Sunday @ Silvia’s

Breathtaking views towards Santubong area from the expansive elevated timber deck.

Silvia lives out in Sungai Cina, Matang which is about 45 minutes drive from where we lived; in a little jungle sanctuary paradise. I got to know Silvia who is a Swiss expatriate through my wife whom she played mahjong with on a weekly basis. Silvia’s place is quite well hidden and you would be hard pressed to find it unless someone brings you there. But I have been there before, although it had been a while.

Shaded jungle driveway to Silvia’s sanctuary in the rain forests.

I was busy with the presentations for my overseas trip tomorrow but decided to take the time out with my wife to visit Silvia on her lunch invitation as I have not been to her lovely place in quite a while since her late husband Werner Gratz passed away suddenly about 2 years ago.

Although her place is quite far from town and is quite isolated; she decided to stay on alone there with her dogs (and the squirrels!) as the place surrounded by jungles and on elevated grounds with sweeping views is simply stunning.

Situated high up from the long beautiful driveway means that there are plenty of steps to climb to get up - but once you’re up there, your efforts is rewarded with the vistas of green vegetation for as far as your eyes can see. I could make out rivers and the distant horizon with Mount Santubong as the backdrop. I can imagine that the sunrises and sunsets would be simply stunning. I could imagine living quietly here for the longest time.

But lunch awaits and in the pleasant company of another two European expatriate couples who are also living in Kuching we sat out on the breezy timber deck to enjoy some fine home cooked cuisine. It was a delicious lunch with scampering colourful striped squirrels in the nearby trees for company and entertainment.

Great environment, food and company. What more do you need?

Unfortunately I couldn’t stay for long as I need to finish the presentations and reluctantly dragged ourselves away from Silvia’s Borneo getaway paradise. No pictures can fully capture the ambiance and feel of a place but I trust that these snaps I took do capture some of the aspects of this magical place.

What a pleasant Sunday at Silvia’s; and trusting that your Sunday has been just as pleasant.