Media Visit for Pesta Babulang,Limbang .. Part 1.

So I was happy indeed when Sarawak Tourism Board  invited me as a blogger to be one of the representative of Sarawak Blogger Community for media visit for Pesta Babulang in Limbang from 6th to 9th June,2013.It;s largely to-do with Bisaya Community cultures from Limbang and Lawas in Sarawak.
So I look forward to telling you more and sharing the photograph of the event that I shoot during my trip.First of all I would like to Thanks and Thank You very much to my host Sarawak Tourism Board..
About Sarawak Tourism Board:
VISION - Making Sarawak the naturally preferred tourism destination.
MISSION- Positioning and promoting Sarawak as a safe and friendly Eco-tourism destination.
                   Be the catalyst for tourism growth.
                   Providing networking and synergy among the official gencies and tourism promotion partner.
                   Increasing awareness among Sarawakian on the benefit and importance of tourism industry.
                   Enhancing performance though motivation and teamwork.
My itinerary on the 6th June is flying to Miri by MAS and Miri to Limbang by MASwings.I reached Miri almost 3PM and Limbang almost 4:30PM.In Miri airport I meet Mr Amirul (Paul)the officer from STB Visitors Center Miri and in Limbang airport Amirul introduce me with Mr Lim from Borneo Touch Eco Tour  who arrange our trip to Merarap Hotspring Lodge in Lawas.
Merarap Hot Springs :: Lodge is in Lawas division and Mr Lim drive us all the way from Limbang airport straight to Lawas via the Malaysian border town of Limbang in Sarawak and Temburong District in Brunei.To cross the border we use ferry, the ferry services are operated by two companies on a rotation basis, each ferry has a maximum load of 10 for saloon cars and six to eight for bigger vehicles, and takes approximately five minutes to transport vehicles across the river.The bridge over Pandaruan River is scheduled for completion in August 2013 three months before the 2013 ASEAN Summit which will be hosted by Brunei.With the increase in cross-border traffic for various purposes, the bridge will facilitate connectivity, increase transport and logistics activities and create a spin-off for the both Limbang and Temburong especially in social-economic and tourism activities.
We reached Lawas town almost dark and from Lawas we heading straight for Merarap .
About Merarap Hotspring Lodge:Located on a 5-acres in Ba'kelalan Highlands, Lawas District, Limbang Division, Sarawak..its a good place to seek rest and recreation. Merarap Hot Spring Lodge is a private/family owned business..How to get to the lodge)  because its' quite remote into the jungle, you have to get-into a four wheel drive (4WD) and it takes 1 1/2 - 2 hours journey (approx 68km) from Lawas town. Fares..is rm600 -max 10 person in 1 car (to & fro) - current fares.

You have to get into a 4WD .

Merarap Hot Spring Lodge.

Crossing the border...
More on part2 & will updated soon.
Thank You.

 

Trip to Semban Village-The Sun Rising..

Technorati Tags: Adventure,Jungle Trekking

For those who have been to a remote part Sarawak, experienced culture much different and diverse to their own, and felt the joys of the simple life, I think you will all agree that no matter how intriguing the destination, the journey there was the highlight. Nothing less than amazing was the journey to Semban Village,the village above the cloud. That night we were informed that those who wished to see the sun rise would need to wake up at 5’oclock in the morning and take 1750 steps to the top of a nearby hill.

Sunset view from the village of Semban

At 5am,we woke up and ascending to the summit of a hill to see the sunrise.I personally had to do battle with the forces  to haul myself up that morning. I dragged myself up and reached for my head torch, It was still dark  outside.

 Deckson & Linda enjoy the view

The sun rising over Semban’s beautiful landscape . It is one of those moments where you would just be still and wonder how beautiful the world we live in. Clouds can be seen covering the lower reaches of the valley and as the sun rise; its colour of powdery white, almost like cotton wool stretched over the tree tops. For a moment when the sun finally made its appearance, there were just silence among us, only the sound of birds and cameras clicking away.

 

 

The view is spectacular!!!

The “Sun Rising” over Semban’s beautiful landscape it is the one of those moment where you would just be still and wonder how beautiful the world we live in. Clouds can be seen covering the lower reaches of the valley and as the sun rise its colour of powdery white, almost like cotton wool stretched over the tree tops.

 

The air was very fresh and the view was amazing although the sun was blocked out by clouds.

We spend almost 45 minutes at the summit watching sunrise while enjoying fresh hot black coffee.It was early,and having walked for nearly six hours the previous day this was not a walk in the park.  Yes, my dear friends there was more uphill hiking involved. At the summit , soon enough it started to get light and we were looking at the valley below, shrouded in a thick blanket of cloud.  In amongst those clouds was, the village in the clouds.  The early morning hike was most definitely worth the effort. How beautiful the world we live in........

After the sunrise, as we make our way back to the village, we pass by a pepper farm. The villagers of Semban do plant, harvest and process pepper as a livelihood. Both white and black pepper seeds actually comes from the same tree, the only difference is that making white pepper is more tedious and time consuming.

As we walk closer to the village, we started seeing people busy going about their businesses. Some were on their way to the farm while others were busy processing their harvest. The adults were very friendly, greeting us as we meet them.

The village of Semban, located in the upper Penrissen near Kuching is one of the few Bidayuh villages spared from the flooding of the Bengoh Dam. Dubbed ‘the village above the clouds’, Kg Semban is home to the 7 last known surviving women who still wear copper rings coiled around their arms and forearms, a practice that will cease to exist with their passing. This visit to Semban will uncover the beauty of the people, their culture and way of life while we immerse ourselves in their natural, rustic environment.

Among the highlights at Kampung Semban:-

• Crossing bamboo suspension bridges
• Cultural performances by the ladies of the rings
• Traditional parang forging demonstration
• Visit to villagers’ farms and vegetable garden plots
• Stay with local families and sample home- cooked food
• Village tour
• Sunrise watch
• Waterfall hike

Trip to Semban Village-Day Two (part 2)..

 

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Technorati Tags: adventure,Nature,Waterfall

Last Tuesday, the 22nd March 2011, I was invited by Sarawak Tourism Board for a mountain and jungle trekker to a 4-days/3-night adventure to Kampung Semban  and took up the physical challenge of relentless hours of jungle trekking into the Borneo rainforest.I join Deckson of STB and Jawlinda from Sarawak Bloggers Community.After spending a few minutes at Susukng, we made our way to the next waterfall. It’s not really far from Susukng but already the heat from the walk to the falls has started taking its toll. I personally can’t wait to get myself into the water…need to cool down the body.

 

The area of this waterfall looks like something from a theme park. The cascades look like they were formed by huge ‘strategically’ positioned concrete boulders. In the picture above, if you look closely, there is another waterfall towards the back. And that is not all to it…just a few meters downstream, a beautiful vertical drop reveals itself.

 

 

 Jawlinda calls this a curtain drop, much like the ones she seen in movies where you can go behind the ‘curtain’ into a secret entrance.

 

AQUA Massage in the forest spa.

Mr Sagen & MR Deckson...both give double thumb-up,,mean the waterfall pressure good for body massage.....I like and they shouted "The waterfall was such a blessing on this particular hot day".

It's the moisture and mist from the waterfall. You can access and get close to the waterfall but the moisture would be disastrous to my camera, that's why I couldn't get anywhere near it with our camera.

Let me tell you what will happen to this waterfall in near future:

In recent time, Kampung Semban ('kampung' translated as village in our local dialect) and its surrounding areas including its neighbouring villages have been in the limelight for the wrong reasons. The predominantly Bidayuh Semban village along with three others will eventually make way for the state of Sarawak’s controversial water reservoir project known as Bengoh Dam Project which is due to be completed in the year 2011.

Food always taste good when you are enjoying yourself,while I enjoy exploring my camera lens looking for beautiful scenery.Deckson & Linda  really enjoyed the Bidayuh’s cooking and hospitality and so do I.

Deckson show me the king of fruits...Durian.

The walks to the waterfalls at Semban weren't as tough as I expected but the heat of the day really burnt us.Ha,ha..by the time we got back to the village,we were all exhausted ,in a matter of minutes Sagen offer us barley porridge and durian.What a way to finish a beautiful visit to Semban's two most imposing waterfall.

To be continue...............

Thank You.

 

 

 

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Trip to Semban Village-Day Two (part 1)..

Technorati Tags: Adventure,Jungle Trekking

On day two we are suppose to go for trekking to the summit for sunrise viewing point .It's still raining outside so we skip this trip and hopefully can make it on day three. So to-day trial is heading to waterfall.After breakfast,trekking start to most imposing waterfall 'Susukng' (higest) and the 'Pent'(beautiful) waterfall.According to Mr Sagen ,Semban region have 13 waterfall but the 'Susukng' and 'Pent' is the most imposing waterfall .

My entry here is kind of photojournalist ..more photos then a story .

Heading to waterfall is more then an hour walk and we have to be careful as the trial is still wet .I suggest you buy cheap rubber shoes commonly wear by the local here and its cost you only Rm6.00.Travel light with drinking water recommended (by me).

On our way to the waterfall trial we are being brief of various wild plants,flowers and herb that are found in Semban jungle or I would say its kind of Semban village botanic experience.We even found a kind of local bamboo trap as Semban villagers are expert for hunting wild animal for meat.

This is 'SUSUKNG" the highest waterfall in this region... the word 'susu-kng' mean highest .I can't go closer to the waterfall ,because the surrounding rock is still wet and very slippery and dangerous too..

According to our guide no swimming at this waterfall ...Dangerous...yes, of course at your own risk.

The highest waterfall  'SUSIKNG'..

 

Semban not only interesting because of the seven women .Living surrounded by forests and high mountain itself is exciting to explore. Continue their way of life in everyday life is not easy as I thought, especially for those of us living in the cities.
Imagine, a trip to get to the village if by land is about six to eight hours. Do not dream to go by 4WD or by boat because there was no way. Only a small path that exploited the people using machetes and placed bamboo ladder climbing into the village with the mediator Bengoh, the location closest to the main road...oh my,,I can't forget this..My story is not edited or censor ..My story is my own experience and what i see.

Kampung Seban is a small village of no more than 30 houses with a population of approx 200 people at 3000ft or circa 1000 meters above sea level in the jungles of Borneo, reached only by helicopter ( in extreme emergency) or approx. 5 hours of trekking.If you are purely nature lover,adventures or extreme kind of people ..I would say this is the place.For more info kindly contact Mr Deckson Bundak ,Sarawak Tourism Board Tourist Co-ordinator at

+6 082-410944

+6 082-256301

vic-kuching@sarawaktourism.com

www.sarawaktourism.com 

My story is not ending yet..more photos and my Semban village experience on Part 2.I know some of you maybe interest to see the mysterious of the seven ladies with ring..just watch out.

Thank You.

Trip to Semban Village-Day One (part 2)..

Technorati Tags: Villages,Jungle Trekking

  

Two hours later after climbing up to one of the mountain  we reached the first 'Rest Hut' at the summit and we meet few villagers there.Oh No !!! its going to rain.

One of the villagers ,she pregnant for seven month, the mother and child have to walk for 3 to 4 hours in the jungle to get to the clinic. I would not prefer to talk about this...What came in my mind is hopefully the mother and child is healthy and in good shape otherwise I am just talking rubbish here about politic in Sarawak.

Semban village view........

 

This is our village stay the home of Mr Sagen Aden...in the photo is STB Tourist Co-ordinator   Mr Deckson . 

 

I would prefer to call this as undiscovered BEAUTY  in our own backyard.The trip to Semban Village is great for individuals who are nature loving,adventure and outdoor obsessed explorer who are constantly hunting for new and untouched location in Sarawak.Beside the beauty of nature that I see around the village ,there are seven women in Semban who still maintain the tradition of wearing brass rings around their ankles and wrists,a unique and illusive cultural practice.In general I would say Semban Village is blessed with lust natural beauty.I come to Semban Village fully sponsored by Sarawak Tourism Board and It is our hope that tourist or local nature,adventure lover are encouraged to visit the villagers and unknown attraction found in Sarawak through the various outdoor activities which lead to a healthy lifestyle.According to our local eco-guide SAGEN ADEN Semban villages had been visited by tourists from Finland,Russia,France and United State.

The Sarawak Bloggers Community led by Cyrildason and the team will be looking into new exciting ways to enhance Sarawak as the ultimate travel destination by doing every tiny bit to promote tourism for our lovely SARAWAK.

Think Adventure,think Sarawak.

 

Trip to Semban Village-Day One (part 1)...

 

Up in the Padawan mountain range,55 kilometers from the city lies the Bidayuh Biatah village of SEMBAN.Because of the extreme gradients that surround this area,it has remained isolated and has been known as one of the most remote villages in a deep jungle of primary forest.The villagers here ,Bidayuh Baitah live a simple life mainly growing hill paddy.To reach Semban Village at 1000 feet above sea level,one takes a six-hours trek through jungle trails passing bamboo groves,paddy fields,pepper vines,rubber trees,durian orchards and umpteen bamboo bridge,amidst cool breezes and gushing waters of the streams and waterfall.

  

Sagan Adan our eco-guide from Semban Village.

 

Proper footwear: Wear your most comfortable footwear as the walk is long. Trekking shoes recommended but most Semban villagers prefer kampung adidas (photo above).Thru my experience I suggest you wear this soft rubber a very good grip foot wear and its only cost you below Rm10.00.As we started trekking, Sagan Adan laughed at my jogging shoes, saying they looked more like something one would wear for a city marathon .

One of the villagers (with umbrella) trekked back home in Semban village with her grand children .

 

One will have to trek through jungle and cross six huge bamboo bridges (36m long and 9m high), and no less than 20 smaller ones. It can take four to seven hours to get to Semban Village, depending on the weather.

 

The suspended bamboo bridge of the Bidayuh is a definite first for me and I fully recommend that you go and try it out yourself.

The predominantly Bidayuh Semban village, will eventually make way for Sarawak's water reservoir project known as the Bengoh Dam Project, due to be completed in 2011...(Bengoh Dam no photo allowed).

The walk up to Semban village, while painfully slow and tiring for me personally is nevertheless one of the most interesting and rewarding experiences. The trail is a mixture of good jungle, adventure and man’s ability to co-exist with the world around him.

 

The bridges along the trail were most interesting. Depending on the width of the area to be crossed as well as flood risks, the bridges range from proper sturdy plank bridges to bamboo bridges hung on two suspended steel wire cables.

This one more than 100 meter long hung bamboo bridge ,   the scariest for us visitors. I can literally feel my knees wobble and the fact the steel wire cables were anchored to dead trees didn’t help either .

So who builds and maintains the bridges? According to Sagan Nadan, members of the villages using the bridges would come together and repair/ refurbish the bridge every year or whenever it is necessary. Every villagers will involve everyone and it has been their ‘way’ to work together to ensure that the bridge is useable for everyone. Each village will send some of their representatives to help out each time the bridge need work. The bridge is important because they provide access to the outside world, enabling the villagers to sell and purchase goods and services. It is also the safer way for their children to go to school and return on weekends to visit their parents.

The Semban Village is really quite unique the first day we are confronted here with a remarkable experience because it reaches the temperature at night with merciful degrees Celsius, with a minimum temperature of air-conditioners. Water pipe from the hill is ice cold especially early morning.

Although most of the residents have converted to Christianity, there are still villagers, all over the age of 50 years is still rigid with pagan beliefs, believing signals by animals and natural elements to continue their daily lives.

To be continue..Day one (parts 2).