Sarawak Kek Lapis

Kek Lapis Sarawak is a layered cake, traditionally served in Sarawak,Malaysia on special occasions. In the Malay language, they are known asKek Lapis Sarawak, Kek Lapis Moden Sarawak, Kek Sarawak or Kek Lapis. They are often baked for religious or cultural celebrations such as Eid ul Fitr,Christmast, Deepavali, birthdays and weddings.People in Malaysia practice an open house on festival day. A unique feature of Sarawak's open houses is the modern layered cakes.

Sarawak kek lapis

Modern Sarawakian layered cakes were introduced to the people of Sarawak from Indonesia officially around 1988. The Indonesian version has been known since the Dutch colonial era; its most famous varieties are the  Lapis Legit, a spice-flavored multilayered cake, and Lapis Surabaya

In 2011, the history of Sarawak layered cakes once again change by a new generation (Sarawakian) of innovative natural layer cakes evangelist named Kek Lapis Qalas Qalas. By introducing modern design and traditional layer, coupled with new flavors which inspired from home-made inspiration,each layer is tastefully interlaced with various natural flavours in between the original recipe, modern taste and knowledge from their ancestor.

Most famous kek lapis in Sarawak is Kek Lapis Dayang Salhah. for more information, please visit http://keklapisdayangsalhah.net/

Niah National Park, Miri

Niah National Park is about 1hr 45min drive from Miri town centre. Just a little tip for those who want to go on the cheap and prefer to travel the way some locals do - there are several unmarked vans or 4WDs across the road from the local bus station (by the tourism information centre). These vans/4WD pick up passengers to various destinations and if you're lucky..there are a few going to Niah. The rate is about RM15 per person and the good thing about taking these unmarked vehicles is that they will drive you straight to the Niah National Park entrance. Normally these vans will drop off or pick up passengers along the way but they will be on their way as long as they have 6 passengers at the start of the journey i.e. from the bus stand across the road from the local bus station in Miri (next to the football pitch). However, if you're uncomfortable with hopping into unmarked vans/4wds, then please take the normal mode which is by taking the scheduled bus to Batu Niah and then another taxi ride to Niah National Park or day tours. Getting there, go here.

•  stay overnight or day trip?

Most visitors make day trips to the park as it's easily accessible now. The number of hours spent at the caves is roughly 4hours on average, taking into consideration how many caves you wish to visit and the walk of 3.5km from the riverbank to Traders' Cave - the first section of the Great Cave and the start of the cave walk. In total, you may be spending about 7 hours including travel time for this trip. However, if you would like to watch bats in flight in the evening, then there are places to stay at the National Park. The chalets and dormitories at the park are with air condition or fan and each unit is equipped with a sitting area and kitchenette.relatively clean. There's also a cafeteria where local cuisine and some western food choices are served and If you get bored in the evenings, there's TV at the cafeteria. For more on accommodation at Niah National Park, go here

•  entrance fees, boat fees and other rentals

niah river

The entrance fee costs RM10 per adult which you can pay and register at the park headquarters. The headquarters opens at 9.am and closes at 5.30pm daily. Don't worry if you haven't brought the essentials with you like raincoat or ponchos, torch lights and caps, there are items for sale there and the torch lights are on rental at RM10 per unit.

The boat rental is RM1 per person per way and takes a mere 1 minute to cross the width of Niah river. The boat times are from 9.00am to 5.00pm and from 5.00pm to 7.00pm it's RM1.50 per person per way.

If you're interested in hiring a licensed guide for the walk, it'll cost you RM80 but there are freelance guides loitering around in the great cave for RM40. Whether the information provided is accurate, that remains to be determined.

•  caution

very dark passageway - good,bright torchlight is advisable

The plank walk leading to and into the caves is very slippery. The park is in the process of replacing the wooden plank walk with cemented pathways but in the meantime make sure your shoes have good grip. Melissa had on a pair of all-terrain trekking shoes and even then the slippery planks were too much for her. She slipped off the walkway in the dark tunnels and sustained a few nasty bruises. Visitors will need a very good torchlight for the walk through the connecting passageway from the Padang through to the Moon Cave .

If you're going to the caves without a guide, then do make sure you keep to the trails. There are only a few directional signs in the cave passages and along the way. Best to read up on the caves and the historical background before you go as there are no information plaques available for visitors.

•  Things to bring with you

~ a good torchlight, make sure the batteries are new. There is no lighting in the caves and if your light dims, you may have a pretty hard time finding your way out

~ raincoat/poncho

~ drinking water

~ hat or cap (protection from bird or bat droppings)

~ a pair of shoes with good grip

~ a pair of gloves if you intend to hold on to the guano encrusted railings for support along the way

~ snacks although there is a stop close to the cave entrance where the Iban ladies from nearby longhouse make their living selling biscuits, can drinks, bottled water and souvenirs

Niah National Park

If you're thinking of somewhere to visit for the day whilst on transit in Miri, Niah National Park is the ideal place to go - it's a combination of nature, history and living culture. The caves are located within the 3,138 ha of a mixture of peat forest, marshland, kerangas and lowland dipterocarp forest of Sarawak. Niah is probably one if not the smallest of national parks in Sarawak . As such it cannot sustain a habitat big enough for larger mammals but is still home to a variety of insects, bats, bird, macaques, mouse dears, hornbills, flying lizards and other reptiles.

Across the Niah river and at the start of the 3.5km walk to the caves sits the park museum. There's sound information on the park such as the geological makeup of the area, the ethnological activity at the caves, the peoples that have lived in the area - their livelihood, culture and festivities, history of birdnest collecting, the archaeological finds at Niah cave conducted by Tom Harrisson in the 50's ; it's a good idea to make a quick stop here, just to get a gist of the area.

From the museum, it takes roughly 45mins brisk walk to the bottom of the fortified limestone wall. The quiet trek through the lowland forest is strangely calming. Thick, high primary rainforest canopy pegged with giant tapang trees (Koompassia excels),shade the forest floor below. Speckles of sunshine sprinkles the stream nearby, birdcalls resonate through the jungle, monkeys frolic up on the high branches and the Rajah Brooke butterfly flutters around soggy ground, searching for salt supplement. A flying lizard stretches its lateral flaps and glides down, rests gently on a tree across the stream, scuttling off into the shadow.

Once upon a time, the entire state of Sarawak was blanketed with a canopy created by 35 - 40m high dipterocarp trees anchored to the ground by gigantic buttress roots. Today, only fragmented pockets of land such as at Niah protects the original landscape of James Brooke's Sarawak and Charles Darwin's Borneo . Indiscriminate logging activity has changed Sarawak 's landscape dramatically and the complete ecosystem of the virgin jungle will be lost forever ~ in it a complex of endemic fauna and flora species as well as the nomadic tribe Penan. Greed of a few and need for development has sealed the fate of 100's of species.

swamp

The early dwellers in the area were the Penan tribe. They are the only nomadic tribe in Sarawak hence the immense publicity they had as compared to the other native tribes. These nomads survive and depend entirely on the jungle. They do not open lands for planting nor farming. Their intricate rattan weaving is prized but they rely on wild rattan to provide them with the best material for their art. The intense logging in Sarawak has left them with no home or the government has resettled them in longhouses and timber houses of which they are unused to staying in. Without the jungles, their freedom and existence are in danger. The sago palms have been cut down and now many of them are without their staple diets, resorting to eating tapioca which is not in their diet.

Their daily meat like the dears, wildboars and monkeys have all disappeared and they are left without meat to supplement their diet. The Penans are slowly disappearing as a tribe. Some have been assimilated into civilized commununities, others are dying. Their dependence on the jungle for life and death is there way but death in the new world is a horrifying certainty for many who yearn to return to the jungle for their final breaths to find their land tied up in bureaucratic red tape and corruption. However, at Niah caves, the Penan families have traditional rights to collecting the birdnests here. These prized delicacies are for the Chinese markets have been traded since the Ming dynasty period and is still in high demand today if not higher. The Penans living in the area are also given licenses to collect the guano (bat droppings) for the fertilizer market. Today, only 10 licenses are given out to Penan families living in villages along the Niah River .

The next batch of early inhabitants migrated from Baram, Bintulu and Baliangan. Known as the Orang Ulu or the Interior people - they were from smaller tribes such as the Preban, Segan and Bakong. The Ibans migrated from Skrang and Batang Ai area some 70yrs ago, built longhouses along the rivers and settled down. A decade later, Malay traders moved in from Brunei, some intermarried with the natives and settled down. About the same time, the Chinese migrants arrived. The Chinese were mainly agriculturists, planting peppers, cocoa, tobacco, vegetables and oranges whilst others involved in trading.

Rainforest World Music Festival

The Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique festival that brings

together on the same stage renowned world musicians from all 

continents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the 

mythical island of Borneo.

Its formula of afternoon informative workshops, ethno-musical 

lectures, jamming sessions and mini concerts, followed by evening

performances on the main stage has proven to be a hit with the 

audience, who come from near and far.

The festival site also sets up a variety of food and drink stalls, an 

arts and crafts area as well as a counter for festival memorabilia, 

Sarawak souvenirs and CDs by the performing artists, all this 

contributing to a fun filled, wholesome festival experience. 

World Music plus a country fair atmosphere in the midst of lush 

greenery.

The Rainforest World Music Festival, a not-to-be-missed occasion, 

guarantees a smashing time in the heart of the 

Borneo Jungle !

The Rainforest World Music Festival is an annual three-day music festival celebrating the diversity of world music, held in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, with daytime music workshops, cultural displays, craft displays, food stalls, and main-stage evening concerts. It is now one of the largest musical events in Malaysia with a total weekend audience approaching 30,000.

The festival features a wide range of performances from traditional music, to world fusion and contemporary world music. The festival emphasizes the use of traditional acoustic world instruments, although electric accompaniment instruments are common. Invited performers come from Sarawak, other provinces of Malaysia, and countries near and far. Festival acts have included: Joey Ayala (Philippines - 1998), Shooglenifty (Scotland - 1999), Inka Marka (South America - 2000), Rajery (Madagascar - 2001), Black Umfolosi (Zimbabwe - 2002), Huun Huur Tu (Tuva), Cynthia Alexander (Philippines) - 2003), Te Vaka (Samoa/New Zealand - 2004), Namgar (Mongolia - 2005), Peatbog Faeries (Scotland - 2006), Tarika Be (Madagascar - 2007), and Ross Daly (Greece - 2008), Shannon (Poland - 2005, 2007).

Sarawak Monument

Kuching Cat Icon Monument

Kuching City’s famous Cat Icon Statue recently received a new urban art makeover from a group of Kuching volunteering knitters. The new look of the Cat Statue, now has a new purple with cream and a white hat, as well as a golden yellow purplish scarf that makes it looks like a Boy Scouts team.

 This Kuching City Cat Statue iconic monument wears different costumes for different occasions. Before this, it was the Chinese New Year festival season. The Cat Statue was well decorated with Chinese costume in conjunction with the holiday festival season.

 The art makeover volunteered by the group of Kuching knitters, was led by Crafthub director, Heidi Munan. They stitched a ninemetre strip of yarn into a hat and another three metre into a scarf. To ensure the hat is well placed on the Cat Statue, it was reinforced with metal wires making sure it will last long under the humid weather in Sarawak.

 Materials used were from recycle and unwanted items such as thrown away water bottles and pompoms.

 Miss Heidi Munan, the director and leader of the club for Crafthub, mentioned the idea to start out and decorated the KuchingLandmark Cat Statue was proposed by a group of non-government organisations since last year.

 It took the group 6 months to complete the costume. During that period of time, they met up once a week to do the stitches and some of them who were looking forward to it eventually decided to continue the job at home with the given materials.

 The only cost involved was labour as the beautifully produced yarn was made from recycled items or a half completed work and unwanted yarns.

 Heidi was inspired by the design from the latest urban street art called yarn bombing. Originally yarn bombing was used to decorate trees and benches made of colourful knitted and crotched yarn or fibre clothes.

 “It is hoped that this attempt on urban street art would not only promote the art but also entice city folks to take up this new interests and expand its use in the future as an embellishment to the cityscape and the promotion of the city’s culture and tourism” she said.

 Their hands are currently tight with charitable works at the Children Cancer’s ward of the Sarawak General Hospital, by knittingcolourful patched blankets and hats. After that, they will move on to stitching soft toys.

 Those who are interested to learn stitching may drop by at the Sarawak Museum Café on Wednesday from 10 am to learn stitching from Heidi.

 Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato James Chan advised public not to touch or remove the hat or scarf.

Sarawak Gambir

Gambir Sarawak, is an amazing natural herbal product that is swiftly rising in popularity to replace the Jamaican Stone for premature ejaculation treatment or cure. This all natural herbal remedy gives you effective, vigorous, long endurance intercourse and the hardest erection you will ever have in your life. In other words, Gambir Sarawak makes you last longer in bed and will cure the sexual problem of premature ejaculation, making you far more sexually appealing naturally, without the use of drugs or uncomfortable treatments. The herbs found in this remedy work with your body, meaning that you get an all natural, organic erection with no strange side effects afterwards.

Gambir Sarawak owes its name to its place of origin- Sarawak, Borneo. The main ingredient, Gambir which is found in Sarawak is actually an astringent substance extracted from a Gambir plant of the Madder family. Traditionally Gambir was popular for chewing with betel nut among the natives in Sarawak. There is even a street named after it, Gambir Street, as Gambir and other spices were actively traded back in the early 1900’s because it was such a popular herb and remedy for Borneo’s trading partners. Nowadays, it is being used and sold (even on eBay) worldwide for premature ejaculation treatment.

Gambir Sarawak is widely used as natural herbal

Gambir, also known as Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus in Latin, is mostly found in South East Asia. It is an extract prepared from the leaves and twigs of Ourouparia Gambir (Gambir Plant).

Medical research shows that gambir is a powerfully astringent. It restrains excessive discharges, overcomes relaxation and congestion, and checks local hemorrhages. Gambir is also used in relaxed sore throat, relaxed uvula, and the relaxation and congestion of the fauces common to speakers and singers.

In traditional Chinese medicine, Gambir is used to calm wind to relieve convulsions; calm the liver; and remove (or clear away) heat.

Locally in Sarawak, Borneo, Gambir Sarawak has been widely used by the native people to cure gum and toothache, insect bites and minor cuts. Gambir Sarawak also has been widely used as sex enhancement aid to cure premature ejaculation. The results are found to be better than Jamaican Stone.

Gambir Sarawak gives your penis the menthol and tingling sensation pleasure that really add more fun and excitement in your sex life which the Jamaican Stone cannot offer. This mean Gambir Sarawak is more superior to Jamaican Stone because Jamaican Stone makes one loose sensation and sex does not remain as much fun afterward. However Gambir Sarawak is different. Gambir Sarawak is absorbed by the skin and does not numb the skin but instead has very potent anti-serotonergic activity, which means that it delays the orgasm reflex without effecting the normal sensations.  Sex life remains fantastic and excited!

Although Gambir Sarawak is mainly used by men for premature ejaculation cure or to last longer in bed, there have been reports that women using it love the burning sensation on their clitoris/labia and have achieved multiple orgasms due to the tingling sensation and the prolonged performance by their lover.

Mee Kolok a.k.a Mee Sapi

kolo mee

There can be only one logical choice – kolo mee, the ubiquitous tossed noodle that has become so much part of the city folks’ life.

Laksa might stake a claim, but at best it can only claim to be Sarawak’s variety of this dish as several other states can also lay claim to this dish.

Kolo mee is a different kettle of fish altogether. It is ‘endemic’ to Kuching, and only in recent years has it spread to other towns in Sarawak. In fact, its popularity has spread to a few eateries in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur!

However, kolo mee is still hard to come by in these cities, and Kuching natives working there often crave for its simple but unique taste.

Somehow, kolo mee does not taste like the kolo mee they used to eat, unless it is eaten in Kuching.

The same applies for kolo mee – it has to be made, cooked and eaten in Kuching to be the real deal.

If Kuching natives cannot come back, then the next best thing is to get someone coming their way from the city to buy packets of the noodles for them.

It is inconvenient, no doubt, but it is worth all the trouble for these kolo mee addicts.Indeed, what it so special about this ‘poor man’s food’? ‘Not so young’ citizens still reminiscence the good old days when a bowl of kolo mee ‘kosong’ (served without any garnishing) cost 30 cents and a standard serving with slivers of meat cost an extra 20 cents.

Kolo mee ‘special’ with extra garnishing like boiled prawns costing at least a few ringgit more were unheard of in those days … life was simple then.

In recent years, kolo mee earned another reason to be the signature dish of Kuching when it transcended the racial barrier and made it into the menu of Malay coffee shops through its halal version.Although it has not make it to the ranks of `nasi lemak’ or `mee jawa’ in halal eateries, mee kolok has gained a large following among those who eat only halal food.

The famous place of mee kolok at Kuching is at Benteng Baru Kubah Ria. The Mee kolok is as know as "mee kolok Mangkok Merah" because it will serve by the red bowl. 

mee kolok mangkuk merah website - http://dcyberinfo.blogspot.com/2012/04/mee-kolok-di-benteng-satok-kuching.html

mee kolok mangkuk merah

go to this website - https://foursquare.com/v/mee-kolok-mangkuk-merah/4dea48ced164ef597ce62317

here we know what customer will comment ang give a tips.

Sarawak Laksa

The mighty Laksa Sarawak packs a hefty punch, featuring rice vermicelli in a rich and spicy broth topped with generous portions of shredded chicken, bean sprouts, strips of egg omelette and fresh prawns; sometimes you can opt to have yellow egg noodles instead of the regular rice vermicelli. The secret to a good bowl of laksa is in the stock, and the oomph comes from a combination of (reputedly over twenty) different root gingers and spices, making this a defining and unique Kuching dish. It is a perennial favourite with locals as well as visitors. Two of the more popular places in Kuching to try out the delicious Laksa Sarawak would most probably have to be Foody Goody and Madam Tang’s.

Laksa Sarawak at Madam Tang, Bishop’s Gate Road

Laksa Sarawak at Foody Goody, Stutong Baru

Unfortunately, that is all we have for now, but, for all you Laksa Sarawak lovers out there, be sure to check back for more upcoming posts on other Laksa offerings.Selamat menjamu selera!

Sarawak Cultural Village

To see Sarawak in one sunny day .. this is the basic concept of Sarawak Cultural Village, where the 48,000 square miles of Malaysia's most majestic State are condensed into just 17 acres. One leisurely stroll opens seven homes to the visitor, seven cultures, including the famous longhouses of Borneo.

           Ever since tourism took its first hesitant steps into Sarawak in the 1960s, the intrepid 'adventurers' who veered off the beaten track found Borneo's unique house-form an irresistible attraction. Of course they wanted to see the landscape of breathtaking splendour and the world's richest ecosystem, but the fascinating array of peoples and cultures was the real magnet. Unfortunately, Sarawak is huge, much of it covered by rugged mountains and jungle. How can a visitor hope to sample it all in less than three weeks of arduous travel?

           A few far-sighted planners suggested that we build a 'model' village or longhouse within easy reach of Kuching. In the 1970s, cultural performances in a langkau in the Museum Gardens scored a spectacular success. This reactivated the idea; the Reservoir Park was suggested as a possible site, so was Sungai China in Matang. The Sarawak Museum contributed ethnographic and cultural input... but nothing came of it. There were other development priorities.

           The plan for a Cultural Village was resuscitated in the 1980s, after the whole Damai area had been identified as a 'tourism zone'. Architects and engineers engaged in the early stages of the project cruised up and down the river in the time-honoured Sarawak way - Santubong Bridge didn't link the road from Kuching to the sea until 1988. The very road to and from the bridge and around the steep flank of Mt.Santubong had to be built first!

           But build it they did - SCV took shape with a Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu and Melanau longhouse, a Penan hut and a Malay village house, and a Chinese farm house. By mid-1989 a solemn house-warming ceremony with offerings and sacrifice put life into the empty wooden structures. The dream had become reality.

About Sarawak Cultural Village

Tucked away at the foothills of legendary Mount Santubong, 35 km from Kuching is Sarawak's fascinating cultural showcase, the award winning "Sarawak Cultural Village" which is also the venue for the World Harvest Festival and the Rainforest World Music Festival, an internationally renowned festival.

This living museum is wholly owned by the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) depicts the heritage of the major racial groups in Sarawak and conveniently portrays their respective lifestyle amidst 14 acres of tropical vegetation.

Here, it is possible to see Sarawak's ethnic diversity at a glance. The handicraft is both bewildering and tempting, including the Kain Songket (Malay cloth with gold inlay), Pua Kumbu (Iban housewives textiles), Melanau Terendak (sunhat), Bidayuh tambok (basket), Iban parang (swords), Orang Ulu wood carving and Chinese ceramics.

The 45-minute cultural performance of songs, dances and entertainment is something you will not want to miss during your visit to Sarawak.

-For more information, please visit http://www.tourism.gov.my/en/my/Web-Page/Places/States-of-Malaysia/Sarawak/Sarawak-Cultural-Village

Ethnic Races 1

DAYAK IBAN

Dayak iban girl dances

The Ibans are a branch of the Dayak peoples of Borneo. In Malaysia, most Ibans are located in Sarawak, a small portion in Sabah and some in west Malaysia. They were formerly known during the colonial period by the British as Sea Dayaks. Ibans were renowned for practising headhuntingand tribal/territorial expansion and had a fearsome reputation as a strong and successful warring tribe in ancient times.

Since the arrival of Europeans and the subsequent colonisation of the area, headhunting gradually faded out of practice although many tribal customs, practices and language continue. The Iban population is concentrated in Sarawak, Brunei, and in the West Kalimantan region ofIndonesia. They live in longhouses called rumah panjai[1].

Nowadays, most of the Iban longhouses are equipped with modern facilities such as electricity and water supply and other facilities such as (tar sealed) roads, telephone lines and the internet. Younger Ibans are mostly found in urban areas and visit their hometowns during the holidays. The Ibans today are becoming increasingly urbanised while retaining most of their traditional heritage and culture.

Origin of Sarawak

James Brooke was appointed Rajah by the Sultan of Brunei on 18 August 1842. Brooke ruled the territory, later expanded, across the western regions of Sarawak around Kuching until his death in 1868. His nephewCharles Anthoni Johnson Brooke became Rajah after his death; he was succeeded on his death in 1917 by his son, Charles Vyner Brooke, with the condition that Charles should rule in consultation with his brotherBertram Brooke.The Sarawak territories were greatly enlarged under the Brooke dynasty, mostly at the expense of areas nominally under the control of Brunei. In practice Brunei had only controlled strategic river and coastal forts in much of the lost territory, so most of the gain was at the expense of Muslim warlords and of the de facto independence of local tribes.

The Brooke dynasty ruled Sarawak for a hundred years and became famous as the "White Rajahs", accorded a status within the British Empire similar to that of the rulers of Indian princely states. In contrast to many other areas of the empire, however, the Brooke dynasty was intent on a policy of paternalism in order to protect the indigenous population against exploitation. They governed with the aid of the Muslim Malay and enlisted the Ibans and other "Dayak" as a contingent militia. The Brooke dynasty also encouraged the immigration of Chinese merchants but forbade the Chinese to settle outside of towns in order to minimise the impact on the Dayak way of life. Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah of Sarawak, established the Sarawak Museum, the oldest museum in Borneo.

In the early part of 1941 preparations were afoot to introduce a new constitution, designed to limit the power of the Rajah and give the people of Sarawak a greater say in government. Despite this democratic intention, the draft constitution contained irregularities, including a secret agreement drawn up between Charles Vyner Brooke and his top government officials, financially compensating him via treasury funds.