Per la versione in ITALIANO sulle Tradizioni che si mischiano alla modernità ENTRARE NELL’ARTICOLO.

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Most Malaysian citizens treat hot springs as a place to spend leisure time with families and friends at the weekend. Yet, despite the beauty of an hot springs environment, many do not know that hot springs are believed to cure various ailments. Panchor hot springs in Serian, Sarawak, is one well-known place that can help cure a variety of diseases.

The Panchor Hotsprings

Located 90 kilometers from Kuching City, this hot springs have been operating for more than 5 years and is one of the most famous destination in the city. Panchor hot springs are visited by locals from Kuching and by people from all over the world, especially from Korea and Japan.

According to headman of the area Mr. Sirau Lungkis, during early times people were afraid to walk to the spring as it is located deep in the middle of a forest. But then a Chinese Tycoon discovered the place and started taking sick and impaired people there. Some of these people are since known to have recovered from their illnesses. After getting to know about these potential benefits, Mr. Sirau then discussed the issue with the villagers and they finally agreed to develop the area to the way you see it today.

Headman of the area Mr Sirau Lungkis

Japanese women reckon that clay and mud from these hot springs are good for the skin, especially to do facials. It is believed that women has used mud from hot springs for beauty purposes and for treating skin problems including acne and sensitive skin for centuries. This is thanks to the fact that mud contains a complex mixture of natural minerals, sulfur and salt, which can draw toxins out of the body and boost the immune system and the skin tone. In addition, apart from the benefits of mud, the hot spring water itself is also believed to cure various ailments including stress, nerve pain and blood circulation. Mr. Sirau agrees with these beliefs, adding that the water at the pools is extremely good for people with blood circulation, diabetes and body pain problems”

Local visitor Mr Bong Yew Foh

“My advice is, if you suffer from chronic diseases like I mentioned earlier, you can come to this hot spring. I cant promise anything, but I have tried it and for me it works.

Two gentleman who were having their bath in the hot spring also agree with Mr. Sirau:

“At first, I did not know about the advantages to be had when you come to the hot spring, but I had heard about it from my friend. So many acquaintances who have had a stroke in their life, they recover after coming to this curative place day after day” said local visitor Mr Bong Yew Foh. “There have been many cases” he added; “ and I am witness to that. They come with chronic sicknesses, and stroke patients come here to recover. I know one of them from Matang Jaya whom already had two strokes, He decided to come here everyday and recovered fully after a few months of treatment”.

People enjoying Panchor hot springs

Thanks to these news, a teacher from SMK Siburan, Sarawak, also started visiting this place at least 3 times a week during the school season and every day during the holiday season. At 51 years of age, he is confident the water from this hot spring is the best healing power for individuals who suffer from health problems but also for people who suffer from sleep problems. He has been coming regularly for 5 years and from that day, he stopped having health problems.

Meanwhile a 68 years old Korean tourist, Mr. Chung Koo Hyuk, thought that visiting the hot springs not only gives you good health, but it can also help find friends:

The Bidayuh ladies promoting Panchor Hotsprings

“I come here not only for taking baths, this place has lots of people and here I can build friendships”.

If you are in the Kuching area, do not miss the opportunity to visit Panchor hot springs, for leisure and for proving the public allegations about the curative benefits of spring water.

Panchor hot springs are open daily 7.00 am to 10.00 pm for a nominal fee of 4 Ringgit for adult and 1 Ringgit for children under 12 years of age.

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The Understanding of Music

I have been attending the Rainforest World Music Festival for the past two years and every time I wonder what kind of music this festival will bring me. Most of the time I have thought it was all about traditional music, and it was not a wrong guess, but there was more to that. Let me explain you.

Rainforest World Music Festival banner

The Rainforest World Music Festival is not exactly confined to traditional music, it is also to do with music that connects human beings with nature and people. Music that was introduced or inspired since long time ago. Heritage music, a combination of culture, ethnic and forest. Let me give you an example:

Lan E Tuyang, a popular performer from Sarawak, plays the Sape, a traditional guitar which has a calm and natural sound. Epi the Mongolian sing through his throat in order to communicate with nature and especially with animals. Kapela Malisz play their music to get Polish people in a dancing mood. You can see it is all connected to something, and that something is always people and forest and nature.

Happiness in the performers eyes

Try to imagine a Sape, made of wood, a special wood. Wood, we can get that from a  tree which is found in a forest. No complicate concept about the ‘hidden’ scope of the Rainforest World Music Festival: it is not only jazz or rock and roll music, it is original music produced long time ago to communicate with people and nature, a music that was upgraded from time to time, and that is what makes it very interesting.

If I had to describe the Rainforest World Music Festival in simple words, I would say it is an organised, very indigenous, harmonious, humorous, beautiful, full of smile, natural, multicultural, energetic, very family oriented chant.

Performers at the event talk:

Polish music Malisz family

Kapela Maliszow – Poland

Overall, we think this is a good mix of all cultures of the world. It feels real for us, it involves various groups, it is balanced and amazing, something for everyone. It is a fun and advanced festival where nothing seems to be missed. I understand that Asia is a continent full of several cultures which have incredibly exotic music, but music from Europe and Australia and elsewhere is also good, so, well done for the festival organizers for managing to mix us all.

Ukandanz team

Ukandanz – France/Ethiopia

We think the Rainforest World Music Festival is spectacular because the people are very friendly and open-minded, and Malaysia is a very great place to play in, very open. Sarawak is so far from France, we needed 26 hour to arrive here, so for us it is a very nice opportunity and we are very thankful to those who invited us here to share. What I find particularly interesting is to see so many people wishing to defend their kind of music. This is what I think makes this festival special. Each group and team bring their own music, and makes the festival alive.

Scottish band Shooglenifty

Shooglenifty – Scotland

We feel very lucky to be we here, this is our first time and we already feel the Rainforest World Music Festival is a progressing festival, it develops and it is therefore very important to local people. It encourages their local culture and it strengthens it to the point that tribes are more confident to bring their culture forward and not to destroy it in this 21st century. The festival is also a great platform to share music, dance and joy.

I would say that I find it a bit critical that only Sarawak Tourism Board and Malaysia Airlines mainly sponsored this festival. There should be more corporate sponsors to understand the importance of this exotic festival, mixing people form all over the world and putting them in contact with this environment, the jungle. May I also suggest to the organizers to perhaps put more emphasize on the environment and how to preserve it, perhaps through workshops or discussion boards on how to conserve the rainforest, as this is the Rainforest World Music Festival and this is why people are here.

Check out dates for the 2016 Rainforest World Music Festival at www.rwmf.net

Asianitinerary stayed at the Damai Beach Resort – http://asianitinerary.com/damai-beach-resort/

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Taiwanese artist, Sangpuy, will share his many musical similarities with the Dayaks of Borneo at the forthcoming Rainforest World Music Festival to be held from August 7 to 9.

Believed to be the descendants of Austronesian tribes from Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Madagascar and the Pacific Islands, this Taiwanese aborigine will showcase his musical presentation reflecting one of the oldest surviving cultures that includes the practice of headhunting, a passion for tattoos, animism and reverence for the natural world.

Bringing back the old traditional music of the aborigines of his country, Sangpuy’s music presentation creates a quiet spiritual atmosphere evoking the blessings of ancestors and the origins of life and sings in praise of ancient ceremonies from a time when the gods of the natural world were respected.

Also known as Sangpuy Katatepan Mavaliyw, he describes himself as an old soul in a young body presenting the ancient music of the Pinuyumayan tribe.

With his mesmerizing voice and unique chant combined with the traditional instruments of the Pinuyumayan, he staged a transcendent experience to bringing his audience to the place where the indigenous people see the wind as friend and live side by side with nature and its spirits.

Sangpuy was born and raised in the Pinuyumayan community of Katatipul in Taitung and from early age he felt attracted to the music of the tribal people. He sees his music as a medium to promote and preserve the culture of his tribe and performs in music festivals and events in different countries including performing at Riddu Riddu music festival in Norway.

“When we performed abroad, the response to our music was so overwhelmingly accepted that it has given me the strength to continue my path of traditional tribal music,” Sangpuy said.

His debut album released in November 2012, contains 14 works of which seven are of ancient origin and the other half are new compositions which focuses on life, earth and the relationship with ancient spirits and human beings.

On top of that, the Taiwanese artist also makes traditional instruments such as the nose flute and the mouth harp, a typical instrument which is used by Taiwan’s indigenous people and which makes a sound which is unique to the country.

Festivals entrance tickets are now available online and for more information on the festival, please log on to its website at http://rwmf.net

Watch a video of Sanpuy at http://asianitinerary.com/sangpuy-dayak-heritage-at-rwmf-2015/

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Often, when we speak about Ironman the first thing that comes to our mind is the well-known blockbuster movie starring Robert Downey Junior. But listen carefully: the Ironman that I wants to celebrate here has nothing to do with Robert Downey or any cartoons character. It is the Sarawak Ironman!

The event banner

First introduced in 2006, Sarawak Ironman is one of the highlight events of the World Harvest Festival, or WHF, together with Beauty Peagant Contest and Miss Cultural Harvest Festival. Ironman Sarawak is a competition held to test skills, strength and agility as well as mental and physical endurance, a contest generally open to men aged 18 and above.

According to the Sarawak Ironman’s Chief Coordinator, Ibrahim Abdullah, the main purpose of the competition is to promote local culture to outsiders. Apart from being a physical competition, the contest is perceived as unique thanks to activities that are towards traditional lifestyle.

Running while carrying a weight

“The Ironman competition idea came about while we organized the World Harvest Festival; most of the festival activities are gardening, cutting and rafting” – stated Ibrahim, adding that the ideas behind traditional activities were turned into categories of the Ironman Competition: jungle trekking, lifting and carrying rice sacks weighing of 50 kilograms, blowpipe, tire flipping, chopping wood, coconut peeling and rafting.

Two of the earliest participants to the competition since its inception said they became interested in Ironman because it is challenging and also because they like to mingle and learn different techniques with other participants. “Because it is one of the most challenging events”, said 43 years old Khairuddin Amir Hamzah. “This competition is a good event for us to mingle around, plus we have the chance to test our strength. We even can learn other technique from each other”, admitted 45 years old Amirhanafi Ali.

One of the disciplines at Sarawak Ironman

Aminzani Zainudin, one of the active participants in Ironman, stated that “usually, preparation is the most important agenda of any game”. He normally starts training 2 month before the competition. Ricky Poh, a policeman at his first attempt in the competition, said that the event feels challenging and tough to him. He advised new participants to get ready to a 2 to 3 months intensive training, and to get any possible advise from senior participants with previous experience.

After winning Sarawak Ironman three times and failing to get any place last year, 41 years old Jury Amrullah Ibrahim was crowned the winner of this year competition. “I am confident that consistent training is the secret of my success. The more you train, the better result in the end.”

The podium

This competition is indeed very significant to society and should be continued and maintained for the sake of future generations. A Malay proverb says “tak basah dek hujan, tak lekang dek panas”, meaning “cultural heritage needs to be preserved in order to remain relevant and remembered by the public”.Do you feel up to the task? Don’t miss the opportunity to test your stamina in next year’s Sarawak Ironman’s.

The World Harvest Festival usually falls in the month of May and consists of a wide range activities like Ethnic Kitchen Master Chef. Also, you will also get the chance to see the biggest live museum in Borneo.

For more info, click on http://www.whf.com.my/new/iron_man_2013.php

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In August 2015, the city of Kuching, in Sarawak Borneo, will resonate once again with the entrancing sounds of the sape. Yes! the Rainforest World Music Festival is here again and it will not be what it is today without the sape, the boat-shaped lute that has become the symbol of the Rainforest World Music Festival.

geng wak long

Exotic music from across the globe will be presented. A thousand harmonies seemingly at odds and yet in unison, a world apart but here, one world, together…… a real adventure in Borneo!

Every year, thousands and thousands of music lovers travel across the globe for that annual pilgrimage to Sarawak on the island of Borneo. The event has found its home in Santubong, a 45 minute drive from Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak. It has once again been voted among the top 25 international festivals for the 6^th consecutive year by Songlines, a renowned world music magazine. This annual event, now in its 18^th year, is organized by the Sarawak Tourism Board and is a 3 day celebration of music workshops and action-packed stage shows. The event this year will be held from the 7 to 9 August 2015.

Under the imposing shadow of Mount Santubong, and in the midst of a virgin rainforest at the edge of the South China Sea, the Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique festival that brings together on the same stage renowned world musicians from all continents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo.

The kinship and spirit among music makers and music lovers alike as they celebrate one another in the cradle of Mother Nature is unique to the green haven where thousand-year old trees reign.  An annual communion whose spirit is as timeless as the intricate ecosystem that celebrates the diversity of life. This year, concurrent with workshops, there will be shows beginning in the afternoon at 2 pm in the ‘Theatre Stage’, making it a total of 3 stages throughout the festival days. For festival-goers who wish to interact with the musicians and experience the music and dance of the different cultures up close, the workshops will continue at the same time at various ‘houses’ at the venue. The nights are five-hour concerts that take place on a main ‘Jungle Stage’ and smaller “Tree Stage” that carries on past midnight.

Ndima

Nighttime concerts are held on a stage built by the lake, under the open sky and in an informal ambiance, sitting on the grass lawns and dancing to entrancing world beats. The festival then culminates in a huge finale on the final night, where all performers are invited to play onstage as one.

Line-up for 2015 is to be announced soon. Around twenty bands line-up representing many countries across the globe, a mix of the exotic, unknown and well loved, will be on both day and night festival program this year.

Sarawak – The Land of Adventure

Sarawak is a place for history, mystery, romance and exotic adventures, the land of the fabled white Rajahs, the Hornbills and the Orang Utans. Its rainforest houses the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystem. The ancient virgin forest is also home to 27 ethnic groups with their own distinct languages, culture and lifestyle. Their ancient cultures may differ but they have one thing in common, their warmth and hospitality.

Aerial view of Damai and Santubong

Arrive in Sarawak and you step into adventure. Opt for a morning stroll in the national park near your hotel, trek through pristine jungle featuring breathtaking landscapes and the world’s longest rainforest-canopy walk or spend days exploring the world’s most extensive cave system. Visit caves that were inhabited 40,000 years ago, learn how Indian and Chinese merchants traded for Sarawak’s exotica centuries before the first Europeans came here, with tales of princes and pirates, of headhunters and explorers. Or simply relax on our beaches on the South China Sea, scuba dive off dramatic reefs or just enjoy a round of golf on one of our excellent courses. Sarawak has something for everyone and all are welcome.

What to expect at the Rainforest World Music Festival

Apart from the music, there will also be a smorgasbord of delectable delights at the Food and Village Mart set against the talismanic Orang Ulu and Iban longhouses which encircle the venue for the whole duration of the festival.  Take back with you a variety of arts and craft, event memorabilia as well as CD and recordings of the performing artistes. There will be a showcase of the culture of Sarawak for you to experience and to bring back wonderful memories.

Music is not all about sound; it is an art-form, and with it comes culture, diversity, creativity, talent, and spellbinding performances.  The Rainforest World Music Festival is a not-to-be-missed occasion in the heart of the Borneo Jungle. This is where people regardless of their ethnicity, cultural backgrounds and music interests come together for three magical days for a fun filled, wholesome festival experience with a country fair atmosphere amidst lush greenery. Come experience a truly memorable musical extravaganza amidst the lush green paradise that is the mythical land of Sarawak.   We bid you, “Selamat Datai”! (Welcome!)

More updates on the Rainforest World Music Festival 2015 are available online at www.rwmf.net

Entry Tickets to RWMF:

Lindigo

Early-bird is available for sale until Sunday, May 31 and and Pre-Sale promo ticket offers will be available from June 1 to August 6, 2015. The offers will also available through ticketing agencies as listed at www.rwmf.net. For rainforest music lovers, the early bird tickets will be priced at RM180.00 for family package of 2 adults and 2 children (7-12 years of age), RM85.00 for 3-day child pass and RM30.00 for 1-day child pass. The adult pass for early bird is RM250.00 for 3-day pass and RM90.00 for 1-day pass. The early bird sales will end on May 31, 2015.

Tips for an enjoyable Rainforest World Music Festival experience:

• Be there early. There are usually long queues at the gate for tickets or access to the venue due to ticket verification and other security measures.
• Please do not bring non-permitted items (knives, sharp items) as they will be confiscated
• No food & drink and animals are allowed to be brought inside the venue.
• Food, beverage, CDs, souvenirs and crafts will be on sale at the event. All items are sold on CASH Terms except where indicated and there is no ATM machine at the venue so please prepare accordingly.
• Limited car-parking facilities are available near the festival site. However, to avoid any inconvenience, you are encouraged to catch the shuttle buses which will operate at regular intervals during the event.
• You can bring your own lawn chairs or mats.
• Bring along a desire to be at one with nature and a yearning to celebrate and unite with kindred spirits from around the globe.

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Packaged Kek Lapis

While I am normally not a sweet/dessert type of guy, preferring the savoury section of food instead, I have always been intrigued by the traditional Kek Lapis Sarawak – or Sarawak Layer Cake. I first discovered Sarawakian Layer Cakes during a tour of Kuching town, when our guide suggested a stop at one of the various factory/retail shop existing in town, Dayang Salhah. I immediately thought, here we go, the obligatory tourist trap. But I had to redeem myself; inside the store, we were greeted by friendly staff who showed us all the different Sarawak layer cakes that they made. There were several chillers where vividly colourful layer cakes were stacked up and ready to go. They then invited us to try strips and pieces of these delicacies, and with one bite I could tell that these were no ordinary cakes: they were tasty, moist and buttery and with just the right amount of sweetness, plus you could tell they had added spices to give special aroma to each of the cakes.

tasting the delicacies

I was informed that Dayang Salhah began its operations in 1997 as a small family business, and that today it has evolved into the most famous and established manufacturer of Kek Lapis Sarawak. Check them out on http://keklapisdayangsalhah.net , you can even buy online if you live in Malaysia. I was deeply taken by Kek Lapis, and promised myself to get to know more about these traditional handcrafted cakes.

My research started with a bit of history of Kek Lapis, which seems to have been originally baked in the neighbouring Indonesia, and introduced to the people of Sarawak later, though there is also a theory that modern Sarawakian layered cakes were introduced to the people of Sarawak from innovation inspired by Western cake-making in early 1980s, using different ingredients and baking methods and giving the Sarawak version a totally unique look, crafted intricate designs and original flavours. This new generation of eye-catchingly bright layers cake is called Kek Lapis Qalas Qalas and they can be divided into two categories: ordinary layered cakes and cakes with patterns, motifs and shapes. As a rule, all Kek Lapis must have at least two colours!

yellow layers

Kek Lapis are usually baked for religious or cultural celebrations and special occasions, with Malaysian people serving them during open houses on festival days: Aidilfitri, Hari Raya, Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Deepavali, birthdays and weddings.

During my following few more days in Kuching, I had the chance to see layers cakes everywhere: inside shopping malls, at bakery and pop-up stalls, at Kek Lapis specialized cute little shops and even from vendors along the riverside galleried area, an infinite choice of flavoured and rainbow-coloured delicacies from different producers and brands, there to tease your taste buds. Kek Lapis prices varies from RM10 to RM30 depending on ingredients and size of the cakes; a good deal for a local delicacy, I thought.

Packaged Kek Lapis

My curiosity took me even further, and at Maria Kek Lapis, a cute shop in one of the Kuching alleys, at 4 Jalan Bishop Gate, I asked to tell me the ‘secret’ behind these delicacies. No secret, said Maria, and prompted me to follow her into the hot and tiny kitchen where it all happens.

The recipe calls for butter, eggs, sugar, flour, milk and colouring and flavouring ingredients like pandan, chocolate, peppermint, strawberry, mango or orange, as well as products like Horlicks and Milo. Making Kek Lapis is indeed an extremely tedious job, one that can only be rewarded by the beauty of the final creation.

A layer cake usually has between 10 and 20 parallel layers of cakes, with Sarawak version using 5 layers at the bottom, a fancy design in the middle and another 5 layers at the top. This middle fancy section is achieved by creating strips of different colours cut into square or triangular shapes using a utility knife: a very skilled job!

A small amount of batter is then evenly spread in between each layer, and a 5 minutes baking time is given to the tray after each layer has been composed. Once this is done, the cake is tamped down flat with a special tool before the baker creates the next layer, and so on. Considering the number of layers at 5 minutes baking time per layer plus preparation time, you can easily work out that it takes between an hour work and two to make one single cake happen!

Kek Lapis tastings

Kek Lapis use no leavening agent and must be cooked from the top – like if you were grilling each layer; if you baked a layers cake in a conventional oven way you would end up with a dry and overcooked cake. To give Kek Lapis the high and firm texture, the layers are ‘glued’ together using jam or condensed milk, the latter usually making the cake hold longer. Special, more detailed cakes require special moulds. After baking the last layer, the cake must be cooled at room temperature before being exposed in the chiller.

Well, chapeau to the Kek Lapis makers; such a laborious and time-consuming process fully deserved my investment into different cakes! And they are not just cakes, they are pieces of art. It is still hard for me to grasp that something that takes so long to prepare and bake can be devoured in such a small amount of time!

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The resort grounds

Borneo Highlands is a resort located in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, in the foothills of the Kuching province; it lays 60 km from town, an easy one hour drive. Since Kuching is a very simple province, full of multicultural ethnics and historical buildings, you will hear lots of dialects and languages on the way to this little heaven, as well as enjoying beautiful panoramas.

Borneo Highlands is the perfect hideaway for those seeking tranquility and peace from work and from the hustle and bustle of urban life. The resort is a kind of retreat destination as it offers more than just amusing scenery.

National Border

Among the attractions are a golf area, a jungle spa, nature, local food, herbal teas, an orchid’s garden, and freshwater from the waterfall. Yet, the most amazing place in Borneo Highlands is at the border between Malaysia and Kalimantan, Indonesia, nestled between the oldest and world’s second-largest tropical rainforest.

As Borneo Highlands Resort was created with emphasis to blend with nature, it naturally offers boundless outdoors activities all year round. One of these activities is the Padawan Nature Challenge which is jointly organized by Padawan Municipal Council and Borneo Highlands Resort.  It is a cycling and trekking adventure with competition amateurs categories, a challenge that gives the opportunity for adventurous nature lovers to be close to Mother Nature while experiencing the environmental and adventure tourism aspects of Padawan and of Borneo Highlands Resort.

Our writer Cato with a friend

Well, as for me, a day trip to Borneo Highlands is so exciting and meaningful that I always leave with a craving for more adventure there. On that one day trip, I managed to experience the real nature, to feel the fresh air, to taste botanical tea and delicious vegetarian food, as well as to visit Malaysia’s national borders.

So, if it is back to nature, it is back to Borneo Highlands Resort.

For information and bookings, visit Borneo Highlands Resort website at http://www.borneohighlands.com.my

BOOK A ROOM NOW AT BORNEO HIGHLANDS THROUGH THIS LINK !

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All’entrata dell sorgenti calde di Annah Rais con la mia cicerona Miss Karum

Trovandomi recentemente in un tour della longhouse di Annah Rais, colsi l’occasione per visitare le vicine sorgenti calde di Annah Rais. Mi svegliai riposato dopo la mia seconda notte all’homestay di Karum Bidayuh. La colazione mi aspettava a tavola, la solita dose di frittata di due uova e riso, ed un’energizzante tazza di caffè del Sarawak, il tutto gentilmente preparato dal nostro anfitrione Miss Karum la quale, mentre noi ci cibavamo, si preparava per accompagnarci alle sorgenti calde.

Il posto era completamente vuoto quando arrivammo all’entrata, alle 8 del mattino, l’orario perfetto per arrivarci. Mi sentii compiaciuto della decisione presa il giorno prima di svegliarmi presto e partire altrettanto presto. Gente del posto mi aveva accennato che si può avere il posto tutto per sé durante la settimana quando ben pocha gente visita le sorgenti, ma pur essendo domenica, a quell’ora potevo considerarmi l’unico visitatore. Il posto era completamente vuoto, la caffetteria situata al lato della biglietteria era ancora chiusa (anche se sembrava non attiva da tempo) e l’unica persona presente era un giardiniere impegnato a tagliare l’erba e a potare le numerose piante dei curati giardini ai due lati del sentiero che in 5 minuti porta dall’ingresso alle sorgenti. a quell’ora, sembrava non fosse stata attiva da tempo.

la piattaforma al lato della sorgente principale

Arrivati all’altipiano che sovrasta il fiume sottostante, constatammo che l’acqua ce scorreva lenta era molto pulita e cristallina. Una scala di cemento porta giù al torrente, e i visitatori devono guadare le sue fresche acque per raggiungere la sorgente calda situata sull’altra sponda, azione che può risultare difficile dal momento che le correnti a volte sono veloci. È necessario avere un passo sicuro al fine di non cedere alle acque ed alle pietre scivolose. Le doccie e spogliatoi al coperto sono praticamente incustoditi e un po’ malandati; consiglio di utilizzare le docce situate all’aperto quando avete bisogno di una sciaquata.

Attraversai con attenzione l’acqua fredda che mi arrivava al ginocchio e raggiunsi una piscina artificiale sul lato opposto, completa di una piattaforma di legno che funge da zona prendisole. Il tempo era stupendo, mi misi il costume da bagno mentre osservavo preoccupato dove, da un paio di punti nella profondità delle acque della sorgente, piccoli fori rilasciavano bolle d’aria bollente.

Ammollo nell’acqua bollente

Finalmente mi decisi ad immergermi nella tonificante acqua calda, che calcolai essere a circa 40 gradi, e dopo pochi minuti il mio corpo si rilassò: mi sentivo come in un altro mondo. Chiusi gli occhi e mi concentrai a fondo per sopportare il leggero disagio provocato dall’acqua calda. La natura intorno a me era quieta e si sentivano solo i grilli e l’acqua del fiume che lentamente gorgogliava. Mi rilassai ulteriormente, apprezzando la tonificante acqua di sorgente che mi rinfrescava gli stanchi muscoli delle gambe. Aprii gli occhi di nuovo: un’enorme farfalla volava in cerchio attorno alla mia testa, mostrandomi le sue ali nere e vellutate completate da verdi fantasie. Se ne andò solo per lasciare spazio ad una coppia di libellule rosse che si fermarono in fase di stallo proprio davanti alla mia faccia, immobili a parte il battere veloce delle loro ali. I dintorni erano così belli e verdi che mi sono sentito veramente a contatto con la natura.

Questa era troppo calda per immergersi

Dopo dieci minuti d’immersione, uscii dalla sorgente calda per entrare nelle fresche acque del fiume sottostante; il mio corpo accolse con piacere questa iniziativa: mi sentivo sano e rinfrescato, rivitalizzato. Dopo altri due di questi cambi acqua calda/acqua fredda, mi portai alla piattaforma di legno per fare qualche round di saluto al sole. Lo yoga è un piacere in un ambiente così tranquillo.

Alla vista di nuovi visitatori che arrivavano al sito, decisi di dirigermi verso la piccola sorgete più a valle, situata proprio nel bel mezzo del fiume e delimitata da pietre. L’acqua non era calda abbastanza per bollire un uovo, ma di certo abbastanza calda per bruciare la pelle, cosi abbiamo deciso di tornare alla zona spogliatoi. Laggiù c’erano già un sacco di persone ammollo nella sorgente, e questo confermò che arrivare presto è stata una buona idea!

FATTI

cartello con avvertenze

Le piscine attorno alle sorgenti sono state costruite dalla comunità locale e sono al servizio dei visitatori. Se si vuole fare un pic-nic nei dintroni bisogna portarsi il cibo da casa visto che il piú vicino negozio di alimentari è abbastanza lontano. L’addetto alla biglietteria all’ingresso vende bibite.

Alle sorgenti calde di Annah Rais non forniscono nessuna informazione sulla temperatura dell’acqua, sui tempi di balneazione consigliati e sui benefici delle acque calde. Vi è invece una scheda che ti dice che si puo nuotare ma a proprio rischio e pericolo. È perciò necessario verificare la temperatura dell’acqua prima di immergercisi, e sapere che le sessioni di immersione possono durare un massimo di 10 minuti ciascuna, alternandole con un breve tuffo nelle acque fresche del fiume, o con una doccia fredda. Prima di andarsene dalle sorgenti calde di Annah Rais, si prega di tenere il posto pulito gettando i rifiuti nei cassonetti forniti.

Situate nel distretto di Padawan, le sorgenti calde di Annah Rais sono ad un 1 ora di macchina dalla città di Kuching lungo la strada panoramica per il Borneo Highlands Resort, e a soli 3 km dal villaggio di Annah Rais, che le rende facilmente raggiungibili a piedi o in bicicletta. Il biglietto d’ingresso è di RM 5 a persona.

Asian Itinerary ha soggiornato al Karum Bidayuh Homestay. Per informazioni e prenotazioni, contattare la signorina Karum o Jenny a Karum Bidayuh Homestay, tel. (+60) 0168981675, e-mail yeominghua@yahoo.com o t_weiyu86@hotmail.com, o consultare il loro sito web www.longhouseinborneo.com

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Jewels of Borneo Guest House is centrally and strategically located in the heart of Kuching city, just 20 minutes from the Kuching International Airport and only 5 minutes walk to Waterfront, food & entertainment outlets, shopping complex, souvenir shop, Kuching’s major tourist attractions, restaurants, cafés & shops, banks, city shopping malls, other 5-star hotels, China Town, Carpenter Street and franchise outlets such as KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut and 7-Eleven, major hotels and bus station. A stroll to the calm city centre which stretches from Chinatown Padungan to the picturesque Kuching Waterfront takes only about 5 minutes.

Jewels of Borneo Guest House offer clean, comfortable and well-maintained rooms that are equipped with amenities such as LED TV with Astro HD satellite channels, air-conditioned, attached bathroom, ironing board and a free internet service available at every floor. They have a breakfast self-servicing area with coffee, bread and jams, also functioning as a sitting area. The lobby is colourful with old movies posters, a guitar if you are into music, satellite TV and a team that is second to none. Friendly staff and management that will amaze you from the first moment.

At Jewels of Borneo Guest House they offer airport transfer and a variety of city tours through their in-house licensed guide. Co-owners Jimmy and Chris are often there to make your stay a spacial one, and so is front desk Aton and his team.

For reservations, visit www.jewelsguesthousekuching.com and complete the online form, email reservation@jewelsguesthousekuching.com or call +60 82259118.

Jewels of Borneo Guest House

No 66, Lot 118, Upper China Street, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo Malaysia

http://www.jewelsguesthousekuching.com

https://www.facebook.com/jewels.guesthousekuching?fref=ts

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Paradesa Borneo Discovery

1 Wayang Street, 93000 Sarawak, Kuching, Malaysia

Tel +60 82238801

Email info@paradesaborneo.com

www.paradesaborneo.com

Facebook, Youtube, Google+ :  paradesa borneo

Alfonso getting us geared up

The meeting point was at the Para Desa Borneo Discovery main office, which is right in the center of town, at 7,45. After explaining the formalities and safe measures and agreeing on signals to be used once on the road, our local tour guide Alfonso assigned each one of us with a bicycle and we were soon on the way for the half-day Kampong bicycle tour in Kuching outskirts to visit traditional Kampongs and the local market. Cycling at 8am is nice in Kuching since traffic is still not too bad at that time. Kuching roads are wide and cyclists can feel safe, in fact we felt quite comfortable straight away.

Before long we were passing central market, China street, India street and finally reached the jetty where Alfonso hailed a taxi boat; we loaded the bikes and off we went for the 5 minutes boat journey to reach the opposite bank of the Sarawak River. These small local taxi boats run from 6am to 10pm and have a nominal price range of 6 to 10 Ringgit.

The pier at the other side of the river

The key of this tour are the Kampongs (Malay for ‘villages’): they were and in some cases still are home to Sarawakians; small clusters of houses built from wood and thatch and raised on stilts to avoid floods and creeping animals, nestled against a backdrops of idyllic greeneries surrounded by banana and coconut groves and marshes.

Once we reached the first Kampong, we cycled along narrow lanes surrounded by a quiet environment; some of the village wooden houses on stilts are more than 100 years old and have a flavor of times past. Houses’ courtyards have hens roaming in them and kids playing, on the inside women were cooking and there was a permeating smell of boiled bamboo in the air. Kampong houses were built along the river shore and are painted in bright colours; some are derelict and uninhabited and others nicely refurbished. On these small roads, traffic is practically inexistent and we were given time to cycle at our own pace, while Alfonso showed off his knowledge of the local area.

Local woman celebrating end of the harvest

We crossed a wooden bridge and were soon within sight of a huge market, the Kubah Ria, hosted inside a modern roofed area inside which merchants proposed the usual exotic items you would expect in a local market: fruit, veggies, meat, a huge variety of fish and souvenirs, as well as unique jungle produce like wild ferns, exotic veggies, curative seeds, roots and orchid plants, all for sale at affordable prices. We were blessed to be there on a harvest celebration day and even watched a dance by local people in tribal attires. At the nearby food court, Alfonso treated the group to laksa, the local specialty: a popular spicy noodle soup from the Peranakan culture, a merger of Malay and Chinese elements. I had eaten laksa before, but this was particularly delicious, not so spicy and with a lovely pungent flavor; we washed it down with an icy cold Teh Tarik – tea with milk and sugar.

A chat with Alfonso revealed his passion for this profession and his being at ease with people, and this was indeed reflected in the level of entertainment and in the wealth of information and wisdom he transmitted to the group of cyclists during the whole 3 ½ hours tour.

Young woman getting ready for the harvesting festival

Next destination, after crossing another series of wooden bridges and narrow passages where friendly local people waved at us and kids said infinite hallo, we found ourselves in a maze of lanes hosting a lovely residential area, where we stopped in a local house to purchase coconut water and a freshly squeezed sugar cane drink, and to socialize with the owners. The temperature started to soar and it was soon time to head back to town.

In the last 10 minutes we negotiated our way in the city traffic, which was not that bad after all. Back at the office, we congratulated Alfonso, made acquaintance with operational manager Mr. Law and were offered a freshly brewed coffee that we enjoyed in the lush courtyard of the Para Desa building, which also has a chill-out lounge and a guest house on the upper floors.

Looking cool in my bike outfit

I felt privileged to be part of the Kampong bicycle tour in Kuching, to have been able to explore the other side of Kuching, one that very few outsiders visit, and to have seen the way the local folks live in traditional houses on stilts along the banks of the great Sarawak River. The bikes were great, 27 gears and all the necessary gear including helmets, and we were glad to be provided with a bottle of water! Alfonso is a local and an excellent guide with an impressive knowledge of the town sites and its surroundings areas.

Paradesa Borneo is a small and friendly business, very much efficiently run, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to any visitor to Kuching in search of a bit of safe and healthy adventure, be it an heritage tour or a bike/hike/kayak expedition.

Kampong bicycle tour in Kuching always ride, rain or shine:

Duration: 3 to 3 ½ hours

Tour package includes: bicycle, helmet, guide, drinks, refreshments.

READ HERE ABOUT PARADESA SERVICES

Asian Itinerary also went out with Paradesa on a kayak tour, READ ABOUT IT HERE !

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Cotton Silk Tree at Merdeka Square Kuching

Situato nel cuore della città di Kuching, proprio di fronte al Merdeka Palace Hotel in Plaza Merdeka, l’albero del cotone, alias Pokok Kapok nella lingua locale, è uno famoso punto di riferimento della capitale del Sarawak. Ogni volta che fiorisce, l’intero ambiente di Kuching cambia per un breve periodo, come se la città stesse attraversando la stagione autunnale. I suoi fiori bianchi – e in seguito il cotone – che cadono dall’albero si presentano con le sembianze della neve, da cui il soprannome con cui è noto: l’albero della neve.

Secondo le testimonianze storiche, l’albero dovrebbe avere più di cent’anni. Si stima che alcuni esemplari della specie dell’albero del cotone, chiamata scientificamente Ceiba Pentandra, furono importati dal Sud America per essere coltivati in Padang Merdeka, precedentemente nota come Campo Centrale, durante il regno della famiglia Brooke. Grazie ai suoi anni, il governo del Sarawak lo ha elencato come patrimonio culturale di Kuching. Quest’albero spinoso e dalle foglie decidue è alto 27,4 metri e nel 2008 gli è stato stimato un valore superiore a 1 milione di Ringgit Malesi (circa 300.000 US$).

Ciò che rende unico l’albero del cotone è che fiorifica solo una volta ogni due o tre anni. Dovuto a questo, la gente di Kuching non si lascia scappare l’occasione per scattare foto e per raccoglierne i fiori. Secondo Kho Yang Ping, donna locale di 44 anni, l’albero è un importante simbolo storico: è lì ora come lo era quando lei era solo una ragazzina, anche se a quei tempi non era consapevole di quanto meraviglioso ci si possa sentire ad essere vicino a quell’albero, e quanto questo sia importante per preservare l’ambiente. Chiunque pianifichi una vacanza a Kuching dovrebbe visitare questo straordinario albero, e forse, con un po’ di fortuna, potrebbe vedere il cotone cadere dai rami come se fosse neve, ha aggiunto Kho Yang.

Cotton Silk Tree at Merdeka Square Kuching

Marianne Renee, turista di 68 anni da Melbourne, Australia, mi ha detto che si è sentita totalmente ipnotizzata quando la mattina ha visto l’albero dalla finestra della sua camera d’albergo. “Da dove vengo io, non abbiamo questo tipo di pianta; il cotone nell’aria mi ha ricordato mia madre, la quale mi ha raccontato che doveva scendere dalla sua camera d’albergo solo per vedere ‘l’albero della neve’ da vicino e di scattare qualche foto.

L’albero del cotone di Kuching è davvero un albero speciale, e non per il suo valore monetario, per la sua età o per la sua importanza storica, ma per la sua connotazione sentimentale e per la felicità che porta alla gente ogni volta che questo è in fiore. Quindi, se non avete mai visitato Kuching, o la prossima volta che siete in città, approfittate per fare una visita a questo punto di riferimento della città, e sigillate quel momento meraviglioso con una foto.

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terung dayak con gamberi

Conoscete il sushi? Sapete da quale paese viene? Domande inutili dal momento che anche un bambino sa che il sushi è originario del Giappone.

Oggi sono qui a parlarvi della cucina asiatica, una cucina a dir poco straordinaria. Le scelte sono tantissime, piatti squisiti dai gusti indimenticabili, la maggior parte ancora sconosciuti al resto del mondo. Voi ne conoscete qualcuno in particolare?

Quando si viaggia nei paesi asiatici, è naturale trovarsi a provare i cibi tradizionali. L’Asia è un continente grandissimo diviso in diversi paesi, tutti con in serbo una gran quantità di cibo locale in attesa di essere degustato.

Lasciate che vi racconti di un prodotto del mio paese, la Malesia, con precisione il Borneo malese. Il Terung Dayak, noto anche come Terung Assam, è una ricetta segreta dei popoli indigeni del Sarawak, riconosciuto come cibo tradizionale e tramandato di generazione in generazione.

In termini scientifici, il nome dato a questo ortaggio è Solanum Feroc L, una delle specie di melanzane. Si può trovare in molti paesi del sud-est asiatico come l’Indonesia, dove lo chiamano Sour Brinjal. Generalmente ha una forma rotonda ed è ricoperto da una pelle vellutata e pruriginosa. Il suo colore iniziale è di solito verde, e diventa giallo una volta maturo.

Secondo la storia, i suoi semi furono importati nel Sarawak dall’Indonesia dal popolo Dayak. Il Terung Dayak è un ortaggio selvatico che cresceva solo nella foresta; oggigiorno i Dayak lo piantano e lo raccolgono nelle risaie.

Per la gente del Sarawak, questo ortaggio si presta ad essere cucinato con pesce salato, e in particolare nella zuppa di carne di squalo salata ed essiccata. Inoltre, gli indigeni lo tagliano in piccoli pezzi per poi mangiarlo intinto in salsa sambal piccante.

L’unicità del Terung Dayak è che di solito è cucinato e servito durante i matrimoni e le occasioni speciali dei Dayak. Si tratta di uno dei piatti preferiti tra la gente del Sarawak ed è oggi annoverato come parte della famosa cucina della provincia.

zuppa di terung dayak con pesce

Il vice-ministro del Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, ha informato il Borneo Post che il Terung Dayak è uno dei progetti chiave (in inglese KFA – o Key Focus Activity) realizzati quest’anno dalla Divisione Ricerca del Dipartimento di Stato dell’Agricoltura (DOA). Grazie ai tempi moderni, il Terung Dayak viene ora commercializzato come prodotto di nicchia del Sarawak!

Altro dato interessante è che, a parte in cucina, il Terung Dayak è anche usato come medicina tradizionale: il popolo Dayak lo usa per curare i vermi intestinali.

Scommetto che non state nella pelle per fare una ricerca su google. Personalmente, non riesco a trovare parole a sufficienza per descrivervi como sono fiera del fatto di avere il Terung Dayak qui in Sarawak. Venite a trovarci e lasciatevi viziare da questa straordinaria prelibatezza.

Essendo il Sarawak uno stato multirazziale, non mancate di provare altri piatti tradizionali come il Laksa Sarawak cucinato dal popolo malese, il Kolo Mee dal popolo cinese, ed il Roti Canai dal popolo indiano.

E se bevete alcol, non esitate di assaggiare il liquore tradizionale, il cosiddetto vino di riso.

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Bidayuh è il secondo più grande gruppo etnico nel Sarawak dopo quello deglil Iban, e vanta una popolazione di circa 200000 persone. Le genti Bidayuh si trovano principalmente in Sarawak e nell’ovest del Kalimantan. Il popolo Bidayuh, come tutti gli altri gruppi etnici in Malesia, ha la propria cultura: se la caratteristica popolare Iban è il tatuaggio, possiamo affermare che i Bidayuh sono ben noti per l’utilizzo di braccialetti.

Già nel 2009, durante il mio primo semestre presso l’Università Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), la mia amica ed io fecimo una ricerca sul popolo Bidayuh e sulla loro originale cultura. Nel settembre dello stesso anno programmammo un viaggio di tre giorni a Kampung Semban, l’ultimo villaggio Bidayuh dove le abitudini culturali folcloristiche sono ancora osservate in una certa misura.

Kampong Semban si trova nella zona di Padawan, a 3000 metri sul livello del mare. Il nostro viaggio iniziò in macchina da casa mia, e procedette verso i piedi delle colline. L’unico modo per raggiungere Kampong Semban è tutt’ora a piedi (un’altra opzione è l’elicottero). Ci incamminammo alle 9 del mattino, io, la mia amica e la nostra guida, un missionario di nome Ps. Noit. Durante il percorso attraversammo numerose frazioncine dove fecimo la conoscenza di alcuni abitanti del luogo.

La strada era irregolare e la camminata dura, particolarmente impegnativa per coloro che non sono abituati alle escursioni a piedi, e per chi come noi che si porta appresso parecchie provviste. Lungo la prima parte del percorso affrontammo pioggia, ripide colline e attraversammo persino un ponte di bambù abbastanza instabile. Dopo un’ora di cammino raggiungemmo il villaggio di Kampong Taba Said, dove ci fermammo a riposare e a rifocillarci.

Ripartimmo consapevoli che per raggiungere la nostra destinazione avremmo dovuto attraversare altri due villaggi ancora lontani, Kampong Bejong e Kampong Rejoi. Fu solo dopo più di sei ore e mezzo che raggiungemmo la cima della montagna dove si trova il villaggio di Kampong Semban.

Kampong Semban è un villaggio a dir poco bello, l’unico situato in questa zona montagnosa. Parecchie nuvole coprivano il cielo dopo il recente acquazzone. L’aria era fresca, e l’acqua alla cascata era incredibilmente pulita. Dal paese la vista a 360 gradi di tutta l’area era notevole. Il nostro letto per la notte fu fornito da uno degli abitanti del villaggio, amico di Ps. Noit. Eravamo così stanchi che ci addormentammo subito dopo cena.

Il giorno seguente iniziammo la ricerca sull’uso simbolico dei braccialetti tra la gente Bidayuh. Riuscimmo a trovare due donne locali che ancora li indossavano: la 84enne Anu Anak Gaek, e Peluk Anak Abeh. Anu ci raccontò che indossava braccialetti alle braccia ed alle gambe da quando aveva 10 anni. Peluk disse che ne aveva 5 quando iniziò ad usarli. Ci erudirono sulla pratica di indossare braccialetti tra la comunità Bidayuh, una consuetudine tramandata di generazione in generazione.

I braccialetti sono realizzati in rame e indossati solo dalle donne Bidayuh, e si possono acquistare nei negozi della città di Kuching. I braccialetti indossati nelle braccia e negli avambracci sono chiamati Luyang, mentre quelli indossati nelle gambe sono chiamati Lasung.

Fu molto interessante ed affascinante sentir parlare dell’uso simbolico e pratico dei braccialetti da parte della comunità Bidayuh: si dice che proteggano le persone in caso di guerra con altri gruppi etnici; furono utilizzati come un accessorio per il corpo durante i tempi antichi; sono indossati durante le feste del raccolto, come quella di Gawai Dayak, dove le donne ballano mettendo in mostra i braccialetti colorati che emettono un grazioso suono quando scossi dai movimenti.

Quando ci hanno detto che l’usanza di indossare braccialetti sta scomparendo tra la gente Bidayuh a Kampong Semban, ci siamo rimasti male. Anu ha ammesso che i tempi moderni e la tecnologia fanno emigrare le nuove generazioni, che peraltro sono riluttanti ad utilizzare braccialetti perché li trovano scomodi e dolorosi, soprattutto all’inizio. Anu afferma pure che siccome l’uso di braccialetti è di origine animisticha, questa usanza è ora vietata dalla Chiesa cattolica.

Lasciammo il paese il giorno seguente, contemplando i risultati della nostra breve ricerca, che non erano poi così promettenti. Da quel viaggio abbiamo imparato che a causa della costruzione della diga di Bengoh, gli abitanti sarebbero stati trasferiti ad una nuova ubicazione. A quell’epoca individuammo in paese solo 5 persone che ancora utilizzavano i braccialetti, e tutti in età dai 50 anni in su. Sicuramente questi non sono buoni segnali per il futuro dei braccialetti, all’apparenza una tradizione morente.

Nonostante questi risultati, tornammo molto felici per il viaggio compiuto, e con un sacco di ricordi indimenticabili del trekking, del villaggio e degli abitanti di Kampong Semban. Consiglio vivamente questo posto, soprattutto per escursionisti e amanti della natura.

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La Regata del Sarawak

Avete mai sentito parlare di un evento chiamato la Regata del Sarawak? Gli sport acquatici sono diventate attività popolari in diversi paesi del mondo ma, a differenza di tutti gli altri paesi, nella più grande delle province della Malesia, il Sarawak, ancora praticano questo evento sportivo acquatico in modo tradizionale.

La Regata del Sarawak è un evento importante con una storia molto interessante e con un particolare significato culturale. Ma c’è di più: la storia dietro la Regata del Sarawak è stata recentemente discussa dal Ministro del Turismo Datuk Amar Abang Zohari bin Tun Haji Abang Openg in un’intervista al giornale Borneo Post del Sarawak.

La storia ci dice che questo sport è stato introdotto in Malesia nel 1872 durante il regno di James Brooke, il primo Rajah bianco. Durante questo periodo storico, le tribù in guerra combattevano fino alla morte per il territorio, per l’orgoglio e per inimicizie storiche. Per deviare tale energia vigorosa lontano dalla violenza, le autorità coloniali crearono una gara di fiume tra le barche tradizionali, o barche lunghe. Il motivo principale alla base di questa gara fu quello di promuovere la pace e la passione, e per unire le tribù in guerra nel Borneo convincendoli a cessare le ostilità tribali.

Ci sono diverse altre storie altrettanto interessanti e anche incidenti accaduti lungo il fiume Sarawak divenuti iconici che eccitano gli storici, e che l’evento della Regata del Sarawak vuole mettere in mostra. Il più famoso è quando i cercatori d’oro cinesi Hakka attaccarono Kuching, e James Brooke fu costretto a fuggire a nuoto attraverso il fiume.

Il fiume Sarawak era la porta d’entrata di Kuching, un luogo per lo scambio di beni di prima necessità, per la comunicazione e per la protezione da potenziali nemici. A livello introspettivo, i 141 anni di gare tra partecipazioni locali da allora ha subito enormi trasformazioni, soprattutto nell’ambito del servizio. Oggigiorno, la gara è ampiamente aperta a partecipanti di paesi stranieri. Questo evento annuale di canottaggio si svolge nel mese di settembre; quest’anno il Sarawak è riuscito a donare un certo sapore internazionale all’evento grazie alle gare di dragon boat che hanno attirato partecipanti provenienti da Thailandia, Singapore, Indonesia e Brunei. Il programma prevedeva gare di barche Balok con 7 rematori, di imbarcazioni Bidar con 15 e 30 rematori uomini o misti, di barche Kenyalang, di barche Tambang e di disciplina Brooke Swim, legata appunto alla mitica traversata in fuga di James Brooke; abbastanza sorprendente il fatto che ad ognuna delle barche in gara era stato dato un nome proprio! Il vincitore della gara principale è nominato il Re del Riume – o Raja Sungai. La regata del 2013 è stata vinta dalla squadra Jang Keratung che si è aggiudicata il titolo di Raja Sungai, il Trofeo Tuan Yang Terutama Challenge, così come 10.000 Ringgit (2.500 euro) in premi.

Al giorno d’oggi, la Regatta del Sarawak è un evento sportivo molto atteso ed anticipato dal calendario del Ministero del Turismo, e si tiene annualmente. Il suo obiettivo non è solo quello di riunire la societa multirazziale del Sarawak, ma anche di incoraggiare il lavoro di squadra e la sportività.

Se vi trovate a Kuching, a parte questo tradizionale sport d’acqua potete visitare l’expo, scattare foto lungo la riva del fiume, provare le barche tradizionali che a pochi spiccioli ti portano dall’altra parte della città, e comprare tradizionali torte lapis multistrato tradizionali del Sarawak. Per l’ anno prossimo, pianificate il vostro viaggio in anticipo per tempo, fatelo coincidere con la regata, e create la vostra esperienza personale nel Sarawak.

Per saperne di più, cliccate www.sarawakregatta.com (in inglese)

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Per la versione in ITALIANO sul Rainforest World Music Festival, ENTRARE NELL’ARTICOLO

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