5 Reasons to Explore Kuching when in Malaysia

The latter is an iconic strip that popped up sometime during the 19th century, at which time it was quite different to what it is today. Initially this strip was known for its string of opium dens and brothers, all of which were operated by the Chinese community. Presently, Carpenter Street contains some of the best Chinese-influenced food one can find in Malaysia, with delights such as pork-satay, keuh chap (a dish made of an herbal broth containing square sheets of rice and braised pork), and the delectable kolo mee (egg-noodles laden with a mixture of minced-pork and Chinese BBQ Pork that has been cooked in pork-fat. A small stroll away is the main bazaar, which houses an assortment of shops and boutique hotels in exquisite pre-war buildings. Shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs are the most popular. The central location of the bazaar means that it's close to accommodation options such as Citadines Uplands Kunching, amongst many other service apartment in Kuching.

An incredibly popular bazaar, one can find a wide range of unique produce and products at this famed market-place that attracts both locals and tourists alike. Most patrons visit the bazaar due to the high-quality fruits and vegetables to be found here, especially rare ones such as Sarawakian Brinjal and Wild Ginger-Shoot. There's also a thriving selection of exotic snacks along with various meats ranging from normal to exotic varieties such as snake and sago worms. In addition to food-stuffs, there's various stalls selling clothes and hand-made crafts.

Kuching's close proximity to the sea means that sea-food dominates the cuisine of the area, and one place that dominates the sea-food culture in Kuching, is Top-Spot. This restaurant bears a reputation for serving the freshest produce in delicious incarnations of popular dishes. Their take on the Orh Chien (Oyster Omlette) is renowned. Traditionally, this dish consists of a moist omelette dotted with oysters, Top-Spot's version is served as a crispy pancake. Another dish that is an undisputed favourite, is their Bamboo-Clam dish that is served in a sweet and spicy wine sauce. The combinations of flavours between the sweetness of the Clams that is both complimented and contrasted by the Spicy-Sweet Wine-Sauce is known to be an unforgettable culinary experience.

This phenomenal nature's hideout is home to more than one thousand species of animals including mammals, birds and reptiles, but has a particular emphasis on the rehabilitation of orangutans. The orangutans are kept in conditions on par with the wild, with the only difference being that they are fed by park-rangers twice a day. Visitors are invited to observe these feeding sessions which take place from 9am-10am and 3pm-3:30pm.

An incredible retreat where the picturesque Mount Santubong unites with the South-China Sea. This serene locale is littered with resorts, as well as stretches of public beaches. Since its close to the mountain, one can also embark on various hiking and trekking excursions. Guides can even be arranged to take you up all the way to the summit of Mount Santubong.