THERE ARE JUST TWO RECORD SHOPS IN KUCHING, SARAWAK

There are just two record shops in Kuching... and I went to both! Record or CD shops used to be ubiquitous. You used to find them in every shopping centre, arcade or main street. Now they are gone, or maybe hidden in plain sight. I did not look out for these in Kuching, Sarawak, but stumbled on the first one at Carpenter Street.

The sign in Bahasa Malaysia says,
"Beware of black vinyl. It'll empty your wallet,
ruin your life, and poverty awaits."
Damn right.

It's called Bandat Record Store, located on the second storey of a shophouse and entered via a steep staircase. It's mostly pop and rock music, with CDs, vinyl and cassettes. There's still a cool vibe about it, and its air conditioning is an escape from the hot Kuching weather outside. Nope, there is absolutely no classical music here, and Richard Clayderman definitely does not qualify, but I bought a Malaysian keroncong recording.

Everyone seems to worship Bob Marley

Thanks to the helpful young man behind the counter, I was directed to the other record shop, and that one is called Heavy Soul Vintage. It's located in the basement of a deserted Riverside Shopping Complex, sharing the premises with an apparel shop. It's Saturday afternoon, and there's absolutely nobody about! 

The cover says Vladimir Horowitz plays
Beethoven Piano Sonatas, but it's actually
Isaac Stern and Eugene Istomin playing
Beethoven Violin Sonatas. Caveat emptor!

There's mostly pop and rock, but guess what ... a second-hand section of used classical CDs. It's very small but here I found Isaac Stern, Jessye Norman, Herbert von Karajan and surprise, surprise a new mint-condition Denon recording of Mahler's First Symphony directed by Eliahu Inbal. The last three albums were MYR 10 each! Janet said my holiday in Kuching has been fulfilled, quite unexpectedly. While this is not Disc Union, she's quite right!

BANDAT RECORD SHOP

57 Carpenter Street

HEAVY SOUL VINTAGE

Riverside Shopping Complex

Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman

EVENINGS IN KUCHING, SARAWAK

A crepuscular glow envelops Ewe Hai Street

Still on Kuching, Sarawak. We know there is no SSO in Kuching, and its semi-professional symphony orchestra performs only occasionally. Just not this weekend. So, there's lots of time for tourists like ourselves to go makan and then complete our ten thousand steps for the day. Kuching is not just a city, but one teeming with life as we found out during our evening walks. Here are some photos for the album, with fond memories till the next time we come.

And here's more, outside Jak Ma'an

The lights come on at the Marian Lodge

Cat Statue Square & Hornbill mural
near Main Bazaar Road

The Harmony Arch and Siang Ti Temple
at the head of Carpenter Street

The Round House, near the Old Court House
and a familiar mascot of Kuching

Everyone comes out for the evening light and fountain show at the Kuching waterfront. With the backdrop of the State Assembly Building and Darul Hana Bridge, this is one of the highlights of Kuching evenings. Every night at 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm, the lights, illuminations and fountains go on. On Fridays and Saturdays, an additional 10.30 pm show is a certainty. Not quite Beethoven's Ninth, but still impressive enough!

Even after the light show is over,
the Darul Hana Bridge still looks spectacular

The kids come out to play

Spots for a little night music, on China Street
and Jak Ma'an Restaurant, B-Groove performing

You cannot but love Kuching!

CATS OF KUCHING, SARAWAK

The famous cat family statue
in downtown Kuching, Sarawak.

Kuching, Sarawak is probably the only city in the world named after the cat. The cat, naturally, is its official mascot. Somehow, we never saw that many cats, unlike in Georgetown (Penang) or Bangkok. There are very few stray cats to be found. Instead, many are well looked after, and accompany their human companions in their shops or workplaces. Here are a few cats we managed to see in our short trip. 

No, we did not visit the Cat Museum at Kuching's northern town hall. From we have learnt, it's full of kitsch besides being quite a long distance away from downtown Kuching. Downtown felines are what this page is all about!

What, me worry?

This florist shop on Wayang Street
looks after nine former stray cats.

It's feeding time!

Nana is the guardian of
Tai Tung Book Store on Ewe Hai Street.

The young mother cat
at the Marian Boutique Lodging House

The little ginger who joined us for
breakfast at Lau Ya Keng Food Court

He loves being rubbed behind the ears!

I bet you his name is Garfield.

Two more smart-looking felines
at the florist on Wayang Street

My last cat communication of the vacation