Visiting <b>Kuching's</b> Cat Museum - Caroline in the City Travel Blog |
| Visiting <b>Kuching's</b> Cat Museum - Caroline in the City Travel Blog Posted: 28 Nov 2014 06:00 AM PST  
Kuching, Malaysia is known as "Cat City" for the Malay word kucing. While I didn't see stray cats roaming around in the Borneo city like I did in Croatia and Turkey, you could see that they sure love their felines. Upon pulling into the parking lot of our hotel, we saw a large group of tourists gathered around a statue of a large group of cats, snapping photos. There was certainly something different about this island.
When I first saw the words "cat museum" on our itinerary, I wasn't sure if I should laugh or cry. Surely, this is a joke. Something to test the silly American travel bloggers. But it turns out the Cat Museum, located on the top of the hill at city hall, is one of the most popular attractions in town. We soon found out why.
We entered through a giant cat's mouth as we saw what started as a collection and became a full-on obsession. The museum was created in 1993 as the brainchild of Sarawak chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Laila Taib. The over 1,000 square meters of space is filled with over 4,000 artifacts all devoted to cats.  Photo: Arienne Parzei The items were first acquired in the 1980s for the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur but moved to their present feline-friendly home when the building was completed ten years later. They range from cat collectibles, keychains and stuffed animals to clothing inspired by cats and even a mummified cat.
There were also photos of famous cats or famous people with their cats, pictured above.
The galleries cover the significance of cats to Kuching's history and Malay culture, as well as in ancient Egypt. They also dive into cats in art, the biology of cats and famous cats like Hello Kitty and Garfield.
A more bizarre section included the grave of a cat. This isn't a natural history museum, so if you have plans to spend the whole day here you'll be disappointed. But if you're looking for a unique and kitschy day in a place you won't find anywhere else, it's worth the drive up to the Cat Museum.
Getting ThereThe Cat Museum (Muzium Kucing) is free to visit. To get to the Cat Museum, take bus Petra Jaya Transport No. 2B or 2C from Kuching. I visited the Cat Museum in Kuching on behalf of Tourism Malaysia. Mentioned in this post
RelatedAbout CarolineCaroline Eubanks is the founder of Caroline in the City. She's a freelance writer based in Atlanta, Georgia but also considers Charleston and Sydney home. Her past writing credits include work for AFAR.com, National Geographic Travel and she is a contributor to Her Packing List. |
| China institute keen to develop eco-city in outskirts of <b>Kuching</b> <b>...</b> Posted: 02 Dec 2014 10:05 AM PST by Karen Bong, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on December 3, 2014, Wednesday TIANJIN, China: The North China Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute is very keen to collaborate with Sarawak government to develop an eco-city in the outskirts of Kuching that could in turn lure foreign investment and boost tourism. Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg led an entourage to pay a courtesy call on the institute's chief executive officer (CEO) Xu Qiang yesterday to further discuss this project. "This is the second meeting and negotiation after the first in the beginning of this year," said Abang Johari, who is also Housing Minister. "We want to introduce a modern and sophisticated neighbourhood in which the design- and-build will consider the natural surrounding and blend into the environment," he said, while emphasising that Sarawak was heading towards the green direction. If this pilot project can be successful, he said it will be a model for future property development and town planning in the state. Abang Johari pointed out that Tianjin is currently building one of the largest eco-cities in China which will showcase the hottest new green technologies including solar and wind power. "We want to focus on conserving the environment in the outskirts and rural areas through this concept," he said. "Moreover, it will bring investors in besides making it into another attractive tourism product," he added. However, he said the technical committee would need to do a proper study before drawing out a blueprint which could possibly be ready by the first quarter of next year and finalising this collaboration. Meanwhile, Xu assured that the institute was willing to provide technical knowledge and expertise support to ensure that the project materialise. "We are confident with this collaboration between China and Sarawak. Based on our experience, we believe Sarawak has better criteria to build any design and achieving its intended outcome," he said. Noting that development in the state was not as aggressive compared to other parts of Malaysia, Xu commented that it was not a bad thing as the environment was not spoilt, thus conservation effort could be included in present and future developments. "Therefore, we really encourage Sarawak to apply the eco or green concept to building and planning in order to protect the environment for a better living," he said. "We hope to see a direct collaboration between the parties involved under the leadership of the minister (Abang Johari) in order to ensure its success," he added. Xu together with other Chinese officials plan to visit Kuching next year. Abang Johari was on an 11-day working visit to China to promote Sarawak tourism, beginning Monday with the first leg in Bejing, followed by Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. He also paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who was on a six-day official visit to China to boost the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries and increase bilateral trade late yesterday evening in a leading hotel in Beijing. Abang Johari also took the opportunity to brief Muhyiddin on the tourism promotion to be done in China as well as the proposed eco-city pilot project. The entourage consisted of assistant tourism ministers Datuk Gramong Juna and Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Batang Ai assemblyman Malcolm Mussen, Saribas assemblyman Radzi Sitam, Sheda advisor Dato William Wei, Housing Development Corporation chairman Datuk Dr Abang Abdul Rauf Abang Zen and Housing Ministry permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik.  |
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