Friendship Park, Taman Sahabat in Kuching

Monday, January 16th, 2012

Sarawak is not only famous for their Sarawak Food and great destination in the day time, but they are also filled with fun places to chill at night. I was taken to one of this park that many people like to keep fit regularly visit. This park is known as the Friendship Park or Taman Sahabat in Malay. A huge Zheng He Statue is viewable at this Friendship Park and it is created for the commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations.

Zheng He was an admiral & explorer of Ming Dynasty of ancient China who visited my country very long time ago. Zheng he was said to have started the world’s first biggest naval expedition in the 1405, about a century ahead of Christopher Columbus. Zheng He escorted a contingent of 500 court maidens together with a princess called Hang Li Po to marry the Sultal Mansur Syah of Malacca. They eventually settled in Bukit Cina in Malacca. The male and female descendants of these people from mixed marriages with the local natives are known today as the Baba and Nyonya respectively.

Zheng He at Friendship Park Kuching

Zheng He Statue at Friendship Park Kuching

Friendship Park Kuching Sarawak

One panel for 1 state in Malaysia at the Friendship Park

At the Friendship Park, you can jog around the tracks that are made available or you can just sit and enjoy the strong breeze. There is a huge pond with fishes and at the far end, a Floating Restaurant is viewable that seems no longer in service. You’ll surely get a better view during the daytime as you can obviously see that I was kinda having problems taking some good shots with my iPhone.

You would also see panels that represent each state in Malaysia and they are represented with their tagline.

Malacca – The Historic State
Selangor – Heartland of Peninsular
Negeri Sembilan – Land of Quite Grace
Perak – Land of Grace
Pulau Penang – Pearl of the Orient
Kedah – Rice Bowl of Malaysia
Perlis – The Enchanting Northern Jewel
Kelantan – Land of Lightning
Terengganu – Land of Lilting Gamelan
Pahang – Land of Prosperity
Johor – Southern Gem
Sabah – Land Below the Wind
Sarawak – Land of Hornbill
Wilayah Persekutuan (Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya & Labuan) – Capital Territories of Malaysia