THE NATIVES OF SARAWAK AND THEIR LIFE STYLE.

     Sarawak is known as The Land of Horn bills. Though, it's a rich land with its resources such as , Timber , rattan and the exotic plants and herbs, The indigenous people who once lived a prosperous life now live in poverty.

      The outsiders come here and swindle their precious treasures without giving them anything. Even the animals which they used hunt, is decreasing. It’s a pitiful situation; they live as farmers who wait for the Paddy and sub crops to grow. Even fish is difficult to catch.

        The beauty has been preserved but their daily life is a struggle. Font The people lives a very simple life. Their daily meal is the ferns which had been collected from the bushes and young bamboo shoots. Protein is something rare to be found in their daily meals.

      The most beautiful women in Asia live here. They have very soft & clear complexion. Most of them are much slimmer in size. The girls get married when they  turned  13 or 12, by the time they reach thirties, they had become grandmothers. Many women  in early forties have teenage grandchildren. Some men even have kids and grandchildren who are almost same age.

Part 4 Long House Stay

      During my stay at the Long house what I observed, was the prohibited behavior or acts which are something rare to my knowledge. I was told that outsiders especially men are not allowed to enter their house and even if they are given an opportunity to enter their house, the men are not allowed to use the toilets in the house, they must go to the jungle or other parts of the area either to defecate or to urinate.
One of the relatives of the long house told me that, when the rice they cooked is burnt, that particular family need to pay certain amount of money to the Long house"s most senior man as punishment .This is to remind them that they wont repeat it. when rice is burnt while cooking, to the Ibans it is a bad sign.

      I was quite sad to look at those kids and babies who do not have any toys or even play corner. I suggested to them , to get a swing, or slide and a sea saw for the little ones in the living room or rest room of the longhouse.According to them, That part of the house should not be disturbed, and need to be left with nothing.
They said , there shouldn't be any furniture's, those furniture are prohibited in that particular area.
These people have their own believes and their religion is Animisma. They believe That spirits live every where.When a family member is dead, The body will be taken to a place very far from home and no one should visit that place again. Many of them Now converted to Christianity but they don't go to Church. The group whom I met, the younger ones have the Christian Names such as Tony,Moses and Farah, but Many of them still preserve the fore fathers culture.

     Life is not easy for these People but they accept life as it is, eat what they found around them and everything is organic, from the bamboo shoots, to the ferns and edible leaves. Farming is their second choice, other than hunting. The men either go for hunting or fishing, the senior women involved in farming when they are free.They grow, hill paddy which is known as "beras Iban", pepper, coffee, corn, vegetables and fruits such as rambutan , durian, "cempedak" ( mawang, kepayang ) +these two fruits belongs to the mango family.They grow only for consumption and not for sale, so just a small plot of land is cultivated  their consumption.
Other than farming the ladies mend their  torn or wornout fishing nets when they are free. They do make their own earthen ware which is uniq. It is common for these families to have as many earthen wares as they can afford, because they make these themselves .Weaving mat and making trays and baskets from rattan is another way of making money. "Pua Kumbu " is their traditional way of making their clothes , very thick and colorful threads are used in making Pua kumbu.It is more like "songket: but This material is much thicker than Songket. This material is wraped around The waist and it is the skirts length.

     The ladies of the long house most of them are not educated but they are the most hardworking ones. I met a lady who worked so hard to feed her extended family members who live under one roof, they are 24 of them. Early morning after cooking meal for the family members, she goes to the jungle to search for mushrooms , ferns and bamboo shoots.When she had collected everything for the day, she returns to her farm and works in her farm. Around noon she returns home for lunch and after eating lunch she started to weave huge mats. I saw her hand made mats and baskets in huge collection.
     Other than rattan she uses Plastic wires to make various types of baskets. The married ladies who had become the grand mothers are the most hardworking ones at the long house. These ladies were married at tender age of 12 or thirteen and , when their daughters are 12 or thirteen, they are married off. But these girls remain in the long house with their mothers, while their  husbands went  far away from home to earn money. These husbands visit their wives only every 3 months. So thats the main reason these married young girls live with their mothers as long as they feel they can be independent. No wonder those grannies whom I met were only in their mid fourties. Some of them even have teenage grandchildren.

Part 3 Long House stay

   I was surprised to see so many people gathered at the Long house leader's living room. The whole community of the long house waited eagerly to receiver the new guest. Everyone was with their sweetest smile , smiled at me.
Once I entered the living room , I shaked hand with everyone and wish every one "Apa khabar" and they all answered ," baik"!! I called the little
    I was exausted due to my long and tiring journey.
The leader, who was my foster father invited me for dinner. There I joined the family members. "Nasi Iban" locally grown rice served with additional dish known as "sup terjun" a tasteless vegetable sup, fried Chicken and soy sauce fried monkey.
The Rice and chicken tasted delicious but the soup and fried monkey taste "unbearable".

      Two local teachers who being the wardens of the nearest school, joined us during dinner and they asked the purpose of my visit to the long house. I told them , that I want to teach the children during holidays and want to experience the life in the long house for a week. According to the teachers , those who are husband and wife, all the children, when in standard one need to study in boarding school, because home is too far from school to returned daily.According to them the kids back home during long school holidays only.

ones and gave them some wafers. They were overjoyed and smiled. The adults were not left out , they got their share.

Part 2 Long House Stay

   I reached the jetty of  Sibu at 12.00pm and the 12 o'clock boat  had left. So I waited for two hours for the last speed boat  of the day to take me to Kapit. Along  the  journey there were too many stops and few interior towns. The water level was  high  and it was yellowish or milk Tea colour. The boat was going against the current of Rejang River.

   The language which I never heard in my life was spoken by the locals and they were singing songs along the journey.It  was  a very long and tiring journey. The boat left the jetty at 2pm and reached Kapit at 6.20pm.

    It was a four hours plus  journey.My foster family was waiting for me from morning till late evening to receive me!!

    From the jetty to the long house it was almost 30 km. The road which lead to the long house was more like a road which is suitable only for horse ridding or for the cattles. The car was shaking and I felt as though i was  sitting in a cart and not in  a car. After an hour and half finally the car reached the long house, which was situated on a terrain near a stream. The beauty of the location was breath taking. The moment I reached the long house, it was already very dark and the weather was chilling as though  in  a  air con room.

Part 1 Long House Stay

        I'm an Explorer by Nature since younger days.The curiosity in me made me to think and to look for a new experience always, especially related to   environment and the lifestyle of People from  culture.

 During university  study years , I had the opportunity to mingle and live with the Global youngsters from different Continents  and those who  are from different culture.

     
   The Three years of  Uni study had Given me Life long experience and exposure about People and their Culture. I met People from Different parts of the world Most of them are Muslims but Their Culture was very different from Their Other friends from other Countries.

But I use the Uni exposure and Environment to gain Knowledge.

    Apart from This Experience, I had an opportunity to explore a rural Place in Borneo Island which is Part of Malaysia. Once Playfully my brother told me that, he will make arrangements that, I should  be Posted to One of the interior places in East Malaysia. But his joke infused me and I had the curiosity to explore the place.

      I requested my brother to make arrangements for me, since he has a foster Family there he said he will think about it.  On and off I called and reminded my brother about my Trip to East Malaysia.I did not know the real situation my brother was going through, he was in great trouble during that time .I asked for a stay in Sarawak Long House. My brother gave me the persons contact number,I need to contact upon my arrival there.

     His son booked the Flight Ticket for me and mailed it to me!!

The flight was in the morning from Kuala Lumpur To Sibu, around an Hour.When I reached Sibu Air port, I rushed to the Airport Cab and forgot to take my luggage. When the Cab was nearing The jetty, I realized that, I missed my luggage at the Air port. So I requested the cab driver to go back to the airport to collect my Luggage. The Cab Driver told me that I need to pay double since he was making double trip to the Jetty from the Airport and I agreed to his condition. I paid The Cab Driver 60 Ringgit for the double trip and waited at the jetty from 12.00 noon to 2.00pm.