Kuching Snapshots: Sarawakian Tribal Dancer

Sarawakian Tribal Dancer, Kuching

Another Kuching snapshot, uploaded in the time I should be rushing to finish my story for the day, so here I go, back to my daily writing!

Kuching Snapshots: Carnivorous Plants

Kuching Carnivorous Plants

I’m wondering if I should use this photo as a writing prompt. But then today is the sort of day when I don’t need any prompting, stuff would flow if I put pen to paper. Colour of the ink I’m using: green.

Kuching Snapshots: On the Sarawak River

Rowing on the Sarawak River

Kuching Snapshots: Archway view

Kuching Snapshot: View from under an Archway

Sarawak Crocodile, Kuching Snapshots

Sarawak River Crocodile, Kuching

If you look at the photo, the stuff hanging on top is my writing for today, and the one making a go for it, is me…

Crocodiles in the Sarawak River

Crocodile at a Fish and Crocodile Farm, Kuching

I had no idea the Sarawak river was home to big crocodiles, up to 15 feet long. Here, a crocodile stalks its food at lunchtime at a crocodile farm.

Writing and Blogging in the New Year

British Architecture in Kuching, Sarawak

Back to work, even though it is a weekend. Kuching was such a laze-fest I have a lot of catching up to do. Let’s hope I get some writing done as well.

Writing from Kuching, Sarawak on New Year’s Day

I tried all of yesterday to remember what I did last New Year, and came up with nothing…nada. Must have been a quiet new year, or I’m growing really old. I remember the year before that, was a quiet one again, in Singapore, watching the flares go up from the ships on the bay.

New year in Kuching began a little ominously, police clad variously in orange camouflage and black diving gear are patrolling the Sarawak river for a 17-yr old boy, the victim of a drowning accident.

I’m trying to keep a smiling, positive face to the view from my window, from where the police boats are clearly visible.

Posting below a video I took of a Sarawakian tribal dance from the Sarawak Cultural Village…I shot it on a normal digital, so apologies for the quality, but I hope it gives you an idea of the dance and costumes:

Writing about an Year-end Holiday in Kuching, Sarawak

2009 has not been an easy year for me. But the way it is ending, peaceful, slow-paced, bodes well for the coming year.

Sarawak River, Kuching, by Day

Kuching is the capital of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, and though the internet is full of information about Kuching’s history, its places to see, and its inhabitants, what none of them tell you is the story of its soul.

Sarawak River, Kuching, by Evening

This city has a quiet soul, its people model the slow-flowing Sarawak River in their lives, and despite malls like Spring which seek to make Kuching a more “happening” place, it sticks to its old ways and hushed charm.

Sarawak Cultural Village Long House

All the cab drivers asked where we were from, what we did, how long we were here, how long we planned to stay, reminding me of my grandmother’s village in hinterland India where your business is everybody’s business.

We went to the Sarawak Cultural Village, and though it left me a little sad about another way of life losing ground, I couldn’t deny I felt grateful to be allowed a glimpse into it.

There were the usual farms and sanctuaries to visit, the museums to see, but the best part of the city, to me, remains its ability to slow down time. Which is a great thing when you’re on holiday.

We took a lot of pictures, and I plan to share one every day throughout the month of January and February. I’ll add a little text depending on what is going on my life then, and knowing me, I’ll probably miss a few days.

But I want the spirit of Kuching, this ability to prolong the moment, to seep into my New Year and fill it with a tranquil silence of the soul.

A very Happy New Year to all my blog friends and anyone who stumbles on this blog.

Signing off on my last post for the year, see you all in 2010!