What’s the best way to plan a holiday when the whole world is on offer? Many travellers pick a country: they decide to ‘do’ Japan, visit Vietnam or travel round Thailand. Or else, they opt for an experience: amble round Angkor Watt, full moon party in Phuket, laze on the beach in Bali, or meditate in Mysore. So what of Malaysia – famously multi-cultural and only relatively recently made in the flurry of decolonization that came about in the 1960s...

Kuching – An old town for newcomers! All cities have their own mythologies. They announce an idea of their grand and special status to every newcomer, declaring their character through vaulted train stations, impressive edifices or triumphal arches. But Kuching, only 200 years old, is itself the city of the newcomer: a city of Brunei noblemen coming to control a territory, of adventurous immigrants looking for a new life, of an English family es...

Serian – Checkpoint of the South Serian is the southern Sarawak gateway to everywhere. As you come up from Kuching, the first sense of Serian is a giant roundabout adorned with a giant durian. This is the compass, heading to the Indonesian border at Tebedu in one direction and then the interior in another, up past Balai Ringin and on to Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu, and the rest of the state. Serian town is set to be a stop off on the Pan-Borneo Highw...

Sarawak has a reputation for diverse cultures but what is not so well known is the delectable food these diverse cultures have created. But wait, you may think that under a global lockdown it’s impossible to taste any of Sarawak's unique cultural food and normally you’d be right. But not anymore. For the first time ever, we are sharing our unique recipe for Sarawak Laksa so that you can experience it at home and help soften the burden of lockdown...

“As the sun rose, the imposing mass of Santubong appeared, like a great fortress commanding the entrance to the Sarawak River.” Odoardo Beccari Santubong is a short, 30km drive from Sarawak’s capital, Kuching, but it is truly out on its own limb. It is, in fact, a peninsula but feels more like an island. The journey there by road, along tree-lined avenues towards a misty mountain in the distance, is the perfect passage of decompression from the ...

If you ask anyone who has been to Sarawak what they enjoyed most about their trip, one of the top three answers would be our outstanding hospitality. Even though we are made up of over 40 sub-ethnic groups, one common thread that holds us together is the extraordinary love and compassion we have for our communities. Amid the unseen fears of the coronavirus lockdown, Sarawakians of all backgrounds, ethnicities and ages still find time for generous...

Imagine waking up to a delightful cacophony of tropical birdsong. But wait, if this is the tropics, why is the air around you so crisp, cool and light? One long breath instantly refreshes you. What’s going on? You are in the tropics, but in a traditional kampung (village) home in the highlands of Borneo. You get up and look out the window to see villagers going about their daily chores as they and their ancestors have been doing for centuries,...

When people talk about beauty, what comes to mind? Generally, its fair skin, long legs, silky hair, and pointed noses. Western media has done a lot to influence what we think is beautiful. Yet if we look past this bias, we find that not everyone has the same beauty ideals. In Sarawak indigenous beauty is far different from the Eurocentric beauty standards. What makes an indigenous Sarawakian woman beautiful may be seen as ‘savage’ by many toda...

Tattoos have been an integral part of Sarawakian tribal culture for centuries. Yet in the face of rapid development and the migration of rural communities to the cities and further afield, this ancient art and knowledge of its origins and significance were almost lost. However, efforts are underway to preserve this important cultural practice that turns a blank canvas into a journey through life. Because, like the tattoos of tribes all ove...

The music of the Borneo rainforest is recreated using a combination of different instruments. The deep, hypnotic drumming of the beduk (long drum) represents the density of the jungle. While the whistles from the selingut (nose flute) and the chimes of the jatong utang (wooden xylophone) create a cacophony of birdsongs so common on a glorious morning. Listen a little closer, you might even hear the strumming of a sape (Bornean boat lute), Sara...

Sarawak is home to numerous indigenous cultures, all with their own cultural practices, traditions and festivals that contribute to the colourful tapestry that makes up Sarawak’s unique identity. These cultures and traditions reflect and shape values, beliefs, and aspirations, thereby defining the people of Sarawak and their identity. It is important to preserve cultural heritage because it ensures a people’s integrity remains intact.  ...

Many of Sarawak’s indigenous communities have called the state home for thousands of years. All these communities contribute to Sarawak’s unique culture and colour. With so many different communities, it is no surprise then that the state is home to a wide variety of cultural festivals. These festivals ensure the remembrance of their cultures and heritage stays alive amidst the relentless onset of modernisation. While Sarawakians generally wel...