For a morning around India Street, I would choose breakfast before wandering the old town. Oriental Park Kolo Mee sits in the lane between Lorong Market and Lorong Gertak, near the former Cathay Cinema. It is the sort of stop that makes more sense on foot than as a place to spot while driving past the main road. The order I would start with is plain white kolo mee. Here the noodles and char siew do the work: curly egg noodles are drained and tossed with pork lard, then topped with minced pork and slices of barbecue pork. Keeping the first bowl simple leaves the pork and noodle texture in focus, instead of hiding everything under a sweet sauce. [image: 1791613182472-oriental-parent-optimized-0.jpg] Google Map / Oriental Park · Choy Siew Fang The char siew is not just a token topping bought to finish a bowl. Oriental Park makes its own, and its barbecue preparation is one of the details that separates this breakfast from an interchangeable noodle stop. I would take a bite of the pork on its own before mixing the rest of the bowl, then decide whether a red-sauce order would suit me next time. The place also has a history tied to the cinema neighbourhood. When cinema trade faded, the family behind the stall moved from selling sweets into kolo mee instead of leaving the site. That change explains why a small coffee-shop breakfast still belongs in this tucked-away corner of Kuching: the business adapted to a different sort of morning customer rather than being built as a tourist attraction. [image: 1791613182742-oriental-parent-optimized-1.jpg] Google Map / Oriental Park There are white, red and dark-sauce versions. I would choose white for a first bowl, red for someone who wants the sweeter char-siew-sauce direction, and ask about dark sauce if that is the style they usually enjoy. This is a pork-based breakfast, not a vegetarian or halal recommendation; the meat and lard are part of the dish rather than optional garnish. Leave some flexibility for the queue and for the stall selling out. On a weekend or public holiday, I would come early rather than build a late brunch around an exact closing time. Find parking outside the lane, walk in, and continue towards India Street after eating; trying to turn the narrow approach into a convenient drive-up stop misses the point of this old-town route. Oriental Park / 国泰东方古早味 Ground Floor, Lorong Gertak, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak; in the lane connecting towards Lorong Market, near the former Cathay Cinema. Open Oriental Park in Google Maps One bowl, a drink, then a walk is enough. I would come here for the house-made pork and a straightforward kolo mee breakfast, not for a long menu or a polished cafe setting.

A historic silk cotton tree at Kuching’s Padang Merdeka could receive formal heritage protection under a wider plan for Old Kuching. Sarawak’s tourism minister said he had asked the Sarawak Museum Department to study gazetting the Pokok Kapas, also known as the kapok tree. He described it as part of Kuching’s living heritage and said specific protection would help prevent heritage assets from being removed or damaged. The proposal sits within the Old Kuching Smart Heritage initiative, which is assessing areas including Gambier Street, Main Bazaar and India Street, along with landmarks such as the Old Courthouse and Round Tower. The review is also expected to consider privately owned heritage buildings, with engagement and possible compensation discussed before legislation. The tree has not been gazetted through this announcement. It is a proposal for assessment, while the wider conservation work is still being organised as Kuching continues to develop.

Old Kuching may get heritage zones covering parts of Gambier Road, Main Bazaar and India Street under a proposed Sarawak law. The plan would protect historic buildings, monuments and other heritage sites as the city continues to develop. Landmarks being considered include the Old Court House, Round Tower, Square Tower, India Mosque, St Joseph’s Cathedral and St Thomas’ Cathedral. Privately owned old shophouses are also expected to be reviewed. The state says property owners will be engaged before the legislation is introduced. If buildings are formally gazetted, future rules could include maintenance and beautification requirements. The first stage is to identify buildings and sites, while conservation approaches in Penang and Melaka are being studied. Seeking UNESCO World Heritage recognition is a longer-term ambition. For now, this is a planning announcement, not a new protected-zone map or a confirmed timetable. Shop owners and residents should wait for the proposed list, consultation details and legislation before assuming that a property has been gazetted or that redevelopment rules have changed.

Kuching's old General Post Office may get a new life as a restored heritage building. [image: 1785233057924-old_post_office_20260728-resized.jpg] Photo: The Borneo Post / Roystein Emmor The Sarawak government is in talks with the federal government to acquire the old General Post Office building opposite Plaza Merdeka. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the plan is to renovate the building while keeping its heritage character intact. What was mentioned The building is still under federal ownership, so talks must be completed first. The state wants to preserve the original structure, not rebuild it from scratch. Other heritage areas mentioned include Darul Kurnia along Jalan Haji Taha and Ban Hock Road. Private owners can also revive old buildings, but heritage rules still apply. Abang Johari pointed to Singapore's Fullerton Hotel and Kuala Lumpur's Sultan Abdul Samad Building as examples of old buildings being reused while keeping their historical value. Location: Old General Post Office, opposite Plaza Merdeka, Kuching Hot Score: 26/30 Source: The Borneo Post What do you think Kuching's old Post Office should become?

You know that quiet old building near Jalan P. Ramlee that many people walk past without really looking? This one is worth a slow stop, especially when the weather is too hot for another long walk outside. [image: 1783735525612-islamic_heritage_01-resized.jpg] Source: Wikimedia Commons / Yeo Jiun Tzen (CC BY-SA 4.0) [image: 1783735526096-islamic_heritage_02.jpg] Source: Wikimedia Commons / Yeo Jiun Tzen (CC BY-SA 4.0) [image: 1783735526395-islamic_heritage_03-resized.jpg] Source: Wikimedia Commons / Yeo Jiun Tzen (CC BY-SA 4.0) [image: 1783735526912-islamic_heritage_04-resized.jpg] Source: Wikimedia Commons / Yeo Jiun Tzen (CC BY-SA 4.0) [image: 1783735527489-islamic_heritage_05-resized.jpg] Source: Wikimedia Commons / Yeo Jiun Tzen (CC BY-SA 4.0) Muzium Warisan Islam is not the kind of place where you rush in, take two photos and leave. The nice part is the old-school feeling: raised floor, inner courtyards, quiet galleries, and that slightly hidden Kuching heritage trail vibe. The Sarawak Museum Department says the building started as James Brooke Malay College, later became Madrasah Melayu Sarawak in 1930, and was opened as the Islamic Heritage Museum on 22 May 1992. Inside, the seven galleries cover the coming of Islam to the Malay Archipelago, architecture, science and literature, music and costumes, weaponry, decorative arts and the Al-Quran corner. Sarawak Tourism Board describes it as a place to understand the history and influence of Islam in Sarawak, with religious artefacts, manuscripts and exhibits about local contributions. In plain words: if you like small museums with real local context, this is more interesting than it looks from outside. Tripadvisor feedback is mostly the same mood: visitors who enjoy history and culture say the collections are impressive, while others treat it as a short, simple stop. I think that is fair. Do not expect a huge modern museum like Borneo Cultures Museum. Come for 30 to 60 minutes, slow down, read a bit, and enjoy the building. HolidayGoGoGo also notes that it is around a 12-minute walk from Kuching Waterfront and entry is free. That makes it an easy add-on if you are already around Padang Merdeka, the old museum area, or the city centre. Useful details: Location: off Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuching Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 AM - 4:45 PM; Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM Admission: Free Dress: modest clothing is encouraged by the museum Best for: heritage trail, quiet indoor stop, culture/history lovers Heads up: closed on selected public holidays, so check before going during festive dates Would you include this in a Kuching heritage walk, or would you skip small museums like this?