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Published: February 22nd 2013
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Hi all,
With legs back in perfect working order it was a taste of culture for me today.
I started off on a 45 minute trip to the Sarawak cultural village. This village is a living workshop. Sarawak was once inhabited by many different tribes, most of which live deep within the jungles of Borneo. Within the village you can experience a taster of the locals in a variety of dwellings, including the Chinese farm house, Malay town house, Melanau tall house, Orang Ulu longhouse, Penan hut, Iban longhouse and Bidayuh longhouse. Some of which have incredibly steep and precarious steps up. Pussycat steps to an experienced mountain walker such as myself!!!
As you enter for registration they issue you with a passport to be stamped in every house you visit (a nice little piece of memorabilia to take away with you). Along the way you can buy handicrafts and various snacks, experience blowpipe shooting (if you can get a look in!) and if you are feeling very enthusiastic you can try your hand at bamboo dancing! Needless to say I left it to the professionals! One of the highlights of the visit was the dance performance with
numerous traditional dances, each originating from a different tribe. In parts it's actually very entertaining.
Very pleased with my purchases and new Borneo speciality tattoo (only temporary ink I'm led to believe - I haven't completely lost it - yet!) it was time for the shuttle bus back.
Although I'm actually growing very fond of the tattoo.
Next stop - a cruise along the Sarawak river to catch the sunset. On the trip you pass "tambangs", small house like boats ferrying locals across to the other side of the river, together with an array of historical buildings. I thought I'd had my fill of tribal dancing today, so I was surprised to see the boat dancing team performing on the top deck to the crowds. To be honest, unlike in the village, each dance was quite indistinguishable from the other. I think I've had my fill of dancing for now.
Cruise okay but I would probably save your 60 ringgit for some other edible treats!
Feeling I should really experience the local life, I dared to venture on one of the boats across to the other side. To be honest the boat looked like it
had been put together that morning. It was quite a confined space, so having recently found out that I am extremely claustrophobic I was pleased the journey was only three minutes one way! On the other side I just followed the stream of Malays - all heading to Mira cake house for Kek Lapis. Having tried about ten different flavours I was at a loss to decide which my soon to be with me welsh companion would like best. I chose Pandan and Cheese - hope she likes them. I am confident she will. Delicious. Whilst I was in the mood for embracing the local culture I head to the food court to sample a local favourite, Ayam Penyet (chicken rice), accompanied with sambal, white cabbage, cucumber and some other indistinguishable vegetable. It arrived minus cutlery. I guess I could have just asked for some, but for fear of providing unnecessary entertainment at my expense I decided to follow their lead and ate the entire meal with my hands! I'm sure it tasted even nicer for the experience.
Everyone is so kind here. They just cannot do enough to help. There is a huge variation in wealth, as in
most places, but they truly embrace life in all its simplicity. It makes you realise how as Europeans we can sometimes be eager and often have selfish desires especially for material possessions. I think they are happy with people that embrace their culture, especially the food.
I will be sad to leave Borneo. However after next week I will have different experiences, lots of relaxation and most of all some company.
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Nadine Carroll
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more food...
Hi Lisa, You are right we will all be green with envy of your trip, experiences and food (and drink). I was sorry to hear about the rain (not) - after all it is 3 degrees here and has been trying to snow this lunchtime. I have to say I wonder if you should become a travel writer for the Times as you not only have the photo skills but you have a lovely writing style. I am pleased you are buying a few treats for your Welsh friend as theres only a few more days before you will be able to share more of your adventure together. Needless to say the rest of us are soldiering on here - I do look forward to a catch up on the journey so keep it going Best wishes Nadine