Dream Come true....to Sg Assap, Belaga

I heard lots about Sg Assap Resettlement Area, Belaga. Then I decide to make a plan to visit this place one day. Sg Assap in Belaga is the biggest resettlement area for Orang Ulu ethnic group who live in Bakun area. They have to resettle in Sg Assap area to give way for the developement of Bakun Dam by the government. There are 15 Orang Ulu ethnic longhouses which comprise of Uma Kulit, Uma Belor, Uma Daro, Uma Nyaving, Uma Kelap, Uma Lahanan, Uma Bawang, Uma Balui Liko, Uma Balui Ukap, Uma Bakah, Uma Badang, Uma Penan, Uma Juman, Uma Lesong and Uma Ukit.

My dream come true on December 16, 2010 when I was invited by Tourism Ministry to make a trip to Uma Belor, Sg Assap Belaga. Our journey started from Bintulu town through tar sealed road of Bintulu - Bakun highway but part of the journey was "disturb" by logging lorries which damage the road. Seeing the way how the lorries driver drive their giant lorries make me could not close my eyes. So daring....

Upon arrival at Uma Belor, we were welcome by the representative of the longhouse, Ms. Nora Igong and her friends. As a first timer to this longhouse, we all surprise to see how modern is this longhouse.

Uma Belor is one of the Orang Ulu longhouse under Sg Assap Resettlement Area which have more than 100 doors. During our visit there are only few people stay at the longhouse because most of them working and stay in the city. Uma Belor is different from normal Iban longhouse where all bilik will be attach together. Here they are divided into few blocks where less than 10 families at one block. The reason is for fire safety purpose, it really make sense but it is too costly if other villagers want to follow the same concept. Apart from that there are other basic facilities such as football field, Resource Centre, Electricity and others are available. There is nothing to worry if visitors' visit and stay at this longhouse.

Heading to Japanese Fighting Field....

I heard people footsteps walking at the Ruai and I can feel that my head is still “heavy” due to Ai Tuak (Rice Wine)….. Suddenly I heard a lady “Bepantun” then I told myself I should wake up and joint them. Yup, they are really surprise when saw I can wake up so early that morning. I enjoy their company until I feel sleepy and continue my sleep.

After having breakfast, we all get ready to proceed with our trip to our next destination. We have ready two longboats for our trip to upriver. 4 in one boat is just nice because it is easy for us to pull the boat at shallow area. The water level during our trip is low tide. It is nothing new for me when travelling using the longboat to this type of area. I get used to it.

After we travel for more than one hour we stop and preparing for lunch at the karangan area. We do bring our food ration. Having lunch at karangan area is totally different when you have your food at home. Even with simple food you will enjoy it.

Our journey continued with our visit to Rirong and Sepayang Waterfall. The geographical landscape of this area is very nice and I don’t feel tired even thought we have travel for more than few hours. Enjoying the fresh waterfall and surrounded by the beauty of flora, make our trip more enjoyable.

It is almost 4 pm and it is a time for us to set up the camp at Sepayang area. While another group members is looking for food. Setting up a camp is not that hard because we easily can get all the material from nearby jungle. The weather is not really spotting that evening and I really salute our local guide, they did their job well. Fish is our main menu that evening, cooked in bamboo and deep fried. Its really nice menu I ever had during stay in the jungle.

A night stay in the jungle is very interesting but heavy downpour spoilt our evening. We still manage to a rest for few hours before we wake up early morning for breakfast. Its “mee maggi” time, we love it coz everyone is hungry too…. We are very lucky that morning when we saw a couple of Hornbill and other birds. Really lucky day for us.

Our journey will not be complete if we not reach our final destination, The Japanese Fighting Field located next to Nanga Beguang, only half an hour from our camp. According to the elderly folks from Rh Stephen Jawa, this area was “built” during Japanese occupation time in Sarawak. They have flattened the whole area as their camp site with the help of Iban from Sg Selibut. Their intention is not materialize because they were killed by the local Iban due to some misunderstanding. The whole unit (12 people) of Japanese army was killed by the Iban warrior who is willing to die to protect their own place. In one of our picture we notice that there are smoke in between myself and Napolean. No one knows what it is but we believe this area is still guarded by “someone”…….

A good place with friendly people make our trip memorable trip that make us to plan to come back in the near future…..we will be back!!!

Journey to Ng Selibut, Song

“That is very good idea because none of tourism organization has explore our area” said Napolean @ Nap to me when I told him that we have a plan to organize tourism discovery trip to Song area. I asked his opinion which area we should target during this trip since he is from this area. He said no need to think too long about the area, just go to Ng Selibut (opposite Song Bazaar) area and he prepared to get his contact to assist us during the trip.

He saved my time to think which area we should visit during the trip. Few days later he came out with the details and after we discussed further both of us agreed to fixe the date.

Our journey comprised of tourism officials and representative from the local travel agent in Sibu. After everyone gathered at Sibu Wharf Terminal, we checked from the counter which expressboat will stop at Song jetty. Luckily there is one expressboat which depart Sibu at 10 am and expected to arrive Song jetty at 12 pm. The expressboat is not full that day and easy for us to move around inside the expressboat. Seat next to me is Deckson, our staff from Visitors Information Centre Kuching.

Upon arrival at Song Bazaar, we were welcome by Nap’s relatives and we stop for a while at Song market. This is my second visit to Song Bazaar and I am aware that the famous drink at Song Market is “Ai Ijok”. Ai Ijok is locally produced from the wild palm namely as Ijok by the local Iban. Not many places have this kind of wild palm. Ai Ijok have moderate taste and cost you 50 cents per plastic mug. It is similar to Tuak (rice wine) and there no artificial ingredient. How to drink it, all depend with you whether you want to drink it straight or you go slowly. You should try it when you have chance to visit Song market. After few glasses, I can feel the “kick” from Ai Ijok.

From Song market we proceed to do our last shopping at the shop nearby. The longboat is ready and everyone is advised to seat properly before our boat cruises across the Rejang river and enter to Song river. Our destination is Rh Stephen Jawa, Ng Selibut. It takes us roughly 15 Minute from Song Bazaar. After we arrive at the jetty, we embark from the boat and proceed straight to the longhouse. When we enter the longhouse, I can feel that i am at my "own" home. Just like you have not going back to your own village for quite sometime.

At the longhouse after keeping our beg and other stuff inside his room, Nap straight bring us to meet one of his aunty which on the previous night her family members just complete one rare occasion. This occasion namely “Meri Nabau Makai” (Serve food to the dragon). It really surprise me because i never see this kind of occasion in my life. According to Nap's aunties, it all started from her dream and she is among few of longhouse folks that still keeping an old practise when come to believe in their dreams. When she narratting her story to us, she really express her feeling and put trust on all this thing. To me, as a new generation from the city, i really appreciate with what i heard and saw during this visit.

In the evening, Tr Stephen Jawa invited us for dinner at his bilik, few block from Nap’s bilik. The menu is very interesting, smoke wildbore and jungle vegetable. We enjoy our dinner that night.

Around 8 pm, all longhouse folks gathered at “RUAI” TR for the next program. After the so call “official” program, the next program continue with “bebiau” (blessing ceremony), ”ngajat” (local dance) and “betaboh” (traditional music). It is not complete if no rice wine, I can notice almost every bilik carry one bottle of rice wine…that’s mean it is free flow of rice wine and local whisky. We really enjoy the whole program but need to complete the night with dreams and ready for next day program….

Happy New Year 2011

Its Rabbit year....year of luck and prosperous. Jan 10, 2011, its first time i drop few notes to update my blog. Its quite sometime I did not share with my blog readers on what happened lately. There lots of things I want to share with you but time is limited for me to do so. Just wait, for sure I will share with you some of the information either from my own expereince or thru other sources.

2010 is a great year in my career and I am happy with what I did. Of course not all my goals achieve but at least I have tried. Travel to people place is my duty and hobby, I met new people who become my friends and they guide me on what I suppose to do in their area. Looking forward for better result in 2011......

I am back...

Facebook is getting popular compare to Blog? The answer is yes! Since active in FB, I did not drop any words in this blog. It is hard for me to divert my attention to do some writing compare to FB which you just need to be direct and its more fun.

When I think back about my blog, I should start write something that might be useful to me and my blog readers. Yes I will do it.

Today I have chance to read some interesting website and blogs that contain relevant information to my work in tourism industry. It is true when you read more you will gain more knowledge and today I found some website with interesting information about Sibu and Kapit.

The http://www.etawau.com/Sibu.htm tells me extra knowledge about Sibu and its uniqueness. I believe that every place has its own “un-known specialty”. Very interesting website. Lonely Planet one of the world famous travel book also write some extra information about Sibu in their website at http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/malaysian-borneo-sarawak/sibu

One of my favorite place to visit is Kapit and there one traveler from Manchester write something about his experience in at http://realtravel.com/d-31977-kapit . His blog is interesting because he share his experience with the readers.

Tattoo World

Most of the senior generation thought people with tattoo is associate it with gangsters activities? Agree or not, there lots to debate about it.

When I come across with one TV Program called as “Tattoo Hunter”, it gives different views about what tattoo all about. Mr Lars Krutak, tattoo anthropologies has traveled all over the world to study about tattoo and meaning behind it. Even he will try to get the original tattoo from the elderly tattooist from the Tattoo Master. In the program he even have to travel to outskirt area to meet the elderly who can do traditional tattoo. According to him that tattoo will "gone forever" if the new generation do not have interest to learn the technique from her.

The native in Sarawak, Borneo also have their own tattoo as part of their identity in those days. I have an opportunity to travel to some part of Sarawak and I notice that most elderly people that I met have tattoo. I asked them what tattoo mean to them. According to them it is part of their practice to get tattoo on their body for identification purpose as well to show their status as well. Even some of them get tattoo on their body is to remind them where have they been travelled. In Iban community they normally used “Bungai Terung” design for this purpose. During those Headhunters day, the Iban community will tattoo their throat using special design and only the expert can do it……

Homestay Program is just another new terminology?

For international traveller they may understand what is Homestay Program. I have tried to find definition of homestay program and I manage to find one definition which is "sound correct" about homestay program.....which is "a visit in which you pay to stay in someone’s house rather than in a hotel".

Isit correct? To me it is correct. But to other people, it may not. Generally homestay program is another terminology in tourism business. Of course this terminology is more suitable for rural area where the local community can benefit if they participating in homestay program business. Why tourist want to choose homestay program instead of staying in the hotel or other budget accommodation in town? They are looking for something different when they travel to other country and of course they looking for affordable place to stay while enjoying their trip.

Homestay Program offers unique experience such as they able to joint the host family in their daily lifestyle and activities. That make homestay program little bit different from standard or guided tour. The tourist may no need to go through travel agent if they have enough information about the place that have homestay program. As registered homestay program operator they have to be train on how to handle tourist and know the do's and dons when tourist stay with them.

Don't treat tourist as a "king", the family host should treat them as part of their family members. We have to share what do we have to offer for them such as sharing with them about the history of our culture and get them to be involve in any activities. They may stay in our place for one night but if we know how to squeeze in all important program or activities for them, we believe that they will treasure it and will spread the good words to other friends or tourist through internet and other media.