“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...