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WANDER
20 | FireFlyz
Fireflyz
wanders the city of Kuching, Sarawak and is
fascinated by the history, culture and beauty of this
state capital.
Cat City
Sarawak Orchid Garden
Sarawak’s very own State Flower, the
Normah Orchid (Phalaenopsis Bellina)
is amongst the wide collection of Borneo
Orchids found in this garden. This 15.4
acre property is strategically located
opposite the Kuching Waterfront in the
vicinity of the historical Astana and
Fort Margherita. The
Dewan Undangan
Negeri
(State Legislative Assembly
building) is nearby.
The Orchid Garden is divided into
two major areas, made up of the nursery
and the display area, which house a total
collection of 75,000 plants comprising
of 82 genera. Other than the Normah,
some other famous Borneo orchids
found in the garden are the Lady’s
Slipper (Paphiopedilum Sanderianum),
Coelogyne Pandurata – the green and
black flowered orchid, Bulbophyllum
Beccarii – the flower with stinking
smell and the Vandal Dearei – a fragrant
flowered orchid.
Sarawak State Museum
The Sarawak Museum was built in 1891
and was extended to its present form
in 1911. The whole idea behind the
building was to permanently house and
display local indigenous arts and crafts
and collections of local animals. Alfred
Russel Wallace, a prominent British
naturalist, was the one who pushed
for the construction of the building, as
he was then collecting specimens in
the state.
The museum was run by military of-
ficers during the two world wars. In the
Great War, British officers were assigned
to it. During the Japanese Occupation
of World War II, the museum was
directed by a Japanese officer, who was
sympathetic to its goals. He protected
it and the museum suffered very little
damage or looting.
The Sarawak State Museum
permanently houses and display
local indigenous arts and crafts and
collections of local animals
The Orchid Garden is divided into
two major areas, made up of the
nursery and the display area