Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre (Kuchin, Malaysia)

Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg,
Kuching 93000, Malaysia 

Tel: (+6) 082 618423
http://www.sarawakforestry.com/htm/snp-nr-semenggoh.html

This is a natural reserve, so do not expect seeing the orang-utans as if they were in the middle of the jungle. However, the animals live freely in a large land reserve, and move and act freely within it; in fact, they behave wildly and attack visitors if they feel like it (so very natural!), so mind that this is not a zoo or you are watching tamed animals. Still, if you are lucky enough to see them, they are very cute, entertaining and wonderful to observe. There is is no guarantee that you will see any orang-utans if you go there, but the lack of promise makes the trip much more exciting and seeing even one of them a special treat, especially during the monsoon season, when the forest is full of food and they don't visit the feeding area, which is also the viewing area. Unless you venture into the real jungle in a well-prepared jungle trek you are never going to see orang-utans in the wild, so this sort of rehabilitation centres are the best way to see the animals in an environment that is real and natural, although assisted, protected and curated.

On arrival, you are given some guidelines on how to behave regarding movement of your body, things you carry, tone of voice and level of noise, all safety procedures to avoid attacks and let the animals approach the viewing and photographing area at easy. Still so many tourists ignored that and talked loudly, and disregarded all the guidelines!


The best times for visiting are the feeding hours, i. e, at 9am and 3pm. The entrance fees are 3 Malaysian Ringit for adults and 1.50 for children. The place is easy to reach by local transport or by car, or, if feeling lazy, you can take a cheap organised tour that will take you there and back to your hotel. 
 
I found shocking that there is a smoking area in the reserve, amist the jungle!

Visited January 2012

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Hotel Pullman Kuchin (Kuchin, Malaysia)

Address: 1A Jalan Mathies, Sarawak
93100 Kuching, Malaysia
Tel. (+60)82/222888
Fax. (+60)82/222999
Email: H6332@accor.com
Website: http://www.pullmankuching.com/

GOOD THINGS
+ Centrally located to visit all the sights. Close to the riverside, nice restaurants and the heart of the city.

+ Great room. Huge in size, very welcoming and well layered out. Very comfortable and homey. The bathroom was divine.

+ The hotel is above a recently-opened shopping mall (Star Hill), where different affordable Asian restaurants and coffee shops can be found.

+ Good set of toilet amenities.

+ Checking out at 12pm is also great

+ Free newspaper every morning

+ One hour free Internet in the room. It is fast, and enough for checking emails and uploading a few files. No speed or giga upload limit.

+ The Malaysian staff were especially friendly and welcoming, especially Sanusi. The cleaners and housekeepers were delightful as well as the girls at the coffee shop and the special events desk

BAD THINGS

+ Crowded insufficient plugs in the room!

+ No free Internet in the rooms. So the last century. Three star hotels are doing so already!. Moreover, they have stupid Internet policies, and blocking sites like Multiply that is less dangerous than Facebook. Reason given: it is a sharing place. Senseless! As a result I had to stop posting in my blog and sharing my photos. Thanks Accor...

+ Lobby looks and feels like an airport corridor: too big, you might need a skate to move around the lobby, too shiny, too pretentious, too impersonal and unwelcoming. They should refurbish it and divide the space differently, so it feels more welcoming to the customer.

+ A bit chaotic reception desk with some misinformed and unwelcoming staff.

+ Unwelcoming guy at the Tour office. Some people should practice smiling every day and say thank you to customers, too! It seemed that he was annoyed because I was trying to book some tours. Ridiculous!

+ The coffee at the lobby cafeteria is not good and overpriced.

+ Mostly a business hotel.
Room Tip: If you are visiting during New Year or Chinese New Year, ask for a room that does not face the pool...
See more room tips

    Stayed January 2012

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Absolute Tribal Restaurant (Kuching, Malaysia)

No. 24, Upper Ground Floor, Hills Shopping Mall,
No. 8 Jalan Bukit Mata, 93000, Kuching, Malaysia

GOOD THINGS
+ The atmosphere is contemporary, pleasant colours and different spaces to chose from.
+ The staff are extremely friendly.
+ They have buffet lunch some days of the week and if you order take away for lunch they will serve your very fast.
+ Nice natural juices prepared on the spot.
+ They have decent food, both Thai and Malay. For my evening dinner I ordered a Midin Kerabu which was delicious, and, as a main, a Fried Prawn with Assam Sauce that was very tasty. However, the prawns being in their shell, the plate turned to be mostly shells and not much to eat, despite the 36 MYR I paid for it. The waitress recommended this way, but I thought, at the end, that this only benefits the restaurant, which uses less prawns for the same dish. Otherwise, please be more generous!

BAD THINGS
+ The service is SLOW in the evenings. The drinks came 10 minutes after ordering, the entrée and main course were severed at the same time at about 30 minutes after ordering. People who came after me got their food before I did. I find that unacceptable for such a pricey restaurant.
+ Totally overpriced.
+ Poor selection of sweets.
+ Small serves

    Visited January 2012

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