Punan Bah, sound familiar to me and I am very lucky because I have an opportunity to visit this place together with a group of officer from Kapit Resident office and other agencies. I feel really happy because my dream has come through after waiting for quite sometime. I have heard lots about this place either through my friends or from the media. Punan Bah is located in Belaga sub-district. Mode of transport to Punah Bah is by express boat from Kapit town. Other alternative to Punan Bah is by boat from Sg Assap resettlement area. That’s mean you have to take 4 wheel drive from Bintulu town to Sg Assap area. This trip will take you estimated 3 to 4 hours.
We gathered at a jetty in front of Fort Sylvia, Kapit. After all members arrived, we proceed to Punan Bah using speed boat with 400 hsp twin engine and depart Kapit town at 1015 am. I feel nervous at first because I know that we will go through notorious Pelagus Rapid. After chatting with other friends inside the boat I feel better and ready to enjoy the journey. We are very lucky because the weather is very good.
Along the journey we saw lots of thing including local people taking their bath at the Rajang River and many others. After a while sitting inside the boat, our boat skipper suddenly slow the boat, I thought maybe our engine got problem. Actually he asked all of us to put on the life jacket before we go through the notorious Pelagus Rapid. All of us standby and grab some part inside the boat so that we can hold our body when the boat go through the rapid.
From far we can hear the sound of rapid, our boat skipper is very experience and he knew which direction he can use. The boat looks not stable because trying to find its way again the strong rapid. 800 hsp speed boat take at least more than half an hour to break through the Pelagus Rapid. It’s very frightening and interesting moment because it’s the first time I follow the journey through this rapid. We manage go through the rapid.
From far we can hear the sound of rapid, our boat skipper is very experience and he knew which direction he can use. The boat looks not stable because trying to find its way again the strong rapid. 800 hsp speed boat take at least more than half an hour to break through the Pelagus Rapid. It’s very frightening and interesting moment because it’s the first time I follow the journey through this rapid. We manage go through the rapid.
We arrived at Punan Bah area at 1 pm and upon our arrival we were welcome by Tuak Levok, longhouse chief and people at the Punan Bah jetty. We are invited to his bilik (room) and have some refreshment. After the “official” program, we were invited for the village tour. We heading to the original site of Punan Bah longhouse, there we can see 5 standing totem pole and Batu Dong. At the longhouse we saw an old huge pillar still standing in longhouse. We were brief by Tuak Lovuk about the history of their longhouse and its activities. All members were very excited and enjoy the short visit to this longhouse. After late lunch we proceed back and stop for a while at The Regency Pelagus Resort before continue or journey back to Kapit town.
The trip to this longhouse is very memorable because after many years waiting, only now I have seen and experience the tour in this longhouse. Even they from other ethnic group but they can speak fluent Iban language. They still preserve their traditional culture even though their place is already developed. The have their own school and clinic for all more than 40 families in this area.