“Kuching is not named after a cat,” a native Sarawakian once insisted adamantly. “We are not separated by race or religion here,” declared another. “We will show you how to party,” a lively group of engaging ladies cackled as we painted the city in various shades of red one night.

Admittedly, Kuching is more than its mystical caves. Sarawak has more to offer the palate than its ubiquitous laksa. Its history is not only limited to Brooke’s legacy.

The first-ever Rainforest Fringe Festival – a prelude to the 20-year-old Rainforest World Music Festival – is the space to rediscover this rightly proud state and to sample its potential.

From 7 to 16 July 2017, the ten-day festival will showcase Sarawak’s art, craft, music, fashion, food, film and photography in the heart of its capital city. Expect it to acquaint you with the state’s talented natives as they reveal the layered nuances of their works.

I can’t wait to:

• listen to Sada Kamek: Music of Sarawak
  an evening concert on opening night featuring Sarawakian artists such as Dayang Nurfaizak, Noh Saleh, Tony Eusoff, Nading Rhapsody, At Adau, Pete Kallang, Alena Murang and Mathew Ngau

• watch Sarawak: Theatre of Clothes
  a fashion gala at the Waterfront Hotel featuring renowned Sarawakian fashion and accessory designers such as Datuk Tom Abang Saufi, Edric Ong, Ramsay Ong, Tanoti and Neng Kho Razali. As well as an introduction to Ong Shunmugam, a Malaysian-born, Singapore-based designer’s latest collection, a collaboration with pua kumbu artisans

• appreciate K.F. Wong’s Photography in recording the lives of Sarawak’s tribes through a collection of black-and-white snapshots that depict moments passing. Travelling into the interior of Sarawak, he spent time with Dayaks in the longhouses, observing and capturing their lives through his lens

• listen to a talk by art curator Anke Degenhard, Before They Pass Away, that’ll take us through Jimmy Nelson’s photo exhibition showing how he spent 31 years collating portraits of tribal and indigenous people from remote corners across the world

• wander through the Old Courthouse browsing through craft and vintage markets, watching films and documentaries and gazing at art and photos.

By all accounts there’s plenty more to do in Kuching. New restaurants and bars to discover, street food and seafood to savour, and perhaps even the river cruise to hop on. That is, if you’re lucky!

With Georgetown Festival Director Joe Sidek (who put the Penang arts festival on the world map) curating the Rainforest Fringe Festival you might well be more than satiated with the rich, indigenous art and culture on display.

www.rainforestfringe.com