Workshop
Let me tell you about the lot you can do at the Rainforest World Music Festival. Workshops are 2pm to 5pm at three different locations; there you can you can spend time with the performers themselves and learn about their music and their exotic cultures. This year, for instance, I learned about bowed instruments by diverse performers from all over the world, about the Zapateado fiddle and requite styles from Vera Cruz Mexico by Son De Madera, I attended an interactive dance workshop by the Bidayuh and Malays and I listened about the story-telling and wedding ritual of the Mah Meri tribe. It was all so exciting.
Grilling
Besides workshops, you can indulge in various types of food, from local cuisine to International dishes in the food stalls present at the festival. Dishes include laksa sarawak, bbq corn, rojak (a local salad), Gula Apong ice cream, Kentucky Chicken from KFC (!), and you can even have a coffee from Starbucks!
Sape player Mathew Ngau
If you bring along small children, don’t hesitate to take them to the Pustaka Bookaroo workshops, designed for kids aged between 7 and 12 years old and held at the Malay House, with fantastic activities awaiting your kids. Among the activities conducted there was the Sape Special Story shared by sape player Mathew Ngau, as well as a Rainforest Rumble Session workshop where to learn how to make rainforest instruments, and a Mask Mania Festival fun with paper galore.
Meanwhile, those who think they are music-intelligent, -creative and -innovative were all invited to join Mr. Shameer in 1 Drum Org by Borneo Stompers workshop. During this session, we made use of any music instrument as well as anything that can produce sound for an unbelievable make-shift orchestra.
The handicraft stalls
Shopaholic should not worry. They will not get disappointed at the festival as there are plenty of interesting handicrafts in the Rainforest World Music Festival bazaar: traditional clothes, beauty skin care, accessories, musical instruments, books, famous Iban textiles Batik and and Pua Kumbu perfect as souvenirs of gifts, and more.
For those keen on relaxation I advise a foot and shoulder massage by the blind people while you enjoy the warm breeze of the rainforest. And if you think of getting tattooed, you can head to the Borneo Tattoo Showcase and chose from the several Borneo tribal designs.
Year after year, the Rainforest World Music Festival is bigger and better, and the above activities and programs are just a taste of what you can expect. Therefore, don’t miss the chance to attend the Rainforest World Music Festival next year.
Check out 2016 dates at www.rwmf.net
Asianitinerary stayed at the Damai Beach Resort – https://asianitinerary.com/damai-beach-resort/
