Must-visit attractions in Kuching, Malaysia

Sarawak in Malaysia attracts tourists for jungle-related activities, cities with a small-town feel and its rich and diverse ethnic culture and traditions. Kuching, the state capital, is often the first port of call.

Sarawak’s White Rajahs

The clock tower is located inside the complex

The Astana, or ‘Palace’ in English, always features on lists of the must-visit attractions in Kuching. Sitting elegantly on the banks of the River Sarawak, the 1870 colonial palace exudes grandeur. Formerly the residence of Sarawak’s White Rajahs, it’s now the Governor of Sarawak’s seat and isn’t open to the public. Manicured lawns and a fence surround the palace with ‘Astana’ spelled out in giant white letters. Stand on the opposite side of the river for the best photographs. Return after dark when the palace lights up.

Tua Pek Kong Temple

Dating back to 1843, Tua Pek Kong holds the title as Kuching’s oldest Chinese temple. Located in the heart of the city centre near the Waterfront and Chinese Museum, the colourful façade welcomes curious visitors. While the Taoist temple might not be an obvious entry into the list of the must-visit attractions in Kuching, it does provide cultural insights into the city’s past and hosts several annual festivals.

Cat Museum

Cat monument in Kuching city center

Sarawak’s name translates as ‘Cat’ in English, giving the nickname ‘City of Cats’. The world’s first cat museum covers four galleries inside the City Hall buildings. With over 4,000 items covering everything related to felines, this is a must-visit attraction in Kuching for cat lovers. Since opening in 1988, the Cat Museum gets thousands of annual visitors. Expect to find figurines, photographs, posters and a rare Egyptian mummified cat.

Bako National Park

Holding the title as Sarawak’s oldest and one of the state’s smallest, Bako National Park can be reached within an hour to the northeast of Kuching. After taking a boat to the park entrance, visitors can hike along colour-coded trails, visit beaches and go wildlife-spotting in the many habitats. Highlights include its resident population of endemic proboscis monkeys, slow loris and pangolins, as well as 190 species of birds, lizards and other mammals. Bako National Park is an ideal place to go wildlife-spotting and experience Sarawak’s rainforests.

Sarawak State Museum

Borneo’s oldest museum first opened in 1891. The White Rajah at the time, Charles Brookes, had a passion for natural history and commissioned the Sarawak State Museum. Several displays cover all aspects of Sarawak from ethnographic exhibits and traditional longhouses to Neolithic artefacts, natural specimens and both Chinese and Islamic art. The grand three-storied colonial building housing the museum is a masterpiece in itself.

Read more: Experience Malaysian cuisine in a day

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Reasons why you should choose Abu Dhabi over Dubai

Most people when booking their trip to the UAE immediately pick Dubai as their destination. However, only an hour and a half away is Abu Dhabi, and visitors should definitely consider visiting this incredible city instead. Abu Dhabi has some of the most epic touristic attractions in the country and is possibly a better destination for tourists coming to the UAE.

Abu Dhabi is the UAE’s Capital

Abu Dhabi is not only the country’s capital, but it also occupies approximately 80% of its territory. The city is also the home of the UAE’s president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In fact, all of the country’s presidents must be from the Al Nahyan family, which is from Abu Dhabi. This makes Abu Dhabi perhaps the most important city in the country politically, geographically and historically. When visiting the UAE, seeing – and even staying – in the capital is a must!

Seeing more of the local culture

Anyone who has been to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi will agree that the capital is much more traditional than the vastly more touristy city of Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, visitors will be more in touch with the local culture, being around locals much more often. This is the best place to see the Emirati costumes, garments and traditions. Whereas in Dubai one would most likely be surrounded by expats and other tourists, Abu Dhabi offers a more traditional experience.

Great concerts and events

Abu Dhabi has become known for amazing concerts. The capital has hosted some household names in music internationally such as Coldplay, Paul McCartney, Rihanna and Lionel Richie. Events such as Beats On The Beach have made Abu Dhabi the UAE’s most important hub for live music. The city has an event heavy calendar that includes music festivals, cultural happenings and sporting events, attracting people from all over the world.

Not as busy as Dubai

Anyone who has visited Dubai during peak season can confirm this – the city is packed! Seeing that this is a vastly popular tourist destination, people from all over the world fly to Dubai during the months of October-March in order to spend some time in the city. Airports are packed, hotels are super expensive and even just buying a ticket to go up the Burj Khalifa needs to be done months in advance. Abu Dhabi has attractions that are just as fun and exciting as Dubai, with much less hassle, making it a much better destination during peak season.

A more authentic trip

While everyone around is saying they have been to Dubai and seen Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa, anyone who choose to visit Abu Dhabi will be able to share stories of a truly authentic and unusual holiday. Everyone who has been to the UAE has had the chance to see the Burj Al Arab, but not all got to contemplate the skyline from Fast and Furious 7. Choosing Abu Dhabi over Dubai will guarantee new and unique stories to share with those back home.

See more: Top destinations in Abu Dhabi, UAE

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Places to visit in Makassar, Indonesia

Makassar located in South Sulawesi is a city with a hidden wealth of things to do and see in Indonesia. As the main port of entry to the island of Sulawesi, Makassar tends to be seen mainly as a stopover to Tana Toraja and the rest of Sulawesi's hotspots.

Makassar Strait

The islands off Makassar call for a whole day's worth of lazing at the beach, snorkeling to see the fish and sea urchins, and one last beachside picnic before heading back to the city. There are 2 islands you need to visit: one is the Samalona Island - a favorite getaway for locals who love to picnic by the sea or rent a house on the island for an overnight visit and another is Kodingareng Keke - a sandbar with white sand where you will find at any top-rated beach in the world.

Floating Mosque

Losari Beach or "Pantai Losari" has a lively stretch of activity buzzing with locals. Although it's along the coast, there is no direct access to the beach so it is more of a boardwalk. The key landmark here has to be the floating mosque, which does look from some angles like it’s floating on the water.

Stone Forest

The trip to Maros’ “Hutan Batu” (Stone Forest) is one of the most scenic in Makassar. A one-hour drive from the city takes you to the Rammang-Rammang Pier in Salenrang, from here you’ll board motorized canoes that speed down the Pute River, past cliffs, jungle, bridges and traditional Sulawesi houses. You’ll disembark at a village next to rice fields, all surrounded by towering karst mountains that give the place its nickname. The “Stone Forest” is supposedly the second-largest karst landscape in the world, offering a series of adventures in and around the limestone cliffs.

Fort Rotterdam

Don't forget to take in colonial history at Fort Rotterdam. After 1667, when the Dutch conquered the Gowa Kingdom that ruled over South Sulawesi, they cemented their rule by destroying the Gowa King's existing fortifications and building a Dutch star-shaped fort over the ruins. The fort served as a nucleus around which the city of Ujung Pandang, later Makassar, grew over the centuries.

Pantai Losari

To see Makassar at its most spontaneous and fun, visit Pantai Losari just before the sunset hours. The Pantai Losari seaside promenade is a favorite stop for locals and a tried-and-true magnet for local atmosphere. After the sun sinks completely below the horizon, walk north up Jalan Penghibur for an early dinner at the kaki lima (food stalls) lining the sidewalk.

Read more: Things you don't know about Indonesian cuisine

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