As we start to pace the streets of Kuching again, we inevitably notice signs of change. Life has, of course, been upended by covid, and the measures in place to keep it in check. But other things are changing too.

It was most disheartening to find that one of our favourite walking areas, Reservoir Park, is being radically messed with:



I wish I thought all this activity would ultimately bring improvement. But the Sarawak Heritage Society, of which we are members, would like further assurances that the serenity of the park will be preserved, and its significant heritage protected.

There has been progress, on the other hand, on the renovation of the area next to the museum:



I'm not sure why, but bits of the old aquarium are now visible again:



And, as always, there's plenty of ad hoc, weathered beauty to be captured:


I'm not sure if this is new, but we'd certainly never spotted it before:


The building next door to us continues to put on layers:


Conversely, what was already crumbling has crumbled still further:




But many things have stayed as we've always loved them.

The greenery is still as luxuriant and all-invasive as ever:



The Taman Botani is still absolutely gorgeous:







There's always something interesting to photograph:




There's always new food to learn to cook:


And we are so never going to run out of places to eat... We're slowly making our way round our old stalwarts. And last Friday we had dinner with friends at the Verinice Cafe. I took no photos, as we were with company, and I thought it might be rude to be hanging over the food with a camera, but every dish was a winner: Two-way tofu (one charcoal, one faintly boozy); longevity noodles (really silky in the mouth); clam soup (again with a touch of the rice wine); chicken baked with yam; and vegetables with belacan. Yum. They deliver, too, so we'll definitely be patronizing this place again.