It was Chinese New Year and it was very lively, obviously. As well as the usual town visit - the cats (the town's symbol), the orchid garden, the river front - I also experienced the dragons, fireworks and drums of the new year. Noisy, but different, and spent with a family that wanted to share their traditions with me. Really great!
If you don't have the same luck as me, you can walk along the Sarawak river to go and see the strange pink mosque, and on the other side of the river you can't fail to see the blot on the landscape that is the Sarawak State Assembly building.
Kuching is also the departure point for visiting Bako National Park and the orang-utan rehabilitation centre in Semonggok, south of the town. Altogether, it's worth staying for a bit.
During my trip to Malaysia, I spent several days in Kuching. You can easily explore the town by foot. Crossed by the Sarawak River, you can reach the opposite banks by hopping on little fishing boats.
Kuching, as with all Malaysian towns, has a varied cuisine and local specialities such as the multi-coloured lapis cake and kolo mee (pork noodles), which you can buy in the town's food courts.
The town's also a great departure point for trips to nearby parks and reserves, including the Semenggoh Sarawak Natural Reserve, the Bako National Park and various longhouses.