Year of the Tiger. Grrrr... Pt 2

Thanks to those who offered love, support and advice via Facebook on how to behave at a Chinese New Year open house in Kuching.

We hopped in a teksi from our B&B at 10:30 and following the directions on a napkin from last night were, in a matter of minutes, at the gates of the poshest, hugest, most expensive looking house either of us have ever clapped eyes on in real life (telly doesn't count).
There were guards on the gates and swarms of poshed up people coming and going, wishing each other Happy New Year.

Gripping each other and trying to look utterly normal as we walked up the drive, we saw Chris from the Coffee Bean last night who spotted us immediately. He showed us into a marquee at the side of the house where waiters were dishing out traditional Malaysian food from silver chafing dishes. We sat down to eat our noodles and cream soda magically appeared in front of us.

We were surrounded by hundreds of people. Some of them staring at us - understandably. We seemed to be the only white faces there. All the members of the family that we met last night came over to say hi and each said they would take us on a tour of the house later. I couldn't wait. The last family member we met was uncle Colin, from Scotland.

We chatted with uncle Colin for a while outside until he asked us to follow him into the house to meet his wife, Doris. Doris is Malaysian and the sister of the guy who owns the huge house. We found out Colin's brother-in-law owns the largest steel company in Sarawak. Sarawak covers most of Malaysian Borneo.

Doris was in the bar (a proper bar!) fetching drinks and entertaining so Colin, James and I sat in the bar and drank Tiger Beer at 11:00. So many people came over to meet us and introduce themselves. Everyone went out of their way to help us feel comfortable. We had all sorts of nibbles thrust upon us.

Apparently we missed the lion dance and the Governor of Sarawak who visted earlier that morning, but while in the bar some government officials sat at the next table drinking rather expensive whisky with the Steel Boss Man.

We had another beer with Colin and called our taxi man back to collect us. We never did get a tour of the whole house but I had a good look on my way to the loo. There was an indoor water feature on one wall and the floors looked like marble. It was just posh, that's all. Never been anywhere like it.

We got back to our place a bit gobsmacked. The guy on reception in our B&B was waiting to hear about it. He said he didn't want to tell us at the time he called our taxi but the address would be very well to do and the addressee had been awarded a knighthood, or equivalent, by the state.

Not bad after one day in Kuching. Wonder what we'll be doing tomorrow...