Kuching (all images)

Kuching, the capital of Sarawak, is a pleasant town with many green areas and interesting colonial era buildings. Kuching was originally part of the Brunei sultanate but was ceded in 1841 to James Brooke as a reward for help in putting down the Bidayuh rebellion. James Brooke made Kuching his capital and headquarters and subsequently expanded his territory, annexing the rest of Sarawak. Kuching can serve as a base to explore the region and nearby national parks. The Sarawak river separates the south and north of Kuching. Kuching means 'cat' in Malay language, which is why there are a couple of cat monuments there. The city is considered one of the cleanest cities in Malaysia.