The (hanging) bamboo bridges of Semban; Part II

Two such bamboo bridges to cross…not for the faint hearted

One of the ‘attractions’ of the Semban walk has to be the hanging bamboo bridges. Suspended on steel wire ropes strung across the river, these bamboo bridges are the only means of crossing the rivers during flooding in rainy season, a time when the river water can rise to almost 10m above its normal level.

It is hard to describe the bamboo bridges. They look like the most fragile thing to cross on yet the locals have been using them every day for transporting goods. ‘Why you worry, they even carry things like TVs and furniture over these bridges!’ Danny told me. To make things more challenging, some bamboos have cracked and simple local hardware store ‘dawai’ (wire strings) have been fashioned to hold the bamboos together. As I walked across, I can hear the bamboo crackling and swaying.

The bridge side view- picture by Meun

I have to admit that I was worried crossing the bridge-pic by Meun

Our group crossed the hanging bamboo bridges safely. It was scary but doable. According to Danny, those who are really terrified and not able to cross the bridge would have to scramble down to the water edge and use the bamboo raft (which at times may not be there!).

One of the smaller, more studier bamboo bridge

So who builds and maintains the bridges? According to our guides, members of the villages using the bridges would come together and repair/ refurbish the bridge every year or whenever it is necessary. It is sort of a ‘gotong royong’ that 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.

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

Other posts/ videos on Semban:

• Part I- A visit to Semban, the village above the clouds
• Part II- The hanging bamboo bridges of Semban
• Part III- The long walk up to Semban
• Part IV- The waterfalls at Semban
• Part V1- The Bidayuh’s traditional cutting tools
• Part V2- The kitchen and bamboo blades of the Bidayuhs in Semban
• Part VI- Traditional bamboo smoking pipe and great food
• Part VII- Sunrise and morning walk around Semban
• Part VIII- Old tools used by the Bidayuhs in Semban
• Part IX- Ladies of the rings in Semban
• Video- The bidayuh’s hill paddy
• Video- The home made wooden pack that carries EVERTHING up Semban!
• Video- Bidayuh’s traditional furnace
• Video- Bidayuh’s traditional blades