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Published: August 2nd 2008
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We arrived back from a visit to the local Longhouse yesterday, dropped our bags at the hotel and went out for dinner. Have I mentioned that this has been a dry trip so far (except for celebrating the siting of the wild orang utang)? Well, two gin and tonics later - of the quality my mother would be proud to pour herself, we noticed a lot of traffic passing slowly on the road. It was the annual parade which begins the celebration of Malaysian independence. It was fantastic! No photos - sorry, the camera was in the hotel, but the atmosphere was tremendous. There were groups of motorbikes, dogs - some of which were pushed along in a child's push chair (honestly!) and then came the bands and different groups from schools, scouts, different racial groups from within the country, the uni and many others. It was so friendly, we applauded and marching people cheered, spoke to us and invited us to join in. This all took part in the dark and we all felt incredibly safe. There were no louts or drunks, everyone was so good humoured. We cheered the guitarist group - about 50 of them, so they started
Funghi!
Lots of different types to eat! to play!! The dancers performed and it was rather like Rio carnival - according to Christiane. True to form she and Laura-Lea who we met at the Longhouse set off with the Nigerian students dancing with them - they put on an excellent show!! Well, that went on until quite late, I have to report that Christiane lasted longer than the rest of us!!
People are so friendly here, we all have experienced people taking to us about our holiday and always welcoming us to their city. What a wonderful experience!
Our trip to the Longhouse was another highlight of the trip. We called in at a second orang utang centre and this time we were privileged to see mothers and their babies feeding. It really is special to watch these creatures and one of those memories that I shall bank in my memory mountain. We also called in a some small towns for a visit to a market where the veg and fruit were incredible - new types for me and lots to try. I also saw my first loofah stall!!
Lunch at a small cafe provided the best food so far on this trip, local spinach
Veggies
Spinach and pods of some kind of edible nut. which is actually leaves from small bushes and other veg just as good.
Then, another boat trip...! This time on a long boat, the four of us Laura-Lea having joined our small group. It was a gentle ride upstream, trees shading us at times and the kind of experience that lulls you into feeling so relaxed. And so it went on!! We stayed in the guesthouse which belonged to the families in the Longhouse. They were members of the Bedayu tribe who opened up their lives to visitors. We spent the first evening at a dancing performance in their long room, the most impressive was the chief, a man who was 93 or 94 years old and still leading the dancing. His body was very heavily tattoed - apparently they use them to show where they have travelled in life. A tattoo on the throat means that you are a brave man who has really achieved things in life, it is an extremely painful process! No evidence yet of knuckles with love and hate on them!!
The second day I managed to avoid the cock fighting but enjoyed the blow pipe demonstration. Such a choosy one!! Then we had our walk in the rainforest, Jagger, our guide, is a trained botanist so for me the walks were wonderful. All the information I could want walking beside me!! The walk ended after we visited a local tribal cemetary, thre were no names on the graves, but they were sheltered with roofs and people's every day tools were placed on the graves together with a large urn. Very simple and yet meaningful.
Then another river trip to a picnic place on a stony 'bay' on the river. Lunch was rice, chicken and veg cooked in their own bamboo shoots. Delicious, the best food I have eaten outside. Then time to laze or swim. I fact the whole afternoon was a winding down time after we returned to the guest house. I think we all felt that Jagger was the best cook of our meals so far - pity he's not available back in the UK!!
Tonight we are in Miri, a town north of Kuching, hoping to sort out some trips to batty caves, more at a later date!
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Tami
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While we experienced quite a good replica of different countries at Disney World, you are living the “real deal”. The bat caves should prove enlightening. You will have to tell about them!