BORNEO Native Festival 2024

It’s BNf 2024

We’ve been visiting the Borneo Native Festival (BNf) for two straight years, and we were excited to make it a happy hat trick.

With the theme “Power in Unity”, this year’s BNf invited everyone to “Dive into the World of Borneo: Captivating vibrant cultures, amazing food and an immersive music experience.”

Events lined up for the festival included:

• Food & Crafts
• Borneo Talks
• Creative Dance Competition
• Miss Ethnic BNf
• Sape Stage
• Borneotroops (Marching)
• AR Live Experience

The Journey to Central Market

We made our way to the bus stop along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (TAR) and caught a RapidKL bus #180 to the Pasar Seni Bus Hub for RM1.00 (≈ USD/EUR0.20). From there, we walked north along Jalan Hang Kasturi and crossed Jalan Tun Sambanthan to Central Market.

As always, we entered through the northern entrance, walked the entire length, and exited through the southern end where even more stalls awaited.

The Shopping Begins

Our first stop was Lipang Lawai’s stall, where she was still extending Cat’s necklace from a previous purchase. While waiting, Cat picked up three earrings and a Kabo necklace for RM247.00 (≈ USD53/EUR48), which included the cost of extending her Bao Tulang necklace.

Next, Cat bought a bracelet and two earrings from Borneo Touch Enterprise for RM52.00 (≈ USD10/EUR11).

We then arrived at the stall of Cat’s favourite beadstress, Caroline Agan, just across from Lipang. Cat took her time browsing every piece before settling on a hat, an Alai necklace, an African beaded necklace, and a Turquoise necklace — a princely sum of RM530.00 (≈ USD113/EUR104). Caroline asked us to return later to collect the extended Turquoise necklace.

Lunch Break

We walked over to our favourite nasi beriani spot, Tajuddin, where two plates of Nasi Beriani with Honey Chicken and Fried Chicken plus drinks came to RM30.00 (≈ USD/EUR6).

More Goodies

Back inside Central Market, Cat picked up some native foodstuff — Rice and Umai, Ikan Terubuk Garing, and Keropok Dabai — for RM53.00 (≈ USD10/EUR11).

We then returned to collect the extended Turquoise necklace from Caroline. Lipang, however, wasn’t done with the Bao Tulang extension, so we promised to come back the next day.

In total, Cat’s handsome bounty for the day came to RM935.00 (≈ USD199/EUR183).

Heading Home

We crossed Jalan Tun Sambanthan again and walked south along Jalan Hang Kasturi to catch the same RapidKL #180 back to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall stop for RM1.00 (≈ USD/EUR0.20).

From there, we walked across Jalan Raja Laut, continued east along Jalan Esfahan past my office, and stopped by Starbucks to take advantage of the day’s buy 1 get 1 free offer.

We continued east across Jalan TAR and soon made our way home — already looking forward to next year’s BNf.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

Pasar Seni Bus Hub - https://maps.app.goo.gl/oafuN8ReWLzRufUq7

Central Market (Pasar Seni) - https://goo.gl/maps/bzUo327XZcg73rXT9

Tajudin Nasi Beriani - https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dpk78zsKWeuP52fz8

SANUKI Udon: W Automart • Domino's

Itadakimasu

It was Wesak Day, a public holiday in Malaysia. After an unpleasant encounter with an overzealous restaurant in Bangi, we decided to go in search of Japanese cuisine instead. It had been a very long while since we last visited Sanuki Udon in Taman Desa, and today felt like as good a day as any.

Sanuki udon originates from Kagawa Prefecture in Japan, named after the former Sanuki Province. The noodles are square shaped with flat edges and a chewy texture, made from wheat flour and usually served in broth or kamaage style with dipping sauce.

The Sanuki Udon restaurant we used to frequent was once on the ground floor of Jalan Bukit Desa 5, but has since relocated to the first floor.

True to form, the place was almost full when we arrived at 11:50am, despite only opening at 11:30am. We walked up the flight of stairs and, although we liked the vibe of the new space, the open air feel of the old ground floor shop still appealed to us more.

We scanned the menu and promptly settled on:

• House Special Udon
• Curry Udon
• Jelly Fish
• Grilled Squid
• 2 Green Tea

After lunch, I took a walk around to capture some footage. Our delectable and savoury Japanese meal came to RM60.40 (≈ USD13/EUR13) — reasonably priced in our books.

P/S: Our pet peeve — people whose English isn’t their first language but put on an accent so fake it melts our earwax. We had to endure a torrid time beside a loud, obnoxious couple with said “impediment”.

A Quick Detour

We walked back down the stairs and hopped into BiBi, bound for Pandan Indah to get help with our Android Player from Daniel of W Automart. We had trouble hearing Waze voice directions whenever the radio was on.

Daniel was busy with a customer, so his colleague Steven stepped in — and just like that, problem solved. We then made our way home, which happened to be the exact moment the DJI Action 4 battery gave up.

By the time we resumed filming, we had arrived at Domino’s Dang Wangi to collect our customary order of Beef Pepperoni and Aloha Chicken pizzas.

Then we headed home.

We’re excited for our road trip to Kuala Terengganu early next month, so stay tuned!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

Sanuki Udon - https://maps.app.goo.gl/PbAK3o16ywfb7khJ6

W Automart Pandan Indah - https://maps.app.goo.gl/DpJCvZL59HATKNne7

Domino's Dang Wangi - https://maps.app.goo.gl/PAK2sr9zS7AFqFcE7

Passport Renewal │ Tapak Urban Street Dining @Cyberjaya

Food Trucks

We picked you up again after making the round trip to our home and back. After a drive that took a little over two hours, we eventually found ourselves at Tapak Urban Street Dining in Cyberjaya — our favourite food truck colony. This place was among the first outdoor dining spots we visited after lockdown, so returning felt a little nostalgic.

Alas, our favourite Mexican food truck was no longer here. Their quesadilla was exceptional, so it was a shame. No matter — we took our time browsing the various trucks and finally settled on:

• French Fries — RM8.00
• Trouble Triple Burger — RM25.00
• 2 Chicken Tomyam sets — RM24.00
• 3 beverages — RM15.00

Our dinner under the stars came to RM72.00 (≈ USD15/EUR14), which led us to wonder if the cost of living here might actually be higher than in Kuala Lumpur.

We might be having one last meal in Putrajaya tomorrow… so perhaps we can put that theory to the test.

Stay tuned.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Tapak Urban Street Dining @Cyberjaya

- https://maps.app.goo.gl/pFEy5GNGxbYrueBp7

Passport Renewal │ Woodfire Putrajaya

Gourmet Burgers

We were spending the night in Putrajaya, arriving at noon before making our way to Woodfire Putrajaya, just in time for lunch. Woodfire began in Johor Bahru in 2017, focusing on creating succulent gourmet burgers and sides. What started as a home based delivery service has since expanded into an impressive chain across six states in Peninsular Malaysia.

The ordering process felt similar to a fast food joint, but the menu leaned heavily into gourmet territory. After a quick scan, we ordered:

• Smoked Beef Burger for Brendan
• BBQ Chicken Burger for Cat
• Mixed Double Patty Burger for me
• Curly Fries
• 3 Hausboom King Cola

Then we added:

• Creamy Chocolate Milkshake
• Another Curly Fries
• One more Hausboom King Cola

Our lunch came to a rather steep RM126.00 (≈ USD27/EUR25). Given that it was a gourmet meal, we felt it was justified.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for our next video as we have dinner at an old favourite food truck colony.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Woodfire Putrajaya - https://maps.app.goo.gl/t4SmPNjCi71AxNKo9

Passport Renewal │ PUTRAJAYA in 24 Hours

Passports

After an unprecedented amount of unbelievable procrastination, we finally did it. Our passports had expired right in the middle of lockdown, and we simply had no reason — nor any means — to renew them.

When borders reopened, Malaysia went through an intense passport renewal frenzy. With social distancing still in place and new contactless procedures being introduced, the Immigration Department was overwhelmed. Wait times stretched into months. Since we had no real desire to travel abroad then, we decided to wait.

Three and a half years after our passports expired, we finally applied for renewal online. The process was fairly easy, but we ran into a snag with the photographs we submitted. We chose the Shaftsbury Putrajaya Immigration office — a quiet, out of the way branch — for collection. To make things easier, we also booked a homestay in the same building.

With our appointment scheduled for the next morning, we left home at noon and arrived in Putrajaya after a leisurely hour’s drive. We had lunch at Woodfire, a gourmet burger joint, before heading to our homestay. The host requested anonymity, which we respected.

We checked in and spent the rest of the day indoors, hiding from the blazing heat. That’s when I realised I had forgotten something important: the batik shirt I bought in Serikin, Sarawak — the very shirt I intended to wear for the passport photo.

We had no choice but to make a 70 kilometre round trip back home to retrieve it. Once that was sorted, we drove to Tapak Urban Street Dining in Cyberjaya for dinner, then returned to the homestay to retire for the night. With an early appointment ahead, a good night’s sleep was essential… especially for the eyebags.

The Big Day

We woke up at 6:30am and got ready. Ironically, we didn’t sleep well at all — we couldn’t figure out how to switch off the wardrobe light. It was probably a blessing that we weren’t reviewing this homestay, because the comments would not have been flattering. I was also mildly perturbed when the lady we dealt with, who was six years younger than me, insisted I call her Kak.

We reached the Immigration office at 8:15am, and in just over an hour, we walked out with our newly minted passports. We returned to the homestay, packed up, checked out, and by 11:00am, we were back at our condo.

Armed with our passports, we can now plan our next trip abroad in earnest — but not before fulfilling our promise to feature every state in Malaysia on our channel.

Stay tuned!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

Woodfire Putrajaya - https://maps.app.goo.gl/t4SmPNjCi71AxNKo9

Shaftsbury Putrajaya - https://maps.app.goo.gl/2r5g397dT8mLFjEH9

Tapak Urban Street Dining @Cyberjaya

- https://maps.app.goo.gl/pFEy5GNGxbYrueBp7

Malaysia Immigration Department (Shaftbury Putrajaya) 

- https://maps.app.goo.gl/zczRs1FqH8yZEFtCA

KCH Day 6 │ KUCHING to KL: MH2545!

Returning to KL

We picked you up again after returning from the Borneo Cultures Museum. The afternoon was spent packing up and getting organised for our flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

At 3:00pm, we bade Adelyn’s homestay a fond farewell and made our way to Kuching International Airport. We parked the rental car at the agreed spot and, after following Awang Amirul’s contactless return procedures, headed to the Departure area on Level 3.

Checking In

We checked in our bags and waited for the appointed time to enter the Departure Hall — 4:00pm.

Once inside, we cleared Customs and Immigration without incident. With plenty of time to spare before our flight MH2545, scheduled for 6:00pm, we headed to the food court at the far end of the hall. Since meals would be served onboard, we decided to have only drinks.

During this time, Brendan and Cat walked over to Mita Cake House hoping to buy five of their delectable butter cakes, but were disappointed. They managed to get three Kuih Lapis of various flavours instead.

Boarding MH2545

At 5:00pm, we walked over to Gate 5 and took our seats. Boarding began half an hour later. The aircraft pushed back at 6:00pm, taxied for ten minutes, and MH2545 took off at 6:10pm.

The flight was largely uneventful, and we landed at 7:37pm.

Kudos to Captain Darren and Chief Steward Patrick for a very pleasant flight.

We disembarked at 7:46pm and were directed to Carousel L to collect our bags. After a much needed potty break, we made the long walk to the carousel — only to be greeted by an announcement of a delay in baggage delivery. We finally collected our luggage at 8:25pm.

Back to KL Sentral

With our KLIA Express tickets in hand, we headed down to Level 1 and caught the 8:40pm train back to the KL Sentral Air Terminal.

From there, we hailed a six seater Grab for RM38.00 (≈ USD8/EUR7) and made our way home.

Kamsahamnida

Thank you for journeying with us through this twelve video Kuching series. Next month, we head to the East Coast of Malaysia to visit my hometown — stay tuned!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8

Kuching International Airport - https://maps.app.goo.gl/f332PGTvyN2EvCDJ7

KLIA Express Station @ KLIA - https://maps.app.goo.gl/3DzFNh4MmxHRZYkE8

KL City Air Terminal - https://maps.app.goo.gl/r5XZiqSvxi6wGTJM9

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

KCH Day 5 │ BORNEO Cultures Museum: Everwin • Yong Kwang

Change of Plans

We had planned to visit the famed Kenyalang Park Market this morning, but the rain put paid to our plans. We waited for a while, hoping it would subside, but it didn’t. Still wanting to spend our last morning in Kuching productively, we hailed a Grab car to the Borneo Cultures Museum. Brendan decided to sleep in and declined our offer.

We caught our Grab at 9:20am for RM9.00 (≈ USD/EUR2) and arrived at the museum fifteen minutes later. It was already open, and after paying the entrance fee of RM20.00 (≈ USD/EUR4) each, we began our exploration on the second floor.

Exploring the Borneo Cultures Museum

This video will be a lengthy one — we know museums aren’t everyone’s cup of tea — but for those who enjoy the occasional museum visit, we hope our footage will be a treat.

We spent almost two hours visiting each gallery across four floors, taking our time with the exhibits and even paying the (pricey) gift shop a visit.

Errands Near the Homestay

At 11:15am, we hailed another Grab for the same fare of RM9.00 (≈ USD/EUR2) to Everwin Enterprise, near Adelyn’s homestay, to run a few errands.

We eventually had Kolo Mee at Yong Kwang nearby, then picked up hot coffee from Kim Coffee Garden before heading back to Adelyn’s homestay.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for our next video — we’re flying back to Kuala Lumpur!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8

Borneo Cultures Museum - https://maps.app.goo.gl/DHCKtThZnc66nhcq7

Everwin Centre Kenyalang - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SqdDajvPuBd2Kg9C9

Yong Kwang Kedai Kopi 榮光茶室 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/nv4V3DbA49ae384C9

Kim Coffee Garden - https://maps.app.goo.gl/aY8VxZwozZyuBh9w6

KCH Day 4 │ PINGGAI Cafe: Running Errands

Dayak Cuisine

We picked you up again after collecting Brendan from Adelyn’s homestay, fresh from our Serikin Weekend Market adventure.

We punched Pinggai Cafe into the Waze app and headed toward the Waterfront area. Parking was impossible to find nearby, so we drove into the basement parking of Plaza Merdeka instead.

From there, we exited the mall and walked a short distance along Carpenter Street before turning right onto China Street, where we found our lunch destination — Pinggai Cafe, famed for its modern take on Dayak cuisine. Serving trays embossed with flower motifs lined the walls, giving the place a unique and charming ambiance.

Lunch at Pinggai Café

We took our seats and quickly scanned the diminutive menu before settling on:

• Grilled Cha Siu (Pork Ribs)
• Pork Pansuh
• Manok (Chicken) Curry
• Midin Fried Belacan
• 3 Nasi Beras Hitam
• A pot of Chrysanthemum Tea
• 2 Coca Cola

There’s something about Dayak cuisine that really appeals to Brendan — he once again asked for a second helping of Nasi Beras Hitam. I added a hot Caramel Macchiato for myself.

Our Dayak lunch came to RM90.50 (≈ USD19/EUR18). Reasonable, considering the rising price of pork. Was it three times better than our Bario lunch yesterday, which cost a third of the price? The jury is still out.

Afternoon Errands

After lunch, we drove to Kuching International Airport to print out our boarding passes for tomorrow’s flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

We then met up with Jacob to hand over a box of chocolates we forgot to bring during our dinner two nights ago.

We finally returned to Adelyn’s homestay at 2:40pm to rest while I continued editing our ever growing mountain of footage. We’ll probably stay in tonight and order takeout via GrabFood.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for our next video, where we go on a market hunt just a stone’s throw away from Adelyn’s homestay.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Pinggai Cafe - https://maps.app.goo.gl/U9QXFJzma6k8e47i8

Plaza Merdeka - https://maps.app.goo.gl/SMWL3TDQtkmi8oEr9

Kuching International Airport - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jpuFPGJwNTPoPBJFA

Premier Food Republic - https://maps.app.goo.gl/GMPbtbeEyNZypNxs5

The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8

KCH Day 4 │ SERIKIN Morning Market

Serikin Weekend Market

We’d read so much about this border town that we knew we simply had to make a trip here. Having been around for almost 20 years, the Serikin border market is truly one of Kuching’s hidden gems.

Operated mainly by locals from Kalimantan across the border, as well as Sarawakians, the market caters mostly to local shoppers with the occasional visitor from Peninsular Malaysia. You’ll find a good mix of household items — kitchen utensils, comforters, curtains, rattan furniture — alongside plenty of apparel for kids, men, and women.

The Drive to Serikin

With that in mind, we woke up at 6:30am and left Adelyn’s homestay half an hour later.

The drive to Serikin took almost an hour and a half, partly because we were enjoying the immense greenery that surrounded us as soon as we left Kuching’s city limits. Hopefully the time lapse footage did justice to the scenery — and vindicated our tendency to drive slow and take in the sights.

We arrived at 8:20am, took a quick potty break, and had drinks at an unnamed restaurant before beginning our walk through the market.

Browsing the Border Market

We spent the next hour or so browsing stalls filled with souvenirs, clothes, and novelty trinkets. In the end, we bought:

• A couple of hats — RM50.00

• 15 Kuih Penyaram — RM10.00

• A blouse and pants set — RM40.00

• 2 sets of his and hers Batik shirt & blouse — RM200.00

• A tribal necklace ornament — RM70.00

Our border town bounty came to a handsome RM370.00 (≈ USD78/EUR73).

We were especially chuffed with the his and hers Batik combo, which we plan to rock tomorrow on the flight back to Kuala Lumpur. We fully expect some stares — but we don’t care, bring it on.

Heading Back to Kuching

We left Serikin at 11:00am and made our way back, stopping by a Maybank in Kota Sentosa to replenish our Federal Reserves. We eventually reached Adelyn’s homestay at 11:20am to pick Brendan up for lunch.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for our next video, where we have lunch and sample a modern take on Dayak cuisine.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8

Serikin Weekend Street Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/9T5SwYXJvKryRMXYA

Maybank Kota Sentosa - https://maps.app.goo.gl/aku218HK6ZWrknxcA

KCH Day 3 │ SINIAWAN Night Market

Night Market

We picked you up again after our excellent Bario lunch at Mummy’s and Mama’s Home Cooking, as we spent the afternoon indoors hiding from the blistering heat.

At 4:30pm, we got into the rental car and punched Siniawan into the Waze app. A small town in the Bau district, about 20km away, this usually quiet settlement comes alive on weekends when the Siniawan Night Market takes over the main street.

Offering a wide variety of local delicacies and street snacks, the main attraction of this night market is the abundance of Chinese lanterns that transform the street into a movie-like setting.

Strolling Through Siniawan

We spent an enjoyable evening strolling along the night market before sitting down for some titbits, which included:

• 9 Taiwanese Sausages — RM3.00 each
• Assorted Fruit Juices — RM19.00
• Dumplings — RM10.00
• 2 Cheese Sausages — RM3.00 each
• Pork Burger — RM15.00
• 4 Hakka Fruit Tofu with Meat — RM2.50 each
• Five Spices Meat Roll — RM10.00

Our meal came to a rather steep RM62.50 (≈ USD16/EUR13). Dining in a movie-like setting comes at a premium we guess.

As the sun began to set, I took another walk along the street to capture the bright lights and lanterns glowing against the twilight sky.

Heading Back to Kuching

We hopped back into the rental car and began the drive home, stopping by a Shell petrol station to fill up. Before returning to Adelyn’s homestay, we made a quick detour to Kenyalang Food Centre to pick up a hot drink for the night.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for our next video, where we take an even more leisurely drive to a weekend morning market in the border town of Serikin.

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Siniawan Night Market - https://maps.app.goo.gl/DYgTZjaQfA96j7VA9

Kenyalang Food Centre - https://maps.app.goo.gl/igtuwj3jifdq2zbt6

The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8

KCH Day 3 │ AH LIONG Cafe Again: Mummy's and Mama's Home Cooking

A Slow Start to the Morning

I woke up at 8:00am and let Cat and Brendan sleep in while I continued working on the footage from the past couple of days. They eventually woke at ten, and by 10:45am we were ready to head out.

Back to Ah Liong Café for Bario Cuisine

Determined to finally try the Bario inspired dishes that Carolyn’s sister offers, we made another trip to Ah Liong Cafe to visit Mummy’s and Mama’s Home Cooking. We hopped into the rental car and punched the destination into Waze.

Carolyn had explained that her sister, Sarina, had an appointment at Sarawak General Hospital yesterday and couldn’t open her stall. Today, however, was a different story — as soon as we walked into Ah Liong Cafe, we saw the brightly lit stall open and ready.

Carolyn’s son Joey was manning the counter, and after a quick scan of the dishes, we settled on:

• Chicken Rendang
• Lamb Curry
• Wild Ginger Flower
• Cassava Leaves
• Sambal Petai
• 3 Bario Rice

Our first ever Bario inspired meal came to RM33.00 (≈ USD/EUR7).

We enjoyed the meal tremendously — so much so that Brendan went for a second helping of Bario Rice.

Sarina’s stall will celebrate 11 years in business this August, and we wish her every success.

Back to the Homestay

After lunch, we made our way back to Adelyn’s homestay to rest while I continued working on our footage.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for our next video, where we take a leisurely drive to Bau to visit a night market!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Ah Liong Cafe - https://maps.app.goo.gl/qp9UjrKNFrZBrLqJ7

The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8

KCH Day 2 │ WANG SENG Seafood: Dinner with Jacob

Dinner with Jacob

After the river cruise, we hopped back into the rental car and drove a distance away to Wang Seng Seafood for dinner with Brendan’s old roommate from college. We first met Jacob when Brendan registered as a freshman at Cempaka College, UNIMAS, way back in September 2019.

Midway through Brendan’s second semester, UNIMAS — along with the rest of the nation — went into lockdown. We hadn’t seen Jacob since, not even during Brendan’s convocation last November. So, this reunion was long overdue.

Catching Up Over Dinner

While Brendan and Jacob caught up on everything they had missed, we browsed the menu and eventually settled on:

• Butter Mushroom (Jacob’s recommendation)
• Charcoal Crispy Pork Belly
• Assorted Vegetables in Yam Basket
• Lemongrass Fried Pork
• Midin Belacan
• Deep Fried Squid
• 4 White Rice
• 1 Iced Lemon Tea
• 2 Air Mata Kuching Longan Drink
• 2 Coca Cola

Our first proper dinner in Kuching came to RM167.70 (≈ USD35/EUR33) — a hearty, flavourful spread made even better by good company and old stories.

Jacob was disappointed that we wouldn’t be staying until Gawai, as he had been excited to show us around the most important festival of the year for the Ibans — even more significant than Christmas. We promised to try our best to return next year.

Calling It a Night

We bade Jacob a fond farewell, then drove back to Adelyn’s homestay to settle in for the night.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for our next video, where we try our luck again at finding authentic Bario cuisine for lunch!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Wang Seng Seafood - https://maps.app.goo.gl/tSZ1ydjuuBxTk9xp9

The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8

KCH Day 2 │ SARAWAK River Cruise

River Cruise

We spent the entire afternoon at Adelyn’s homestay. It rained heavily around 2:30pm, which caused us some concern, but by the time we left two hours later, the weather had cleared beautifully.

We drove to Jalan Main Bazaar and parked the rental car in front of the Indian Mosque. From there, we took a brisk walk along the Waterfront until we reached the Sarawak River Cruise ticketing counter. We paid RM70.00 (≈ USD15/EUR14) each and boarded the boat at five minutes to five.

Setting Sail on the MV Equatorial

We were excited to “be enthralled by the landmarks of a bygone era that still stand majestically along the riverbanks. See Kuching from a whole new perspective, as few ever see her.”

The MV Equatorial, built in 1990, has been cruising the Sarawak River for more than 30 years, offering locals and tourists a rich panoramic view of Kuching and its iconic landmarks.

We headed straight to the upper deck and found a suitable table to enjoy the ride. The fare included a small selection of Kueh Lapis and a glass of orange cordial. I set up the time lapse on the DJI Action 4, and at precisely 5:30pm, the boat pushed off from the dock.

Sunset on the Sarawak River

The cruise would take an hour and a half, so please enjoy the time lapse footage of the entire journey. As the sun set over the Sarawak River, the cruise came alive with dance performances representing the different ethnicities of the state.

Since I was pre occupied with the time lapse, Brendan took over filming duties and captured the performances using the DJI Pocket 2.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Those who feel the fare isn’t worth it might need to manage their expectations — it’s a relaxing, scenic experience, not a theme park ride. They also take private bookings via their Facebook page.

Heading Out to 10th Mile

We disembarked and made our way back to the Indian Mosque, then hopped into the rental car for the half hour drive to the 10th Mile Bazaar along Penrissen Road.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for our next video — we’re having dinner with Jacob, Brendan’s former roommate!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8

Jalan Main Bazaar - https://maps.app.goo.gl/JQgRvHTJQz9XUNWE9

Sarawak River Cruise Jetty - https://maps.app.goo.gl/kM6pA4SrXt3Copck6

KCH Day 2 │ AH LIONG Cafe

Local Cuisine

After our photo shoot at The Attic Studio, we hopped back into the rental car and made another short drive to Ah Liong Cafe.

Remember Cat’s favourite beadstress, Carolyn? Her sister runs a food stall here called Mummy’s & Mama’s Home Cooking. We were eager to try authentic Bario cuisine, but unfortunately the stall was closed.

No matter — Ah Liong Cafe had plenty of other options. We browsed the various stalls before settling on:

• Char Kueh Teow for Brendan — RM10.00
• Kampua Mee for Cat — RM5.00
• Beef Noodles for me — RM12.00
• Kolok Mee for me (yes, another bowl) — RM5.00
• Three Layer Iced Tea — RM3.00 each
• Coca Cola — RM2.60 each

Our first lunch in a local Kuching food court came to RM40.20 (≈ USD/EUR8).

A Quick Fuel Hunt

On the way back to Adelyn’s homestay, we noticed the rental car was running low on fuel. After a bit of a runaround, we finally located a Shell petrol station and filled her up.

With that sorted, we headed back to the homestay to rest and prepare for the evening.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for our next video — we’re finally going on a river cruise!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Ah Liong Cafe - https://maps.app.goo.gl/qp9UjrKNFrZBrLqJ7

The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8

KCH Day 2 │ THE ATTIC Studio: Family Portrait

A Slow Kuching Morning

With nothing planned in the morning, we slept in and woke at 8:00am. Feeling too lazy to get ready and head out for breakfast, we turned to the GrabFood app instead. After browsing through the options, we settled on the western breakfast sets from Lao Jie Fang, which came with:

• Eggs Sunny Side Up
• Toast
• Hash Browns
• Baked Beans
• Chicken Ham

Three sets of this, including delivery charges, came to RM32.40 (≈ USD7/EUR6).

Off to The Attic Studio

We got ready, hopped into the rental car, and left Adelyn’s homestay at 10:30am for our appointment at The Attic Studio. Ariffin was waiting to take our long overdue family portrait with Brendan in a UNIMAS graduation robe.

Brendan looked resplendent in his robes, and we dressed in bright, cheerful colours to recreate the joyous mood from last November. Once the photos are ready, we’ll share them in a future video.

A Small Errand Run

After the shoot, we walked over to a sundry store, CJK Chai Jee Kiong Trading, hoping to pick up napkins and a bar of soap — only to discover it catered to wholesalers and sold items in bulk.

Thankfully, Cat spotted another sundry shop across the road, KSC, which fulfilled our small errand perfectly.

We then drove back to Adelyn’s homestay for a quick change of clothes before heading out again for lunch.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for our next video, where we hope to have lunch at an authentic local Bornean food stall

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8

The Attic Studio - https://maps.app.goo.gl/GDEYXD4vZ2DMb3VBA

CJK Chai Jee Kiong Trading - https://maps.app.goo.gl/ftem1d3Aib8ib9jS6

KSC @ Trinity - https://maps.app.goo.gl/YchUMTt21ssdwjV17

KCH Day 1 │ ADELYN's Homestay!

Welcome to Kuching

Exiting the airport, we received word from our good buddy Awang Amirul that our rental car was ready and waiting at a predetermined spot, with the keys safely tucked away in a secret compartment.

As always, we rented a car for the duration of our stay in Kuching for RM90.00 (≈ USD19/EUR18) per day. This usually gets us a Perodua Bezza, but just like our last trip, that model wasn’t available. And just like last time, Awang Amirul presented us with the same silver but slightly yellowish Toyota Vios.

We walked over, retrieved the keys, mounted the DJI Action 4, and began our drive to Adelyn’s homestay in Kenyalang Park.

First Meal Back in Kuching

After dropping off our bags, we immediately headed out to the local food court. We chose the path of least resistance — the stall with the shortest wait time — which turned out to be San To Wang Seafood.

We ordered Chicken Rice for RM7.00 (≈ USD1.50/EUR1.40) each, and together with drinks, our first meal in Kuching came to RM28.40 (≈ USD/EUR6).

Stocking Up for the Stay

After dinner, we made the short walk to Everwin Centre, the local supermarket, to pick up some provisions. With our essentials sorted, we headed back to Adelyn’s homestay to unpack and settle in for the night.

What’s Next

Stay tuned for a terribly busy day tomorrow — we have an appointment at a photo studio, followed by a dinner date with Jacob, Brendan’s former roommate at Cempaka College.

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Kuching International Airport - https://maps.app.goo.gl/f332PGTvyN2EvCDJ7

The CountryMan, Terrace House - https://goo.gl/maps/ASdsS7d7Qqo718vs8

San To Wang Seafood - https://maps.app.goo.gl/1U12DXjggNJCo72g6

KCH Day 1 │ KL to Kuching: MH2544

KUCHING Day 1

Barely six months had passed since our last trip to Kuching for Brendan’s graduation ceremony. In the frenzy of that visit, we never managed to take a proper family photo with him in his graduation robes. Thankfully, The Attic Studio in Kuching offered a package that included the UNIMAS robes — and that became the main purpose of today’s trip.

We left our condo at 10:50am and hailed a six seater Grab to the KL Sentral Air Terminal for RM16.00 (≈ USD/EUR3).

At the terminal, we checked in our luggage at the dedicated counter for Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air passengers. Then we walked across to the KLIA Express turnstiles and boarded the train to KLIA Terminal 1.

We had the presence of mind to purchase our tickets online to enjoy the discounted Family Package. Instead of the usual RM300.00 (≈ USD62/EUR59) for three return tickets, we paid RM240.00 (≈ USD50/EUR47).

We arrived at KLIA Terminal 1 around 12:10pm, headed up to Level 5, and made our way to Taco Bell for lunch. Using the self serve terminal, we ordered:

• Chicken Quesadilla for me
• Grilled Stuffed Burrito for Cat
• Crunchwrap Supreme Meal for Brendan

Our Mexican fast food lunch came to RM63.90 (≈ USD14/EUR13).

With three hours to spare before our flight MH2544 at 3:25pm, we passed through security at 1:30pm and headed toward Gate A9. Midway through the long walk, I glanced at a FIDS board and discovered that our flight had been reassigned to Gate B4. Thankfully, we had plenty of time, so we doubled back and ambled toward the new gate.

We arrived, double checked the digital display, and took our seats. Boarding began at 2:25pm, and half an hour later we were allowed to board. Heavy rain rolled in, causing some concern, but it soon eased.

The rain, however, delayed the loading of luggage and cargo, pushing our departure to 4:10pm. After taxiing and waiting for another twenty minutes, MH2544 finally took off at 4:35pm. Apart from a few air pockets that Captain Johan expertly navigated, the flight was smooth, and we landed in Kuching at 6:10pm.

Kudos to Captain Johan and Chief Steward Hamizi for a very pleasant flight.

After clearing Immigration, we walked out of Kuching International Airport.

Welcome to Kuching!

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

KL City Air Terminal - https://maps.app.goo.gl/r5XZiqSvxi6wGTJM9

KLIA Express Station @ KLIA - https://maps.app.goo.gl/3DzFNh4MmxHRZYkE8

Gate B4 Departure @ KLIA - https://maps.app.goo.gl/H9i4ugCUm4Z22ABi8

Kuching International Airport - https://maps.app.goo.gl/f332PGTvyN2EvCDJ7