Sarawak Cultural Village : An Open Air Living Musuem

Land of The Hornbills.

Where Adventure Lives.

More Than Paradise.

These are names given to Sarawak. All of which I wholeheartedly agree.

I always believe that the cultural village of any country is good; it is impossible for us to venture throughout every single country and learn their history, culture and customs.

After visiting plenty cultural villages - both local and abroad - I realized that our very own cultural villages is at par with those I’ve seen. And I am truly impressed and in love with Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV), located at the foot of Gunung Santubung. Rich in history, culture and heritage, rewarded with beautiful natural wonders, blessed with charming heartfelt warmness, Sarawak boasts a complete package that every traveller can only call paradise.

Sarawak Cultural Village is an open air living museum portraying the cultural and heritage of Sarawak’s main ethnicities, showcasing handicrafts, food, weapon, fashion as well as dances. The houses that one can experience here are the Orang Ulu Longhouse, the Melanau Tall House, the Bidayuh Longhouse, the Iban Longhouse, the Malay Kampung House and the Chinese Farm House. Every house has its unique characteristic and ethnic showcase, hence no two houses are the same hence I advise that you allocate few hours if you plan to visit this enchanting place. Another thing you should check out is the local food being served at the cafeteria, from ayam pansuh to umai to uban goreng belacan; the food here will surely excite your palate. 

My first experience of the Sarawak Cultural Village was awe-inspiring. The first thing that came to mind was the museum I visited in Romania. I tend to travel with minimal planning, letting my feet carve my path. That's what happened in Romania, taking me to a living museum. And since then, my benchmark for cultural villages is Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum in Bucharest, Romania. The one in Stockholm couldn't really compete. These are my thoughts on a living museum of which Sarawak Cultural Village met the mark.

• The SCV team were friendly & knowledgeable, which is key as visitors will have a lot of questions to ask and they have to be fed with accurate information.
• The longhouses and tall houses in SVC were modeled as close to an original authentic home, as how it should be; the closest best.
• Having the locals to represent their ethnic homes, heritage and culture nailed it.
• SCV keeping it to 5 main ethnicity was a good move : Iban, Bidayuh, Ulu, Melanau, Penan, as well as Malay and Chinese home.

Bidayuh Longhouse

SCV educates visitors on Bidayuh's custom & culture. 

Iban Longhouse

The art of weaving beads that enthrall us.

Penan Hut
SCV taught us on Sarawak's jungle nomad: Orang Penan.

Orang Ulu Longhouse

We learnt from SCV on Orang Ulu's sword craftsmanship.

Melanau Tall House

It's Melanau Tall House not longhouse, we found out at SCV.

Malay Kampung House

It portrays the simplicity of Malay kampung house with local delicacies.

Chinese Farm House

It is a farmer’s house with the usual oriental décor and the only home here that is floored by the earth.

And at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV), your visit will end with performance which will blow your mind away. The SCV mini concert should not be missed!

So, my verdict on #Sarawak Cultural Village?

... A must-mandatory-compulsory place to go if you are in Kuching.

Entrance Fee

RM 60.00 (US$20.00) - Adult

RM 30.00 (US$10.00) - Child : 6-12 years old

Free for Children aged under 6 years old

Sarawak Cultural Village

Pantai Damai, Santubong

Kuching, Sarawak

Email: enquiry@scv.com.my

Website: http://www.scv.com.my/

Jerunai; a hanging coffins and burial poles at Lamin Dana, Sarawak

Creepily fascinating or fascinatingly creepy? You be the judge.

Bridging the past and the present, the old and young, the world and Mukah, Diana Rose passion drove her to embark in a fulfilling journey to share Melanau wonderful heritage with the world by introducing Lamin Dana on 14 February, 1999. A sense of ownership to her beloved Melanau tribe, Diana Rose is a living prove that where there's a will, there's a way. Now it is internationally known, news coverage came from local, national and foreign medias the likes of History Asia - Hidden Cities, Wild Asia talking about Lamin Dana, Mukah iconic traveler destination.

Lamin Dana Cultural Boutique is located at Tellian Village in Mukah hinterland, a 3 hours drive from Sibu town. Mukah can also be reached by flight via MASwings from Kuching or speedboat via Dalat from Sibu, either route would be enlightening as Sarawak scenery is known to be very diversified and soulful.

"Lamin Dana means traditional house in archaic Melanau" is what Diana Rose wants to do, conserving and reviving her Melanau heritage. Built as a boutique guesthouse with proper local activity packages, its main objective is to ensure Melanau culture and history are well preserved for future generation and made known to the world. Traditionally a fishermen, padi and sago farmers, Melanau are among the earliest settlers in Sarawak, previously known as "A-Likou" meaning 'people of the river' until the tribe name Melanau was given. Sago being the staple food here, are normally systematically planted and cultivated for its produce.

A 2-minute walking distance away from Lamin Dana stands a tall totem pole that is a few hundred years old. This totem pole is known as Jerunai; a burial pole. I was told that Jerunai is reserved mainly for Melanau aristocrats (bangsawan) here in Mukah, Sarawak. It is made from the Borneo ironwood tree or pokok Belian, full of intricate animal and plant motif carvings to symbolize their status and level. The aristocrats' bodies would be left in a hanging coffin for a year before its remains are transferred into a Jerunai. Every aristocrat will bring 2 human sacrifices with them into the afterlife, one male slave and one female slave around 12-13 years of age. The male slave will be placed at the bottom below the aristocrat and the female above, both tied to the Jerunai and left to starve to death. This is an ancient practice some 175 years ago before the light of Islam arrived on Sarawakin soil.

There is a famous story of a royalty whose death asked for multiple human sacrifices and it's jerunai bears the scars of the rescue effort by the sacrifices' loved ones? This, and many other jerunai stories, can be found from the Sarawak Tourism Board.

Each Jerunai stands at around 10 to 15 meters. It requires 15 to 30 locals that must be of Melanau bloodline; a descendant. A blessing ceremony is held for commemoration when erecting a Jerunai.

Diana Rose has taken the initiative to beautify Kampung Sri Tellian's jerunai for the convenience of her guests and tourists visiting Mukah. Her vision and dream of making Melanau known to the rest of the country and the world has started to show results.

Able to accommodate family and single travelers, Lamin Dana ensures that guest experienced the best of Melanau heritage and Mukah scenes. Providing guest with "Sago Experience" where guests are exposed to how and why Sago is made, boat ride along the river and mangroves at sunsets, basket weaving hands-on experience or learning simple traditional Melanau culinary are some of the activities offered here. Wanting to share Lamin Dana with the world, Diana has also prepared a "3D2N Student Culture Package" where she can cultivate the younger generation to love our culture, heritage and history. Her gift to Melanau tribe, Sarawak and Malaysia.

I hope that this Melanau history and heritage will never be forgotten, for those who forget their roots are those bound to repeat their regrets.

DiGi's Amazing Malaysian 2005 has selected Diana Rose as one of their award recipients. Her mission to conserve and promote Malaysia's natural and cultural heritage has honoured her as "The Knowledge Keeper of Sarawak". Amazing Malaysians is part of DiGi's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

Javanese Delicacies in Kampung Sungai Haji Dorani Homestay, Selangor

Of course I have heard of Nasi Ambeng, Lemper, Punten, Getok and Ketiwol

There are certain districts in Selangor that are populated with Javanese and Minangs, I knew very little of their history and background, let alone their heritage, culture and customs. But the story that goes with it? Well, we learn new things everyday, don't we?

Seeking for a brighter future and from being colonized by the Dutch, the Javanese or masyarakat Jawa migrated from the island of Java in Indonesia to Malaysia. During this period; from 1880 to 1930, the Javanese population grew and migrated from Melaka to other state such as Perak and Kedah, while majority moved to Selangor, populating areas such as Tanjung Karang, Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Kelang, Banting and Sepang. Today, their livelihoods are highly dependent on agriculture; paddy field, coconut farm and coffee plantation. What makes it interesting is, up until now, is that the Javanese in Kuala Selangor still converse in Javanese language, upholding and practicing their Javanese culture and customs. These can be clearly seen in their ceremonies and delicacies especially, traditional art such as ‘kuda kepang’, ‘silat’ and ‘gamelan’; the few example of Javanese culture.

The earliest Javanese settlement in Selangor was in early 1900 at Kampung Sungai Haji Dorani, in Sabak Bernam district, Selangor. And here, where the culture and custom is strongly upheld, I get to sample some of the most authentic Javanese delicacies. Proud of their heritage, I was promised unique dishes that will make my mouth waters and new craving created. To sample all this unique delicacies, one can pay a visit to Kampung Sungai Haji Dorani on a day trip or choose to stay in the homestay to experience the local culture hands-on.

Nasi Ambeng

Nasi Ambeng (pronounce as ambeng not ambang) is a fragrant rice set consisting of white rice served with 7 types of side dishes - Semur-style chicken (or Ayam Masak Kicap), fried sambal with soya bean cake (tempe), fried noddle (Mee or Bihun goring), salted fish, crackers (Rempeyek) and coconut floss. These dishes vary according to clan or district. That said, the 5 -7 dishes served above are pretty common for the Javanese. What distinguishes it is the style of cooking, and the taste. Nasi Ambeng is as popular cuisine for the Javanese-Malay communities in Kuala Selangor and Johor, not to mention Singapore.

Originating from the Indonesian island of Java, Nasi Ambeng is usually prepared for festivities such as weddings, birthdays and thanksgiving (doa selamat). It is presented in a large tray or ‘dulang’ and each serving is meant to be enjoyed together by a group of 4 to 5 people. The Javanese - like most Malay ethnicities - are very communal, and the dish symbolizes this very unity and togetherness. The manner in which it is served encourages the act of caring and sharing among family members, friends and fellow villagers. The host prays for guests' well being before everyone starts eating, wishing for the abundance of wealth. Some say that the food is to be divided equally and the guests has to bring it home to be shared with their family members.

Nasi Ambeng is also seen to promote fairness and equality, hence the sharing in a single ‘dulang’. Locals believe that there should not be any differentiation between status, wealth and power because everyone is the same in the eyes of God. This is belief is strongly upheld by the Javanese-Malay communities as early as 1890 – 1900.

Lemper

Normally served during festivities or as afternoon snack, lemper is made of glutinous rice with chicken or beef floss filling, sometimes grated coconut, it is then wrapped with coconut leaf. Some lemper in Java island is served as it is, grilled or fried.

Punten

A favourite breakfast food; nasi impit (compressed rice) served with sambal (chili paste). The different with this breakfast set is that the nasi impit is cooked with santan (coconut milk) unlike our usual nasi impit. It is also served with sardine, depending on one’s area or custom.

Getok Ubi

Made from pounded tapioca or cassava (ubi kayu) with brown sugar and grated coconut, it is one of the popular light snack in Sabak Bernam. This delicious delicacy is also popular in Singapore and readily available. A few other traditional getok that is also common in its native country is getok pisang, getok goreng, getuk lindri etc.

Ketiwol/Tiwul

Ketiwol, tiwul, or thiwul is the staple food substitute for rice made from tapioca or cassava, similar to getok ubi. It is believed to prevent disease heartburn , stomach rumbling, and been used as staple food during the Japanese occupation.

The success of Dorani Homestay of Kampung Sungai Haji Dorani has created massive opportunities not only for the locals’ livelihood but also to highlight their exquisite heritage and culture. This great accomplishment has brought respective ministries together with Ministry of Tourism to assist in building and upgrading new communal facilities such as the activity center for homestay event purposes, training the locals on tourism and hospitality management as well as educating them on agricultural development; a concerted effort for the betterment of the villagers, homestay establishment and the wondrous state of Selangor.