SARAWAK EXCURSION

Puteri Santubong, puteri Sejenjang..
Penjaga gunung negeri Sarawak..
Manis sik ada dapat dilawan..

Anak dak dewa turun kayangan....

Sarawak.. a land of beauty and diversity...

27 th Nov 2008 -The eight of us left KLIA at 9:45 am.Thanks to Airasia for introducing a low fare ticket.It was a smooth flight and we disembarked at Kuching International Airport at 11:15 am.At the immigration check point,my youngest son had to come out with his signature for the first time.He was so excited.After claiming our luggage,we went out.My friends were already there waiting for us.That 's the beauty of friendship..once a friend,always a friend.

My youngest son,my other half and me on the flight

We reached Crown Plaza Hotel which is overlooking the famous waterfront at 12:30pm.To our disappointment our rooms were not ready, so we made a move to walk along the waterfront.Of course, it was not an enjoyable walk on the hot,breezeless afternoon.

My sis, ada,me,eldest son-ewan,daughters-amira and afifah taking a rest at the waterfront.

Famished... we decided to have lunch at Khatulistiwa..For a glass of teh tarik we had to pay rm4.50!
After lunch we walked back to the hotel,still our rooms were not ready yet.We just sat in the beautiful lobby,witnessing guests arriving and leaving.Seeing that we have waited for 3 hrs,the General Manager approached us and invited us to the VIP room at the top floor..maybe to shut our mouth from making further complaints.From the room we could see the Sarawak River flowing through the greeneries and the passenger boats dotted along the river.Such a calm and serene view.The GM briefed us on the tourist spots around Kuching and their economic activities.

So much for the VIP room...When we asked for cold drinks they could offer us only tea or coffee..when my daughter asked for the muffin on the glass shelf,it was only reserved for the VIPS.
30 mins later our rooms were ready.After unpacking,it was almost evening and there was very little time for excursion.So my kids decided to head for the swimming pool.

Kids are kids..where ever they go,they will surely head for the pool first..

For dinner, we had a feast of sea food..fish,crabs, 'siput 'bamboo,squids,umai and a variety of vegetables including the famous pucuk midin.For drinks we tried almost everything..kelapa longan..tebu laici..bandung longan..calamansies and a few others.

After so much food, we decided to burn off some calories.So we went for night-strolling along the waterfront.Here you can just walk miles after miles without feeling tired.I was mesmerized with the beauty of the glittering and glimmering lights and the gaiety of the surrounding.Throngs of people of different characters can be seen walking and loud music can be heard blasting from the many stalls there.What more,the delicious aroma of the famous NasiAyamPenyek..burgers..fried chicken filled the air.It s happening here even at 12:oo midnight.We walked until the light house..

28 th Nov 2008-We planned to go to Sarawak Cultural Village

Sprawling on 17 1/2 acres of land at the foothill of the legendary Gunung Santubong is Kampung Budaya.It potrays the cultural diversity of Sarawak with 7 authentic ethnic houses; the Bidayuh Long house, the Iban long house, the Orang Ulu, the Malanau, the Penan,the Chinese and the Malay house.Visitors can sample the rich variety of activities from the handcraft making,traditional games,house hold chores,ceremonies to rituals.There is also magnificient cultural perfomance in the modern theatre.Traditional Sarawak food are served at the restaurant and fine Sarawak handicraft are sold at the souvenirs shop.
At 10:00 am we were all set for the excursion.My friend had left for Semenanjung leaving us with 2 cars to roam around.The moment we saw a mountain we headed towards it thinking that it was Gunung Santubong.We kept on looking for a signboard but there was none.We drove until the foot of the mountain but still there was no sign board labeling the place.So we stopped at one of the villager's house to ask.To our surprise that mountain is Gunung Serapi, and Gunung Santubong is at the opposite direction!We retraced the way, stopped twice, made a u-turn a few times until we finally reached the correct place at 12:00 noon.One thing for sure, Kuching is lacking in signboards and this could really gives problems to tourists.The JKR should do something about this if they want to promote Kuching as one of tourist destinations

Posing with the Bidayuh lady in their traditional dress on the verandah of Bidayuh longhouse.The Bidayuh, accounting 8.4% of Sarawak population is also being called the land dayak.

My sis trying to be the medicine man






This is how they get rice from paddy.What a tough job!






Me at the Bidayuh conference hut.This was where the heads had their meeting.Trying to beat the gong calling for a meeting...

Swinging on the veranda of the Iban longhouse.The Iban once known as sea dayak made up one third of Sarawak population.The long house made up of several units.The open veranda where they had community and domestic activities.There were several doorways which lead to the inner verandah.This is the village street; and the individual family rooms front the village street.

With a Penan man trying to use a blowpipe or 'sumpit'.The Penans known as shy nomdic people live in the dense jungle of Central Boneo.Some are coming out and learning to farm the land,others prefer their roaming life-style.Their shelters are quickly constructed to last for a few weeks or months only.Sago is their staple food.Their speciality is the manufacture and accurate use of blowpipes.

Me and family taking a break on the staircase.Background.. so high up is the Orang Ulu house







Me and hubby trying to find the right tune for Do re me..One of the orang ulu's traditional musical instrument..

Be careful kids.. going down a notched log which serves as a staircase to orang ulu house

A full view of orang ulu house..Orang Ulu or up river dwellers.Total population is 5.5% of the Sarawakians.Orang Ulu comprise the Penan,Kayan and Kenyah.In the past they were famous sword-smiths.Orang Ulu house was built to last, made from solid ironwood designed for many generations.

This was what they called technology..of course for that particular time..a technique to fan up the fire.


'A Melanau family' taking a rest..sitting on the notched log staitcase..









My daughter trying to have hands on experience in Melanau traditional game

My son trying to spin tops.Careful along...you are only throwing tops not a criket ball.

29 th Nov 2008 - At 10:00 am, we left for Serikin.From the hotel we drove off trying to find a signboard labelling Serikin but there was none.So we drove and drove heading towards Sri A man.45 mins later still we couldn't find any sign of the place.I called my friend and was told that we should be taking a road to Bau and not Sri Aman.So we made a u turn .Again we were wasting away our time.We reached a small town called Bau.About one km after passing the town, then only we saw the sign Serikin..It was a two -hour journey instead of 45 mins!

Shopping at Serikin..Things here are a lot cheaper compared to Wakaf Che Yeh in Kota Bharu.You can find lots of imitation goods from Bonia to Louis Vuitton to Boss.My daughter bought a jeans for rm 70 in Wakaf Che Yeh but here it costs only rm 35..Crystals sold at Sogo could also be found here and the price..its really amazing..

Shop and shop till you drop..shopping ..a form of therapy to me..

Coming back from Seriken, we had a hard time to find a place to eat..I mean halal food.We couldn't find any restaurant, so we finally ended up in Bristo at one of the shopping complexes.I was quite confident with the food for there was the word 'halal' written.After eating we looked for a surau but after asking around we were told that there was none.We were still in Malaysia not some foreign country, yet it was difficult to find a surau Isn't it very ironical?

Quickly,we left the building and sped up to find a mosque.We found An-Nur mosque and stayed there until after maghrib..

That night we took a boat crossing the Sarawak River for dinner.We had the famous mee kolok and fresh barbeque prawns..Then we went bowling..

Eating mee kolok at the bank of Sarawak River

30 th Nov- Since our flight back was at 7:00pm, we decided to go to Sunday Market or 'Tamu'.It was just like the Morning market at Ketereh except bigger and of more variety.Vendors and hawkers busy selling their goods from fresh food to the famous Sarawak cake .T-shirts ,souveniers of various kinds,ornaments,jeans of almost all brands can be found here etc..etc..

Me buying ikan terbuk masin..I ended up buying 40 ikan terbuk masin to be distributed among friends and relatives..

That afternoon we had lunch of Beryani rice and Laksa Sarawak at my friend's house..

Looking tired..checking out time

Our flight was delayed 30 mins due to bad weather.We took off at 7:45 pm instead.It was not a smooth flight at all.In fact it was the worst flight I had ever been..20 mins after the take off, the plane experienced a turbulence and was shaking for 30 seconds before it dropped drastically.My kids and I would have jolted and thrown forward if it was not for the seatbelts that kept us fastened..The cabin turned chaotic at once.The plane was sort of swaying to the left and to the right.I hold on to the seat in front of me tightly asking my kids to read some holly versus..The cabin crew hurried for their seats,children were crying , people were shouting and there were endless noise.. My son hid his head in his jacket while my daughter was whining..scared..The only thing on my mind was when would this giant balloon going to drop and explode.It was not a night mare but a real thing happening to me..I was not watching a movie or what..

After 15 secs, it stopped shaking, I guessed we had passed through the worst ..but the girl behind me was still crying..pity her..

Then I remembered my friend's message a day before I left..he wished me luck and to be very careful since the weather was not good nowdays..instead, I advised him to be careful too and don't get caught in flood since he intended to 'ronda-ronda'Malaysia.He told me that on land and in the sky are two different situations for the sky has no mercy!I took it lightly then..but now i surely agree with him.In a split of second anything can happen up there...So..that was the end of my Sarawak excursion..it turned out as both good and bad experience.