A pleasure. I have been working/consulting with a company in Kuching for the past 25 years, so know it well. It has changed over that time, and Covid certainly knocked it around. They are putting the final touches to a new Sheraton downtown now, so it might help to revitalize the centre. Like most places, once shopping centres out-of-town get built, the centre sufferers, and KCH is no different. It's still a great place around the centre, but the halcyon days are a bit over. Food is wonderful, and you have to try Top Spot, which is a group of open-air restaurants on top of the car park near the Pullman. If you like Laska, try Kuching Laksa, which I find superb. It's not SIN or KUL, but like a big town. You can spend some lazy time around the river where there is a lot of tourist/visitor activity, or be crazy like me and walk the trails in Kubah NP. (Not for the faint-hearted!)
Recent trip I did also included Kota Kinabalu KK and Sandakan. KK was for work but Sandakan was all about birding and beer drinking. I stayed out at the Jungle resort at Sepilok as it was close to the rainforest centre. Superb! No room internet, TV et al., it was great to really wind down. And again, some of it not for the faint-hearted; pulling leeches off after walking through parts of the jungle may not be everybody's "cup of tea" but ready to do it again soon as you can see the rewards in the photos.
If you are not into the tourist/travel trappings KCH/KK/SAN will certainly leave a great impression. Just ask and I will clarify. Sorry I've stopped taking beer-drinking photos, as they have a tendency to get blurred!!!!!!