SARAWAK CULTURAL VILLAGE

                                     VILLAGE TOURISM

Tourism growth potential can be harnessed as a strategy for Rural Development. The development of a strong platform around the concept of Rural Tourism is definitely useful for a country like Malaysia, at West Malaysia Sabah and Sarawak Across the world the trends of industrialization and development have had an urban centric approach. Alongside, the stresses of Urban lifestyles have led to a “counter urbanization” syndrome. This has led to growing interest in the rural areas. At the same time this trend of urbanization has led to falling income levels, lesser job opportunities in the total areas leading to an urbanization syndrome in the rural areas.

Rural Tourism is one of the few activities which can provide a solution to these problems. Besides, there are other factors which are shifting the trend towards rural tourism like increasing levels of awareness, growing interest in heritage and culture and improved accessibility, and environmental consciousness. In the developed countries, this has resulted in a new style of tourism of visiting village settings to experience and live a relaxed and healthy lifestyle. This concept has taken the shape of a formal kind of Rural Tourism. Under this Scheme, thrust will be to promote village tourism as the primary tourism product to spread tourism and its socio-economic benefits to rural and its new geographic regions. 

weLcOmE To 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.

9 PlAcEs In 1 vILLaGe

1) BIDAYUH LONG HOUSE

At the main entrance, one will enter a pavilion-like circular structure made of mostly bamboos. This structure, connected to the longhouse by a wooden plank, is known as Baruk which functions as the congregation place for the Bidayuh warriors. 

The Baruk's interior is filled with weapons, gongs, wooden masks and other personal effects. There is a raised platform right in the middle of the Baruk. If you look straight up from the platform, you will see human skulls hung from the roof top. Somewhat eerie, yes. And according to the lady inside the Baruk, those human skulls are real and they were once the enemies killed by Bidayuh warriors.

The longhouse is actually pretty decent. The internals are quite similar to other longhouses you can find in the cultural village, with the exception of an open-top sprawling veranda made of bamboo floors which I thought was quite nice.
Another feature that worth a mention inside the longhouse is a demonstration of artistic bamboo carving. I recalled seeing the delicate procedures on educational TV many years ago. The middle-aged artist who was at this section explained that only special types of bamboo are suitable for this dying work of art. The finished bamboo products will certainly make excellent stationery holders or beautiful wall decorations.



2) IBAN LONGHOUSE

The Iban also live in longhouses, a communal living concept that still exists even in present days. The longhouse is often considered as a village by itself, with a leader called Tuai Rumah, often elected by the majority of the tribe members. That fact itself is small paradox to the common practice of certain countries or kingdoms which the leadership thrones are passed from one of similar descendant to another. In an Iban longhouse, the leader is elected based on merits, hence the progenies of the previous chief will not necessarily be taking up the vacant position. In short, despite often being labeled as heartless headhunters and savage pirates in the days of yore, the Iban is a democratic lot.

On close inspection, the Iban House bears close resemblance to the Bidayuh House. The longhouse is built of local timbers tied together with naturally-harvested fibre woods. Since the real Iban longhouses are often erected near the major rivers of Sarawak, the design emulates a raised floor concept to ensure the occasional surge of river flow will not enter the longhouse.

Among the traditional activities showcased in the Iban House are kuih jala making (yes, if the Melanau are known for tebaloi, the Iban are famous for their sweet kuih jala), kain pua kumbu weaving (an exquisite decorative cloth that Sarawak is famous for) and tuak processing (alcoholic beverage made from rice wine). The house also showcases a variety of tools and equipment for hunting (yes, head-hunting and for animals too), musical instrument such as drums and gongs.

3) RAINFOREST STAGE

 The Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique festival that brings together on the same stage renowned world musicians from allcontinents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo.

Its formula of afternoon informative workshops, ethno-musicallectures, jamming sessions and mini concerts, followed by evening performances on the main stage has proven to be a hit with the audience, who come from near and far.

The festival site also sets up a variety of food and drink stalls, an arts and crafts area as well as a counter for festival memorabilia, Sarawak souvenirs and CDs by the performing artists, all this contributing to a fun filled, wholesome festival experience.World Music plus a country fair atmosphere in the midst of lush greenery.

The Rainforest World Music Festival, a not-to-be-missed occasion,guarantees a smashing time in the heart of the Borneo Jungle !

4)PERSADA ALAM

Persada Alam at the waterfall area serves the guests with some interactive performances by the artistes of Sarawak Cultural Village which include fashion shows, folk songs, jamming sessions and many more.

“Creative outdoor meeting with natural green surroundings”. Guest having a meeting at the Persada Alam

At the same time, the Persada Alam is also a perfect venue to organize business meeting. Guests can enjoy the day with varieties of local tea on sale at the Tea Pavillion.

5)PENAN HUT

PENAN HOUSE

"Do not blow from your mouth. Blow from your chest and your stomach." So says the Penan warrior on the art of shooting with the blowpipe at the Penan Huts. Watch blowpipe making or try blowpipe shooting with the Penans, the last of the hunters and gatherers the forest nomads.Penan specialty is the manufacturing and accurate use of blowpipes.                       A wood beam of adequate length is fixed in a drilling platform, and then bored through patient manual labour. The pipe is trimmed by axe and knife, and finally polished. The bore is smoothed and ground by pulling lengths of rattan through it.  

Blowpipe ammunition is a softwood plug tipped with a hardwood dart. Blowpipe poison, carefully dosed to suit the prey, is made from the sap of the Upas tree (Antiaristoxicaria).

The shy nomadic people of the jungle, the Penans, live in the dense virgin jungles of Central Borneo, among some of the State's most valuable timber      resources. Some are 'coming out' and learning to farm the land, others still prefer their roaming life-style.Penan shelters are quickly constructed to last for a few weeks or months. They are sited near a good stand of wild sago trees, the Penan's staple food after this has been used up, the family moves on.


6) ORANG ULU LONGHOUSE


Among the Orang Ulu, the Kenyah and Kayan live in the middle and upper reaches of the main rivers in Central and Eastern Sarawak. They originate from the Kalimantan side of Borneo. Traditionally hill padi farmers, Kenyah and Kayan have now turned to cash crops. 

The Kelabit live in the remote mountains of upper Baram, while the Lun Bawang the interiors of Miri and Limbang divisions. These two groups of Orang Ulu cultivate irrigated padi. The Penan, the most primitive group of Orang Ulu, continues a nomadic lifestyle. 

The Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit and Iban practise tattooing as a form of body ornamentation. In the old days, a tattoo on the back of a man's hand signify he has taken a skull. The Kayan believe that the tattoo serves as torch for their journey into the underworld. While the Orang Ulu men wear tattoo on almost all parts of their bodies, Orang Ulu women confine it to their wrists and hands.

    

An important contribution of the Orang Ulu to Sarawak culture is woodcarving. Skilled carvers embellish Orang Ulu houses, boats, tools and musical instruments with their elegant designs. The most important Orang Ulu motif is called "dragon dog", a figure with long snout, curling fangs and bulging eyes. Many woodcarving designs have found their way into tattoos, and these designs have also been received enthusiastically in the West.

Orang Ulu longhouses are built to last. Built from solid ironwood, these houses may last for generations. Unlike many other tribes, the Orang Ulu practise settled agriculture. They maintain developed rice fields, doing away with having to find new fresh fields every now and then. 

7)MELANAU TALL HOUSE

  

The Melanau Tall House is a type of longhouse of the Melanau tribe of Sarawak. The Melanau people consists of 5.8% of Sarawak's population. They live mostly in the central coastal region, between the Rajang and Baram rivers. Some of the Melanaus are Muslims, some Christians and the balance still animists. Melanaus are skilled fishermen and boat builders. They are renowned for their massive longhouses, many reaching forty feet high.

The Melanau's staple food is sago, which they prefer over rice. Sago palms originally grow wild, but the Melanaus have cultivated them. The sago is the starch obtained from the pith of the sago palm. To get the sago, the Melanau fell the pall at the right stage of maturity. The wedges of sago pith are rasped into a coarse, wet mash. It is then piled on strong mats and trodden in shallow troughs by the Melanau womenfolk in huts specially built for this purpose. The starch settles in the bottom. Then water is added to it, and the paste is further drained, kneaded, and dried as sago flour. Melanau sago products include dry pellets, grits, and several types of sago biscuits. 

Melanau healers or dukun use sick images, figurines that literally represent the illnesses. The Melanau dukun has an elaborate system of ceremonies for curing all kinds of illnesses. The more serious the illness, the more complicated the ceremonies. If all effort fails, he will perform a berayun ceremony, which can last five to nine nights. In such ceremonies, the dukun uses sickness images. The sickness images actually represent the spirit causing the illnesses. The dukun extracts the illness from the patient into the image, which he then sets adrift in the river or hidden in the jungle.

8) MALAY TOWN HOUSE


  

The Malay house is a handsome structure well suited for the tropical climate. The traditional village house is built entirely of wood and roofed with wood shingles. 

The Malay house is emblazened with carvings and fretwork above the windows, on bannisters and railings. The basic construction is accomplished through community labour, called rotong royong, while skilled craftsmen are employed to do the embellishments. 

During the Brooke era, the Malays adopted columns, stucco and indoor plumbing. They commissioned professional builders, often Chinese, to build for them stately homes, many of which are still visible along Datus Road in Kuching.

The Sarawak Malay womenfolk cultivate the craft of gold brocade called kain songket, similar to their cousins in Indonesia and other Malaysian states. The cloth, reserved for special occasions, is woven on a cottage loom with special pedals. The two main types of brocades woven in Kuching are kain berturus and kain Brunei. 


9) CHINESE FARMHOUSE

  

The Chinese Farmhouse at the Sarawak Cultural Village showcases the lifestyle of the Chinese people in Sarawak. The Chinese composes 29.2% of Sarawak's population. Although there has been contact between Sarawak and China for the past 1500 years, the majority of the Sarawak Chinese can trace their roots to immigration in the last 100 years, encouraged by the Brooke administration that wanted to build a solid farming middle class. The Chinese were working the gold and antimony mines since the early decades of the 19th century. The majority are Hakka or Foochow descent. 

   

Unlike the dwellings of the natives, the Sarawak Chinese farm house is built at ground level. The floor is of trodden earth, the walls are of whitewashed sawn timber while the roof is of attap. The Sarawak Chinese house is likely to consist of two main parts, the living quarters consisting of the kitchen, dining and living area is one part, while the storage area and bedroom is the other.A focal point of the living area of the Sarawak Chinese house is the household altar. A print or statuette of the revered diety is placed here, before it are the joss sticks, candles, cups of tea and other offerings. The doorpost is also divinely protected via the application of strips of red paper with protection verses. 



Entrance Fee

RM 45.00 for Adult
RM 22.50 for Children (6 - 12 yrs)
Free for Children aged under 6. 

Ticket are available at the Entrance of the Sarawak Cultural Village as well as local travel agents around Sarawak. 

The opening hours is: 0900 - 1715 daily

They are two Cultural Shows per day. Catch them at:
1130 - 1215
1630 - 1715

Sarawak Cultural Village Map

Brochure of Sarawak Cultural Village 

[click link below to get more information]

http://www.backpackingmalaysia.com/flyers-brochures/sarawak-cultural-village

LIFE CYCLE OF SARAWAK CULTURAL VILLAGE

1. Exploration- Sarawak Cultural Village which is located at Pantai Damai, Santubong just 32km from the capital state, Kuching is a place for hardy and adventurous people looking for something different in a holiday which is very authentic with its culture, natural, beauty, history and landscape.

2. Involvement- When local people start to notice that they are increasing numbers of people coming to their local area. They start to demonstrating traditional daily activities from Sarawak diverse tribes, provide information on their various traditional cultures and lifestyle and foods.

3. Development- Some of the companies start to do resort and spas and golf and country club. This makes the numbers of tourists swell dramatically and massively expands the number of job opportunities for people in the local region, in both tourist related jobs and in construction and services.

FUTURE JUSTIFICATION

-Sarawak was the right place for eco-tourism. Nowadays, tourist was really interested in natural environment and indigenous culture which are fast disappearing. For example, its location on island in Borneo always evokes images of adventure, nature and culture which will not disappointed the visitors demand.

- Ensure that there are policies in place that emphasise sustainable practises to protect the natural habitat. Upcoming developments surrounding Sarawak should be done in harmony with nature and must involve the local community.

-Set up the new tourism products centred around the newly created lakes in Bakun such as showcase the history and the culture of the local people.

- Changing landscape which is inevitable.

-Focusing on providing basic infrastructure like higways, airports and the upgrading of attractions with potential tourism destination.

- Focusing in providing the transportation line to the village which is far away from the town. This is because Sarawak is basically a living museum which the tourist are able to see all the ethnic groups of people from Sarawak and their living quarters including the shows.

3 Days 3 Nights in Hungary
Price: RM 500

       Hungary is rich with its culture, food and history. They have lots of castle, village and forest to explore. Its capital is Budapest and they use Hungarian Forint as their currency. RM 500.00 is includes flight tickets, accomodation, tour guide and food. For Muslim customers, we will provide HALAL food over there. The price is reasonable because their money value is lower than our currency value.

DAY 1

OKOPARK

•       it took 1 day

•      Activities:

•  active package (folk games,tours)
• Wellness package( Mogyahertelend Thermal bath, Bukkosd Okopark Hubertus guest house)
• Family packages (hiking)
• Wedding photography packages
• Hunting packages

DAY 2

HORTOBAGY (PASTOR LAND)

•      Took 1 day to visit

•      Free admission

•      World heritage site

•      Activities:

• Cultural performances
• Cultural history

DAY 3

SZABADTERI NEPRAJZI MUSUEM

•       1 Day activity

•       It is an open air musuem

•       Activities:

•  Skanzenvasut (tour by train)

-North Hungarian village

-Highland Market town

- Upper Tisza Region

-Bakony Balaton Uptowns

 FIGURE 1: TRADITIONAL ATTIRE

 FIGURE 2: HUNGARY FLAG

 FIGURE 3: HUNGARY MAP

 FIGURE 4: CASTLE IN HUNGARY CAPITAL,BUDAPEST

INFLUENCE THAT WILL SHAPE THE FUTURE OF TOURISM 

  

             Demography is the most important external factor that will shape the future of the tourism. Current demographic trends will change the demand for tourism and the available workforces, which will fundamentally impact on how the industries are structured, how they operate, and how they develop in a sustainable manner. The tourism industry has to know how, why, when and what will occur, the consequences for the industry, and the strategies that need to be put in place now to combat this change. 

            Tourism is closely linked to the environment. The natural environment and climate conditions are very important in determining the viability and attractiveness of a region as a tourist destination. Tourist developments tend to be based near attractive or unique features of the environment enabling visitors to gain easier access to interesting natural or manmade environments

    

             Globalization results in easier access across borders, which for the tourism industry may mean more foreign tourists as well as increased global competition from international tourist destinations.Technological developments create opportunities as well as pose threats to the tourism and travel industry .Tourism is highly dependent upon information and transport technology. The industry also needs innovations and scientific discoveries to renew and develop its products and services.

               If adventure had a home, it would be the vast wilderness. Grand, green, awesome! Like no other place on earth. If adventure had a home, it would be filled with the friendliest people on earth. People of different races, religions and cultures. If adventure had a home, it would be here when one arrives as a guest and leaves as family. If adventure had a home, its home would be Sarawak.

        Most of the people of Sarawak are sedentary farmers who live in communal longhouses and practice swidden rice agriculture. This state has the most diverse ethnic groups with a very distinct culture, language and lifestyle. A variety of religion with 45 different languages and dialects runs this town. In spite of these differences, the locals epitomise peace, harmony and unity.

        Iban claims the largest population, thus making its language the most widely used in Sarawak. Chinese society comes in second. Although Sarawak is part of Malaysia, the Malay population only falls in third. The Orang Ulu is well known for their intricate beadwork and detailed tattoos. Bidayuh people are famous for their hospitality and warm smiles.The Melanau are fearless sailors and skilled fishermen while the Penan, on the other hand, are shy and elusive.The Penans are the last true nomadic people of Sarawak.

     Sarawak's rainforests are some of the most diverse and protected ecosystems in the world today. Rich abundant wildlife is what attracts visitors from around the world. This place is for animal lovers.The Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) is a week-long celebration of food, music and dances celebrating the diverse cultural background of Sibu.BCF stands as Sibu biggest tourism event.  This is a perfect time to mingle with the locals from all walks of life. 

      Sarawak has become a favourite port of call for many cruise ships plying the South China Sea offering her passengers a unique adventure in this part of Malaysian Borneo.In Kuching, the tour programme consists of the Kuching City Tour, get up close with the Orang Utans at the Semenggoh Wildlife Center, appreciate the Heart to Heart Orang Utan.

5 PLACES OF ATTRACTION AND IMPACT OF TOURISM TOWARDS THE DESTINATION

Bulgaria

·        Apriltsi is a small town in Lovech Province, Central-NorthBulgaria, located in the vicinity of the highest part of Stara Planina mountain.Due to its favourable location in a valley at the foot of Botev Peak in the Balkan Mountains, Apriltsi is a newly developing tourist resort in the region.The town was founded by the merging of four large mountain villages: Novo Selo, Zla Reka, Vidima and Ostrets, which are today the town's neighbourhoods. Due to this, it has a rather rural appearance with some 19th-century Bulgarian houses preserved.

·        Shipkovo is nestled in the Northern parts of Sredna Stara Planina (Sredna Old Mountain) in Troyan Municipality, 18 km away from the town of Troyan. The village is famous for its natural mineral waters and the nearby Shipkovski Mineral Waters resort, which is one of the oldest and the most famous spa resorts in Bulgaria. The good climate conditions and the curative water, the natural beauties as well as the rich cultural heritage in the site make Shipkovo a wonderful destination for many types of tourism.

Japan

 The remote mountain villages of Gassho-style houses in Shirakawa-go on the Hida Highlands were registered as cultural heritage sites in 1995. The scenery of the mountain villages blending in with the nature of each season - fresh green leaves in spring, tinted leaves in autumn, winter snow - and the atmosphere of the villages with traditional houses standing side by side looks just like a fairy tale.Houses built in the "gassho style" are defined as having a roof in the shape of a triangle, similar to hands folded in prayer.

Africa

 Phezulu Village, the world famous Gasa clan has over the last 30 years, allowed visitors to Phezulu the opportunity to savour the taste and feel the rhythm of Africa. Visitors are taken into traditional beehive shaped thatched huts, where the various artifacts, beliefs and rituals are explained, giving foreigners an insight into the fascinating Zulu culture. The Zulu dancing show is impressive with the dancers in their traditional garb, showing off their skills with grace, agility and humour.

France

·        Saint-Emilion is a charming medieval village located in the heart of the famous Bordeaux wine area. It is a very unique site were world-famous wineries, fine wine, beautiful architecture and great monuments are a perfect match. The diversity of its wines is due to both a complex geology and a microclimate that is perfectly suitable for winemaking. Combined with the permanent care of professionals for their vines.