Sarawak Cultural Village

The Sarawak Cultural Village, also known as a living museum, features some of the main 7 ethnic groups of Sarawak in one location - the long house of Bidayuh, Iban, Melanau tall house, Orang Ulu, the traiditional Malay house and the Chinese Farm House. These are the original and traditional tribal houses built within a 7-hectare site, with the various ethnic groups featuring their arts and culture in harmony.

Prior entering the village, each one were given a "passport" as our entry pass. We are encouraged to get chops from all the respective 7 houses as part of our visit to the places.

What used to be a different tribes of enemies, these ethnic groups have now foster close friendship amongst each other. We were told by our very chinese looking Melanau tour guide that there are no more Melanau tall houses in Sarawak except for the one built in this village as all the other Melanau tall houses has been torn down as they are more than 100 years old and are not safe to live-in anymore.

First time visitors to Sarawak should make the visit to the Sarawak Cultural Village a big must-see, must visit. The cultural experience to the village is what Sarawakians would consider it to be the unknown side of Malaysia.

I proudly inform a few of my Sarawakian friends of our visit to Kuching prior to the trip and each and everyone of them will say "You must visit the Sarawak Cultural Village". I'm glad I was there and I'm suprise to see for myself what I've always seen in pictures and read in magazines. It was really captivating.

It was a very hot and humid weather though and it is advisable that visitors are equipped with hats and lots of water through the walk in the village.

The diverse culture, lifestyle, wood carving, the very fine and delicate handicrafts such as the beading and the pua-weaving, legends, performances, colourful traditional attire, and the many stories of the beheadings, killings and other captivating highlights were simply unique.

For the kids, Eryn was very active and exploring the inside out of the houses with daddy while Brendan was not really pleased with having to walk and walk under the hot sun. He was also quite afraid to enter the houses. Brendan enjoyed the blowpipe display by a Penan man and watching the spinning gasing display - very boyish interest.

Eryn was an all-rounded girl, enjoying the cultural performances, checking out the items on display in all the houses, looking at the how swords are being made, mixing around with the beautifully dressed Bidayuh women, entering the skull hut, and walking from house to house.

A visit to the Sarawak Cultural Village is a must for first-time visitors.