22-Jun-2025
Wahhh, two weeks without a Kuching diary update... Very lax of me. It's not that there's anything bad going on (or, should I say, nothing except the everyday bad of sexagenarian health, and other people's unpredictable renovation practices).
Everyday panes
It's just that we've been busy-busy-busy with normal, routine, ordinary bits and pieces that -- while enjoyable in themselves -- leave you nothing particular to write about.
It's ironic, I guess. The things we will remember when we eventually leave here are the very things that you can't really write about...
Joining with various permutations of friends for sociable breakfasts, or morning coffee sessions. Visiting a friend's new place for dinner, and walking home afterwards to the almost magical accompaniment of night-scented flowers and the fluting of crickets. Gathering to watch a movie, and then chat about it over chilli chocolate at Paprika Paradise.
These little webs of connection become very precious.
Enjoying a really delicious laksa at Joyful Garden. One of our party brought some additional extra-big prawns...
Then there are the things we just do by ourselves. Trotting off to the mall to buy this or that. Enjoying Kuching's many eateries... Just chilling...
Aeon Mall cat
The Spring often features little local art exhibitions. This is Wyin Then's handiwork
And this one is by Ian Chai
Spanish croquettes from La Boca Ria
Avocbar, and low-carb bread that I don't have to make myself...
Coffee at Flat
First time with these purveyors of Kayan-style fast food. Fascinating to read that the name of the resto is the Kayan equivalent of "having a picnic with great culinary dishes of Long Panai on a pebble beach by a river". Lovely... What a rich language
Super-delicious food... We didn't eat for the rest of the day...
We often complain at the moment that we have no routine. And we really don't... Any attempt at routine is busted by the weather, or by a spontaneous invitation, or by some bobo or other, or by someone's gratuitous decision to do just that bit more drilling or hammering.
But I guess a lack of routine has its good sides. Its serendipitous sides. Oh, we happen to be here, so we'll do that. Oh, we can't do that, but we'll do this...
There have also been a couple of one-off things over the last couple of weeks. We caught up with a former colleague of mine who was visiting Kuching for the music festival; Nigel attended the launch of Sarawak's Digital Residency Programme at Think & Tink (I didn't go, but still scored a goody box with Indah tarts...); I did Dalloway Day, which was really great. And, of course, there was today's utterly awesome trip to Serikin.
So there we are. Two weeks in Kuching. A little window on our world.