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Plan your Vacation home of adventure A guide for travel professionals If a dv en tuure h ada a homo e, it wo uld beb t he v as t wi lder neesss. Grand, gre en, awa es om e! L ike no other p lacee o n eaartr h.

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Birding Paya Maga

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Bakun Hydro Lake

1 1 WELCOME TO OUR CONTENTS PAGE CAPITAL

Page 6 : Diving in Sarawak A tour of is one on the ‘must-dos’ on any visitor’s Page 10 : Birding Passage combine a bicycle tour with a river cruise to explore every aspect of this historic riverine capital. Page 50 : Annah Rais

Page 18 : The Page 52 : Shopping in Sarawak Page 56 : Dining in Sarawak Page 58 : Sarawak’s Food Trails All photos © CPH Travel & Tours Peninsula Legends : Programmes Programmes narrow streets of old Kuching to visit the Nature Page 36 : Specialist Nature Tours Lifestyle Adventure the river to visit the Astana, Orchid Garden and Malay Kampungs. COME, LIVE THE ADVENTURE! transfer to hotel. 5th - 7th Floor, Bangunan Yayasan Sarawak, Jalan Masjid, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak, . P.O.Box 2950, 93758 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Some local operators can get together with local big-biker Tel: +6 082 423 600 Fax: +6 082 416 700 Email: [email protected] Website: www.sarawaktourism.com groups.

Copyright - Contact dinner cruises on a large double-decker boat. which include river cruises. 3 MULU NATIONAL PARK

- In - -

DIVING IN SARAWAK

Diving Kuching Diving

6 7 CAVING IN The rugged terrain of Southwest Sarawak conceals an underground SOUTHWEST wonderland of spectacular limestone which are far less visited SARAWAK

passage the opens to reveal some of the rope descent leads to a crawl and further We then go deep inside the mountain to view structures as well as a wide range of to a large passage cave which was home to the

Kuching Caving Adventure Borneo Experiences

8 9 BIRDING

Birding in Sarawak - lowland forest - around Sarawak is a bird-watching paradise. Its 22 Impor- - tant Bird Areas are home to at least 600 of the 680-plus birds recorded in Borneo, including over 50 endemic species. - minute drive from Kuching, or trek deep into the rumped Trogons. 40 minutes from . Kelabit Highlands - highland and montane forest - suitable for casual birders. - 40 species of shorebird, including the Chinese Egret, Chinese Crested Tern and Island Frigatebird. 30 mins from Kuching. search for over Bornean Bristlehead, Bornean - tems in one small area - more than 150 forest Mountain Serpent Eagle, Bornean Frogmouth, - - - Highlands, then trek for 3-4 hours through Kuching. Borneo Highlands - highland forest - over 200 Bornean Flowerpecker, Bornean Treepie, and Chestnut-hooded Laughingthrush. 6 hours from , including 3-4 hour trek. various . 1½ hours from Kuching. - lowland and highland forest - over 250 species, including the - - bellied Eagle, all 8 Hornbills found in Borneo and Hotel. - - lowland forest - around 100 Pic 1 Pic 2 Pics 1 & 2 © Cat City Holidays Cuckoo, Chestnut-naped Forktail and the stunning with an excellent in-house bird guide.

10 11

IN SEARCH OF WILD - - - Borneo Adventure Borneo Interland

THE PADAWAN RAFT SAFARI

Pic 1 Pic 2

CPH Travel Borneo Trek & Kayak Adventure Pic 3 Pic 4 Pic 1 - Pic 4 © Padawan Municipal Council

16 17 THE RAINFOREST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL & EXPO The Borneo World Music Expo - - - - - -

-

Borneo World Music Expo -

BORNEO CULTURAL TIDAL BORE FESTIVAL FESTIVAL

, at the mouth of the Batang Lupar, is famous for its daily Benak authors - W. Somerset Maugham - The Yellow Streak homestays.

Municipal Council, Greatown Travel year to year depend- The

- Sarawak Cultural -

CPH Travel

- -

28 29

Programme Pic 5 Pic 2 Pic 6 Pic 3 Pic 7 Pic 1

Sarawak Forestry * Pic 1 - Pic 7 © Sarawak Forestry Pic 4 CONSERVATION

PROGRAMMES Pic 2 Pic 1

Sarawak has two important centres for orangu- and located within easy reach of Kuching. Semenggoh Wildlife Centre: For over 30 years, - ity, how to survive in the wild. The success of - Pic 3 - centres, for corporate and private groups. All fees goh is now used as an orangutan study centre, graduates, semi-wild orangutans and their Morning – Matang Wildlife Centre. Arrive 8.30 taking part in enclosure cleaning, food prepara- Pic 4 Transfer to Semenggoh to view the semi-wild Sarawak forestry also run an orangutan with various levels of volun- at Matang Wildlife Centre, working directly with the young orangutans. Pic 5

Matang Wildlife Centre: Park, now runs the orang utan training programme, where orphaned orangutans are centre also includes spacious enclosures holidays. * Pic 1 - Pic 5 © Sarawak Forestry 32 33 KUCHING WETLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Located just 15 km from Kuching and 5 km from Damai Beach, environment. to view these shy creatures in their natural habitat. The park is also an important spawning and nursery ground for Sea Eagles and many shore birds, including the rare Lesser Adjutant Stork.

Kuching Wetlands & Cruise Depart Kuching at midday for the Sarawak Boat Club to board your well-appointed launch. The launch will criss-cross the mouth of the in search of the rare Irrawaddy Wetlands area is one of the best places in Sarawak to view this unusual looking marine - overlooking the Bako-Buntal Bay, then transfer back to Kuching late evening. to Satang Island for snorkelling or scuba diving.

Contact CPH Travel (www.cphtravel.com.my) are Sarawk’s marine tourism pioneers whose large, well-appointed boats are ideal for larger groups. Buntal Boat Cruise, run by Ehwan bin Ibrahim (Tel: 019 826 5680) a licensed boatman from

35

Sarawak’s amazing biodiversity means that nature and wildlife are high on every visitor’s agenda. To protect this valuable resource, the Orchids: Sarawak is home to over 1,000 orchid parks, nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries) than the rest of Malaysia combined, in terms of made famous by author Eric Hansen in two both number of sites (over 30) and total land remarkable books; and area (around one million hectares). However, Orchid Fever. Hansen has worked closely with some species and subjects are simply too Borneo Adventure in the past, and they can remotely located, or of too specialised interest, to appear on most tour operators’ programmes. orchid species in their natural habitat, as well as - visits to local orchid growers. make specialist tours for dedicated nature- Insects & Other Invertebrates: This is where the few examples. numbers start to get truly astronomical. Sarawak boasts around 4,000 species of inverte- Frogs and Amphibians: Sarawak boasts over 100 brates, including the spectacular Rajah Brooke’s the pea-sized Microhyla nepenthicola, found entomologists should contact Borneo Adven- microscopic young in the bowl of a dwarf pitcher ture (see above) for further details. Giant River Toad, which grows up to 30cm in : Four species of the world’s largest length, the Mulu Flying Frog and the unique Lungless Frog. Cat City Holidays (www.catcityholidays.com) and Straits Central near Lundu in Southwest Sarawak. The park runs Borneo Highlands as well as longer tailor-made are about to bloom. Most local tour operators can arrange day trips and overnight visits. further details from Straits Central. Irrawaddy Dolphin Watching: See Kuching Pitcher Plants: Sarawak has probably the world’s greatest variety of carnivorous nepen- Birdwatching: thes (pitcher plants) of any region on earth. Borneo Touch Ecotour (www.walk2mulu.com) Wild Orangutan Treks: that reveals at least 13 of Sarawak’s 25 or more nepenthes species. They can also arrange longer tours covering more species and extending into the remote Kelabit Highlands, as can Borneo Adventure (see below). Nature & Wildlife Photography: and amateur nature photographers are spoilt be snapped. Amansar Travel (www.amansar.com) and Borneo Adventure nature photography tours guided by some of the region’s leading nature photographers. 37 HOMESTAYS IN SARAWAK

from village to village through the spectacular - - parang tuak Contact Ministry of Tourism Sarawak’s homestay website, www.rightsarawak.com/Homestay.

THE IBAN HEARTLAND tuai rumah bilik ruai Contact

THE MELANAU HEARTLAND then visit the biggest Central Market in Malay- sia with over 1,200 stalls selling a huge variety - boat, cruising down the mighty Rajang & Igan nowadays build individual wooden houses in charming water . by the River with its remarkable altar piece, jerunei, berbayah and berayun and view another impressive burial pole at the happily side-by-side. - able homestay. Take a walk around the water harbours, and ancient water villages where in Lamin Dana. - Misan Rivers to visit the processing centre, which produces sago pearls by hand the to sample local delicacies such as siet (sago worms), tebaloi (delicious sago crackers. Return to speedboat.

Contact Greatown Travel (www.greatown.com) special- tours to the Melanau Heartland and the Lower Rejang. Suntravel (www.suntravelborneo.com) have strong links with the Melanau community and tours.

42 43 TRADITIONAL RITUALS AND RITES OF Pic 3 Pic 4 PASSAGE

Pic 1 tuak Pic 2

Suntravel Borneo Adventure * Pic 1, 3 & 4 © Travelcom Asia Pic 2 © Ashley Hale 44 45 EXOTIC TRADITIONAL WEDDINGS Ngambi InduMelah Pinang miring Suntravel Sarawak Cultural Village honeymoon packages Pic 5

Pic 2

Pic 1

Pic 3 Pic 4

* Pic 1 - Pic 5 © Travelcom Asia 47 SARAWAK CULTURAL VILLAGE

Arrive at - Sarawak Cultural Village is a unique award-winning living museum for a guided tour of the village followed by a Rise early for a guided walk through the foothills of - - - back to Kuching. Shorter half-day or full-day village tours are also

Contact Sarawak Cultural Village include Sarawak Cultural Village. Please refer to

ANNAH RAIS LONGHOUSE

Contacts

Sarawak is a shopper's paradise with a huge gists The Old Curiosity Shop Conrad's Heart of Darkness Photo © Travel kek lapis Photo © Plaza Merdeka Contact Contact Telang Usan Travel & Tours 52 53 SPA & WELLNESS

Sarawak is so famous for its culture, nature and - Photo © Utopia Kuching from tuak - Photo © Travelcom Asia

Photo © ravelcom Asia 54 55

In Sarawak, food is something we take very a local passion; at the last count there were more than a thousand food outlets in Kuching alone. As well as typical Malaysian and Western fare, there is heritage. Hawker Stalls We take great pride in our signature dishes: Some of the best places to eat local food are Sarawak , a fragrant and spicy soup of vermi- celli noodles, prawns and beansprouts; , a wonderful oily mix of noodles with minced pork or ; midin and paku fried jungle ferns; manok pansoh, chicken steamed venues, it is best to come early before they sell in longhouse style; umai, the spicy out available in local homes, but in recent years a discover Sarawak cuisine, thanks to our wonder- delicious jungle produce accompanied by tuak Malaysian Food Raya for kek lapis We also enjoy classic Malaysian dishes, whether banana leaf , nasi lemak and char kway teow, . Even the smallest towns in choose from 5-star hotel outlets and hundreds of found all over the state.

usually happy to add as many as you wish. Guide, or visit the guide’s updated website at Specialist food trails and cook’s tours are www.borneoguides.com. described on page 58.

56 57 - - -

GOLFING IN friends comprising golfers and non-golfers.

Arrive Kuching on Golfers: scenic and challenging golf courses - the old course for lovers of fast courses in Malaysia. An greens or the new course for those with no fear of water hazards. above the clouds in the early Non-golfers: morning, savour a fresh sunset view from a seaside Both: overnight in city hotel. The championship standard courses include: Kelab Golf Sarawak, Damai Golf Club and Golf & Jungle Club, all within easy reach of Kuching in the southwest; and Miri Golf Club and Eastwood Valley Golf Club in Miri in the northeast. With 18-hole courses also at Sibu and Bintulu, it’s possible to play the Highlands. Golfers: Play 18 holes on this challenging and Non-golfers: gardens and the view from the spectacular Both: Golfers: on the Arnold Palmer-designed Damai Golf Non-golfers:- spectacular cultural show. Both:

Borneo Transverse (www.borneotransverse. Insar Tours & Travel

60 61 DAMAI BEACH & THE SANTUBONG PENINSULA Damai Beach is Sarawak’s most popular beach resort area and the perfect base for discovering www.amoghatourstravel.com) - 4D/3N Damai Beach Culture & Fun jungle, superb seafood restaurants, an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course, a world-famous "living Day 1 - Damai Beach Resort. Meet and greet at museum", and a choice of beach resort hotels, eco-lodges and guest houses. Airport then proceed for lunch at a local restaurant followed by a half-day city tour of Possible tours and excursions include jungle treks to the summit of , Irrawaddy Kuching, including Main Bazaar, Kuching dolphin watching tours, river cruises and wildlife watching tours, and bird watching at Buntal - one Waterfront, Civic Centre, Tua Pek Kong Temple and Sarawak Museum. Transfer to Damai - Beach Resort for check in, then free at leisure to enjoy the beach and the spectacular sunset view. Overnight at resort. Day 2 - Jungle Trekking & Survivor Cooking. Sempadi, Lundu and , along the coast west of Kuching, have excellent white sand beaches - plants, wild orchids and catch a glimpse of insects. Then start to prepare the Survivor Cooking Lunch. The instructor will show how Photo © Village House to prepare a delicious meal using only materi- als and produce found in the jungle. Return to cruise. Dinner & overnight at resort. Day 3 - Sarawak Cultural Village.- fast, take a brief stroll to Sarawak Cultural Village, the world-famous living museum where you can “see Sarawak in half a day”. , Melanau, Penan, Chinese, Iban, Malay and - for an excellent - leisure to enjoy the beach or explore the surroundings. Dinner & overnight at resort. Day 4 - Buntal Seafood Village & Departure. check-out. Then head for an al-fresco seafood lunch overlooking the bay at Kampung Buntal. Keep an eye open for the many rare waterbird airport for departure.

KUCHING , 37 Jln , 2nd Floor, Lot 257 , No , G41, Medan Mall, 6 Jln Wong Tabuan, 93100 Kuching. Tel: +6082 248000, Jln Chan Chin Ann, 93100 Kuching. Tel: +6082 412778, 123, Lot 41, Sect 33, Jln Tabuan, 93100 Kuching, Tel: King Huo, 96000 Sibu, Tel: +6084 344577, www.aaborneo.com. www.diethelmtravel.com. +6082 242295, www.kuchingtravelagency.com. www.teamleisure.com.my. , Suite #02-3, , 2nd Floor, RH Plaza Blk 16, , 18 Ground Floor, Wisma Phoneix, Wesberly House, Rubber Road West, 93400 Kuching. Jalan Lapangan Terbang, 93250 Kuching. Tel: +6082 Jln Song Thain Cheok, 93100 Kuching. Tel: +6082 Tel: +6082 241200, www.amansar.com. 457181, www.greatleap.com.my. 422023, www.suntravelborneo.com. MIRI , Cp 201, Batu , Sublot 17, Panavol , 52 Main Bazaar, , Lot 1396, 1st Floor, Centre Point Kawah New Township, Jln , 93250 Kuching. Commercial Centre, Jln Simpang Tiga, 93300 Kuching. 93000 Kuching, Tel: +6082 243366, Commercial Centre II, Jln Kubu, 98000 Miri, Tel: +6085 Tel: +6082 463984, www.amoghatourstravel.com. Tel: +6082 411323, www.ikchin.com.my. www.sarawaksteamship.com 422595, www.borneojunglesafari.com. , 255, Jln Datuk Wee , Lot 2598, 2nd Floor , 30M, Ground Floor, Teochew , 15 Level 2 Soon Hup Kheng Chiang, 93100 Kuching. Tel: +6082 414419, Wisma Sandhu, Green Road, 93150 Kuching. Tel: Tower, Jln Maju, 98000 Miri, Tel: +6085 433113, www.bel-air.com.my. +6082 248112, www.insar.com. +6082 243089, Email: [email protected] , 55 Main Bazaar, 93000 , 91 Jln Green Hill, 93100 , c/o Telang , 669, Ground Kuching. Tel: +6082 245175, Kuching, Tel: +6082 233193, www.inter-borneo.com. Usan Hotel, Persiaran Ban Hock, 93100 Kuching, Tel: www.borneoadventure.com. +6082 236945, www.telangusan.com. +6085 432007, www.intercont.com.my. , Lot 572-3, by Singgahsana Lodge , 106, Jalan Simpang , Lot 1081, 1st Adventures Sdn Bhd, 96 Main Bazaar, 93000 Kuching. 256155, www.intercont.com.my. Tiga, 93300 Kuching, Tel: +6082 411879, Email: Tel: +6082 429239, www.borneoexperiences.com. [email protected] www.borneomainland.com. , No 1 Temple St., , 76 Jln 93000 Kuching, Tel: +6082 252344, , 7K Ban Hock Road, , Lot 236, Taman Jade Manis, Wayang, 93100 Kuching. Tel: +6082 252137, 93100 Kuching. Tel: +6082 248888, 98000 Miri, Tel: +6085 417899, www.borneoexplorer.com.my. www.wahtung.travel. www.kkmtravelntours.com. , 32 Jln Crookshank, 93200 , Sarawak Kuching. Tel: +6012-3721850, , Lot 1084, 1st Floor, Jln Tourism Complex, Block C1, Jalan Tun Abang Haji www.jambujourneys.com. Openg, 93000 Kuching, Tel: +6082 420194, www.borneotravelnetwork.com. borneofairyland.tripod.com. , Hilton Hotel Lobby, Jln Borneo, 93100 Kuching, Tel: +6082 251187 Email: , Ground Floor, Wisma , No 63, 1st Floor [email protected]. Equitorial, 11 Raminway, 96000 Sibu, Tel: +6084 , 1338, 2nd Floor, Jalan Sri Dagang Main Bazaar, 93000 Kuching. Tel: +6082 413595, 331599, Email: [email protected]. Road,98000 Miri, Tel: +6085 414433, Facebook: Borneo Interland Travel. Sarawak www.mindatravel.com.my. Tourism Complex, Block D1. Jalan Tun Abang Haji , 23, 1st Floor, Pusat Pedada, , No 15, Jln Openg, 93000 Kuching. +6082 – 422955 / 486514. Jalan Pedada, 96000 Sibu, Tel: +6084 348196, , Lot 273, Brighton Centre, Jalan Green Hill, 93100 Kuching, Tel: +6082 257882, Email: Kuchingholiday @yahoo.com www.ghtborneo.com. Temenggong Datuk Oyong Lawai, 98000 Miri, Tel: www.borneotransverse.com.my. +6085 415582, www.planetborneotours.com. , No 42 Jln , No. 6, 1st Floor, Lrg Chew , Lot 153, Jln Ban Hock, 93100 , 93100 Kuching, Tel: +6082 256781, Email: Siik Hiong 1A, 96000 Sibu, Tel: +6084 219243 / , 1st Floor, No. 8, Bangunan Sim Kuching, Tel: +6082 246422 / 424331, [email protected]. 211243, www.greatowntravel.com. Peng Lim, Jalan Merbau, 98000 Miri, Tel: +6085 www.borneotours.com.my. 426100, Email: [email protected] , Lot 32 Sect 51, No 68, Jalan No 62, Jalan , Lot 8962, Padungan, 93100 Kuching, Tel: +6082 246333, Kampung , 96000 Sibu. Tel: +6084 – 323288 , 2.04 2nd Floor, Wisma Jln Sekama, 93300 Kuching. Tel: +6013-8048338 / www.mataharitours.com. [email protected] Pelita Tunku, 98000 Miri, Tel: +6085 422227, +6082 240571, www.rainforestkayaking.com www.twtmiri.com.my. , No 254, 1st Floor, , 72-74 Jln Market, 96000 , Suite 29, Kueh Hock Kui Teck Gun Building, Jln Padungan, 93100 Kuching, Tel: Sibu, Tel: +6084 313155, Email: , No 12, Ground Commercial Centre, Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, [email protected]. Floor, Soon Hup Tower, Jln Merbau, 98000 Miri, Tel: 93150 Kuching. Tel: +6082 414200, +6085 419337, www.borneotropicaladventures.com. www.catcityholidays.com. , 1st Floor, 40 Main , 4 Jln Central, 96000 Bazaar, 93000 Kuching, Tel: +6012-5269719, Email: Sibu, Tel: +6084 336017, sazhong.yolasite.com. , No 70, Jln Padungan, 93100 Kuching, Tel: +6082 421018, www.gomalaysiatour.com. , 2A, Jln Persiaran Brooke, www.cphtravel.com.my. 96000 Sibu, Tel: +6084 329293, Email: , 358 Rubber Road, , 2nd Floor, 2065 93400 Kuching, Tel: +6082 258888, www.samasa.travel. 8443861, www.walk2mulu.com.

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