Tuesday, September 4, 2007

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.

9 comments:

chanelwong said...

you bring us to Sarawak in our dream...such a detail explaination on the trip...

Anonymous said...

look at that smile on his face .... so happy. really fun holiday huh. personally i haven't been to sarawak ... any interesting place there?

Babysmooches said...

Hi, Chanel. sarawak is part of Malaysia. it's within our dreams.... :-)

Twin, happy is defined as play, travel on the bus and plane. For first-timer to Sarawak, a trip to Kuching should probably open our eyes to the culture over there. life is not as fast as KL and it gives some sense of peace over there.

Anggie's Journal said...

look fun ... guess what ? i m going to kuching with william next month too, but not bring along Jeremy. i hope is funa and wonderful about this kuching trip. thanks for ur info here, will take noted ...

Babysmooches said...

It's quite a nice and quiet holiday I'm sure. good to do some walking. If there's opportunity, do visit Niah caves, but you'll probably need another day just to go all the way there.

Health Freak Mommy said...

Looks like a fun trip. Nice pix!

MamaJo said...

He,he...so paiseh one...me, myself, a sarawakian, also don't know much about it ler..he,he...should bring my hubby and kids to explore S'wak soon..he,he..

Babysmooches said...

healthfreakmommy, yes, it was a fun trip :-) a good break actually.

mamajo, malu lah.. hehehe

Tracy said...

Wow! What an adventurous trip! I had to take time to read all the parts. One needs to have a 'passport' to enter the Cultural Village? Noticed u din mention about the food? All Malay food?

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