Rock-awn Bakes in Borneo

Phase 2 of the chronicles of Rock-awn introduced us to the island of Borneo. It is HHHOOOOOTTTT here!! Everyday feels like I’m melting and I’m always wet whether from having a shower or simply from walking. I LOVE it and wouldn’t change it for anything. It’s not a secret that I love Asia and feel somewhat at home on this continent, and I think I’ve figured out partly why. I know DawnO will talk about a bit of bias that we’ve noticed happening on her blog, and my epiphany comes partly from that but I recognized it when we met a girl from Vietnam. When we told this girl we were from Canada, she accepted it, but then she needed more information from me. She knew I was Asian or part Asian and asked me about that. I realized then that in Asia, I just fit. I noticed it in the Philippines, I noticed it with my teachers in Thailand, I noticed it when I lived in South Korea. Maybe it’s my perception of things, but I feel like because I’m Asian there’s this unwritten understanding that because of my ethnicity (it doesn’t matter what country I’m from) I belong. In Asia with other Asians I am part of the larger group. In Canada, even though I’m a 100% born and raised Canadian, there is this underlying question of where I (or my family) came from. Just a few deep thoughts by RockyBee!So, back to our current chapter of adventures. DawnO and I left Kuala Lumpur and boarded a plane for a 2ish hour flight to Kuching. Kuching is a cute city in the Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. As I said it is hot and humid here. DawnO and I both being ones to explore by walking have only had to turn back once because we couldn’t make our destination due to the relenting sun (it’s bad when locals stop you because they’re so concerned that you are a sweating buckets on their streets), but we have endured a possible heat stroke inducing bus ride that eventually led to a really good day (leaving swimming pools on our seats before we left was well worth it . . . . for us but maybe not the ones who eventually came to sit in those seats). Some of the other adventures we’ve found ourself in include:

• Feeling well cared for by the locals. People here are so friendly and it is not uncommon for people to go out of their way to help us out or greet us walking down the street.
• Walking the promenade along the Sarawak river. Lots of activity, food stalls and just a general way (especially in the evening) to simply enjoy being by the river.

• Continuing to put on many km walking. If our dogs aren’t barking at the end of the day, something may be wrong (I don’t know . . . . that hasn’t happened yet!)
• Hunting for cats. Kuching has come to be known as the cat city because the word Kuching is similar to a Malaysian word for cat. So, we’ve wandered the city looking for the numerous “interesting” cat sculptures.

• Exploring and looking for street art.

• Navigating the bus system to make our way to Bako National Park and Semenggoh Nature Reserve.

• Bako National Park ended up being a bit of a “things don’t quite work out how we thought they would” kind of day, and we didn’t get to spend as much time as we would have liked there, but it was an amazing day. Got to take a boat ride (even if there were a few mid-sea transfers due to different boats not working), walked on the sand (but no swimming in the sea due to salt water crocs), went on a nice hike and saw probiscus monkeys (awesome . . . we could have just sat and watched them all day!)

• Semenggoh Nature Reserve is said to be one of the best places to see semi-wild orangutans in the rainforest. We headed out in the morning to see the feeding but unfortunately no orangutans showed up. Fortunately, we were one of the first few people to arrive, so we did see three that were fed in a different area including Ritchie, the “big boss” who is huge and is known to be a bit of an a$$hole, so they are sure he is fed first before going to the official feeding area. So though we didn’t get to see the “main” event, we felt like we got to have a pretty amazing experience.

• Continuing to eat our way through Malaysia and try different foods (DawnO’s had a bit of a different experience related to food . . . not because of the taste, but because of the different service. You’ll have to check out her blog for more details!)*** laksa (a breakfast well known in the region)

*** eating my second round (peanut butter and condensed milk on toast) since DawnO didn’t get her laksa until I was well done

*** kek lapis a desert famous in this region

I’m looking forward to the next chronicles of the adventures of Rock-awn, which are set to begin tomorrow, for many reasons one of which involves connecting with my past. Stay tuned!

 

For more sights of Kuching and area, click on pics in the gallery below.