Showing posts with label Sarawak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sarawak. Show all posts

21 March 2011

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10 January 2010

Pasar Serikin in Kuching Sarawak

Market Serikin been synonymous to you when you come to Kuching, where is in Sarawak.Serikin located at the border between Kalimantan and Sarawak. Distance to Serikin is approximately take 50km from the Kuching city . Our Journey to Serikin will take approximately 1 hour half. Many goods sold at Market Serikin with a cheap price. What is sold in Serikin like Kain Batik, mats, crystal products and more kinds.

1 July 2008

Borneo Cultural Festival 2008

Borneo Cultural Festival 2008

Get a sample of indigenous art at the Borneo Cultural Festival, which runs from 27th June to 5 July in the City Square Sibu, Sarawak. This signature annual event Sibu entry with a mixture of dance, songs, poems and dramas of different ethnic groups in Borneo.

Borneo Tourism

Be prepared to see live performances with Aboriginal musical instruments such as drums and gongs, lively and even martial arts moves. Apart from the cultural extravaganza, your palate will also attempt by the local cuisine in the Messe Essen Borneo.An incredible variety of traditional foods of different clans in Sibu it will be for the collection.

Borneo Tourism

Last year the artist received overwhelming response both locally and internationally, and this year we can expect the same or even better line-up of activities and entertainment. Be sure that the sights as the market Lembangan night, Sibu Civic Centre Museum, Rejang Esplanade, the beautiful seven-storey pagoda, offers a panoramic view of the town of Sibu, and the long-iban house where people welcome you with their warm hospitality.

Come the 27th June, at their way into the Borneo Cultural Festival 2008 to witness the celebration of the traditional art, food and dance.

Borneo Cultural Festival 2008

Will be held on
Friday, 27 June - Saturday, 05 July, 2008
Sibu Town Square, Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia

25 May 2008

Gunung Mulu National Park

Gunung Mulu National Park is one of Nature's most spectacular achievements and the 'jewel in the crown' of Sarawak's expanding network of national parks. It is also the largest national park, covering 52,865 hectares of primary rainforest, which is criss-crossed by fast flowing rivers and clear jungle streams. Mulu is dominated by three mountains - Gunung Mulu (2,376 m), Gunung Api (1,750 m) and Gunung Benarat (1,585 m). Yet many of Mulu's greatest attractions lie deep below the surface. Hidden underneath the forested slopes of these mountains is one of the largest limestone cave systems in the world.

This system, a breath-taking natural wonder, contains a number of record breaking caves. With the world's largest cave passage (Deer Cave), the world's largest natural chamber (Sarawak Chamber), and the longest cave in Southeast Asia (Clearwater Cave), it is not surprising that Mulu is now world-famous. Over 200 km of cave passages have been surveyed but this is thought to represent just 30-40% of the actual total.

The oldest of Mulu's caves started to form about 5 million years ago when sideways earth movements resulted in the formation of both limestone and sandstone mountains, lying side by side. Millions of years of heavy rain and the action of rivers and running water carved out the vast subterranean system that exists today. The weathering process still continues; dripping water creates new rock features, limestone is slowly worn away, and underground rivers carve and sculpt the caves, transporting limestone debris to the cave mouth or redistributing it within the system.

Although Mulu is synonymous with caves, the 'Mulu experience' is not limited to underground attractions; above ground there is plenty to see and do. The park is covered in rich primary rainforest and offers a whole range of nature-based activities. There are some excellent jungle treks and mountain hikes, including the challenging trek to view the Pinnacles - 45 metre high, razor sharp limestone spikes that sit majestically on the slopes of Gunung Api.

With it's rich bio-diversity, and world-famous caves, Mulu offers the adventurous traveller an exhilarating cave and rainforest experience, possibly unmatched anywhere else on Earth.

Mulu's four Show Caves were selected for their uniqueness or sheer beauty. They can all be visited as day trips from the park HQ and are accessible by plankwalks and well-lit concrete paths. Strategically positioned spotlights highlight the unique features of the individual caves. A plankwalk leads through the forest to Deer and Lang's Cave whilst Clearwater Cave and Wind Cave are reached by taking a longboat up the Melinau River, or by following a 4 km nature trail. The more adventurous can do Adventure Caving.

Treks and Trails
Mulu has three adventure treks, all of which require a certain level of physical fitness. Basic camping gear is useful as overnight stays in jungle base camps are required. Trekkers must be accompanied by offical park guides. Most tour operators can assist with travel arrangements for these treks and can also supply any necessary equipment and food.

* The Pinnacles
* The Headhunter's Trail
* Gunung Mulu Summit Trek

Bio-Diversity
Ever since the 1930's the rich rainforest of the Mulu area has attracted scientists. Every expedition seems to discover something new - a plant or animal species previously unknown to man, animal behaviour patterns, a rainforest remedy, etc. Although these studies and expeditions have unearthed a mountain of scientific facts, they have barely 'scratched the surface' of Mulu's bio-diversity. However, this 'barely scratched surface' includes an impressive array of plants and animals.

The park contains 8 different types of forest - including peat swamp, health and mixed dipterocarp, moss forest and stunted upper monane vegetation - 4,000 species of fungi, 1,500 species of flowering plants. 1,700 species of moses & liverworts and estimated 3,500 species of plants.

Mulu's wildlife is equally impressive and includes 75 species of mammals, 262 species of birds (including the eight species of hornbill found in Sarawak), 74 species of frogs, 47 species of fish, 281 species of butterflies, 52 species of reptiles, 458 species of ants and 20,000 species of invertebrates. Mulu National Park

How to get there?
Miri, in Northeast Sarawak, serves as the main gateway for Gunung Mulu National Park. Malaysian Airlines operates scheduled services from Miri and Limbang to Mulu using 19 seater Twin Otter aircraft. The flight takes approximately 45 minutes. Phone MAS (082-246622) for further details.

The park can also be reached by boat (via Marudi). However, there is no regular boat service on the last section of the trip so longboats must be chartered. This is best done in a group to save cost. Tour operators are able to arrange boat passage to Mulu if required.

Accommodation facilities
Accommodation facilities consist of chalets units, hostel-style rooms and a camping ground. Kitchen facilities are provided so that visitors can prepare their own meals. Please contact the Sarawak Tourism Board for the latest room tariff rates.

In addition to the park accommodation, the Royal Mulu Resort, an international class hotel, and a number of guesthouses are situated along the Melinau River, adjacent to the park.

Accommodation & Other Charges

Facilities
Upon arrival visitors are required to register at the Park HQ. Next to the registration counter there is a good information centre. The Park HQ also has a canteen which sells drinks and light meals.

Pre-book your accommodation, bring a raincoat, torch and camera flash (tripods are not allowed in the caves). Non slip shoes are essential as the trails are slippery. Plan for at least 2 days' stay in the park to see the cave system.

20 May 2008

Sarawak Secondly Home Programme

East Malaysia or Sarawak secondly Home Programme represents advertised of the Government from Malaysia to allow people of entirely across the worldwide who meet definite criteria, to stay in Malaysia as far since conceivable with a sociable visit authorize on an aggregate debut visa. The sociable Visit authorize is initially for a period frequently (10) years (dependent on the validness from the applicants’ pass) and is renewable.

Sarawak secondly place Programme are hospitable whole citizens of countries accepted of Malaysia regardless of race, religion, sex or age. Applicants is allowed to bring in on their partner and kids (under 18 years old who's not married).

These programme is originated coordinated and established by the Malaysian Government. It's, accordingly, a program, that the Government wish continuously work out to assure to them success.

We have piled up some valuable fact concerning Malaysia My Second Home Programme for our network Visitors.

In sarawak there are many interesting destination to discover such as

National Parks
Bako National Park
Gunung Mulu National Park
Niah National Park
Lambir Hills National Park
Similajau National Park
Gunung Gading National Park
Kubah National Park
Batang Ai National Park
Laogan Bunut National Park
Tanjung Datu National Park
Talang-Satang National Park
Bukit Tiban National Park
Meludam National Park
Rajang Mangroves National Park
Gunung Buda National Park

Wildlife Centres
Semengoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
Matang Wildlife Centre
Lanjau-Estimau
Pulau Tukong Ara-Banun
Samunsam

Nature Reserves
Wind Cave Nature Reserve
Sama Jaya Nature Reserve
Semenggoh Nature Reserve

Knows more about this program such as

Incentives,Terms and conditions,Appilcaiton Procedure and so on check out mudtour

2 May 2008

Mulu Batcam

Mulu National Park took another step forward in understanding and respecting the millions of bats at Deer Cave in the national park with the launching of the first webcam of real time unintrusive viewing of the mammals in their natural habitat.

The Mulu Batcam facility was launched by Prince Albert II of Monaco during his first visit to Mulu on Sunday.


Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and State Secretary Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot were among those present during the launching ceremony.


The group braved the rain, walking through the three-km walkway through the verdant virgin rainforest, to reach Deer Cave, where the iconic image of Lincoln profile has filled promotion brochures and many travel magazines around the world.


The Mulu Batcam project, regarded as another innovative ecotourism development by the state government, was conceived and implemented by Borsamulu Park Management Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Sarawak Forestry Corporation.


The technical design and implementation of the digital remote wildlife monitoring system was provided by CTG Security Matrix, an international award winning company from Australia, and the project is expected to be entered for another prestigious international award competition.


Mulu Batcam uses five remote controlled special television cameras and infra-red lighting placed inside Deer Cave, home to three million bats, to provide a spectacularly clear detail of bats’ behaviour in their natural habitat with the help of modern digital technology.


Prince Albert and guests were treated to the first hand look of the bats in the caves, including detailed close-up shots of the bats and swiftlets in the cave.


There was a heavy downpour after the visit to the Deer Cave by the Prince and his entourage, and the Batcam revealed the bats staying put in the cave, including caring for their young, grooming and hanging around the huge cave as they forego their meal outside.


Mulu was accorded the world natural heritage site by Unesco in November 2000, and visitors have increased to 25,000 from all over the world, and the arrival of Prince Albert added a touch of royalty to the world renowned site.


Prince Albert later told the local media that he was impressed with Mulu after watching a BBC documentary on the bats of Mulu and learning about the rich bio-diversity in the park from it and hearing personal anecdotes from the commentary director about a year and half ago. With conservation close to his heart, he said Mulu was an amazing spot of natural heritage which should be safeguarded and protected for posterity.


The Batcam project will not only help scientists but will also help to create greater public awareness of the bats and other ecological aspects of Mulu to generate conservation spirit among them.


Earlier, the managing director of Borsamulu Datuk Robert Geneid said Mulu had come a long way since its inception as a national park and eventual Unesco recognition as world natural heritage site.


Human capital development in proper training of park guides, singage, guide books and others together with infrastructure development under Borsamulu have now placed Mulu on the path of world renowned ecotourism destination, he said.
With locals as stakeholders, the park currently employs 80 local staff in park management and another 200 as local guides, while the Mulu Resort employs and trains another 80 to international standard in the tourism industry.


Her Excellency Evelyne Genta, His Excellency Achille Kallakis, Deputy Minister of Tourism Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industries Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan and Telang Usan assemblyman Lihan Jok were also present to witness the ceremony.


Meanwhile, Prince Albert released 40,000 fish fry into the Melinau River on his way to the Clearwater Cave where the royal visitor launched the mini regatta before proceeding to have breakfast at the foot of the cave.


They later left for Miri where they had lunch before flying off to Singapore.

16 April 2008

Sarawak Cultural Village Kuching ( SCV )

On 04 May 2007 I was visit to Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching (SCV) with my friends. Scv is tucked away on the foothills of legendary Mount Santubong and about 35 km away from Kuching. For me scv is a interesting place for tourist who come to Kuching Sarawak. What did you like to know there?



There are the living museum depicts the heritage of the major racial groups in Sarawak and conveniently portrays the respective lifestyle amidst 14 acres of equatorial vegetation.In scv it is possible to see Sarawak's ethnic diversity at a glance. The handicraft is both bewildering and tempting, including the Kain Songket (Malay cloth with gold inlay), Pua Kumbu (Iban housewives textiles), Melanau Terendak (sunhat), Bidayuh tambok (basket), Iban parang (swords), Orang Ulu wood carving and Chinese ceramic. You also get the 45-minute cultural performance of songs, dances and entertainment is something you will not want to miss out during your visit to scv.



The attractions in scv:-

  • Bidayuh Longhouse
  • Iban Longhouse
  • Penan Hut
  • Orang Ulu Long House
  • Melanau Tall House
  • Malay House
  • Chinese Farmhouse

-One Fun Play

-Theme Village Stay


Bidayuh Longhouse




Bamboo galore! Bamboo carvings, plumbing, musical instruments, bridges, flooring, walls...welcome to the Bidayuh Longhouse! Let the gongs and war drums welcome you to the Barok - the round head-house. Get caught up in the rhythm of rural activity...sugar cane crushing, paddy pounding, winnowing rice ... Have Fun!!!



The Bidayuh race, accounting for 8.4% of Sarawak's population live mainly within the catchment of the Sarawak and Sadong rivers. Early European travelers gave them the name “Land Dayaks” because they lived in the steep limestone mountains, near the watershed area of West Sarawak, in what was then Dutch Borneo.



Many Borneo natives live in longhouses, in effect, a row of dwellingsand a village street under one roof. The Bidayuhs, a group comprising the Jagoi, Biatah, Bukar-Sadong, Selakau and Lara peoples of West Sarawak, built their houses in mountain fastnesses, tacked to a steep hillside like a gigantic staircase. This was partly for protection against marauding enemies, partly for access to pure, fresh water.



The terrain occupied by the Bidayuhs inspired them to construct ingenious systems of gravity-fed water supply. A little river is dammed at a distance above the longhouse, and the water carried to the dwelling in bamboo conduits.

Iban Longhouse

The Iban Longhouse - drums and gongs, Pua weaving, kuih jala, tuak (their rice wine), hanging skulls carrying tales of days gone by.

The Iban race, once known as “Sea Dayaks”, built their longhouses to last fifteen to twenty years, or, until the farm land in the surrounding area was exhausted. Then they packed up their goods and chattels and moved inland, upriver, along the coast, wherever fresh farm lands looked promising. About one-third of all Sarawakians are Iban; while some of them live in towns or individual houses, a large number still prefer longhouses.

A traditional longhouse is built of axe-hewn timber, tied with creeper fibre, roofed with leaf thatch. It is nearly always built by the bank of a navigable river, and the visitor approaches it from the boat jetty. He climbs up a notched log that serves as a staircase and finds himself on the open verandah face to face with a scene of community and domestic activity.


Several doorways lead from the outer to the inner verandah under the roof. This is the village street of the longhouse; the individual family rooms or “doors” front the common walkway. A casual visitor is invited to sit down on a mat here for a chat with the longhouse elder; family members enter through their relatives' doors and make themselves at home.


Penan Hut



Do not blow from your mouth. Blow from your chest and your stomach." So says the Penan warrior on the art of shooting with the blowpipe at the Penan Huts. Watch blowpipe making or try blowpipe shooting with the Penans, the last of the hunters and gatherers - the forest nomads.

The shy nomadic people of the jungle, the Penans, live in the dense virgin jungles of Central Borneo, among some of the State's most valuable timber resources. Some are 'coming out' and learning to farm the land, others still prefer their roaming life-style.



Penan shelters are quickly constructed to last for a few weeks or months. They are sited near a good stand of wild sago trees, the Penan's staple food; after this has been used up, the family moves on.

Another Penan specialty is the manufacturing and accurate use of blowpipes. A wood beam of adequate length is fixed in a drilling platform, and then bored through patient manual labour. The pipe is trimmed by axe and knife, and finally polished. The bore is smoothed and ground by pulling lengths of rattan through it.

Blowpipe ammunition is a softwood plug tipped with a hardwood dart. Blowpipe poison, carefully dosed to suit the prey, is made from the sap of the upas tree (Antiaris toxicaria).

Orang Ulu Longhouse




The Kayan, the Kenyah, the Kelabit, the Lun Bawang and the other minor tribes...these are the Orang Ulu, gentle and graceful people - as reflected in their songs, music and dances.



Sit on the verandah of the Orang Ulu Longhouse nest with the friendly craft-ladies as they do their intricate beadwork whilst in the background, floats the melodiously haunting tune of the sape, their stringed musical instrument. Other sights of interest are the art of body tattooing, parang ilang, their fighting sword, klirieng, their burial pole (totem pole).



Orang Ulu, “up-river dwellers”, is a useful if vague term to describe the central Borneo people living in Sarawak. Accounting for 5.5% of the total population, the orang Ulu comprises the Penan, the Kayan and Kenyah, living in the middle and upper reaches of Sarawak's longest rivers, the Kelabit and Lun Bawang groups in the highlands proper.



In the past, the orang Ulu were famous throughout the region as sword-smiths. They extracted iron from the ore found in their area, they forged it into excellent blades which they tempered in the cold mountain streams.



Traditionally, an orang Ulu longhouse was built to last. Many of these people practise settled agriculture, and have developed rice field irrigation to a fine art. This makes the search for new farmlands unnecessary. The solid ironwood houses are designed to last for many generations.

Melanau Tall House



Be entertained by tall tales of spirits and demons at the Melanau Tall House. Try our tall swing, too; the tibau swing is used as a fertility rite during the Pesta Kaul. Watch the step-by-step processing of sago and taste the finished products: sago pearls and biscuits.




The Melanau people making up 5.8% of Sarawak's population, now mostly living in the central coastal region, were once more widely scattered. They traditionally lived near the sea within reach of pirates. As a means of protecting themselves, the Melanaus built massive houses forty feet above the ground.



The Melanaus differ from most other Borneo people in one important aspect: they eat sago in preference to rice. Sago palms originally grew wild in the coastal swamps, and the Melanaus took it upon themselves to cultivate these plants. The ten-metre high palm trunk accumulates starch. It swells just before flowering indicating the right time for harvesting by felling.



The pith is grated to a fine mash. This is soaked in a long wooden trough, then trodden through a mat to leach out the sago starch. The off-white sediment settles at the bottom of the trough it is spread on mats to dry into lumps. These are broken up and finally ground into flour.

Malay Longhouse




"Selamat Datang!" Welcome! And so many more Malay words to learn in the Malay House. Take a breather in its hospitable surroundings to join in the many traditional games on demonstration here, such as gasing (top spinning) and congkak (a traditional Malay board-like game).



The house of an urban Malay family is a gracious structure, well adapted to the tropical climate. Like all local houses, it is built of wood. The Brooke era introduced lofty ideas on columns, stucco, and indoor plumbing. From as early on as the 1860's, a few leading Malay families commissioned professional builders, often Chinese, to construct their stately homes; a few which may still be seen today in Jln. Ajibah Abol in Kuching.



From the humblest to the highest, Malay houses share certain characteristics. They are built on stilts and a visitor approaching from the front comes up a staircase. He announces his presence before he reaches the verandah. This may be quite small, leading along from the front of house. It permits a stranger to wait until somebody welcomes him in.



The area designated for the men, official occasions and the entertainment of guests, is a front room taking up the width of the house. Windows cut down to floor level admits breeze for the seated people. Much artistic skill is lavished on the decoration of the stair and window railings, fascia boards under the eaves as well as the ventilation grills above or beside doorways .

Chinese Farmhouse



The first Chinese settlers to Sarawak, the Hakka clan, brought with them Cha Kiak, the traditional Chinese wooden clogs as on display at the Chinese farm house. The typical Sarawakian Chinese abode is a tribute to the pioneering spirit and adaptability of these hardy people. Outside the house is the pepper garden - a sight not to be missed.



Chinese farmers in Sarawak are likely to be of Hakka or Foochow descent. These hardy and frugal people migrated to Sarawak in the early 1900s, at the invitation of the Rajah who wanted to build up a solid farming middle class. Many came, most stayed; one-third of the state's population is now Chinese. The flourishing market gardens on both sides of the roads outside Kuching are almost exclusively cultivated by Hakka farmers.



Unlike local dwellings, the Chinese farm house is built at ground level. The floor is made of trodden earth, the walls of whitewashed sawn timber. The roof is thatched with leaf attap. The house is divided into two main parts; the family room which contains the kitchen, eating and living area as well as a storage area for valuables such as bicycles or agricultural machinery, and the bedroom.



One of the focal points of the main room is the household shrine. A print or statuette of the god revered by the family is displayed here, surrounded by joss sticks, candles, little cups of tea and other seasonal offerings. The doorpost is also divinely protected by the application of strips of red paper, inscribed with protection verses.


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