Damai Puri Resort & Spa

The state capital of Sarawak, Kuching, is located approximately 35 km away from Damai Puri Resort & Spa.

The origins of its name have never been clear. "Kuching" does translate into "cat" (although the official Malay spelling today in Malaysia and Sarawak for "cat" is "kuching"), in specific reference to the domesticated cat, but it may actually be a variation of the Indian name for "port" or "Cochin".

The city has charm, much more than others in the region, since it was not destroyed in the war and still retained so much of its colonial flair.

The city centre is concentrated around the south bank of the Sarawak River. The most prominent Kuching landmark is the Waterfront. Places of interest that one should visit are:

Sarawak Cultural Village
Located about 10-minutes walking distance from the resort. Famously referred to as a living museum, the Sarawak Cultural Village typifies the heritage of the major ethnic groups in Sarawak and duly showcases and celebrates the respective lifestyles amidst 14 acres of land - about 40 minutes drive from downtown Kuching.

A visit will offer a lifetime chance to see and sample Sarawak's rich culture diversity - namely the Iban, Melanau, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Penan, Malays and Chinese - in a day. And at the end of the visit, do attend the 45-minute cultural performance of songs, dances and entertainment. It is something that you will not want to miss out during your visit.

Main Bazaar
No visitor should miss the old Main Bazaar, Kuching's oldest and most famous shopping street where souvenir-hunters can seek out an assortment of traditional brassware, pottery, ceramics, tribal arts and crafts, bamboo mats, rattan basket and much more.

The handicraft shops here are stacked floor to ceiling with cultural curios and antiques, and are a treasure trove of Iban icons, Bidayuh bric-a-brac and Orang Ulu ornaments. Located near the Kuching Waterfront, shoppers are advised to always bargain for the best deal.


The Cat Museum
The Cat Museum's cat artefacts displayed were previously on show for the first time at the National Museum, Kuala Lumpur, in 1987 as one of its gallery. Later it was brought to Kuching (The Cat City) under the care of Sarawak Museum and was put on display for the first time on 1 August 1988, when Kuching was proclaimed as a Cat City.

The Sarawak Museum
The two-storey building was completed in 1891 to permanently house and display local native arts and crafts as well as collections of local animals. A famous naturalist Alfred Wallace spearheaded the effort then.

Today, the ground floor of the museum holds the natural history collection and specimens of Sarawak fauna and animals - all expertly prepared and mounted for display. The west wing of the museum houses Shell exhibition - featuring the history of petroleum industry of Sarawak. The first floor displays exhibits of ethnographic artefacts such as models of longhouses of the various ethnic groups in Sarawak, musical instruments, various kinds of fish and animal traps, handicrafts, models of boats and others.


Satang Island
The island is located about half an hour by boat cruise from the resort. The cruise passes mangrove swamps and picturesque fishing villages on the way to the South China Sea. This island has been set aside by the government for turtle conservation. Visit the turtle conservation and hatchery area first and then head for Satang's beautiful white sand beach. This is a perfect spot for snorkelling with pristine clear waters giving life to a wide variety of soft corals and an abundance of marine creatures. Alternatively, take an adventurous trek through rugged jungle terrain and discover a myriad of tropical flora and fauna.

Santubong Mangrove & Irrawaddy Dolphin Cruise
The cruise route criss-crosses the mouth of the Santubong River in search of the Irrawaddy Dolphin. The Irrawaddy, or snub fin dolphin, inhabits rivers, estuaries and shallow coastal areas. The Santubong area is one of the best places in Sarawak to view this unusual looking marine mammal. The dolphins are often seen swimming and diving around small fishing boats in the estuary. Visitors will need a keen eye to spot the dolphins at first.

Bako National Park
With its rainforest abundant wildlife, jungle streams, waterfalls, interesting plant life, secluded beaches and trekking trails, Bako offers visitors an excellent introduction to the rainforest of Borneo. Bako may not have an instantly recognisable star attraction but there can be very few places in the world that pack so much natural beauty into such a limited area and all its sheer range of attractions and activities have made Bako one of the most popular parks in Sarawak.

Gazetted as a protected area in 1957 and is Sarawak oldest national park, covering an area of 2,727 hectares at the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula. It is one of the smallest national parks in Sarawak, yet one of the most interesting as it contains almost every type of vegetation found in Borneo.

The best times for seeing wildlife at Bako are dawn and just before dusk, when the animals are at their most active. You are most likely to see animals on the trails if you go in small groups; walk slowly and silently, keep as quite as possible and listen out for sounds and movements in the forest. For example, you are likely to hear a strange grunting sound or the crash of leaves long before you actually see a Proboscis Monkey.

Semenggok Orang Utan Sanctuary
Semenggok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, about 20 minutes drive out of Kuching, is undoubtedly one of the best attractions in the Kuching area. It offers the opportunity of getting close to some highly mischievous, semi-wild Orang Utan. The best time to visit Semenggoh is during feeding time, which takes place between 8:30am to 9:00am and 3:00pm to 3:30pm.

© Copyright 2012 Wotif.com Holdings Limited. ABN 41 093 000 456.