Scoot to Kuching, East Malaysia from Singapore on board award winning Asia Pacific’s Best Low Cost Airline. The inaugural Scoot flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Kuching International Airport (SIN-KCH) last October marks Scoot's Airlines first-ever destination in East Malaysia. Scoot's Singapore flights to Malaysia includes Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Ipoh and Kuantan.
Vinod Kannan, Chief Commercial Officer, Scoot on the inaugural Kuching flight with the passengers were welcomed by a traditional dance organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board. Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and acting CEO, Mary Wan, acting CEO Sarawak Tourism shared that with the new Scoot Singapore flight to Kuching further affirmed East Malaysia as a ultimate holiday destination for authentic Sarawak cuisine, heritage, culture, nature and adventure tourism.
Setting sights on Sarawak
Kuching, the capital of Sarawak located on the mythical island of Borneo, East Malaysia is reminiscent of a secluded paradise, just 85 minutes flight from Singapore.
Scoot Airlines Singapore Kuching Flight review
Scoot Airlines uses Airbus A320 for its short haul flights, 3 by 3 arrangement in the 180 economy seats in the single aisle aircraft. We were booked on Scoot stretch seats with at least 34inches seat pitch, located at front Row 1 bulkhead seats. Scoot super seats with extra legroom seat pitch of minimum 34 inches are located at row 1 to 4, 12 and 13.
Warmly welcomed by the cheerful Scootitude Scoot cabin crew, the flight journey from Singapore to Kuching and back was a smooth flight with no air turbulence.
Seated comfortably with ample legroom at row 1, we enjoyed our pre-ordered Scoot's Premium Selections in-flight deluxe meal with two deluxe sides and a drink.
Scoot’s Premium Selections menu include Singapore Signature Chicken Rice, Signature Nasi Goreng with Chicken (Halal), Braised Beef Cheek with Penne, Sweet & Sour Fish with Steamed Rice and Teriyaki Chicken, depending on flight routes, available for purchase up to 72hrs before flight.
On Scoot TZ430 Singapore to Kuching flight, we tried Scoot deluxe hot meal - signature Singapore chicken rice, served with salad,
Haagen-Dazs Belgian chocolate ice cream and water. The tender chicken meat goes well with the chicken stock flavoured rice and special chilli sauce.
From Kuching to Singapore flight TZ431, the Nasi lemak hot meal set with chicken chunks, fish tofu, long beans and coconut rice was average and a bit too spicy.
Scoot inflight menu offers hot meals selection from popular Singapore local food like Signature Nasi Lemak, Beef and Mushroom Lasagne, Braised Chicken with Rice, Chicken Corn Curry, Makhani Chicken with Basmati Rice, Roasted Chicken Thigh with Honey Garlic Sauce, Stew Chicken with Rice, Teriyaki Chicken with rice, Tom Yam Fried Rice to vegetarian menu of Pomodoro Fusilli, Spiced Lentils with Basmati Rice and Spicy Oriental Vegetables with Steamed Rice. Light meals choices include Halal food choices like Chicken Ham & Cheese Croissants, Teriyaki Chicken Wrap with Shimeiji Mushrooms, Greek Salad Wrap and kids meal of Cheese hotdog, Snyder’s cheddar cheese pretzels with Ribena cheer pack.
Order Scoot hot meals set with Coca-Cola or Heaven and Earth Jasmine Green Tea + Ritter Sport Milk Chocolate with Cornflakes online and enjoy $4 OFF or $3 OFF Scoot light meal set with Coca-Cola
or Heaven and Earth Jasmine Green Tea + Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate.
Walks in the Wild - Kuching Sarawak Malaysia
Soak in Sarawak's richly diverse tourists attractions like Bako National Park, Gunung Gading National Park, World’s first Cat Museum as well as the first Malaysia UNESCO World Heritage site, Gunung Mulu National Park, Miri, Sarawak are on tourists must do checklist.
Sarawak - the world's third largest island, is blessed with the world's oldest rainforests and a wealth of rare flora and fauna.
The perfect countryside to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, explore Sarawak vast mountains caves, spot endangered species and wildlife, extensive coast lines, pristine sandy beaches, exotic cultural festivals and ethnic groups, authentic Sarawak cuisine, a mix of old world charms, heritage and cultural amidst modernization.
Kuching National Parks, wildlife spotting, bird watching and eco-tourism
Bako National Park, Kuching, Sarawak - Board the 25 minutes boat ride from Kampung Bako village and enjoy the river boat ride to Baku National Park, the entrance fee to the park is 20 ringgit. Visit Bako National Park visitor centre for walking trails information and updates.
Picturesque and private, Bako National Park is bordered by limestone and sandstone cliffs with remarkable rock formations like the famous Sea Stack along the beautiful coastline.
Borneo's endangered species - proboscis monkey, long-tailed macaque monkeys, silver leaf monkeys, Bornean bearded pig or wild boars, squirrels, monitor lizards, green snakes, rare flora and fauna of Sarawak live in the oldest nature reserve in East Malaysia.
The mostly arboreal rare proboscis monkeys have reddish-brown fur, grey limbs and a white tail and can be spotted in the forest or mangroves, feeding on young leaves, shoots, sour fruits and seeds. The male proboscis monkeys can be distinguished by its huge pendulous nose and a large pot-belly.
Bako National Park walking trail consists of 16 extensive colour-coded jungle routes walking and hiking options from relaxing forest walk to full-day jungle hikes or overnight camping expeditions.
Walking trails like Telok Paku, Telok Delima and Telok Assam mangroves are popular for rare and unusual proboscis monkeys spotting. Follow the trails quietly, keep listening and look around to spot the wildlife. Telok Pandan Kecil will lead to one of Bako’s best beach by the coast.
Sarawak Rhinoceros Hornbill, Bornean Banded Kingfisher, Bornean Wren Babbler, and Blue-banded Pitta are some of the divese bird species spotted at Kubah National Park, minutes away from Santubong National Park which is renown for its sandstone terrain and tall rainforest.
Kuching Wetlands National Park is a a popular place for spotting wildlife like proboscis monkeys, long tailed macaque monkeys, silver-leaf monkeys, monitor lizards, estuarine crocodiles and birds watching for white-vast bellied sea eagles, adjutant stork, kingfishers and shore birds.
On our way back to mainland, we met fishermen boats going home with the day's freshly caught seafood of lobsters, crabs, sea urchins, fishes and shell fish. One fisherman showed us his prized catch happily.
Fresh lobsters, sea urchins and crabs for dinner ? Yes, you could buy from some of the local owner fishermen at extremely low prices like 5 ringgit for a sea urchin, from 20 ringgit for 1 kg of crabs or lobsters before they supply to hotels, seafood restaurants and food centres like Topspot food court. This is great if you have access to kitchen during your vacation, yearn for home cook food or love cooking.
Semenggoh Wildlife Nature Reserve Rehabilitation Centre, Kuching Sarawak East Malaysia
The Borneo Orangutan is an endangered primates of apes and semi wild Orangutans live in Semenggoh Wildlife Reserve Centre where orphaned and injured orangutans are nursed before returning to the wild.
In the natural habitat, the orangutans may visit the park rangers for bananas, fruits and milk during feeding times in the day between
9am to 10am and 3pm to 3.30 pm, offering visitors an opportunity to see them at a closer range.
Gather around the viewing area across the feeding platform and you may spot squirrels and orang-utans swinging from the forest canopy to the lower branches of trees and guided ropes once they hear the flute whistling by park wardens that its snack time.
Prince Charles of Wales visited Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and got up close and personal with the Borneo orang-utans as part of his tour in Southeast Asia and India.
Support orangutan conservation with
adopt orangutan program where 100% of the funds will be used for Orangutan conservation projects, educational activities to support orangutan conservation and food medication for orangutans in rehabilitation centres.
Besides orangutans, squirrels, birds and other wildlife, there is an enclosed area where crocodiles can be seen sun bathing in the natural habitat.
If you like adventure sport, try the guided kayaking or water rafting down the Sungai Sarawak Kiri river (Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, Kuching) and explore hidden waterfalls, limestone formations and unspoilt nature or continue for lunch at the Bidayuh tribe.
Kuching City Tour, Sarawak Malaysia.
Kuching, known affectionately as the City of Cats is unpretentious with quaint charms. Make a pitstop at Kuching city centre roundabout on Jalun Padungan for a souvenir shot.
If you are a feline fan, do visit Kuching Cat Museum in City Hall building, Petra Jaya, the first Cat Museum in the world for cat lovers housing cat photographs, paintings, art and craft and of course cat souvenirs.
Kuching is a compact city and easy to explore. Visit Chinatown or take stroll on the esplanade riverside on the south bank of Sarawak River, in the heart of the city.
Ride on the local Penambang boat on Kuching Waterfront scenic, jetty hoping to explore the rich heritage and cultural attractions like the Astana, Fort Marguerite, Sultan Iskandar Planetarium, Jalan Taman Budaya Civic Centre tower, Chinese History Museum, Sarawak Steamship Building, Square Tower and the Malay kampungs across the river.
Kuching Food recommendations
Sarawak is renown for springy Kolo mee, delicious Sarawak laksa and Sarawak fried rice. Carpenter street is lined with many local coffeeshops and food centre that served Sarawak kolo mee, Sarawak laksa, pork satay, fried kway teow, prawn mee and wonton noodles that are popular with both locals and tourists.
We visited the coffee shop in front of Lau Ya Keng Temple to satisfy our local food cravings. Walk around the vicinity and look out for crowded coffeeshops with queues at individual stalls for affordable tasty local food.
For true blue Sarawak cuisine, try Lepau restaurant with local live music performances, run by ethnic tribal orang ulu in a beautiful Sarawak house decorated with intricate wood carvings and native ornaments.
Sarawak orang ulu cuisine dishes we
tried includes Ayam pansuh - tender chicken cooked in a bamboo with tapioca leaves, midin jungle fern, a vegetable that locals eat daily, Umai sliced raw fish with onions, chillies and lime juice, fried fish, nourishing chicken soup and calamari served with Nasi Bungkus (banana leaves wrapped rice).
Homemade coconut ice cream drizzled with home brewed rice wine completes the meal as we unwind in the evening to the local music performances.
Always dine where the locals go. For affordable fresh seafood dinners, visit Top Spot, the most popular Kuching food centre located at Kuching waterfront, Level 5, Taman Kereta, Jalan Padungan, 93100 with open air dining area patio serving halal and non halal seafood.
Rows and rows of freshly caught fishes, crabs and lobsters to freshly plucked local vegetables beckons from the bright neon lit stalls in the huge hawker centre with tightly packed seating areas. Take your pick from the selection or ask the chefs to chose for delicious local seafood.
Salted egg yolk egg crab, cereal prawns, local sharks fin soup, steamed river fish, crispy oyster pancake, squids, bamboo clams, Midin vegetables were some of our selection from Bukit Matta seafood restaurant stall at Topspot food center.
Sarawak souvenirs shopping include Sarawak kolo mee, laska paste, pepper, crab crackers, dried fish fillet, cuttlefish, city café 3-in1 Sarawak coffee, rice crackers, layer cake to name a few.
Rainforest World Music Festival, Kuching Sarawak
Sarawak's Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique music festival that brings together renowned world musicians and ingenious artists from all continents to the extraodinaire island of Borneo, against the magnificient backdrop of the legendary Mt. Santubong.
Jamming sessions, mini concerts, interactive and educational workshops, ethno-musical lectures, Sarawak souvenirs and CDs by the performing artists, local food fair, arts and crafts market and amazing evening performances on the main stage is the winning formula where Sarawak celebrates its 21st anniversary Rainforest World Music Festival this year from 13 to 15 July 2018 at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching. Visit RWMF.net for more information.
Borneo Jazz in Miri, Sarawak is an annual two-day international festival on 11- 12 May, 2018
with eclectic bands and jazz repertoire.
Stay at Kuching luxurious 5-star properties or Hilton Kuching, a hotel located at Kuching waterfront, popular with both business and leisure travellers to clean budget accommodations like Abell hotel, located in the heart of the city centre or home stay with the locals.
Scoot airline currently fly to a total of 64 destinations in 17 countries including newly launched Scoot flight destinations Honolulu in the United States of America, Harbin Northeast China, Kuantan Malaysia, Palembang Indonesia and soon, Pekanbaru Indonesia on May 30 and Scoot to Berlin on 20 June 2018 on Scoot 16 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 24 young and modern Airbus A320 family aircraft, with four more Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 39 Airbus A320neo aircraft on order.
Book flight tickets at FlyScoot.com or contact Scoot Call Centre. For Scoot updates, visit FlyScoot.com, Facebook.com/FlyScoot, Instagram.com/FlyScoot, and Twitter.com/flyscoot.
*Thank you Scoot Airlines and Sarawak Tourism Board for the warm hospitality.
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