I was writing an article about my homeland, Sarawak (Malaysia Borneo) a couple of days ago and it dawned on me that I hardly talk about my beloved land, my people, and the vibrant tapestry of cultures that thrive in Sarawak. I think it's time for me to introduce this magical land of a rainforest paradise to fellow HIVERS.
Sarawak has so many awesome things to showcase but it's impossible for me to list everything. So, I am going to pick 5 amazing things about Sarawak and list them in this post.
❤️ Cultural Diversity ❤️
Sarawak is home to so many different traditional cultures. Do you know that there are more than 40 ethnic groups in Sarawak? And each of these groups has its own unique culture, language, and tradition? Some of the indigenous tribes in Sarawak:
- Iban - Sea Dayak (I belong to this group)
- Bidayuh - Land Dayak
- Kayan
- Lun Bawang
- Kelabit
- Kenyah
- Penan
- Melanau
- Bisaya
- Punan Bah
- ...and many more...
Sarawakians take pride in our cultural heritage and we make every effort to preserve it. Many indigenous people still live in longhouses and preserve their traditional way of life. We also celebrate cultural festivals like Gawai Dayak. And let's not forget our rich art like weaving intricate "Pua Kumbu" (ceremonial cloth), and making beads accessories like "marek empang" and "kain buri".
Here is a picture of a group of Iban in full traditional costumes during a cultural festival in Kuching, Sarawak.
Photo source: my sister
❤️ Longhouses ❤️
Have you ever seen a longhouse before? A longhouse is a unique traditional house made from timber and bamboo. A longhouse is a combination of several units of living apartments and each apartment is called "bilek" where one family resides. And there is a large common area called "ruai" where the villagers gather and do activities together.
I don't have a lot of pictures of my longhouse especially the exterior to show here, but here is a picture of us taken with my mom in our "bilek".
I found this video of my longhouse on Youtube. I don't know who made this video, but I am grateful he uploaded it. As you can see the surrounding forest is largely untouched for hundreds of years since my ancestors started to occupy this land (gazette native land). There is a river nearby (Saribas River) where my ancestors used to paddle down/upstream on their headhunting expeditions in the olden days.
❤️ Niah Caves ❤️
The Niah Caves are a series of caves located in the Niah National Park, in Miri, Sarawak. Prehistorical human remains from 40,000 years ago were found in these caves. It was determined that these remains were the oldest human remains found in South East Asia. In one of the caves, you can see ancient cave paintings made by prehistoric cave dwellers.
I have been to these caves once in my life as a 16 years old teenager. I can't remember the details of that trip but it was a 3D/2N school trip with some teachers and roughly 40-50 students. I wish I paid more attention to the details of the trip and taken pictures but I guess I was too busy having fun and failed to see the importance of such trips.
I don't have a personal picture to share but here is a picture of one of the caves.
Photo source: Unsplash
❤️ Semenggoh Nature Reserve ❤️
I am listing Semenggoh Nature Reserve because it is not far from where I used to live. This nature reserve is a home for a group of semi-wild orangutans many of who are orphaned, injured, or rescued from being kept captive as illegal pets. You can watch these gentle apes in their natural habitat at this nature reserve and learn about their conservation.
I visited this nature reserve once many years ago and I remember watching the apes swinging from the trees and enjoying their food during feeding time.
Photo source: Unsplash
❤️ Bako National Park ❤️
If you are a nature lover but hate to travel far for your nature excursions in the capital city of Kuching, I highly encourage you to visit Bako National Park. This national park is about 37 km from Kuching City Center.
This beautiful park is rich in biodiversity that offers visitors a unique and amazing experience. This park is home to various animals like proboscis monkeys, bearded pigs, and birds. There are also nice trails for hikers, where you can find great views of cascading waterfalls and lush rainforests.
I have been to this park once in my life but again I have no pictures to prove it because I made that trip before the existence of smartphones 😒.
Here's a picture of one of the sea stacks at Bako National Park.
Photo source: Unsplash
That's it for now. If you read this far, thank you. I appreciate it so much! Kindly give me a follow if you like my content. I mostly write about making art, life musing, and our mundane yet charming family life here in Klang Valley, Malaysia.
Note: All images used belong to me unless stated otherwise.
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