Hi everyone ,today I'm here to share my experienced when I visited Sarawak.Oh before that I would like to introduce myself,my name Nurul Assyikin .You guys can call me Syikin and I'm Matriculation student.So this is my project for Science Computer and for my first entry I would like to share with you guys about interesting places in Sarawak.
But before that ,I want you guys know about the history of Sarawak.
Okay ,let's go.
Sarawak is rich in history and heritage. It is also known as Land of The Hornbills. The population comprises of local ethnic groups namely Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Melanau and other minor tribes plus the Malays,and Chinese living together in harmony for more than a century.
Being the largest state in Malaysia, Sarawak covers a vast area of 124,000 sq-km of land along the northwest coast of Borneo, the third largest island in the world. Sarawak offers you a journey of relentless discovery as you travel from city to city and from village to village where you will find, remnants of colonial architectures and in a rich heritage.
There was 76 interesting places in Sarawak, but I only choose only 5 top place that became popular for tourism.
01. Bako National Park ;
With its rain forest, abundant wildlife, jungle streams, waterfalls, interesting plant life, secluded beaches and trekking trails, Bako National park offers visitors an excellent introduction to the rain forest of Borneo. Bako may not have an instantly recognizable star attraction but there can be very few places in the world that pack so much natural beauty into such a limited area, all just 37 km from Kuching. Its accessibility – and its sheer range of attraction and activities – have made Bako one of the most popular parks in Sarawak.
Gazetted as a protected area in 1957, Bako is Sarawak’s oldest national park, covering an area of 2,742 hectares at the tip of the Muara Tebas peninsula. It is one of the smallest national parks in Sarawak, yet one of the most interesting, as it contains almost every type of vegetation found in Borneo. A well-maintained network of trails - from easy forest strolls to full-day jungle treks – allows visitors to get the most out of this unique environment.
02. Sarawak Cultural Village ;
A wonderful place to learn about the history & various culture from different ethnic groups in Sarawak. Highly recommended for anyone who loves history.
Tucked away at the foothills of legendary Mount Santubong, 35 km from Kuching is Sarawak's fascinating cultural showcase, the award winning "Sarawak Cultural Village" which is also the venue for the World Harvest Festival and the Rain forest World Music Festival, an internationally renowned festival.
This living museum is wholly owned by the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) depicts the heritage of the major racial groups in Sarawak and conveniently portrays their respective lifestyle amidst 14 acres of tropical vegetation.Here, it is possible to see Sarawak's ethnic diversity at a glance.
The handicraft is both bewildering and tempting, including the Kain Songket (Malay cloth with gold inlay), Pua Kumbu (Iban housewives textiles), Melanau Terendak (sunhat), Bidayuh tambok (basket), Iban parang (swords), Orang Ulu wood carving and Chinese ceramics.
The 45-minute cultural performance of songs, dances and entertainment is something you will not want to miss during your visit to Sarawak.
Iban one of the Sarawak ethnic famous with traditional customs.
03.Cat Museum ;
About ;
The Cat Museum is under the management of the Kuching North City Hall. All collections are available in Cat Museum has acquired since it is located at the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur in 1987. The collection was brought to the city of Kuching by Sarawak Museum and it has been displayed for the first time on 1 August 1988 at Dewan Tun Abdul Razak.
Cat Museum is located at Ground Floor, Kuching North City Hall Headquarters in Bukit Siol, Kuching, Jalan Semariang, Petra Jaya, Kuching. Kuching North City Hall building located on top of Bukit Siol with a height of 60 meters above sea level, which has a beautiful view overlooking the beautiful Kuching City.
Cat Museum covers an area of 1,035.0 square meters that has four main galleries and has more than 4,000 cat artifacts including paintings, and other memorabilia
Opening Hours;
MONDAY - SUNDAY : 9.00am - 5.00pm (EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST DAY OF MAIN PUBLIC HOLIDAY)
04. Semenggoh Nature Reserve ;
Travelers who want to see semi-wild orangutans in their natural habitat will love this Semenggok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre Tour from Kuching. This popular tour offers an up close look at these playful primates who have been rescued from captivity and are learning skills to return to the wild. Your tour includes an expert guide who will share information about the Centre’s successful breeding program and timed feedings. Lucky travelers will have the chance to see orangutans emerge from the wild during mealtime, and maybe even spot mothers with their babies. This incredible tour includes a 30-minute scenic drive from Kuching and a 20-minute jungle trek, where your guide will point out the flora and fauna unique to the region. Optional forest walks can also be incorporated into the tour for travelers who prefer a more active adventure.
05. Annah Rais Hot Spring ;
Annah Rais is located about 60km from Kuching City. It is situated on both banks of Sarawak River. Its spring under water that found in the middle of the river. It has become a well know spot after being "developed" lately sometimes in 2011. It's not a big tourist attraction but its just something where you can go and unwind yourself in this scenic environment in Tropical Rain forest.
The best part, you can swim in this river as pictured below. There's no crocodile or leeches here. It's Crystal clear water.
How to get to this spot from Kuching City ?
First, you have to get to Kota Padawan, formally known as "Batu 10".
From Kota Padawan, it will take you about 48 KM to reach the spot. From Kota Padawan, you just follow the road sign leading to Kampung Annah Rais.
Hot Spring Entrance Fees;
Adult - RM 3.00
Student - RM 2.00
What to bring should you plan to come here ?
- Short or extra clothing.
- Tower
- Soap
- Some foods and drinks as you may not have what you may wanted to but there.
- You can do BBQ at the river bank but bring your own materials and the items.
06.Mount Santubong :
It was a tale of jealousy and rage which had a tragic ending.
Legend tells of two sisters who were princesses of kayangan, the celestial kingdom who were well-liked by the people as they assisted them in their disputes. The princesses, Princess Santubong and Princess Sejinjang were invited by the people to live among them, which they graciously did.
Princess Santubong, the more beautiful of the two, had many suitors, got married and subsequently became pregnant. This made Princess Sejinjang very jealous, and consequently, she began to claim that she was more beautiful than her sister. Santubong would not agree and a huge argument ensued between the two. In the end Sejinjang became violent and hit her pounding
pestle on the head of Santubong, who fell to the earth and grew into the mountain that bears her name. However, just before Santubong fell she threw her weaving loom’s beam at Sejinjang, breaking a part of her body, which scattered into the sea, creating the islands in the area (Pulau Kera, Pulau Burong, Satang/Talang-talang and so on). Meanwhile, the rest of Sejinjang’s body also fell to the earth and became the other mountain near Mount Santubong.
That is why the profile of Gunung or Mount Santubong looks like a lady lying on the horizon if viewed from various angles from the South China Sea.
07. Niah National Park ;
Niah National Park provides some interesting and impressive sights. The surrounding area is covered in dense primary rain forest and is home to many species of plants and wildlife.
Even today, the caves remain important for local communities, with birds nest and guano collection providing valuable employment and income. Niah Caves is a very pleasant place to spend a few days, although most of the major attractions are accessible to the day visitor.
Visitors leaving its Great Cave around sunset will see two great black clouds intermingling - the nightly ‘changing of the guard’ as hundreds of thousands of swiftlets return to their nests, whilst an approximately equal number of bats fly out to forage in the forest. A variety of luminous fungi can be clearly seen from the plankwalk at night.
08. Mulu National Park ;
Gunung Mulu is Sarawak's largest national park (544 sq km), and also Malaysia's first World Heritage Area, a status it was awarded in 2000. It is most famous for its limestone cave systems,
The summit of Gunung Mulu is covered by moss forests and stunted montane vegetation, whilst razor-sharp limestone pinnacles, some as high as 50 metres, are found on the upper slopes of Gunung Api. The park's forest ecosystems include peatswamp, heath, mixed dipterocarp, moss forest and montane vegetation; home to thousands of species of ferns, fungi, mosses and flowering plants, including 170 species of orchid and 10 species of pitcher plants, an impressive variety of mammals, birds (including 8 species of hornbill), frogs, fish and insects.
9. Batang Ai National Park ;
Batang Ai National Park is located in the Sri Aman Division of Sarawak, in eastern Malaysia on the island of Borneo. It is located in Lubok Antu, some 250 kilometers east of Kuching.
The lake creates a beautiful environment and gives a sense of peace and tranquillity. The local inhabitants are mostly Iban, and tours to nearby Iban longhouses are also a tourist diversion. This national park takes strong steps in having the local communities involved in its management. The communities have formed a cooperative called 'Kooperasi Serbaguna Ulu Batang Ai' and are helping to conserve the park.
If you are someone that like for an adventure, this is the place like no other, the sound of rainforest itself "hard to describe with word" but sure you know it...ride in an Iban(sea dayak) longboat is and adventure by itself, just imagine trying to balance yourself on a boat with only two or two and the half feet wide. If you are lucky enough to have a good boat men, he will show you how to fish with fish net on a boat.
Not something to miss and bring your camera. Be sure to pay for a guide - they know where the animals live and hide. Without them you you will just be a westerner stumbling around and missing what is before you own eyes. Really very good indeed. If I had known - guidebooks do not do it justice. I would have stayed longer. Must be fit to get around. Not appropriate for very small kids or the elderly.
