Many Visits to Sarawak, Yet a New Experience

I have been to Sarawak many times and have always enjoyed the many varied experiences.

My first visit was in the 1980’s. My wife and I flew to Miri and moved on to a remote longhouse where we practiced our blowpipe and tracking skills and joined in the entertainment and feasting after dark. We advanced to Niah Caves to witness prehistoric art and the collection of swallows’ edible bird nests. Our last stop on this trip will take me back to Miri, where we will stay in the Pullman Miri Waterfront.

Many of my visits featured music festivals which Sarawak excels in, including the Rainforest World Music Festival at Damai, Miri Jazz and Kuching Waterfront Jazz.
Nature has played an important part of my time in Sarawak. I got close to the orangutans at Semenggoh Wildlife Park and watched thousands of bats emerge from a cave in Mulu National Park.

Wading ashore, through crocodile infested waters, at Bako National Park I photographed proboscis monkeys, silver leaf monkeys bearded pigs and much more.
Kuching is often my gateway to Sarawak and the small city has much to offer including a lovely waterfront, beautiful murals, colonial architecture, temples, mosques and museums.

Gawai is the most important festival in Sarawak and a national holiday. Dayak families re-unite and eat and feast in celebrating the harvest festival. Tuak, an alcoholic drink prepared by Dayak women is drunk in copious quantities. I recently returned from Betong, in head-hunter land, where approximately 1 500 Dayaks, in traditional clothing, proudly paraded through the town before partying all night.

I have had many wonderful times in Sarawak and learned much about the state. What I haven’t done is a road tour, with 5 good friends, in a CAM Co-Star luxury minibus to explore breathtaking scenery and rich culture. We will travel from Kuching to Miri via Damai, Sibu and Bintulu. We will have a blast so please follow our progress.