A *short* trip to downtown Kuching.

Epilogue: To KimiChongRaikkonenYenPheng, you ask it, YOU GOT IT. I did it already though by the time you commented. However, even though Kuching is my home city, but its not exactly my homeTOWN, since I live at the suburb area 10+km out of the city.

When boredom creeps up to you, you know you have to do something to get out of it...so during the other day(Monday 12th of May to be exact), I FINALLY ventured out from my home and went to downtown Kuching for a short trip as well as giving my younger bro a visit since he was having exam the other day and finishes school earlier than usual. What did I get from this trip: nostalgia and PIC SPAM FTW!!!!! So, let the pic do the talking now!!!!

This is where the journey starts: the in-bound 7th mile bus stop. I still remember that I used to take the bus every Saturday from here downtown to the City Library to study... ahh reminiscence of highschool days...

The huge 6-six lane traffic junction of 7th Mile/Kota Sentosa after the upgrading from roundabouts a couple of years ago. Kota Sentosa is highly strategic that its the main traffic junction leading to other town in Kuching division like to Bau (right side of the pic) and Serian+10th Mile/Kota Padawan+Kota Samarahan straight. The road left of the pic lead right into Kota Sentosa, of course. The heavy incoming traffic is the testament on how important this road is as the main traffic artery out of the city.

...and here I am waiting at the bus stop. Its empty because its off peak hour...but I think that lesser people took the bus these day in Kuching. And one thing, our bus stop(if there is one) are much bigger than their Penangite counterpart. We got excess land-bah!!!!

And that's my bus coming in from Kota Samarahan inbound to Kuching. This is Petra Jaya Transport, which their bus fleet is in yellow.

Seated and an interior shot of the bus. Waaaayyyyy better than the cranky older Milan bus in Penang even though is the same colour. But seriously, the bus fare raised so fast! Now its already Rm1.60 per trip to Kuching from Kota Sentosa, a stiff rise from Rm1.20 back then.

And now we are on out way!!! Zipping through the newer shoplot at the fringe of Kota Sentosa. If you zoomed in in the centre of the pic: that's Pizza Hut over there. A recent addition (like since last year) ever since KFC open its door here like almost 10 years ago. The first fast food joint to came here though is Sugarbun, the homegrown brand which unfortunately bankrupted here due to stiff competition from KFC.

The just upgraded (from yet again, roundabout) 6th mile Junction, leading to Airport. And the traffic are still heavy as always.

And far end over ther is the airport cum airforce base, to be exact the end of the runway. And that patch of cleared land on the right side of the picture is the proposed Kuching regional traffic hub, otherwise known as Kuching Sentral (notice the ciplak-ness?). But IMHO, the gov (city, state, federal, whoever it is) should save the bus in Kuching. Kuching bus seriously are in the state of dismal!

AirAsia A320, soaring through the sky. I know I will board the plane again back to Penang on the 13th of June *sad*.

Now we reach the 4th mile. Everrise Supermarket, the quintessentially local chain of supermarket was founded by KennySia's dad. Now you know he is pretty rich.

And over the other side is the just opened Boulevard Mall. This photo is not the most photogenic however, since they have this beautiful lighting effect along the facade of the building at night. And this is only the first stage and the second stage, is going on at the huge pit/excavation beside it and will be the biggest mall in Kuching when completed.

And finally we reached the 3rd Mile area. There is a flyover+underpass at 3rd mile area which is yet another testament of 3rd mile being another traffic junction leading out of the city.

Another shot of the flyover+underpass. Its more like a ditch than a tunnel to me, the underpass I mean.

And now we are reaching closer and closer to the city. This is St. Joseph Roman Catholic Cathedral, one of the two main catherdral here in Kuching. The stupid steel bar of the bus block my view!? (note: actually there are much more thing that we passed by along the way before this, like Saberkas (somewhat like Kuching's Lowyat), General Hospital (WTH the renovation is taking life forever?!) Civic Centre and Sarawak Club. Unfortunately, the position of their building does not produce photogenic picture in the end)

And beside it is St. Theresa School. They say St. Theresa boast the most beautiful gals of all school. *meh* Across the road (on my side) will be the male counterpart, St. Joseph School. Both school start of as missionary school for the catholic mission.

Passed through the traffic junction near St. Theresa and here comes the State Museum, housed in majestic remnant of the White Rajah era. And we are much better than what Penang offered!!!

As the bus moved along the road alongside the Padang, the Merdeka Palace (5 star hotel) stood proudly at the historic heart of Kuching.

This is Open Air Market Hawker Centre right in the middle of old shop area. The major bus stand for Petra Jaya Transport is right beside it. Open air offer a variety of cheap and delicious local food of Kuching, making it among the favorite eating place for all Kuchingites alike.

And that stall is the famous SioBee stall. Hanged out here before in the wee hour for some late night siobee supper with my schoolmate. (YangLip! Owen! B-Shan! SanHui! JIO ME OUT!!!)

And that's the Van Sapu (shared minivan) terminus with their distinctive yellow top. (There are illegal operator though, with ordinary van.) Van Sapu are preferred transportation among locals(especially the outskirt area) because of their SPEED (faster than bus obviously) and FLEXIBILITY (wider coverage into small town outside).

Electra House, the *first true* shopping mall in Kuching, back in the 70-ies.

And suddenly I feel like taking the clear blue sky of Kuching. Luckily the haze season is not here yet.

The Central Police Station again in colonial building of Brooke Era. Despite their name, its not the police headquarter...but back then it is.

Barrack Road, now closed. That lonely bus stand over there was the main hub for the Sarawak Transport Bus, outbound to Serian and there was an abandoned goverment warehouse behind it...now it was all gone to make way for...

...this, Merdeka Plaza, a upcoming shopping mall cum hotel. But closed road really worsen the traffic around that area.

That's the new State Assembly in construction and fully taking it shape.

Central Post Office since the Brooke Era. I love this photo personally since it shows the whole building. Had to thanks for the cleared area of construction.

The Pavilion Building, now houses Museum Kraftangan.

Even though this is not the best picture (construction lah), that's the old courthouse building, now housing Tourist Information Centre.

Another shot, featuring Post Office, Pavilion Building and the towering menace of new State Assembly. ITS HUGE even though it is located on THE OTHER SIDE of Sarawak River.

And the other side: the Rolling GREEN of Central Padang. The huge tree alongside the Padang had been there for AGES. State Museum is at the far end there.

St. Thomas Anglican Cathedral, the other major cathedral in Kuching. This cathedral is also the patron church for my school.

Walking along McDougall Road and here showing my school's field with their new addition, the running track.

At the far end is James Wong Assembly Hall. My class (U6s1...WE ROXX) is located downfloor at the hall.

And here it is, my Alma Mater (for form six lar), my pride and glory, St. Thomas School. The oldest english School in all of Borneo Island, it was founded in 1848 by the Anglican Mission. The school's advisory board is still headed by the Anglican Bishop of Kuching, a prove of our school's heritage. And before all gov exam, all of us (non-muslim student) will have a prayer at St. Thomas Cathedral, a wonderful tradition in my opinion.

That's our female counterpart over the other side, St. Mary School. That's the original site of our school though when it just started.

The Star Cineplex Building (a major hangout and movie place for Kuchingites)...now colored in garish color. *barf* And soon after that, I bumped into my younger bro and friend, who walked along the road to the bus stop together from Kuching High. Next stop will be Bau bus terminal to head home.

The Sikh Gudwara along Jalan Masjid, the one and only in Kuching. Notice the golden dome.

And that's the City Mosque (former State Mosque) with their distinctive Golden Onion dome. With existence of diverse religious worship place in a small area, all Kuchingite should be proud of their diversity and heritage. Love Kuching.

And this is the Bau bus terminus at Jalan Masjid. Despite their name (it is the Kuching hub for Bau Transport, the red bus on the left) it is also served by ChinLianLong Transport (the blue bus), which cover intra-urban destination.

And since the Barrack Road hub is closed for traffic, now this hub is shared by other Sarawak Transport (the green bus) as well.

And now me, my bro and his friend on board of Bau Transport bus, ready to go home.

And that's all for today folks, since it was a really short trip anyway. Next time, I will cover more parts of Kuching, particularly along the picturesque Waterfront!!!

-fin-

ps: That's long!