Malaysia States & Federal Territories (Sarawak)

14. Sarawak

      Sarawak is the largest of 13 states in Malaysia. Located on the north and north-western tip of Borneo, it covers 124,450 sq. km and stretches over 750km. It makes up 37.5% of land area in the country (slightly larger than South Korea).

Sarawak is unique in that there are significant differences in culture, administration and lifestyle. Sarawak’s population of 2.4 million people comprises roughly 27 main ethnic groups still in existence, each with its own language, traditions and way of life. Sarawak is renowned for its abundance in natural resources. Liquid natural gas, crude oil and tropical hardwood timber sustain the economy. In the last few decades, agriculture (palm oil), light industries in food processing, shipbuilding and electronics, is becoming increasingly more important.

The quaint city of Kuching is Sarawak’s capital and main entry point. A small city of great history and legends, Kuching is forever remembered as the Camelot of the White Rajahs. Although the name ‘Kuching’ is associated with the Malay word for ‘Cat’, the city’s origins go centuries further before its modern day affiliation to cats and cat-lovers. Nevertheless, like the feline, the city embodies its own brand of grace and subtlety. The world’s first cat museum opened here. Fun, quirky, historic, Kuching and its region are filled with tourist attractions such as Bako National Park, Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Borneo Highlands Resort, Sarawak Museum, Sarawak Cultural Village, Fairy Cave and many more.

In the middle of Sarawak’s 750km coastline lie Sibu and Bintulu, Sarawak’s heartland hamlets. Sibu lies at the geographic centre of Sarawak and offers great options in Iban culture and lowland forest. Options for pre-and post-convention activities include: shopping for local arts and crafts, dining (central Sarawak style), Iban longhouse-hopping; or for a little more excitement, take a ride in fast passenger ferries to lovely towns like Kapit for a taste of rustic living.

Central Sarawak is also the doorway to the Rejang, the longest river in Malaysia. Bintulu is Sarawak’s fastest-growing town. Once a sleepy little fishing village, it is now a booming industrial centre because of natural gas, and will soon be a capital for energy-intensive industries in Malaysia. A short drive takes you to nearby Similajau National Park, known for its chain of golden beaches, white cliffs and turtle landings.

Atrractions in Sarawak

- Bako National Park

         

          Bako became classified as a protected area in 1957, making it the oldest national park in Sarawak. Covering just 27 square kilometres, it’s also among the smallest. But despite the size, Bako National Park offers diverse landscapes such as steep coastline cliffs, dense rainforests, tropical beaches and intriguing rock formations. Streams and rivers transverse and penetrate the forest’s dense foliage. A total of 18 colour-coded walking trails and boardwalks of varying difficulty and length take visitors through the national park. Follow the Pandan Kecil Trail to the beach or the Lintang Loop Trail to experience Bako’s diverse ecosystems and habitats.

Bako National Park has an astonishing amount of flora and fauna for its relatively small size. Almost all of Borneo’s known plants, including the carnivorous pitcher plants and elegant orchids, grow here. A range of wildlife such as long-tailed macaques, silver leaf monkeys, flying lemurs and slow loris as well as civets, pangolins and mouse deer call Bako National Park home. Expect to find several biomes and ecosystems, including mangroves, grasslands, swamps, beaches and dipterocarp forests with more than 190 species of birds. Each habitat houses different species of plants, flowers and wildlife. 

The national park’s biggest highlight is the estimated 150 to 250 wild proboscis monkeys. The protected pot-bellied, long-nosed primates contribute heavily towards tourist numbers. Groups tend to live near Park HQ as well as at Telok Delima and Telok Paku. Observing the critters swinging from the trees and posing with both their arms and legs spread like a giant ‘X’ is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But remember, just because Bako National Park has a large population, it’s not guaranteed they’ll be around.

- Gunung Gading National Park

        Gunung Gading National Park is a beautiful expanse of mountainous rainforest only two hours away from Kuching. Located near Lundu, a pleasant little town in south-west Sarawak. Initially, the park was a closed conservation zone for the spectacular Rafflesia, the largest flower in the world that can grow up to one metre in diameter. However, after extensive environmental impact studies, the National Parks Department decided that Gunung Gading is a treasure that should be shared with the public.

It was therefore opened to the public in 1994. However, Gunung Gading National Park remains closely watched by the National Parks Department to ensure that visitors will get the best opportunities to view the flowering Rafflesia without causing any damage to the young buds and other flora in the surrounding area. A plank walk has been built close to where the Rafflesia is commonly found, making viewing possible when the plant is in bloom.

Jungle trails lead to streams, cascading waterfalls and the mountains, with one path taking trekkers to the summit of Gunung Gading (906m). The rugged mountains within the Park provide a scenic backdrop to the nearby town of Lundu, and the beaches at Pandan and Siar.

- Fairy Cave and Wind Cave

       

     Approximately 40km away from the town of Kuching, lies two incredible limestone caves filled with history and wonder known as the Fairy Cave and the Wind Cave. The Fairy Cave took its name from a stalagmite structure near the entrance that is said to resemble the ‘Guan Yin’, the Goddess of Mercy in Chinese culture. Inside this giant cave, you will find natural formations of different coloured rock and rich green moss, together with the great contrasts between the entering light and shadowy darkness, offers beautiful opportunities for the avid photographer.  

Just about 10 minutes away lies the Wind Cave, where a torchlight is essential for visitors to navigate through their man-made boardwalk into the cave. Deep within the darkness of the cave, plentiful of bats and swiftlets flock the area, making for an amazing auditory experience, as no lights are installed in this magnificent limestone cave to avoid disturbing the animals living here. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of nesting swiftlets on the cave walls, with the bird’s nest being considered a delicacy among the Asian community and fetches an expensive price!

- Matang Wildlife Centre

      The Matang Wildlife Centre is about 35km from Kuching. Located in Kubah National Park, this large enclosed area of rainforest is home to endangered wildlife. There is a training programme here that teaches Orang Utans, who have been orphaned or rescued from captivity, how to survive in the wild. Visitors will be able to see lots of Orang Utans here, especially during feeding time. Besides these adorable primates, there are also Sun Bears, Sambar Deer, Civet cats as well as three large aviaries that house Sea Eagles, Hornbills and other birds in Sarawak.

There are some pleasant riverside picnic spots a short walk from the information centre and four jungle trails.  The Pitcher Trail, which follows a circular path through the forest, takes approximately two hours and trekkers should not have too much difficulty in spotting the various specious of pitcher plants that litter the forest floor at the sides of the trail.  The Rayu Trail leads to the Kubah National Park headquarters and takes 3-4 hours. The Sungai Buluh Trail leads to two secluded waterfalls and takes 2-hours (one way).

- Sarawak Cultural Village

      Known as the 'Living Museum', the Cultural Village was set up to preserve and showcase Sarawak's cultural heritage. Located at Pantai Damai, Santubong, just 32km from the state capital, Kuching, it is the perfect place to get introduced to local culture and lifestyle.

Sprawled across 17 acres, there are about 150 people living in the village, demonstrating traditional daily activities from Sarawak's diverse tribes like the processing of sago and the making of handicrafts. They wear traditional costumes and also put on dances for visitors.

The village residents provide information on their various traditional cultures and lifestyles. You can see replicas of buildings that represent every major ethnic group in Sarawak; longhouses of the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu, a Melanau tall-house and a Chinese farm house among others.

The village also has a theatre, where you can enjoy multicultural dance performances. Besides this, there is a restaurant and handicraft shop. You can even get married at the Sarawak Cultural Village, in traditional Iban, Malay, Bidayuh or Orang Ulu style.

The Iban longhouse has separate rooms placed side by side, all of which open to a long communal hall, used for leisurely activities like wood carving and basket weaving. Guests are often invited to attend nightly ceremonies and drink a potent rice wine, tuak, which the Iban make themselves. Comfortable guesthouses are also available for visitors.