If in Kuching for the first time and you have no idea what to do or where to go, you would not go far wrong then to take a stroll along the Kuching waterfront, or rather the riverfront.

The river taxi plying between the opposite banks of the Kuching waterfront. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

The viewing area on the Darul Hana bridge, crossing the waterway (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

Cruising up and down the waterways. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

The Astana, a significant landmark of Kuching. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

Hanging out by the banks of the Kuching waterfront. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

Scene up the waterway. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

The old and the new, side by side – Fort Margherita on the right and the new spanking State Assembly on the left. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

By the banks of the Kuching waterfront, where strollers to the waterfront would sit, rest and while away the evening. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

A smaller river cruise boat, plying the waterways. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

Strolling up and down the waterfront, you would come across significant landmarks, old and new : Fort Margherita (1879), The Astana (1870), the New Sarawak State Assembly (2009), the Darul Hana Bridge (2017) being some of them.

You will also be greeted with scenes of the river taxi or ‘bot penambang’ travelling to and fro across the river, ferrying passengers from one bank to the other, or even river cruises, both large and small, cruising up and down river.

To help soak in the atmosphere are a host of dialects that can be heard being spoken. Truly an atmosphere unique to Sarawak.

As day turns into night, the waterfront offers a different scenery to that during the day.

Night view of the waterfront. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

The ‘Bot Penambang’ or the river taxi ferrying passengers across the waterway at night. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

A new landmark along the Kuching Waterfront, nearing completion. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

A Chinese-styled gazebo. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

As dusk approaches at the Kuching waterfront. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

An Artist plying his craft by the Kuching waterfront. (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights) reserved

Dusk at the Kuching waterfront (photo credit : Shah Said ; @ all rights reserved)

Truly memorable.