Historial Building

Square Tower

Built in 1879 as a detention camp for prisoners, the Square Tower was later converted into a fortress and then a dance hall. Today it is a multimedia information centre and video theatre providing information on Sarawak's tourist attractions. 



Round Tower

Constructed in 1886, the reason for the building of the Round Tower remains a mystery. Because of its structure, it is claimed the building was meant to serve as a fort in an emergency. Instead it became the Dispensary and was then used by the Labour Department until 1980. It now houses a section of the Judicary department. In earlier days, the Round Tower was strategically located to provide an excellent view of the town.


The Pavilion

Next to the Round Tower is The Pavilion, which was built in 1909. Regarded as something of an architectural enigma, its design is reminiscent of buildings in the southern states of America - a mixture of late English renaissancce and colonial architecture. It served as a General Hospital until 1947. It is currently undergoing renovation to be turned into a textile museum.


The Astana

The Astana which lies in regal splendour accross the river, is a majestic building with romantic history. The second Rajah, Charles Brooke, built this palace in 1870 as a bridal gift for his wife, the Ranee Margaret. Then known as the Government House, it is actually three separate buildings fused into one, with each connected to the other by short and narrow passageways. First occupied by Charles Brooke in 1870, it was the private residence of the second Rajah. It has undergone substantial alterations and renovations and is today the official residence of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, the Governor of Sarawak.



Fort Margherita

Completed in 1879, Fort Margherita commands a breathtaking and strategic position along the Sarawak River, with a location chosen to overlook the long stretch of river approaching Kuching. Named after the second Rajah, Charles Brooke's wife, the Ranee Margaret, it was built in the defensive edifice/castle style of the late English renaissance. Fort Margherita has been converted into a Police Museum and many of its old cannons, cannon balls, guns, pistols, swords and other vestiges of its artillery can still be seen. The armoury still exists as does the condemned prisoner's cell. The Police Museum has a display of old police weapons, reconstructed opium dens and scenes of hanging and other forms of criminal punishment.

Santubong Mountain

 Santubong  Mountain

A legend often associated with the mountain is of two beautiful princesses of heaven, Santubong and Sejinjang. Santubong was an expert weaver while Sejinjang was an excellent rice tresher. When war broke out between two villages, Kampung Puteh and Kampungb Pasir Kuning , the King of Heaven sent the princesses to keep peace in both villages. The villagers saw both beautiful princesses and stopped the war. After the war, both princesses taught the villagers their expertise and both villages began to trade and became prosperous. Many princes heard of them and came from the whole island to marry them, but all was denied by them. One day, a handsome prince came, and the princesses had a quarrel and exchanged blows because both of them fell in love with the prince. Sejinjang swung her tresher which hit Santubong's cheek. Santubong threw her weaver at Sejinjang, hitting her in the head. Putting an end to the quarrel, the King of Heaven cursed both of them into mountains. Santubong turned into Mount Santubong while Sejinjang was turned into Mount Sejinjang. It is said that both mountains resembles women lying on their back and a crack on Mount Santubong was the scar on Princess Santubong's cheek.

Intresting place

^{Wind Cave}
 
The Wind Cave Nature Reserve is part of the Bau Formation, a narrow belt of limestone covering about 150 sq km of Southwest Sarawak. Due to the comparatively soft and soluble nature of limestone, and the intense tropical rainfall of the region, the whole of the Bau Formation is intersected with caves. Whilst many caves of the Bau Formation are remote and inaccessible, the Wind Cave is within easy reach of Kuching and is a popular day trip and picnic destination. The Wind Cave Nature Reserve covers 6.16 hectares and includes the cave itself and the surrounding forest.

Jong's Crocodile Farm, Sarawak

Locates about 25 km from Kuching, this privately-owned crocodile farm is arguably the largest of its kind in Sarawak. Spread over an area of three and a half acres of land, it houses over 1000 crocodiles. Crocodile - the most feared animal in Sarawak has make thier home in some of the densely populated riverbanks. Our guide will brief you how our riverbank our riverbank dwelling natives have regularly became victims of the fierce reptiles while bathing and fishing in some of the most highly crocodile infected rivers in the rural area.

Other rare species of exotic animals found only in Borneo are bred in the farm include red eyed Fireback Pheasant, the pretty Golden Cockerel, Barking deers, Sambar deers and the world largest snakes - Python, Leopard-cats, Sunbears, Civets, Hornbill, long tail and pig tail Macaques, Hornbills, Peacock, Egret, monitor lizards, Bearcats and many more. It is a chance for you to see some of the household animals such as goats, turkeys, goose, ducks, swans and that are rarely found in big acity nowadays. 

Kubah National Park, Sarawak

Kubah is one of Sarawak's most accessible national parks. It is only 20 kilometres from Kuching. Kubah is the recent addition to Sarawak's network of protected forest area, which was gazetted in 1988 and was only open to public in 1995. An overnight stay is highly recommended if you want to get the best of this handy and compact site.

The sandstone plateau includes three mountains, Gunung Serapi, Gunung Selang and Gunung Sendok, which can be seen clearly from Kuching. Within the park's 2,230 hectares you can find rare ferns and orchids. These were one of the reasons Kubah was gazetted as a national park in 1989. Popular with local people are the waterfalls and clear jungle streams where you can cool off after trekking through the jungle on well-marked paths.

Kelabit Highlands, Sarawak

Bario in Kelabit Highlands lies at an elevation of 1000 metres, well above the steamy jungle covered coastal plain. The mountain surrounding this highland reaches up to over 2000 metres, which make for chilly evenings. The Kelabit people are among Borneo's best rice farmers, the fragrant 'highland rice' is much sought.

Food

Bubur Ruya
 

A very simple dessert best taken during a rainy day for tea time. Used to have this often when I was much younger, and finally had the chance to have this again recently when my mother brought back some tapioca root from the farm. The recipe calls for the least of ingredients 

Black Peper Beef Ala Sarawak

  

Daging masak itam, as it is famously known, is a Sarawakian Malays type of beef rendang that is normally being served during special occasion such as weddings and Eid celebration. Sarawakian black beef rendang is very distinct in comparison to its Western Malaysia counterpart because of the use of dark caramel soy sauce, palm sugar and prune, with the absence of coconut milk and kerisik or grated coconut. It is also sweeter in nature, with just a little hint of dry spices and spiciness. Although prune may not be compulsory, this is the ingredient that helps in the coloring, texture and special taste to this dish.

Midin Masak Belacan

  

Midin (Stenochlaena palustris-source here ) is one type of jungle ferns that can be found in a tropical South East Asia countries. In  Sarawak, these can be found in abundance, and it has become a very familiar vegetable dish especially in restaurants. Locally it is also being called milin or bilin.Before the commercialization of midin, the Dayak has been consuming midin for a very long time. However, they normally consumed the more leafy portion of midin which is also known as Paku Merah. It is identified by its red color, and it'll turn to green when it is fully mature and become inedible. Since only the leaves are used and it produced less bulk when it wilted, they normally will add-in a bit more water to this stir-fried dish, or added into simple 'one-dish' soup which consist of few types of protein and vegetables.

 Grilled Eggplant & Dayak Style Sambal Belacan

  

Back in those days, as most of the Dayaks are farmers and most farms are on the hilly parts or at the foot of the mountain, they normally will start their day as early as 6am to start their journey from home. This is so that they can start tending on their farm and utilized the cool temperature in the morning to do as much as they can. Because of that, they normally will have only a very light breakfast which consists of a grounded coffee and accompanied with cream crackers or quick fritters either at home or at the farm.

 Sarawak Fried Rice

 This shall be the first Malay cooking that will be included in Sarawak Ethnic Food. Nasik Aruk or simply nasi goreng (fried rice) of Sarawak version is very basic and simple. However, as it is the version of fried rice that we have known since we were very young, we are very fond of this fried rice as it always reminds us of moms who prepared it for us to bring to school. This fried rice is also can be commonly found at Malay coffee shop and food stalls.

 Sarawak Laksa

 

 Sarawak laksa (Malay: Laksa Sarawak) comes from the Malaysian state Sarawak, on the island of Borneo. It is actually very different from the curry laksa as the soup contains no curry at all. It has a base of sambal belacan, sour tamarind, garlic, galangal, lemon grass and coconut milk, topped with omellete strips, chicken strips, prawns, fresh coriander and optionally lime. Ingredients such as bean sprouts, (sliced) fried tofu or other seafood are not traditional but are sometimes added.

Traditional house

Baruk




Our circular Baruk can be made into a model for a modern cool community hall. The Baruk structure capitalised on air convection as the principle for keeping the building cool. The other aspect is that it provide an atmosphere of equality in term of status when come to the seating arrangment.In the old days, this is where the Bidayuh keep their enemies skulls.
Uses of the Baruk.

• Used by the Pagans to practise the 'Adat Oma' and performing traditional dances.
• In the olden days, a defensive point for the Bidayuh Village.
• Used by all unmarried men and young boys of the village as their sleeping place. (Keep them out of mischief!).
• Rest house for visitors. (Most of them must have had nightmare!).
• A meeting place for the villagers/with Government Officials.
• A venue for religious and cultural ceremonies.

Another unique thing about Bidayuh architecture, is the complete absent in the use of iron nails. We use a system of joints and the building materials are held in place with the use of special ropes/rattan.

Bidayuh long house
Traditional Bidayuh Longhouse is open and conducive for a disciplined, communal way of life where honesty, discipline and deligence is automatically imposed on all inhabitants.
Unlike the Ibans, Bidayuh Longhouse actually consists of small longhouses (a few doors) or separate individual homes placed close together and are connected together by platforms of bamboo. Thus they are not that long, straight and level. Ours can be considered split-level, as we have to follow the contour of the land/hills.
Traditional Bidayuh houses are built using timber frames (post and beams), the wall are made of bark or flattened bamboo, the floor is made of section of split bamboo or flattened bamboo and the roofing is of 'attap' (palm-leaf thatch). Another unique thing about Bidayuh architecture, is the complete absent in the use of iron nails. We use a system of joints and the building materials are held in place with the use of special ropes/rattan.
Unfortunately, you can't find anymore Bidayuh Longhouse in Bau District. There might still be one or two in Penrissen, Pedawan or Serian area.

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Iban long house


The Iban race, once known as “Sea Dayaks”, built their longhouses to last fifteen to twenty years, or, until the farm land in the surrounding area was exhausted. Then they packed up their goods and chattels and moved inland, upriver, along the coast, wherever fresh farm lands looked promising. About one-third of all Sarawakians are Iban; while some of them live in towns or individual houses, a large number still prefer longhouses.
A traditional longhouse is built of axe-hewn timber, tied with creeper fibre, roofed with leaf thatch. It is nearly always built by the bank of a navigable river, and the visitor approaches it from the boat jetty. He climbs up a notched log that serves as a staircase and finds himself on the open verandah face to face with a scene of community and domestic activity. The long covered gallery that runs the length of an Iban longhouse is called the Ruai. This is where guest are usually greeted.
Several doorways lead from the outer to the inner verandah under the roof. This is the village street of the longhouse; the individual family rooms or “doors” front the common walkway. A casual visitor is invited to sit down on a mat here for a chat with the longhouse elder; family members enter through their relatives' doors and make themselves at home.


 Melanau long house
Traditionally, an orang Ulu longhouse was built to last. Many of these people practice settled agriculture, and have developed rice field irrigation to a fine art. This makes the search for new farmlands unnecessary. The solid ironwood houses are designed to last for many generations.
 





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