Sarawak Self Drive Holiday Itinerary Kuching - Gunung Gading (Rafflesia) - Lundu - Sematan

During our recent trip to Kuching Division of Sarawak, we did an exciting self drive day trip from Kuching city to Gunung Gading National Park to see the Rafflesia flower, visited the little towns of Lundu and Sematan before turning back to Kuching city.

Uncle Tan Gading Liberica Coffee Farm Lundu Sarawak ☎️ 019 874 9089

Visited uncle Tan's Liberica coffee plantation at Gunung Gading near to little Lundu Town in Kuching Division of Sarawak. 

Fried Curry Mee Breakfast @ Ah Choi in Hua Hee Coffeeshop in Lundu Sarawak 阿财干捞面 • 歡喜咖啡店

Today's main event was to look for Rafflesia (largest flower in the world) at Gunung Gading National Park. But, first business of the day was to get a hearty breakfast and good shot of caffeine 😁

In Search of Rafflesia in Gunung Gading • World Largest Flower ☏ +608 273 5144

Wikipedia photo

Since I was an elementary school child I was fascinated by the Rafflesia flower. I read about it in books. Measuring one metre across, the Rafflesia's magic is undeniable - it's the largest flower in the world and naturally thrills any curious child. 

Breakfast & Dinner in Quaint Little Sematan Seaside Town · Forgotten Bauxite Mining in Kuching Division Sarawak 三马丹

We visited Sematan, a small coastal town in the western end of Sarawak during day 5 and 6 of our 6 day Kuching self drive holiday. 

Feng Ling Cafe Famous Seafood Restaurant in Lundu Sarawak 倫樂楓林小館

Feng Ling Cafe 楓林小館 is actually a zhi char type seafood restaurant, and according to locals it is THE eating place in little Lundu town in Lundu District, Kuching Division, Sarawak.

What to Eat in Lundu, Sarawak · Ah Hang Seafood Corner 潮州小炒 @ Tua Pek Kong Temple

Our 6 day self drive Kuching Sarawak holiday took us to historic Lundu, which is about 100km from Kuching city centre.

Hakka Lions of Historic Lundu 🚗 Kuching Sarawak Self Drive Holiday 伦乐客家獅黄楚海师傅

✍️28 Jan 2024. As we leave Kuching for Bau town, we passed Sam San Kuet Bong Temple and heard the rousing drums, gongs and cymbals of a lion dance performance. All three of us in the car thought the same - find a U turn quickly, jump out and catch the lion dance 😂

Was There Ever a Lanfang Republic in West Kalimantan? 蘭芳共和國 • 真有其事吗?

There was once a supposed democratic entity in West Kalimantan referred to as Lanfang Republic which existed for 107 years between 1777 and 1884. It lasted longer than the kingdom of Singapura which existed for 99 years between 1299 and 1398.

Both Lanfang and Singapura were vanquished by foreign hegemons - Singapura by the Majapahit empire in 1398 and Lanfang by The Netherlands in 1884. The story of Singapura is still being told in Singapore but Lanfang has been reduced to an obscure footnote of history.

In 2013, Singapore Minister Chan Chun Sing cited the Lanfang Republic as a cautionary tale to remind Singaporeans not to take the country's long term survival for granted.  So, what was this Lanfang Republic?