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WELCOME TO SARAWAK
Would you
like to befriend an orang-utan? Learn to use a blowpipe? Or maybe get
married in a traditional tribal ceremony? You could do it all in one day
in Sarawak. Perched on the north-western edge of the exotic island of
Borneo, Sarawak is literally quite unlike any other place on earth.
Start
your holiday by spending a day or two in the capital - Kuching. Here the
Sarawak Tourist Association (STA), or the Visitors Information Centre
(which also houses the National Park and Wildlife Booking Office) will
provide you with all the brochures anti advice you need to plan your
stay.
You'll
find an astonishing variety of things to tempt you - wonders of the
natural world, a rich and fascinating history, a patchwork quilt of more
than thirty different ethnic groups. And also long, sandy beaches for
water sports or more traditional beach holidays.
Despite
being home to the world’s oldest rainforest, travel around Sarawak is
easy. Tourists are welcome everywhere and the people are all very
friendly. English is widely spoken although the national language is
Malay. So, Selamat Datang (welcome), and have a great time in the Hidden
Paradise of Borneo.
KUCHING
Nestled on the banks of the Sarawak River, the capital, Kuching, retains
the old-world charm of its romantic past.
The river
is the focal point of the town and features a graceful, European style
esplanade - The Kuching Waterfront - with views across to the Astana
(the palace) and Fort Margherita. For another perspective on the town,
hire a boat and float down the river either by day or night - the sunset
is fantastic.
The
narrow, bustling streets near the river are crammed with ornate temples,
markets, historic buildings and traditional Chinese shophouses selling
local handicrafts. Kuching also lays claim to nine museums, many within
walking distance of each other.
DAMAI
Forty minutes from Kuching, Damai - Sarawak's premier beach resort area
- offers sandy beaches and pristine jungles, together with numerous
leisure activities. Three resorts provide a full range of water sports,
jungle trekking and cultural options. These include visits to local
longhouses, a championship Arnold Palmer-designed golf course and superb
seafood restaurants perched on stilts along the shore.
Many
tours and day trips leave from Damai including those to the nearby
Sarawak Cultural Village and Bako National Park. Trips to interesting
Malay fishing villages, nearby islands and river cruises around the
Santubong Peninsula can also be arranged.
NORTHERN SARAWAK
Miri, near the border with Brunei, is the gateway to the north of
Sarawak and its spectacular national parks, rivers and highlands.
Regular Malaysian Airlines (MAS) flights connect Miri with Kuching and
other domestic destinations.
Gunung
Mulu National Park, about 45 minutes flight from Miri is one of
Sarawak's greatest attractions. The famous limestone caves here include
the world's largest cave passage, the largest natural rock chamber in
the world, and the longest cave system in Southeast Asia.
Niah
Great Cave in Niah National Park, about two hours drive from Miri, is
the site of the oldest human remains found in Southeast Asia, You can
walk through this cave via a raised plankwalk winding through lowland
forests teeming with birds and butterflies.
CENTRAL SARAWAK
Sarawak's extensive river system makes a trip to the central region as
easy as it is fascinating. Sibu, built on the banks of the Rajang River,
is the main gateway to the centre and a good starting point for river
cruises to the inland towns. Longhouses, villages and small towns dot
the riverbanks; organised visits to these more remote longhouses can be
arranged through a guide in the nearest town.
North of
Sibu, about 30 minutes drive from the sleepy town of Bintulu, is every
tourist's dream - Similajau National Park with its perfect emerald
water, tropical rainforest and long, golden, sandy beaches. The park
offers visitors a range of activities such as trekking, bird watching,
river and coastal cruises.
South of
Sibu and east of Kuching is Batang Ai National Park, home to not only a
number of Iban longhouses where most residents still practise their
traditional lifestyle, but also the luxurious Batang Ai Longhouse
Resort.
NATURAL WONDERS
Ten national parks scattered throughout the state make for easy access
to Sarawak's splendid natural treasures. Permits and accommodation
reservations as well as advice and guides are available from the
Visitors Information Centres located in most major towns.
Bako, the
oldest National Park, is also the closest to Kuching and easiest to get
to. Residents include the endemic proboscis monkey, the famous bearded
pig, silver leaf monkeys and long-tailed macaques. The park also
showcases a wide variety of vegetation found in Borneo, including
carnivorous pitcher plants, sundews, bladderworts and wild orchids. For
a glimpse of the world's largest flower, the one metre wide Rafflesia,
contact the warden at Gunung Gading Park headquarters to see whether any
flowers are about to bloom. Just two hours drive from Kuching, Gunung
Gading is 4,106 hectares of rugged mountain scenery with a series of
beautiful waterfalls. Accommodation is available in the park or at
hotels nearby.
A
45-minute drive from Kuching takes you to the Kubah National Park, 2,230
hectares of rolling sandstone hills sprinkled with crystal clear streams
and waterfalls, some ten metres high. Kubah's rich forest areas are home
to mousedeer, squirrels, the state bird - the Hornbill - and many
amphibian and reptile species.
Half an
hour's drive from Kuching is the Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation
Centre, a temporary home for various endangered species of Sarawak,
especially orang-utans rescued from captivity. Here, the orang utans are
trained to return to their natural habitat, eventually living an
independent life in the wild. Those which are too old to be trained are
kept in the centre.
Niah and
Gunung Mulu National Parks in Northwest Sarawak are perhaps the best
known in Sarawak with their spectacular limestone cave formations.
THE
MANY FACES OF SARAWAK
More than 30 ethnic groups live together harmoniously in Sarawak,
including 21 native ethnic groups, Malay and Chinese.
Even with
such diversity, individual groups have retained their cultural identity,
observing traditional customs and rituals on a day-to-day basis.
For an
informative and entertaining insight into the lives and cultures of some
of the major ethnic groups in Sarawak, a visit to the living museum -
The Sarawak Cultural Village - is a must. Located in Damai, the village
sprawls over 17 landscaped acres with an artificial lake at the centre.
This is surrounded by seven authentic replicas of ethnic houses - Iban,
Bidayuh, Penan, Orang Ulu, Melanau, Malay and Chinese - displaying
artefacts made by the house residents and demonstrating arts and crafts
and fascinating tribal music and dancing. Open seven days a week, this
is an easy day or half-day trip from either Kuching or the Damai resort
area.
Most tour
operators can arrange a visit to an authentic Bidayuh or Iban (the most
populous indigenous groups) longhouse close to Kuching, which can
include an overnight stay. Depending on the longhouse, you may be
entertained with an organised performance, or just enjoy a relaxed look
around the longhouse, a shared meal and a chat with the residents.
Sarawakians of all groups are renowned for their friendliness and
hospitality.
- Borneo
is home to many different species of bat.
- The Bidayuh is the third largest ethnic group in Sarawak.
- The Penan are some of the world's last hunter-gatherers.
The
capital, Kuching, is home to no less than nine museums. If you have time
for only one, the most comprehensive is the Sarawak Museum, renowned as
one of the best in Asia. Give yourself at least half a day to visit the
various displays which include ethnographic exhibits, natural history
displays, native artefacts and Chinese porcelain. Other museums of
interest include the Islamic Museum and Cat Museum.
The
Sunday Market in Kuching (which actually starts on Saturday afternoon)
is perhaps the best place to meet local people as indigenous groups
travel to town to bring their jungle fruit and vegetables to sell to
city folk.
- For
19th century adventurers, the forests of Borneo proved irresistible.
TRAIL
OF ADVENTURE
The opportunities for an adventure in Sarawak are as numerous as they
are diverse. Most tour operators offer trips from half a day to up to
two weeks which can take in jungle trekking, mountain climbing, caving,
mountain biking or river safaris.
Jungle
trekking is available in most of the national parks, offering a close-up
view of the amazing flora and fauna of Borneo. Treks are graded
according to fitness level required and accommodation could be in a
tent, chalet, hostel or longhouse.
Adding an
intriguing element to a bush walk is the Head-hunters' Trail in Gunung
Mulu National Park. The five to six day trek takes you overland and by
longboat to forests, caves, river rapids, and the spectacular Pinnacles,
along a trail once favoured by local raiding parties of centuries past.
A river
safari is an unbeatable way of seeing the jungle from the relative
comfort of a motor-propelled longboat. Again, river safaris can be
anything from a few hours to a couple of weeks, and can be guided tours
or do-it-yourself.
A good
introduction to river cruising is an organised river safari and there
are many available through tour operators in Sarawak. Two starting
points within easy reach of Kuching are the Skrang and Lemanak rivers.
However, there is also ample opportunity and water - to strike out on
your own, or with a personal guide. The best place to start is the
Visitors Information Centre in Kuching.
Gunung
Mulu National Park in the northeast has plenty of excitement both above
and below ground, with a heady climb up the famous Pinnacles or
subterranean explorations of some of the world's most impressive caves.
Mountain biking is taking off in
Sarawak and trails of varying lengths are established in the Kuching
area near Bau, at Gunung Mulu National Park and at the Hilton Batang Ai
Longhouse Resort. Contact the respective park's head quarters or the
Sarawak Tourist Association for more details.
For a
range of organised activities in one place, contact the Damai Rainforest
Resort
Outdoor Activity Centre (Permai Camp). Activities include jungle
trekking, survival courses, abseiling and rappelling, climbing, sailing
and other land and sea-based sports.
Information
source: Tourism Malaysia |
