An Iban elder taking rest from the hot day in the long house
I doubt if I can get over the parangs used by the Ibans, jungle food and the long houses in Batang Ai. Just a couple of weeks after the trip and already I am thinking of going back. There is simply too many things I wanna see, learn and experience still. As brief as this trip may be…I think the group of us ‘visitors’ had a really good time, hosted by these lovely people.
Continue reading Iban parangs, tasty grubs and longhouses; Final
We spent one night at Menyiling long house, Batang Ai Sarawak before entering the jungle
Traveling in an Iban long boat on Batang Ai towards the Menyiling long house marks the beginning of our adventure. The longboats, powered by mere 15hp outboard engines are quite fast and rather ‘flimsy’ to my liking.
Continue reading The welcoming ceremony at Iban Longhouse Menyiling, Batang Ai, Sarawak.
One of the villager's kids checking me out
I had the good fortune of accompanying a group to an Orang Asal (a.k.a Orang Asli) village called Kampung Chuweh in Temenggor lake in the state of Perak. This is probably my forth visit to the lake but this is the first time I will be staying overnight with the Orang Asal (indigenous people) here. The last time I came, we paddled a great distance on our kayaks but oblivious to the fact that this village was so near by to one of our stops.
Continue reading A visit to the Orang Asal village in Temenggor, Perak
This old and rustic Ukom longhouse certainly has its charm
I always wondered what makes an Iban longhouse authentic. How would a long house looked like generations ago? I have not a clue but this Ukom longhouse in Batang Ai certainly has some characteristics that makes it ‘authentic’ I reckon.
Continue reading What makes an Iban longhouse authentic?; Conclusion
A strong Iban from the Ukom village carrying our full ice box up the the longhouse
There is a sense of ruggedness & suspense when we arrive at Ukum Longhouse jetty that night at Batang Ai. I prepared myself for what is supposed to be a ‘real’ traditional longhouse. We were made to wait at the jetty, made off floating logs held together with long wooden poles at the edge of the water. A sudden movement on the jetty sends a tilt on the entire floating ‘pontoon’. When we finally got the good to approach the longhouse, I began to wonder if any of us in the group (except for the guide) is as jittery as I am.
Continue reading Real traditional Iban long house; Batang Ai part III
An opportunity to test out if I can really get water from a banana tree
Some survival books talk about getting drinking water from a banana tree trunk in a survival situation. Though I rarely see any banana trees in the jungle, I reckon it would be a cool thing to try. So, with a banana tree to be chopped down, I put this ‘survival tip’ to the test.
Continue reading Drinking water from banana tree trunk?
The herbal chicken
Its been a while since we been kayaking anywhere. So, with plans made as early as two months before, we headed to Sungai Perak for a kayaking adventure.On the way there, we decided to stop and try the famous Kampar ‘Chicken in Bread’ at a restaurant called Yau Kee. How did we know which restaurant to go to? We don’t, the GPS did!
Continue reading Yau Kee chicken in bread at Kampar-Sungai Perak kayaking trip part I
Spot the trap marker
Every wondered how jungle traps, when set are marked to warn others? There are a few Orang Asal villages I have visited that still uses traps as means to hunt game. While some traps like snares are less harmful to human beings, there are other traps that inflicts some serious injuries. In order to mark and warn others about the trap, some of the Semais in Perak fashions a ‘pointy marker’ to do the job.
Continue reading Jungle trap markers by Orang Asal in Perak
Hand woven attap made of palm fronds
There are some really beautiful and almost undiscovered Orang Asal homes in Perak. Good friend Jan invited me for an exploration trip to a region around near Ipoh to look for a waterfall. I skipped work and went with Jan. It was all worth it. Not only did Jan found his waterfall, but I too was equally amazed with the beauty of the people and the jungle there.
Continue reading Beautiful Orang Asal homes in Perak
The rice field after harvest
We had the good fortune of visiting a working Semelai (hill) rice field. Though all the rice stalks have been harvested, some burnt…there were still many things to see and learn here. Even the hut that is poised on the fringe of the rice field was interesting enough. It is authentic and divinely bushcraft.
Continue reading A visit to Semelai rice field; (Final) of a kenduri trip
