Today, we made our way to Semantang beach. Unlike Damai, this is a patch for locals.
Our Kuching native knows the man who owns the beach place we checked into earlier. He is a local 'boy' made good, and has been made a Kapitan (leader) of the area.
In person, he looks like your typical Chinese towkay (businessman), in simple shirt and trousers, with a gold Rolex on his left wrist. I forget, but he might have a gold chain round his neck too.
We met him during dinner that night and he was warm and unassuming, putting us at ease with a few friendly words.
The next day, we headed back to Kuching, with a short excursion to the Wind Cave. Ugh! It was dark and slippery with bat guano. Some of the guys and gals enjoyed the attraction. For me, the most interesting thing was not the clusters of batlets (no majestic one sighted) but the few damp stalacites protruding in grotesque spendour from the ceiling of the cave.
Back in Kuching, we checked out the river transport and was promptly caught in a sudden downpour. We ditched our plans to visit Fort Magharita opposite the Kuching waterfront and enjoyed the short river ride across and back in the rain instead.
Click thumbnails for a bigger look!
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