Fun things to do in State of Sarawak

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After a fascinating evening of dancing and games, we were able to witness some of the daytime activities of the Iban people. One of these was a blow pipe demonstration and a chance to try our own hand at it. The blow pipes are almost two metres long and fire a small dart. In the jungle, the tips of these darts contain a poison that anaethetises small animals. The long pipes are not easy to direct, and while our hosts hit the mark on almost every attempt, some of us had trouble just blowing through the long tube.

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Besides the human skulls hanging inside hessian bags at the entrance to the family rooms in the longhouse, traditional jewellery and headwear is also put on display for tourists. The heavy, thick earrings must take some time to get accustomed to - replicas of these can be purchased in Kuching. There are some intricate bracelets and neckwear, along with 'feathery' head-dresses worn by men during ceremonies. The longhouse also has examples of traditional knives - were they used for beheading?
At the longhouse, you can also buy examples of Iban art work, including wood carvings and matting.

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Perhaps the highlight of a visit to Serubah Longhouse is the evening cultural performance. Welcomed with glasses of a highly potent alcoholic drink by the head of the household, we were treated to traditional dancing and singing by the Iban inhabitants of the longhouse and were then invited to join in on some danicing and games. It was both culturally enriching, and at times hilariously funny, as the householders tried to hide their smiles at our clumsiness. If you have the opportunity, even for an overnight trip from Kuching, this is a must do.

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After an amazing boat ride passing lush vegetation along the Lemanak River, the Serubah Longhouse comes into view. And its not hard to understand why it is called a longhouse. We were invited to climb the steep entrance steps to see the living quarters in day light. The communal gallery stretches for 100 metres. Off the gallery are the private quarters where families eat and sleep. Initially the gallery appears bare until we see hessian bags hanging from pillars outside the living quarters. But it is what is in the hessian bags that surprises - human skulls. While headhunting has now ceased, the skulls are kept as traditonal reminders of the past.

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A great tour option from Kuching is an overnight stay at Serubah Longhouse, home to Iban people. The best way to get there is to travel by bus to Lemanak Jetty and then board a longboa for a one hour trip down the Lemanak River before arriving at the doorstep of the longhouse. The trip down the river takes you through some peaceful, picturesque countryside.

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Serian Town is located about 65km from Kuching. There is a daily market selling fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and chicken, along with freshly made sweet delicacies. The market also sells clothes, jewellery (that you should bargain for) and pharmaceuticals. It is a very clean market. The store holders are happy to explain their wares. Great for a day trip or a stop off on the road to the Lemanak river.

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Just a short trip from Kuching is the Semonggok Orangutan Reserve. Here you can see semi-wild orangutans who mostly fend for themselves but sometimes come to the specially erected feeding platform if there is a shortage of food in the jungle. The centre is well run in terms of rehabilitating orangutans to live in the wild - most of the funding is through tourism but it is a no touch policy and there is no guarantee that you will see an orangutan (although both times I have visited I was lucky enough to see several travelling through the trees and the largest of them all, Richie, getting a free feed at the feeding platform.) If you are visiting Kuching, put a visit to the centre on your 'to do' list! Many agents in Kuching will organise tours for around $30 US per person

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If you are doing a tour from Kuching to one of the Iban longhouses, make sure to stop off at one of the pepper plantations en route. Liew's pepper farm is open to the public. You can walk through the fields and learn the diffference between white and black pepper. You can watch the pepper being seperated and ground, and buy some fresh pepper to take home with you. Something a little out of the ordinary and well worth a visit.