WHILE travelling is still restricted at the moment, there is no harm to dream on travelling in an exotic land of Sarawak, the Land of the Hornbills. Especially when the biggest state in the country will be celebrating its most important festival - Hari Gawai or Harvest Festival on June 1, though in a controlled Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO). While we wait to travel again, let's have a virtual tour on ...

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...

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...

What About Kuching 2019, a tribute to the spirit of Kuching. This month-long festival is where the arts, culture and lifestyle of Kuching take centre stage. After all, what better way to appreciate a city than through the eyes of a local? Kuching. A vibrant city in the heart of Borneo that’s renowned for its culture, crafts and cuisine. This is where old world splendour meets new world charm. Where locals are proud to call home, and visitors who...

Kuala Lumpur, 8th September 2019 – ‘Sarawak Ethos’, the latest initiative by the Sarawak Tourism Board (‘STB’) in collaboration with Old Kuching Smart Heritage (‘OKSHE’), was showcased at the 16th Piala Seri Endon (PSE) Competition Finals, held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today. The showcase revealed a range of Sarawak batik collection to boost visibility of the Sarawak ‘brand’, encapsulating various aspects of Sarawak in the design. Sar...

From the Zulu warriors in South Africa, to the ancient Egyptians of North Africa, to the pilgrims of the Middle East or South America, beads have a presence in many cultures but the one commonality is that they have always been more than an eye-catching accessory. The story of the beads of Borneo is no exception. For many cultures, they were a currency, or perhaps a sign of faith, a symbol of wealth or a family heirloom to be treasured for fut...

One of the most unique ethnic food festivals in Malaysia, the Bario Food and Cultural Festival. The 3-day festival celebrates the unique food, farming, forest and cultural heritage of the Bario Highlands (3,200ft ASL) - one of the last surviving intact traditionally farmed and forested highland watersheds in Sarawak and East Malaysia. Enjoy the delicious organic food cooked by the various longhouse communities of the Kelabit Highlands. There w...

Kuching has been awarded the status "World Craft City" by the World Crafts Council. The city has the reputation of being the hub and gateway to the crafts of the indigenous tribes of Sarawak and entire Borneo. These crafts are testaments to the wealth and diversity of their traditions and cultures in the forms of textiles, fibres, ceramics and wood. Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said t...