The city of the pussies
12. November 2019, Tuesday
1° 33' 32" N, 110° 24' 15" E
When a rather large typhoon formed before Vietnam, which promised good sailing winds further south, the decision was made: We will leave the Anambas islands and use this wind for our way to Miri.
Well, what can I say: We were pretty fooled by the weatherforecast!
Somehow we drove behind the wind, as if we are hunting him.
Since we had refrained from refueling on the Anambas Islands because of the bad diesel quality in Indonesia (Bio Diesel!) and the prospect of perfect sailing wind, after 60 hours of uninterrupted humming of the ship's diesel, we were little by little running out of fuel.
Course change to Kuching!
For hours we cruise upstream across the brown waters of the Sarawak River until we reach Kuching.
About 20 years ago, I've been here before (but back then by plane) and had a pleasant memory of the city.
So why not spend a few days here and wait for the right wind.
Kuching is the Malaysian word for cat and allegedly the city was named after the numerous tigers formerly here.
Well, the tigers have given way to domestic cats that are everywhere in the cityscape in wonderful kitschy monuments and statues represented.
Kuching has an interesting past, not least because here from 1841 to 1946 a British sultan's family called Brooks ruled as Rajas the state of Sarawak.
James Brook a British soldier and adventurer founded this dynasty which Kuching imprinted a quite European stamp.
The time of the white Rajas is over and Malayans, Indians and the mostly business-savvy (but less popular Chinese) in SO Asia live here and give the city its own charm.
Well, what can I say: We were pretty fooled by the weatherforecast!
Somehow we drove behind the wind, as if we are hunting him.
Since we had refrained from refueling on the Anambas Islands because of the bad diesel quality in Indonesia (Bio Diesel!) and the prospect of perfect sailing wind, after 60 hours of uninterrupted humming of the ship's diesel, we were little by little running out of fuel.
Course change to Kuching!
For hours we cruise upstream across the brown waters of the Sarawak River until we reach Kuching.
About 20 years ago, I've been here before (but back then by plane) and had a pleasant memory of the city.
So why not spend a few days here and wait for the right wind.
Kuching is the Malaysian word for cat and allegedly the city was named after the numerous tigers formerly here.
Well, the tigers have given way to domestic cats that are everywhere in the cityscape in wonderful kitschy monuments and statues represented.
Kuching has an interesting past, not least because here from 1841 to 1946 a British sultan's family called Brooks ruled as Rajas the state of Sarawak.
James Brook a British soldier and adventurer founded this dynasty which Kuching imprinted a quite European stamp.
The time of the white Rajas is over and Malayans, Indians and the mostly business-savvy (but less popular Chinese) in SO Asia live here and give the city its own charm.
