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Cat City <b>Kuching</b>, Malaysia -- The City that Cats Built

Cat City <b>Kuching</b>, Malaysia -- The City that Cats Built

Posted: 08 Jan 2015 06:30 PM PST

Posted by - January 8, 2015 | Category: Peculiarities

"The cat could very well be man's best friend but would never stoop to admitting it."

— Doug Larson

Cat statue, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia

The city of Kuching may not have been literally built by cats, but its certainly built its tourism reputation on the backs of them. Cat statues, cat souvenirs, and cat attractions inhabit a remarkable amount of real estate here. In fact, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting something feline-themed. (Sorry, I couldn't resist that one.)

Cat City, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia-640

Even though I am not a cat person (I come from a long line of dog folk), I do appreciate a healthy dose of quirkiness in the places I visit, and if that quirkiness takes the form of cats, then who am I to judge?

Cat City, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia-644

I've seen too many 80s horror movies to not know what cats are really up to, but the good citizens of Kuching in Borneo's Sarawak province are not dissuaded — they are pure, unapologetic cat people.

And. Cats. Are. Everywhere.

Cat City, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia-643

So what exactly is the deal with all the cat craziness in Kuching? For one, the city's name is derived from the Malay word for cat — kucing. Kuching/kucing, po-TAY-to/po-TAH-to, you get the picture.

There's a Cat Museum run by North City Hall. (There's also a South City Hall, so don't head to wrong the one.) Not sure why they need two city halls, maybe a bit of cat-fighting by local politicians? The Cat Museum is free of charge to enter, and houses over 4000 cat-related artifacts.

Kuching Cat Museum, Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, MalaysiaKuching Cat Museum (Image: patrikk via Flickr)

And it's not just city hall that's captivated by cats.

If higher education is what you're after, you can get your degree at I-CATS — the International College of Advanced Technology Sarawak.

Cat sculpture, Kuching waterfront, Sarawak, Borneo, MalaysiaKuching Cat Sculpture (Image: byte via Flickr)

Knowing a good bandwagon when they see one, a local radio station goes by the call letters CATS FM, where I hear that the "Hot 100″ is called the "In Heat 100."  (Sorry, couldn't resist that one either.)

And of course, what self-respecting cat-crazed city would be complete without a cat café. Meow Meow Café, opened in 2014, is the only place in town where you can sip on a latte, and then slip some catnip to the resident kitties.

Meow Meow Cat Cafe, Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, MalaysiaMeow Meow Cat Café (Image courtesy of LindySim.com)

Not to be outdone by those Cat Museum mongering northerners, the South City Hall has its own fine feline — the nine-foot tall Giant Cat of Kuching. Big Kitty receives a makeover during holidays, donning a red vest for Chinese New Year, a green one for Eid-Fitr, and the full Santa Clause treatment for Christmas,

Cat sculpture, City, Kuching, Borneo, Malaysia

And if you've ever wondered what that raised paw means (I know you've seen them at Chinese restaurants), this blog post gives a great rundown on decoding the lucky cat.

Now isn't that the cat's meow?

What do you think of Cat City Kuching? Leave a comment in the section below, (Unless of course, cat's got your tongue.)

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If you want to help out the cats (or even the dogs) of Kuching, support the SSPCA (Sarawak Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

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Wedding | Abby & Matthias | <b>Kuching</b> - SK Jong Photography

Posted: 02 Jan 2015 01:47 AM PST

SK Jong Photography | Kuching Based Wedding&Portrait Photographer. Capturing your Moments.: Wedding | Abby & Matthias | Kuching

Wedding | Abby & Matthias | Kuching

Matthias & Abby first met each other while studying at UNIMAS. That was years back and their relationship grows and finally tied the knot. That another moment in their life as couple. Bravo to Abby & Matthias who also an animal lovers especially dogs :) Thanks for introducing Zoe & Uno to Hui Hui & I.

Weather was bit of a concerned as its been raining, thanks GOD its stop minutes before reception party started and the sparkles march in was still on plan... Hooray.. to that! Congrats to both Abby & Matthias!

Here I share few of my favorite moments captured from Abby & Matthias wedding day.

Main Photographer : Jong Saw Kang (a.k.a SK Jong)
Second Photographer : Gideon Leong
Videographer : Collective Studio
MUA : Mei Ling
Gown : Pearl Studio
Church : St. Joseph
Reception Venue : Grand Margherita (pool side)
Decorator : Sevon Laing
Amcee: Chien Ng
Music : Momentum Music

Jazilah credits Kolej Sunway <b>Kuching</b> for flourish in ACCA <b>...</b>

Posted: 06 Nov 2014 11:30 AM PST

KUCHING: Ernst & Young Jakarta senior consultant Jazilah Firdaus is another testimony of a success story of ex-students who graduated from Kolej Sunway Kuching (KSK) and who used her professional qualification globally.

Raised in Malaysia, the Indonesian-born lass of Arab heritage was thrilled to be back in the college that gave her the career that she never dreamt of doing.

"I wanted to be a News Anchor and be in mass communication but ended up becoming an accountant. It was to be something that I will never regret," she said when met by The Borneo Post in the college yesterday.

"After finishing in Chung Hua Secondary School in Kuching, I sign up for Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) and then Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA) programme at Kolej Sunway Kuching .I felt that I am at home and on the right path," she added.

Jazilah, who is here on business and holiday for the third time after leaving for Jakarta, said she started with CAT in 2007 and by 2010 had completed her ACCA exam.

She said that she never dreamt of working with an international accounting firm in the likes of Ernst & Young in Kuching as the local associates here hired local instead of foreigner.

"I was blessed with the position of Audit Associate in Ernst & Young Kuching and transferred to Jakarta two years later until now," she enthused.

"KSK had done a lot for me especially in my student days and I remembered very well we were taught on a one-to-one basis which shows that the college was committed in giving us the guidance to ensure we achieve our goals."

She said that the lecturer and CEO of the college Joseph Lim was part of a very dedicated team who wants students to excel and they proved it as due recognition came for work well done ,(in that) the college earned Platinum status as a centre for ACCA.

"I thank KSK from the bottom of my heart," she said.

The 25-year-old lass who can speak in five languages — English, Arab, Malay/Indonesia, Mandarin and Hindi — loves what she is doing now as compared to her junior job as audit assistant as she has specialised in Financial Services Risk Management, which is not "really a physically figure crunching job but one which entails analysis".

She hoped KSK will produced more accountancy graduates in the future and as a former student at KSK, "I advise those taking the professional exams to work hard and have close rapport with their lecturers".

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