDEKA 

1 

JALAN MOSQUE 

H 

L EBUH TEMPLE 

DATUK 

AJIBAH ABOL 

H 

Medan 

Pelita 

Hong San Si 

Temple 

Tua Pek 

Kong Temple 

St. Thomas Church 

Sikh Temple 

Poliklinik 

BARRACK 

H H 

JALAN McDOUGALL 

Kuching 

Plaza 

ABANG HAJI 

TAHA 

St. Mary’s 

School 

H 

H 

Merdeka Palace 

Hotel & Suites 

Dewan Tun Abdul 

Razak Muzeum 

HAJI 

M 

A L A N 

H 

St. Thomas’s 

School 

Sarawak Museum 

State & DBKU 

Library 

Red Crescent 

Building 

I R 

O 

R E 

JALAN TUN 

Islamic Museum 

J A L A N R A M L E E 

JALAN 

H 

Aquarium 

Chung Hua 

School 

Kuching High’s 

School 

N 

J A L A 

Radio 

Television 

Malaysia 

Hopoh 

Shopping 

Centre 

JALAN KULAS 

Aroma 

Café 

Heroes’ 

Monument 

Islamic 

Garden 

Syariah 

Court 

Bank 

Negara 

Wisma Satok 

JALAN SATOK 

JALAN SATOK 

RESERVOIR 

PARK 

JA L A N TABUAN 

SUNDAY 

MARKET Mirama 

Chung Hua 

No. 1 School 

Telekom 

Malaysia 

H 

Pasar Tamu 

JALAN TAMAN 

St. Theresa’s 

School 

St. Joseph’s 

School 

JALAN RUBBER 

St. Joseph Church 

JALAN PARK 

BUDAYA 

Amphitheatre 

JALAN NANAS 

Sarawak Club 

JALAN 

JALAN BADRUDDIN 

BUDAYA 

Planetarium 

CROOKSHANK 

JALAN BAMPFYLDE 

JALAN PALM 

JALAN 

JALAN TUN ABANG HAJI OPENG 

Police 

Contingent HQ 

H 

to Magenta 

SRB Chung 

Hua No. 4 

Tunku Putra 

International 

School 

Land & Survey 

Divisional Office Intan 

Civic Centre 

hodist Church 

JALAN PISANG 

Kuching Area 

H 

Green Road

Stutong Road 

Song Road 

Wan Alwi bin Tengku Ibrahim Road 

JALAN BAKO 

JALAN SEMARIANG 

JALAN DEMAK 

JALAN ISTANA 

ABDUL JALAN TUN RAHMAN 

JALAN ISTANA 

JALAN MATANG 

JALAN TUN ABDUL RAHMAN 

JALAN SEMARAK 

S A R A W A K R I V 

Water 

Kuching 

To Serian 

To Kuching To Satok & Kuching 

Batu Kawah Road 

Sherip Mashor Road 

Rock Road 

Laksamana Road 

LEGENDS 

H Hotel / Motel Shop House / Office 

Sarawak Transport Co. Food Outlet / Restaurant 

Station 

/ Entertainment Outlet 

Kuching Matang 

Transport 

Chin Lian Long 

Petra Jaya Transport 

Taxi Station 

Sarawak Tourism Board 

Visitors’ Information 

Centre 

Sarawak Tourism 

Federation 

Tourism Malaysia 

Office 

Shopping Complex 

Sarawak Craft Council 

OTHER ENQUIRIES (KUCHING) 

Tourism Malaysia-Sarawak 082-246575 / 246775 

Infoline 1300-88- 

5050 

Sarawak Tourism Board 082-423600 

MAS Office 082-244144 / 246622 

Air Asia 082-283222 

KCH International Airport 082-454255 / 454242 

Immigration Department 082-245661 / 230280 

Custom 082-333133 

24-hour Public Service Line 082-555999 

Taxi Service 082-480000 / 341818 

Police Station 082-245522 / 999 / 

241222 

Traffic Police 082-241133 

JPJ 082-258811 / 628700 

DBKU 082-446688 

MBKS 082-238080 / 242311 

Telekom 082-429191 / 255994 

Post Office 082-244141 / 339937 

Normah Medical Centre 082-440055 

General Hospital 082-230689 / 257855 

Padawan Council 082-615566 

SESCO 082-333111 

Kuching Water Board 082-240371 

BOMBA (Fire Brigade) 082-241033 / 994 / 

417712 

Rescue 991 082-256685 

JKR 082-203100 

To Kuching 

To Pending 

&Kuching 

R 

E 

Penrisen Road 

Keretapi Road 

Beauty Works 

Buddist 

Temple 

To Batu Kawah New 

Township (MJC) 

Airport Road 

Penrisen Road 

To Stampin, 

BDC & Airport 

MAONG 

MARKET 

Police 

Station 

CENTRAL 

LAND 

To Kuching & 

Tabuan Jaya 

Buddist 

Temple 

Nexis 

Tiang’s Cafe 

Rock Road 

Wisma Saberkas 

Green Road 

Tun Razak Road 

Kartini 

Ruby 

Rock Road Seafood 

Restorant 

Jade Pot Tea House 

Green Road 

To Pending To Kuching 

Rojak Kuchei 

To Airport 

To 7 Mile 

RH Plaza 

Blessed 

Sacrement 

Church 

BdC 

To Hui Sing, 3rd Mile & Batu Kawa To 3rd Mile & Batu Kawa 

TABUAN 

HEIGHTS 

TABUAN 

HEIGHTS 

Lorong BDC 

Bank / Money Changer 

Petra Jaya Area 

To Santubong, 

Damai Beach 

dBKU 

(Cat Museum) 

Bulatan Datu Haji 

Mohammad bin Salleh 

State 

Jamek 

Mosque 

Sarawak 

State 

Library 

Stadium 

Perpaduan 

SESCO 

Stadium Negeri 

Kraftangan Malaysia 

Stadium Sarawak 

To Matang 

Normah 

Medical Centre 

Baitul 

Makmur 

Building 

Bulatan Datu Haji 

Sulaiman bin Haji Taha 

Bulatan D P 

Abang Hj. Abdillah 

Kuching Court 

Bulatan Datu Temenggong 

Abang Kipali bin Abang Akip 

Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul 

Rahman Bridge 

JALAN KULAS 

JALAN SATOK 

Astana 

Dewan Undangan 

Negeri 

Fort Margherita 

f r ont 

Kampung 

Boyan 

Kampung 

Gersik 

Kampung 

Surabaya Kampung Panglima 

Seman Lama 

Kampung 

Semarang 

Kampung 

Pulo Hilir 

Kuching 2nd Bridge 

(Tanah Puteh) 

To Kota Samarahan 

3rd Mile Area Tabuan Jaya & BDC Area 

Friendship 

garden 


Methodist 

Church 

Tun Jugah Road 

Urat Mata Road 

King 

Centre 


Bulatan 

Perpaduan 

Jalan Upland 

Simpang Tiga Road 

Buddist 

Temple 

Police 

Station 

TABUAN JAyA 

COMMERCIAL CENTRE 


DiningOutTalk 

If you live in Kuching and want to eat 

the freshest and the best seafood in 

town, there’s only one place to go 

to, and that is Rock Road Seafood 

Restaurant. For over 30 years this 

family-run and owned restaurant has 

been patronised by Kuching’s multiracial 

community, and keeping seafood 

lovers happy with the widest selection 

of seafood in town. A must-try for 

first-timers is their signature dish, 

the Special Hainanese Crab served 

with Buns. It gives new meaning to 

the words ‘finger licking good.’ Be 

prepared to get a little messy, but 

it’s worth the effort, and the buns 

are ideal for soaking and eating the 

delicious peanut-laced gravy. The 

crabs are also available smoked, 

baked, steamed or stir fried. For those 

who aren’t into the adventure of 

eating crabs with their fingers there’s 

the Baked Crab Shell with Cheese. 

Delicious Delicacies . . . 

Rock Road Seafood Restaurant 

What would seafood establishment 

be without fish, right That’s where 

Rock Road Seafood stands head and 

shoulders above the competition. 

It is famed for having rare local fish 

varieties. They stock the Empurau 

(Emperor), Tingadak and Semah fish, 

which is Sarawak’s state fish. Apart 

from that, popular local fish like Batutu, 

Grouper, Red Telapia, White and Black 

Pompfret, Sultan, Mancong, Siakap, 

Stingray and Red Snapper are available. 

Direct from Sabah comes the Rat and 

Red Grouper, and the Parrot Fish. 

Lobster is also available in Flower, Green 

or Red varieties. Do call in advance to 

insure that these fish are available to 

avoid disappointment. The fish can 

be steamed, pan-fried or deep-fried. 

Barbequed Fish with “Sambal” Sauce 

is a must-try for a taste of authentic 

Sarawak food. Just choose the style of 

cooking and watch the chef prepare it 

in the wonderful open concept kitchen. 

As for prawns, it can also be served 

Hainanese style just like the crabs. 

What’s more the customer gets to 

pick what he wants to eat from 

the very well-stocked aquariums that 

dominate the place. At Rock Road 

Seafood it’s straight from the fish tank 

into the cooking pot, with all the fresh 

goodness retained for your dining 

pleasure. The newest dish is the Stir 

Fried Shrimp/Squid in Golden Eggs. 

For those who must have meat there’s 

duck, which is prepared either in the 

Pei King Roasted or Crispy Roasted 

style. It can also be steamed or braised 

to perfection. For a tender poultry 

treat, quail is served, either deep fried, 

in ginger sauce or in Si-Chuan style. 

Lamb lovers will rejoice, as the meat 

is served braised, deep fried or stewed 

Hainanese style. The lamb shoulder or 

leg is also available per block. 

Whatever the occasion, the well-trained 

and experienced staff aims to please. 

The restaurant emphasises on quality 

and customer satisfaction. Catering 

for corporate and family functions 

is also available. Rock Road Seafood 

Restaurant is open daily to insure that 

seafood lovers can always dine on their 

favourite foods all week long. Lunch 

hours are from 11:30am to 2pm, and 

dinner hours are from 6pm to10pm. 

For more information please visit our 

website. 

East Moore 

West Moore 

Courts Mammoth 

We Are Here! 

Rock Road 

Seafood Restaurant 

Wisma Saberkas 

w w w. r o c k r d . c o m 

Rock Road Seafood Restaurant Sdn Bhd (Formerly known as ROCK ROAD SEAFOOD RESTAURANT) 

Lot 1229-1230, Rock View Estate, 2 1 /2 Mile Rock Road, 93200 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: 6 082 241575, 427331 Fax: 6 082 255261 


DiningOutTalk 

Your Lifestyle Cafe 

Secret Recipe, a lifestyle café chain has 

become a household name following 

its debut in 1997. Secret Recipe has 

successfully established its brand name 

by virtue of its fine quality cakes, fusion 

food and distinctive service. 

A leading and largest café chain in 

Malaysia, with Halal certification 

awarded by Jabatan Kemajuan Islam 

Malaysia (JAKIM), Secret Recipe is 

committed to continue to adhere to 

the standards of preparation of all 

food in the restaurant in accordance 

to the regulatory guidelines. Secret 

Recipe offers more than 40 types of 

cakes and pastries, over 20 types of 

fusion food and a flavourful blend of 

hot and cold beverages. Interesting 

specialties from different countries 

are created into Secret Recipe menu, 

such as Thailand Tom Yum Noodle, 

Singapore Laksa, English Fish and 

Chips, Irish Lamb Stew, Malaysian 

Curry Noodle, Japanese Soba and 

Vietnamese Beef Noodle. This uniquely 

variable international flavour food 

concept incorporates great ease and 

adaptability for each market in the 

world to savour great recipes from 

other cultures around the world 

and at the same time, able to enjoy 

a good choice of local authenticity 

in their meals. Secret Recipe is also 

famous for its pastries and pies – 

Chicken Cornish, Black Pepper Lamb 

and Shepherd’s. 

Secret Recipe’s forte is in providing 

quality cakes and fusion food. Secret 

Recipe has won at least one major 

culinary award every year since its 

incorporation, such as the Best 

Cheesecake Award, Most Original 

Chocolate Cake Award, Best Lamb 

Stew Award, Best Tom Yum Noodle 

Award and Best Yogurt Shake Award. 

In a short period of ten years, Secret 

Recipe has experienced a rapid growth 

of over 150 cafes throughout the 

region with its brand name and 

ventured into major cities, prime 

locations in the region including 

Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok, Shanghai, 

Manila, Auckland and is still growing. 

The brand is also underway for further 

market penetration into more ASEAN 

countries, the Middle East, Europe 

and America. 

Secret Recipe has opened in Kuching 

recently with much awaited anticipation 

from the Kuching folks. Secret Recipe’s 

Kuching outlet can be contacted at 

082 244968. The lifestyle café is well 

known for originality of their heavenly 

cheesecakes! Definitely a must-try. 

Free ONE slice of cake with 2 main meals ordered 

Terms and Condition: 

Valid for dine-in only. Valid for One coupon per receipt only. Not valid with any other discounts, promotions or set meals. 

Valid at Secret Recipe, Kuching only. Valid till 30 th September 2007 only. 

Secret Recipe @ Kuching, Sarawak 

181/182, Ground Floor, Jalan Song Thian Cheok, Section 51, 

93100 Kuching, Sarawak. Tel: 082 244 968 


DiningOutTalk 

Traditional Fare In 

Fine Dinner Setting 

A must visit venue, Sarakraf Pavilion 

is a treasure trove of ethnic crafts on 

display and also demonstration. Skillful 

craftsmen and women meticulously 

work on their specialties from mats to 

baskets and even traditionally woven 

clothes complemented by cultural 

dances at specific times of the day. 

In addition there are also traditional 

massages available using herbs and 

spices to soothe out the stress and 

pains of everyday life in the fast pace 

world. 

From initially offering traditional drinks 

to visitors, Sarakraf Pavilion now 

extends the menu to traditional cuisine 

to give that complete experience of 

a truly ethnic adventure! Set in the 

grand heritage building, this dining 

fare consists of various local favourites 

and more will be made available 

soon. For starters, try the Paku Pakis 

Sarawak of either steamed midin or 

paku (local ferns) with Tepus and pucuk 

rebong. These freshly plucked young 

shoots are among the local cuisine 

favourites too and even found in the 

leading hotels here but with a much 

wider array of cooking styles. 

For the hot and spicy dish go for the 

various sambal (rich spicy condiment) 

delights including fish, chicken in 

sambal laksa, and ulam (local salad) 

with sambal laksa. These go well with 

a bowl of steam rice! Pansoh refers 

to food cooked inside bamboo stems 

and here the choices available are 

chicken and fish with different sets of 

ingredients made up mainly of herbs. 

End your dinner with the smooth 

bubur chacha which contains sago, 

sweet potatoes and yam. 

A reminder for those thinking of 

making the dinner trip - you need to 

make advanced bookings of at least 

two days to experience these dishes. 


Lot No. 78, Section 43, KTLD Jalan Tabuan, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: 6 082 258771 (GL) Fax: 6 082 232771 Email: sarakraf@tm.net.my 

Website: www.sarakraf.com.my 


DiningOutTalk 

Win fabulous prizes 

at participating Restaurants Pilihan Bernas 

Are you feeling hungry but are tired of looking for places to eat 

Come and dine at one of Restaurants Pilihan Bernas (RPB), 

an exclusive programme by Bernas and stand chances to 

win wonderful prizes! The participating restaurants are easy 

to spot as they all have the “Pilihan Bernas” logo displayed 

and you can also make enquiries when you patronise these 

places. All Restaurants Pilihan Bernas serve Pilihan Bernas 

endorsed rice brands. With the varieties of rice available from 

Bernas, there is no shortage of choices for every conceivable 

restaurant in the state, be it the famed Bario rice to the all 

time favourite Thai fragrant rice. 

Spread throughout the length of Sarawak, these Restaurants 

are mostly located in the main town centers of Kuching, 

Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. Naturally, not all the restaurants are 

selling the same varieties of rice as each selects the types 

that they know their customers will prefer but each brand 

is endorsed by Bernas. So you will find places offering 

Thai fragrant rice while others may be offering Pakistan 

basmathi variety. As you will expect, these places only 

offer quality rice so whether you are a local or a visitor, you 

will be sure to be served with superbly flavoured rice. And 

to the delight of RPB loyal and regular customers, a lucky 

draw contest named “Nang Nyaman!” (a local word for 

“Great Taste!”) is being organised by Bernas which will 

be on going from 11 th June until 7 th September 2007. But 

folks, that’s not all there is to this promotion! 

All participating restaurants in the programme have special 

forms for their customers to fill-in and stand a chance to win 

fabulous prizes! The prizes range from 42” plasma TV set to 

Home Theatre System as well as DVD Player, mini compo and 

a list of other great prizes. The best part of this programme 

is that there is no slogan or questions to answer, just fill out 

the forms with your particulars and if you happen to be the 

lucky one picked during the lucky draw, the prize is yours! 

It’s as simple as that! So, in your next meal at any of these 

participating restaurants listed below, make sure that you get 

your entry forms and start sending them as you never know, 

it could be your lucky meal! 

MOSS CAFE • Jalan Satok, Kuching 

RESTORAN RASA INDAH • Jalan Petanak, Kuching 

RESTORAN SELERA ASAM PAYAK • Jalan Satok, Kuching 

KOPI-O-KORNER • Jalan Satok, Kuching 

ZE KIOSK • Tebingan Kuching, Kuching 

YAN’S CAFE • Jalan Satok, Kuching 

SRI SHAN CURRY & SUCH • Jalan Ban Hock, Kuching 

NASI LEMAK SHIFMA CAFE • Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, Kuching 

RESTORAN CILI PADI • Jalan Kenny Hill, Kuching 

NONI CHICKEN RICE • Kota Samarahan, Kuching 

RESTORAN KASTURI • Jalan Tuanku Osman, Sibu 

TANJUNG MANIS CAFE • Jalan Kampong Datu, Sibu 

NEW NUR ISLAMIC • Jalan Kampong Nyabor, Sibu 

WARUNG • Jalan Pedada, Sibu 

PERMAI DELIGHT & CATERING • Jalan Permai, Sibu 

D’AFEEZS KAFETERIA & KATERING • Medan Jaya Commercial 

Centre, Bintulu 

SELERA IDAMAN • Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi, Bintulu 

SRI IMPIAN • Taman Sri Dagang, Bintulu 

NASI LEMAK SPECIAL • Jalan Permaisuri, Miri 

DAYANG’S CAFE • Jalan Sylvia, Miri 

SELERA NASI DAGANG • Mos Jaya Commercial Centre, Miri 

RESTORAN NASI LEMAK • Jalan North Yu Seng, Miri 

CAFENIKA • Jalan Bendahara, Miri 

FAJARIA • Lutong Bazaar, Miri 

HANII’S CAFE • Miri Waterfront Commercial Centre, Miri 

MADLI SATAY & CAFE • Jalan Merpati, Miri 

ASEANIKA • Jalan Bulatan, Miri 

www.bernas.com.my 

BERAS CORPORATION SDN BHD (480493-H) No. 96-M, Lot 2654-2656, Block 195, KNLD, Jalan Green, 93150 Kuching, 

Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: 6 082 243002 / 245002 / 248002 • Fax: 6 082 234000 

[ A member of BERNAS Group of Companies ] 


ResortTalk 

SantubongResort 

A place away from home 

In Kuching the Damai peninsula 

is fondly known as ‘the resort 

area’ as a number of established 

names have built these facilities 

that cater mainly to holiday 

makers with beach front access 

and comfortable accommodation. 

What makes Santubong Resort 

stands out from the rest of these 

holiday hotspots is that it has 

the biggest conference room 

in the city that comfortably 

accommodates 1400 guests at any 

one seating. Fortunately this is 

not the only outstanding feature 

of the resort which is just a stone’s 

throw away from the century old 

fishing village fondly known as 

Santubong. 

Residential Conference 

Package Rates: (2 days 1 night) 

RM160.00 nett per night 

(single occupancy) 

RM120.00 nett per person per night 

(double occupancy) 

RM100.00 nett per person per night 

(quadruple occupancy) 

Package is inclusive of: 

- Deluxe accommodation using 

existing bed/beds 

- Free usage of conference rooms 8 

hours per day 

- Complimentary use of writing 

material/ whiteboard/ flipchart 

/marker 

- Mints & ice water 

- Complimentary use of PA system/ 

microphone/rostrum 

- Free use of overhead/slide projector 

and screen 

- Free parking to all registered guests 

- Free recreation facilities such as 

tennis court, mini football field, 

exercise room etc. 

- Complimentary 40 letter backdrop 

wording 

Meals: 

1 x buffet/set breakfast 

1 x morning tea break 

1 x buffet/set lunch 

1 x afternoon tea break 

1 x buffet/set dinner 

1 x supper 

Located within the foot hills of the majestic Santubong mountain, the resort 

with 380 suites, chalet-type rooms also caters to grand functions like weddings, 

seminars and incentives programmes due to its capacity. Visitors and guests 

also find its food outlets a pleasant experience as the varieties available 

make it both refreshing and appreciative. 

Café Gunung serves a la carte menu on 

weekdays. The serene surroundings of the 

café makes dining here a pleasure to enjoy 

one’s meal. The usually much busier weekends 

calls for a buffet dining concept every Saturday with 

an international cuisine menu featuring both local 

and western choices. Priced at just RM20nett and children under 12 years old 

at RM 12nett, the buffet is served between 6:30 - 9:00 pm. 

For very special functions such as weddings 

and anniversaries or corporate evenings, 

the resort can also provide Chinese-style set 

dinners for these occasions. Reservations 

are necessary for such types of events as 

preparations and arrangements are necessary to give 

that unique experience. 

Ramadan Rooms Special (13 September - 11 October) 

Muslim guests will be delighted to know that the resort also gives special 

promotional rates during the holy month of Ramadan. Rooms are priced at 

RM100nett for deluxe with single or double occupancy inclusive of breakfast 

for two. This is indeed an opportune time for everyone to take a break from the 

vigour of everyday life and relax in the calm and tranquil resort by being close 

to nature and absorbing the aura of life at its best! 

Come to Santubong Resort for that good feeling in a place where everyone 

can call home. 


Santubong Kuching Resort | Jalan Pantai Damai, Santubong, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak, 

Malaysia. Tel: 6 082 846888 Fax: 6 082 846666 Email: skresort@po.jaring.my 


In.a.DayTalk 

a day 

in the 

city 

Step out into the city and discover 

some of its unique secrets which 

can only be experienced first hand. 

On your free day do explore the 

city following in the footsteps of a 

local who is familiar with the places 

mentioned. You’ll probably enjoy 

the places too! Please give us some 

feedback when you are through and 

we will see to it that this day tips will 

benefit visitors to our city. 

Thank you! 

email: feedback@kuchingtalk.com 

10.00 am 

8.00 am 

Rojak Kucei 

Ask any of the locals where the best indian rojak dish in Kuching is and they 

will come up with only one answer: Rojak Kucei. In Malaysia, the rojak usually 

consists of fried dough fritters, boiled potatoes, prawn fritters, hard boiled eggs, 

bean sprouts and cucumber mixed with a thick, spicy peanut sauce. Of course 

much depends on whether the rojak vendor is Chinese, Malay or Indian. Each race 

will add their on signature range of ingredients and garnishing to the rojak dish. 

Asghar Khan Annuar Hassan, the 65-year-old proprietor of Rojak Kucei, 

located near the junction to Rock Road and Batu Lintang, has been in the rojak 

making business for 27 years. According to him, what makes his rojak special 

is the use of the freshest ingredients possible. Rest assured that the chicken 

drumstick that tops his dish came straight from the market. Asghar doesn’t use 

an elaborate mix. He relies instead on his long bean fritters and his rich sweet 

potato gravy laced with palm sugar. The rojak with chicken cost only RM4 and 

is available from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm. Be sure to come early as supply usually 

runs out well before noon. His curried noodle with chicken, also at RM4 per 

plate, is equally sumptuous. When available, patrons can purchase a plate of his 

equally famous stingray curry with rice and a small portion of rojak for RM4. On 

Saturday he serves chicken and mutton briyani, at RM5 per plate. Be prepared 

to dine al fresco. The shop is closed on Sunday. 

Anggun Collection 

The Anggun Collection is synonymous with lavish elegance. So those looking for 

fashionable and exclusive wear should pop over to Jalan Satok. The boutique is 

Jamilah Shukri’s passion. Founded six years ago, it helps promote Sarawak’s rich 

cultural heritage. Highlighted are textiles and garments inspired by the State’s 

fascinating and colourful culture. The ethnic motif are of high quality fabrics with 

very fine designs which help create a unique identity of the wearer in various 

modern, elegant, and fashionable styles. 

The latest garments include the ethnic inspired knitted tube tops and skirts, 

available in sixteen different colours. Customers will also be able to find materials 

with the Iban Pua Kumbu motifs, inspired by Sarawak’s traditional weaving. These 

are made into long, flowing sarongs which can be draped around the waist in 

various vogue styles. It helps to keep things lavish and simple with a nondescript 

top and a matching shawl. What’s more, the garments at Anggun Collection are 

mostly exclusive. At the boutique each client is special. Great pride is taken to 

identify appropriate and suitable designs and fabrics for each individual’s needs. 

Think of Anggun Collection as your one stop destination for all your fashion 

needs. Men and women can choose from ready made baju kurung, baju kebaya, 

baju Melayu, scarves, shawls, men’s batik shirts, and batik materials. Ladies can also 

find beautifully embroidered garments like sarongs and traditional Nonya kebaya 

blouses. 

Opens Monday - Saturday from 10am – 6pm 

Lot 157E, Jalan Satok, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel : 60 82 422495 Fax : 60 82 423495 H/P : 019 8879495 


In.a.DayTalk 

Jade Pot Tea House 

12.30 pm 

A stranger walking into Jade Pot Tea House might be forgiven 

for thinking that they had just stepped into a Taiwanese eatery. 

That’s because most of the foods and specialty teas served in this 

establishment are either imported from Taiwan or are made 

in-house following the Taiwanese style. So when they say it’s 

Taiwan Beef Noodle (RM5), they actually mean it and the broad 

noodles are also handmade. For the hearty appetite there is the 

Special Beef Noodle (RM8), which means a bigger portion 

garnished with tendons and tripe. This meal can be complimented 

with a side-order of nice and lean homemade sausage (RM2.50). 

Another crowd favourite is the Fried Chicken Breast Rice (RM5). 

Since this is a tea house, rest assured that a wide variety 

of hot and colds teas are served. Jade Pot is famous for its 

Lovely Milk Tea, at RM3 a pot. The teapot itself, like the tea, 

is also imported from Taiwan, and so too are the quaint tiny 

tea cups. For those into cold teas, its famous Pearly Milky Tea 

(RM3) is also available, served with huge sago pearls. There’s 

also the Coconut Milky Tea (RM3.50), served with coconut 

jelly. Dim Sum eaters will be pleased to know that it is freshly 

prepared and served the whole day. Boiled dumplings are 

available at RM5 for 10 pieces. Jade Pot is open from 9am to 

9pm. On Monday afternoon it closes after 3pm. 

No. 1, Lot 101, Ground Floor, Jalan Song Thian Cheok, 93100 Kuching, 

Sarawak, Malaysia. Hotline: 016 8788001 

Sublot 1, Ground Floor, Lot 3146 of Parent Lot 2081, Block 10, KCLD, Jalan Tun 

Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Hotline: 016 8788002 

2.00 pm 

Ruby’s Gift Shop 

It‘s the little things that count when expression of love 

and appreciation are concerned. This is where Ruby’s 

Gift Shop is best poised to do for you in choosing that 

precious special gift for someone you do really care. 

Spread over two floors, this unique shop flaunts its gifts 

ideas for home, office and individuals with mostly imported 

materials. The choice of pearl or precious stones for her, 

the right picture frame for the desktop or that cute little 

case for her accessories make shopping here a rewarding 

experience. There is no hurry as the salespeople here 

know that selecting for someone special requires some 

inspiration and thought. 


RUBY | No. 3, Lot 2972, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, Bormill Estate, 

93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: 6 082 237127 Fax: 6 082 247127 

Email: giftshop@streamyx.com Website: www.rubygiftshop.com

In.a.DayTalk 

3.00 pm Kartini Fine Linens & Home Accessories 

Kartini 

Fine Linens & Home Accessories 

Passionate homemakers know exactly what they like and will 

search everywhere for that right piece for their beautiful homes. 

Kartini Fine Linens knows just what makes the home a cozy place 

with its choices of linens for tables and beds, from table clothes to table runners, 

placemats and napkins to quilts, duvets and top sheets. For the living room, a 

carefully placed vase with flowers in a corner or on the shelf, gives life to the room 

and the envy of all house guests. Serving friends with some of the most exquisite 

crockery provides another conversation topic and pride to any hostess in the choice 

of the serving set. Custom made cloth panel curtains available from a variety of 

fabrics give your windows a new refreshing look and the envy of neighbours too. 

If gifts in hamper form is what you need, Kartini can wrap them up for you in 

individual choices of budgets, giving you the option to send these beautifully 

decorated items to friends and relatives and see their faces light up! 

KARTINI | Sublot 12, Lot 2981, Block 10, KCLD, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, 93150 Kuching, 

Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: 6 082 417886 Fax: 6 082 247886 

4.00 pm 

If you have a passion for beautiful things at reasonable prices, why not go and 

check Nexis out. Nestled between two eateries, the shop boasts a wide selection 

of items for those at a loss as to what to give a loved one for a birthday or for 

those that want something unique to decorate themselves or their home. It’s 

a shop that caters to women who want to express their individuality. Go to 

Nexis if you are looking for something special to reward yourself or your loved 

ones. Prices fit every budget here. What matters at Nexis is that women feel 

good about themselves. 

Nexis stocks everything from bracelets and necklaces to handbags and 

shoes. A nice selection of clothing is also available. Nexis initially started out as 

a home décor shop, and still retains such items, which are extremely popular as 

gifts. Ratna has made Nexis more than just a place to shop. When Ratna says 

she offers a very personalised service, she means it. Nexis is also a place where 

people can drop by for a chat, and it doesn’t have to be only about gift items. 

So if you are stymied as to what special something to get someone, why not 

give Nexis a try and be pleasantly surprised. 

No. 14, Ground Floor, Lot 2346, Bormill Estate Commercial Centre, Jalan Tun Ahmad 

Zaidi Adruce, 93150 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: 60 82 41 8503 Fax: 60 82 23 7151 

As the sun begins to set in the city, the Satok hawkers market begins to stir. 

Located at the foot of the pedestrian bridge crossing over to the shopping 

centre, Wisma Satok is a well known place for Malay food. Here, just about 

everything you ever want from a Malay stall is available. What’s more, you‘ll be 

surprised by the newly acquired skills of these entrepreneurs in coming up 

with food normally associated with other races. So you can get Chinese-style 

food like kolo mee, fried tomato mee and chicken rice there. 

7.30 pm 

Satok Night Foodstalls 

The setting is definitely closely packed - the limited space in between the 

stalls on either side is taken up by the tables and chairs for the convenience of 

guests. You will find drink stalls next to a satay stall, a mee sapi seller next to 

a Cantonese mee hawker but all food here are halal. The hawkers start their 

business as early as late afternoon, usually with the barbeque stalls coming 

first and then the burger stalls while the peanuts stalls just do business from 

the convenience of the boot of the car. Take your time to browse around 

and usually the most tasty stalls are the ones where the crowd is packed. The 

lighting is provided by generator so the place is very conducive for evening 

photography as it gives a truly community setting. Try it out; who knows 

you may be tempted to come back for more! 


PeopleTalk 

David Prince 

General Manager Hilton Kuching 

When David Prince said 

that Kuching to him is not 

a city but a town, he was 

actually complimenting the capital 

city for its green surroundings, easily 

driveable roads and vast open spaces 

without the cramped conditions of 

most major cities. These conditions 

and the warm friendly people are what 

makes Kuching special to him, not just 

because he is the General Manager of 

the Kuching Hilton but because he 

really means it! 

“After having been around the 

world and been in most cities in 

Europe and Asia, it is like a paradise 

coming here and frankly, I don’t 

think many people here actually 

fully appreciate the wonderful city 

Kuching is,” he said clearly in his 

native English accent. For him the 

people here, especially his guests 

and staff are just wonderful; some 

out of town guests even cancel their 

business meetings here because 

they could not get a room at the 

Hilton, giving him the best reasons 

to be proud of his team. 

“As a lover of food, I must say that 

the Sarawak laksa actually is the best 

in Malaysia and midin is the most 

unique food for the state. We actually 

make it a point to try out different 

food and so far it has been a fantastic 

journey for me and my wife here even 

though I would say that the diet here 

is not that healthy based on the types 

readily available!” he laughed when 

reminded of his food quest. Most 

pleasing for him has been the ease in 

which the whole family has managed 

to settle in here, a testimony of the 

liveable town. 

“My sole wish for the state is to have 

better connectivity in air linkages and 

Sarawak certainly has what it takes 

to excel in the tourism industry if this 

is well established. In addition, the 

maintenance culture is still a little 

short of the expectations of most 

visitors for many parks and tourist 

places that we have been to,” he 

commented. Now in his 11 th hotel, 

David has certainly been around the 

industry and loves the job! His caution 

is on the subject of having too many 

rooms in the city in the coming years 

which needs to be complemented by 

higher visitor arrivals. 


Hilton Kuching, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, P.O. Box 2396, 93748 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: 6 082 248200 fax: 6 082 428984 Website: www.hilton.com

HealthTalk 

Providing healthcare 

with a personal touch 

Kuching Specialist Hospital 

Kuching city folks are 

among the lucky ones as 

there are ample healthcare 

service providers here, catering to both 

locals and visitors alike. Kuching 

Specialist Hospital is one such centre, 

located within the Setia Raja Commercial 

Centre, Tabuan Laru approximately 

10 km on the outskirt of the city. 

Operating as a one-stop hospital with a 

wide range of outpatient and inpatient 

medical specialist services, it belongs 

to one of Malaysia’s largest healthcare 

enterprises, the KPJ Healthcare Group, 

the healthcare arm of Johor Corporation 

which also has similar interests in other 

regional markets. 

Currently Kuching Specialist Hospital 

is housed in a 4-storey building, 

equipped with state-of-the-art 

technology and specially designed 

rooms for clients and customers. 

“For us, the most important aspect is 

customer satisfaction; that is providing 

the most dedicated personal touches 

for all our customers in understanding 

their needs and expectations” said 

Madam Mah, the General Manager. 

“As stated in our mission, we want 

to deliver quality healthcare services 

to our customers, with the vision 

to become the preferred healthcare 

services provider. To do all these we 

must give customers our best services 

every time we deal with them, from 

the time they come until they leave; 

this is something that we endeavour 

to deliver and adopt as the work culture 

here”. 

In addition to the services, Kuching 

Specialist Hospital is fully supported 

by an experienced group of experts 

and specialists to provide consultations, 

treatments and other health related 

issues such as Occupational Health 

Services (OHS), intensive care unit, 

operating theatre services, wards and 

private delivery rooms, physiotherapy 

and rehabilitation, haemodialysis, 

catheterization laboratory, laboratory 

and pharmacy. With the backing of 

its parent company and range of 

resources available, it can draw on 

a lot of other speciality services and 

personnel to provide comprehensive 

medical care for customers of different 

age groups with diverse range of needs. 

One key area that Kuching Specialist 

Hospital has been active in is to reach 

out to the community in numerous 

projects such as health screening, 

medical checks and talks, forums and 

dialogue sessions locally, and in different 

parts of the state. Aimed primarily 

to contribute its share of community 

care and services, it also reaches out 

to groups in isolated, remote areas in 

partnerships with local organisations, 

and government agencies. It strongly 

believes that a healthy society is 

within our reach and this should be 

extended to all corners of the state 

so that medical care can reach people 

everywhere. 

To learn more about Kuching Specialist Hospital the web address is www.kcsh.kpjhealth.com.my and Tel. No.: 

6 082 365777, emergency Tel. No.: 6 082 365030 Fax No.: 6 082 364666 or email at: kcsh@kcsh.kpjhealth.com.my 


HealthTalk 

Contours Express 

Ladies, this is what you have been waiting for 

- a whole women’s only fitness centre specially 

dedicated to just you! The workout programme 

revolves around a 29-minute circuit training 

involving the latest weight bearing equipment 

with cardio workout and all conducted with 

friendly trainers based on your individual needs. 

In fact, these types of centres are actually found 

in over 650 locations across 21 countries under 

franchise licenses. 

Conducted in small, intimate studios these fitness regimes combine 

strength training which also gives workout for women’s common 

problem areas like upper and lower abs crunch, back strengthening, 

inner/outer thighs toning using varieties of equipment. To keep the 

desired shape and fitness level, there are also adviced on nutrition and 

diets. 

Specifically the program is called Lifestyle Modification Program that 

assists women in their weight loss goals and insights into maintaining 

good overall living for a mentally, emotionally and physically healthier 

lifestyle. Believe it when they tell you that all these can be achieved 

within 4 weeks! 

The secret to this promise lies in the choice of equipment used; 

Contours Express’s CardioFit Selectorized Equipment lets you notice 

the difference in muscle tone, metabolism and calories burn during 

workouts. As your fitness level grows, you can adjust these routines 

to give yourself more goals to achieve and check out the body that 

you want! Furthermore, the regime allows you to spent less time 

at the centre while getting better results, positively giving yourself 

more time to do other things. Take the challenge and see for yourself 

the transformation possible leaving you the envy of others! 

For more information, please contact; 

Contours Express Kuching, 2nd Floor, Block A, King’s Centre, Jalan Simpang Tiga, 93300 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia 

Tel: 6 082 577486 fax: 6 082 460410 


BeautyTalk 

Making The Most Of 

Your 

Beautiful Body 

If you think every beauty centre is the 

same, think again! Pretty Women is 

every woman’s beauty home centre 

with its complete range of facilities 

to give women the looks that they 

want. The centre provides massages, 

facial care treatments and slimming 

programme supplemented by a super 

whitening series for translucent, 

beautiful skin. 

Manual lymphatic drainage 

involves the process of massaging 

the various parts of the body to ease 

pains, tension, and stress while 

improving the blood circulation which 

helps to regenerate the nerve system. 

In addition to the gentle hand massage, 

the centre also uses a hand-held 

instrument that can effectively work 

on those problem areas around the 

neck, shoulders, abdomen and thighs. 

The instrument actually breaks up the 

fatty tissues under the skin which then 

drains out through the lymphatic 

systems, taking with them toxins 

as well. Get to feel the soft relaxing 

traditional Japanese massage which 

is also available upon request here. 

For ladies only, there is the Aqua 

massage which involves dry spa 

and is specifically targeted at giving 

women complete relaxation and 

rejuvenate their body system. 

Today’s women 

are mindful of 

their facial 

care and at 

Pretty Women, 

facial uplifting is 

offered to prime 

up the facial skin to give them a radiant 

look that is both soft and healthy looking. 

Naturally, skin pigmentation care and 

acne removal are some of the other 

services provided here. First impressions 

are important and nothing says it more 

than having that fresh look to remind 

people of your presence in any situation. 

Weight reduction and trimming off 

excess fats in certain 

parts of the body 

is always a 

w o m a n ’ s 

problem. Well, 

you need not 

worry anymore 

as Pretty Women 

has just the answer 

for keeping the extra 

pounds away. The Zerofat therapy 

is a system that uses cold infra-red 

light to target particular parts of 

the body and cuts down on the 

cellulite under the skin. While the rays 

work on the different areas, you will 

be working away on the conveyor belt 

that is between the two light panels on 

either side. The movement of your 

lower body helps to remove the fatty 

tissues and at the same time gives that 

perfect exercise routine. Trust the 

experts at Pretty Women to know as 

the machines at the centre are imported 

from Europe where trials have proven 

that they work as expected. 

Bewai is the trusted name in facial skin 

care in Europe – it is clinically proven to 

give facial skin that soft whitening looks 

that is both natural and beautiful. Made 

from nature’s essential oil, it has shown 

to revitalise the skin also helps solve 

skin problems. Follow just five simple 

steps on a regular basis and you can be 

assured of fine beautiful skin that is 

both white and hydrated which will 

make you the envy of others. For more 

information on these products, call 

Pretty Women today! 


Pretty Women | 1st Floor, Lot 4911, Section 64, Jalan Upland, 93200 Kuching, Sarawak, 

Malaysia. Tel: 6 082 236523 


ConferenceTalk 

1 st IFOAM International Organic Rice Chain Conference: Sustaining 

Cultivation, Ecology & Culture Exchange Through Trade (11-14 November 2008), 

Crowne Plaza Riverside Hotel, Kuching 

For more than half of humanity rice is 

life. It is the most consumed grain and 

the world’s largest crop. It is grown in 

floodplains as well as on steep hills. 

Rice has shaped cultures, diets, and 

economies of billions in Asia. Although 

native to South Asia and parts of Africa, 

centuries of trade and exchange have 

made it commonplace worldwide. The 

global population continues to grow. 

Agriculture conditions have become 

more challenging. There is less water 

and arable land for cultivation. There is 

more carbon dioxide in the air, higher 

atmospheric temperatures and climate 

change. Beside food security, rice plays 

an important role in addressing poverty, 

a key Millennium Development Goal 

(MDG), particularly with smallholders in 

Asia. 

Governments, civil society and industry 

today face the common challenge to 

increase farm income and alleviate 

rural poverty, to assure availability 

of safe food, and to rehabilitate and 

conserve natural resources. These 

cannot be successfully addressed 

solely on any national effort particularly 

one that pits productivity and price 

competition against another. A Win- 

Win instead of a Win-Lose solution 

is required. That is why the organic 

sector is incorporating the following 

elements: value added market chains, 

smallholder friendly quality and self 

improvement systems, and noncapital 

intensive ecologically friendly 

production management systems. 

These have much to offer in conserving/ 

rehabilitating natural resources, 

quality assurance and better farm 

income through processing and 

facilitating trade to a growing consumer 

interest in organic products. 

In sponsoring the 1st Organic Rice 

Chain conference, IFOAM recognises 

the key role rice plays for the majority 

of humanity and the role the organic 

sector can play to sustain ecologically 

friendly cultivation traditions as well as 

continue age old food culture exchange 

through responsible trade and supply 

chain practices. The Sarawak Development 

Institute (SDI) is pleased to host the 

conference to promote the concept of 

organic agriculture and bring the organic 

movement to Malaysia specifically, 

Sarawak where it has much to offer 

in line with the State’s sustainable 

development policy objective. 

The conference objectives: 

• To identify challenges and 

opportunities in rice production, 

processing and marketing relevant 

to the organic sector. 

• To provide a platform for all 

interested parties to share 

innovations related to the 

production, processing and 

marketing of rice related products. 

• To enhance organic rice supply 

chains as means to provide quality 

assurance to consumers and better 

farm income as well as conserving 

or rehabilitating natural resources. 

• To expose the organic concept 

and awareness of the organic 

movement, e.g. IFOAM, to the 

state of Sarawak. 

• To provide an opportunity for 

participating IFOAM members and 

interested parties to meet and 

discuss the development issues 

related to their respective regions. 

The target group include rice producers, 

rice related processors and marketing 

organisations, researchers, scientists, 

consultants, organic movements and 

development organisations and policy 

makers. 

This conference envisages not only 

discussion but also to view, taste and 

experience the many different rice 

cultures worldwide, who will be 

participating. The programme will 

comprise plenary and paper sessions. 

Plenary sessions deal with emerging 

market trends and challenges related 

to rice production, processing and 

marketing as well as organic 

penetration and conversion of the rice 

industry. Paper sessions deal with a 

different aspect of the rice chain each 

day – markets (market scenarios; 

marketing experience and product 

development), processing (innovations 

in processing and product development), 

cultivation (innovations in cultivation 

and conservation systems), and market 

chain (market chain relations and 

ethics in trade). 

There will be free table space available 

for exhibits or rice related products 

and time for product presentation 

and tasting, and also cultural exchange 

sessions on rice stories, rituals, 

song and dance. Optional post 

conference tours are also available 

upon request. 

Presentations are invited on all the 

aforementioned topics. If you would 

like to offer a paper presentation or a 

cultural presentation (i.e. rice story, ritual, 

song or dance), please send a one page 

abstract for the paper or description of 

the cultural presentation to Ong Kung 

Wai, Programme Coordinator, email: 

kungwai@tm.net.my. Deadlines for 

abstract of paper / cultural presentation, 

acceptance of paper and full paper 

submission will be available in due 

course on the websites indicated 

below. Paper and cultural presentations 

will be reviewed by the Conference 

Programme Committee. 

Those parties interested in registering for the 1 st IFOAM International Organic Rice Chain Conference can visit ifoam.org 

or www.sdi.com.my or contact Rosalind Wong rwong@sdi.com.my 

Sarawak Development Institute, Kompleks Azam, Jalan Crookshank, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: +6 082 415484 / 416484 Fax: 6 082 412799 / 419799 Website: www.sdi.com.my 


What’sOn July – September 2007 

30 June - 15 July 

BORNEO CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2007 

Venue: Sibu Town Square, Sibu 

July 

Padawan Festival 

Venue: Kota Padawan, Kuching 

July 

Miri international food festival 

Venue: Miri 

13 – 15 July 

Rainforest world Music Festival 

Venue: Sarawak Cultural Village, Kuching 

21 July 

Nanyang wushu “Kung fu” festival 

Venue: Kuching 

August 

Kuching festival 


4 August 

Kuching street parade 


AbsoluteEssentials&What’sOn 

5 August 

borneo international sprint race 

Venue: Miri 

9 – 12 August 

Miri international mass wedding 

Venue: Miri 

17 August 

World martial Art gallery exhibition 


18 August 

World martial Art Black Belt hall of fame 



Miri International kart prix 

Venue: Miri 


2007 Sarawak nepenthes summit & pitcher 

plant exhibition 



Borneo invitational kites festival 

Venue: Bintulu 

31 – 2 September 

Sarawak Regatta 

Venue: Kuching Waterfront, Kuching 


Tourism & cultural carnival 

Venue: BGS Waterfront, Kuching 

2 September 

Lambir international rainforest challenge 

Venue: Miri 


Borneo international yachting challenge 

Venue: Miri 


Borneo Tourism conference 2007 



Inter-cultural mooncake festival 


23 September 

Miri International treasure hunt 

Venue: Miri 

(Note: Event dates are subject to change without prior notice) For further enquiries, please contact: 

Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) Tel: 6 082 446688 • Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Tel: 6 082 242311 • Padawan Municipal Council Tel: 6 082 615566 

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) Tel: 6 082 423600 • Miri City Council (Tel: 6 085 424111) • Sibu Municipal Council (Tel: 6 084 333411) 

MacBook iPod nano 

tv iPod shuffle 

Experience the new digital lifestyle 

ITFUSION • A full range of Apple desktops, portables, software, accessories and services 

L1-01, Lot 376, DUBS Commercial Centre, Section 54, Jalan Petanak, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Tel: +6 082 427959 Email: info@itfusion.com.my Website: www.itfusion.com.my 

Somerset Gateway @ Kuching 

Somerset Gateway, Kuching is set in the vibrant and culturally 

rich city of Kuching, Somerset Gateway towers 16 stories in 

the heart of Sarawaks Golden Triangle and central business 

district. The well-appointed twin tower complex integrates 

modern offices and serviced residences, and is close to a myriad 

of major shops, international restaurants and entertainment 

centres. 

Somerset Gateway, Kuching 

No. 9, Jalan Bukit Mata, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 

Reservations / Tel: 6 082 250958 Facsimile: 6 082 259958 

Email: enquiry.kuching@the-ascott.com 


RMBTalk 

f i l m review 

Tel: 6 082 234 077 

Tuesday | Ladies Day, Ticket only RM6 

(not applicable for male and public holiday) 

Wednesday | Movie Day, Ticket only RM5 / RM6 

(not applicable for movie marked (“) and public holiday) 

*All booked tickets must be collected 45 min before show times. 

HARRY POTTER V 

The Order Of The Phoenix 

Genre: Action, Adventure, Kids/Family, Romance, Science Fiction, 

Fantasy, Adaptation and Sequel Rated: PG On Cineplex: 

11 July 2007 

As his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and 

Wizardry approaches, 15-year-old Harry Potter is in fullblown 

adolescence, complete with regular outbursts of 

rage, a nearly debilitating crush, and the blooming of 

a powerful sense of rebellion. It’s been yet another 

infuriating and boring summer with the despicable 

Dursleys, this time with minimal contact from our hero’s 

non-Muggle friends from school. Harry is feeling especially 

edgy at the lack of news from the magic world, 

wondering when the freshly revived evil Lord Voldemort 

will strike. Returning to Hogwarts will be a relief or will it 

RUSH HOUR 3 

Genre: Action, Adventure, 

Comedy and Sequel 

Rated: PG-13 

On Cineplex: 9 August 2007 

LAPD detective James 

Carter and Chinese Chief 

Inspector Lee travel to 

Paris to battle a wing of 

the Chinese organised 

crime family, the Triads. 

Movie Schedule For 

Star Movie Carnival 2007 

BOURNE ULTIMATUM 

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller, Adaptation and Sequel 

Rated: PG-13 On Cineplex: 27 September 2007 

All he wanted was to disappear. Instead, Jason 

Bourne is now hunted by the people who made 

him what he is. Having lost his memory and the 

one person he loved, he is undeterred by the 

barrage of bullets and a new generation of 

highly-trained killers. Bourne has only one 

objective: to go back to the beginning and find 

out who he was. Now, in the new chapter of 

this espionage series, Bourne will hunt down his 

past in order to find a future. He must travel from 

Moscow, Paris, Madrid and London to Tangier and 

New York City as he continues his quest to find the real Jason Bourne. 

B O O K s & C D Review 

The Sarawakiana Series 

– Culture & Heritage – 

SARAWAK STATE LIBRARY 

Jalan Pustaka, Off Jalan Stadium, 93050 Petra Jaya, 

Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: 6 082 442000 

Fax: 6 082 449944 www.pustaka-sarawak.com 

The Sarawakiana Series is a series of custom made interactive CD-ROM with written supplement, which gives the local and the tourist 

alike, a glimpse of the State’s rich and diverse heritage. It covers everything from history, race, culture, belief and tradition. All based 

on thorough research and studies, the multimedia CD insures that future generations can have access to this information. Each series 

is priced at RM60.00 

Contact person: Syeeida Ali Hussein | Email: syeeidah@sarawaknet.gov.my 

Seni Silat Melayu Sarawak 

– Seni Silat Paris Dendam 

Traditional Bidayuh Wedding 

– Pinchawan 

Silat is the art of self-defence which is the sole heritage of the 

Malays. Silat as a form of martial arts has similarities with other 

marital arts of the world like the Shaolin, Kung Fu, Aikido, 

Karate, Tang Soo Do and a few others. It is widely practiced 

and shown to the public during cultural shows or festivals. 

Today there are 113 silat styles practiced in Sarawak, of which 

33 are found in Kuching. Seni Silat Paris Dendam originated 

from Sambas, Kalimantan Barat, and 

Indonesia. The current master, Usop 

bin Jol, learnt it from his master, the 

late Master Seli b. Dol from Kampung 

Tambirat, Kota Samarahan, Sarawak 

in 1940 at the age of 23. The origin 

of the name ‘Paris Dendam’ is 

unknown. It is believed to have 

come from ‘Pak Aris,’ the name 

of the old man from Sambas. The 

interactive CD-ROM shows the artistic 

and combative silat movements. 


It is believed that the Bidayuh were one of the original peoples 

of Borneo. They were the principal inhabitants of the original 

territory acquired by James Brooke, the first White Rajah of 

Sarawak. Today the Bidayuh are the 4th largest racial group 

in Sarawak after the Ibans, Chinese and the Malays. The 

Bidayuh attach great importance on the institution of marriage 

as well as the bringing up and the caring of their children. They 

are a monogamous people. The grandeur of the 

marriage depends on the social status of the 

parties involved. Normally, they perform 

two ceremonies, one in the bride’s house 

and the other in the bridegroom’s house. 

There is much festivities and merriment 

which may last for about a week. The 

actual ceremony would be fixed to 

coincide with the full moon, preferably 

a few days before or after the Gawai 

Festival. The interactive CD-ROM contains 

the wedding ceremony.

PlacesOfWorship 

Darul Barakah mosque 

In previous issues of Kuching Talk the 

more famous and larger mosques have 

been highlighted. Darul Barakah is one 

of the smaller mosques in Kuching, 

and can easily be mistaken for a surau 

(Muslim prayer house). Located at Taman 

Satria Jaya, BDC, behind the shopping 

centre, it is situated along the same 

road which houses the Little Learner’s 

Pre-School, the Advanced Management 

& Technology Centre, Sarawak Campus 

and the Stampark Water Park. Thus 

those finding difficulty in locating it can 

just ask any local where the swimming 

pool is and they can be easily directed to 

the mosque. 

The mosque can accommodate 

400 worshippers, and there is a small 

enclosed area for female worshippers. 

Apart from religious activities like Koran 

recitation there is also an adjoining club 

house for sporting activities. The land 

surrounding the mosque is filled with 

colourful bougainvillea, tropical plants 

and palm trees. Parking space is very 

limited and for Friday prayers Muslims 

can park at the shopping centre car 

park area across the road. Worshippers 

are advised to leave their footwear next 

to the club house side when going for 

prayers as the front area of the mosque 

is exposed to the elements. 

An awe-inspiring building, this is probably Kuching City’s most 

recognisable church, located within the vicinity of BDC Stampin. 

Shaped like a “winged messenger” of God, the dove in mid-flight, it 

comprise multiple layers of a semi-circular roof structure culminating 

in a pinnacle with the cross at the conical top. Viewed from any angle 

it is both imposing and beautifully captivating to the eyes and stands 

out in the neighbourhood when completed in November 2002. 

Blessed 

sacrament 

church 

Inside the well-lit and ventilated building is a pleasant semi-circular hall 

with the altar as the centre of attention for the faithful who sit around 

it. The main congregation area has a seating capacity of 850 while the 

mezzanine level adds capacity to hold a total of 1500. There is also a 

stand for the choir and also a day chapel on the other side. Masses are 

celebrated every weekends of Saturdays and Sundays as well as on 

weekdays except Monday in both English and Chinese. 

The belfry is actually the tallest structure within the church compound 

where three bells are located to chime with the masses celebrated 

here. For more information on the church services, the contact number 

is 082-578857. 

Kuching Buddhist Society 

Sited at a secluded spot within 

the city’s limit is Kuching Buddhist 

Society building, located along Jalan 

Laksamana Ang Cheng Ho. The 

structure strikes you as a big temple 

which it is not exactly as it houses a 

lot of other facilities for its members 

and followers. Built over a 1 1/2 acre 

site on a piece of land granted by the 

government, the foundation started 

in 1978 and today it is one of the 

sites where faithful come to say their 

prayers. Incidentally, this is only the 

second such place in Sarawak. 

The building houses a kindergarten 

and also a shrine for those who had 

passed away as their ashes are carefully 

placed in a separate part of the 

building for love ones to visit. There 

is also a library for people to browse 

at literature of various topics and the 

9 foot high statue of Lord Buddha is 

certainly one of the things that stand 

out of this place. It originally came from 

Hong Kong and it much revered among 

the followers here. Interestingly, all the 

teacher monks housed in the society 

are barred from marriage which is one 

unique feature of the religion. 

Weather Forecast (July-September 2007) 

Kuching Temperature Rainfall 

July 2007 20.2˚C - 35.7˚C moderate rain 

August 2007 20.2˚C - 36.4˚C moderate rain 

September 2007 20.7˚C - 36.5˚C moderate rain 

Weather forecast provided by courtesy of Meteorological Services Department of 

Malaysia.

Malaysia's 50th Anniversary Padawan Fest 2007 Main Bazaar ...

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