BOULEVARD
WATERFRONT
SPRING
Kuching is an excellent place to buy Borneo arts, crafts and curios. Particular items to look out for are Iban Pua Kumbu(hand-woven rugs), wooden hornbill carvings used in rituals, and silver jewellery, Bidayuh basket weaving, Orang Ulu beadwork and woodcarving, and Penan blowpipes and mats. Most of the antique and curio shops are scattered along Main Bazaar, with a few in the Padungan area. Whilst a few are laid out like elegant galleries, most are crammed full with every possible variety of Sarawakian bric-a-brac, and items from Brunei, Kalimantan and Sabah. Fabriko, set in a lovingly restored Chinese shophouse on Main Bazaar, has interesting souvenirs, exclusive textiles and fashion items downstairs whilst the upper two floors house a gallery and showroom. Other well-established outlets on Main Bazaar include Native Arts. Nelson's Gallery, Rainforest, Sarawak House and Arts of Asia, all offering quality antiques and handicrafts at reasonable prices. The Telang Usan hotel has a small outlet specialising in Orang Ulu and Penan crafts, including some excellent modern beadwork and traditional headgear.
Prices of handicrafts are not always fixed so you may have to bargain. If you have the time it's best to shop around and get a rough idea before buying. Certain antiques require an export permit from Sarawak Museum. The more established shops can assist with this and with shipping arrangements(if required). Most art and craft shops close on Sundays.
For more general shopping, the main malls are Riverside Shopping Centre(next to the Crown Plaza), with includes a Parkson department store, Sarawak Plaza(next to the Holiday Inn) and Tun Jugah(opposite Sarawak Plaza) which has a good range of outlets selling men's and women's fashions. Other good places to go bargain hunting are Electra House(next to the Covered Market), Wisma Hopoh(Jln P.Ramlee) and Wisma Satok(Jln Satok), Wisma Seberkas and new shopping centre Spring and Boulevard.
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