Sarawak, Land of the Hornbill

Hornbill symbolise Sarawak

Sarawak is known by the title “Land of the Hornbill” is one of the 14 states (including the Federal Territory) that form the Persekutuan Malaysia. Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia. Sarawak and Sabah is placed on the island of Borneo are commonly group together as East Malaysia.

Major cities in the state of Sarawak are Kuching, Miri, Sibu, Bintulu, Sarikei, Sri Aman and Limbang. Now, Sarawak has two major cities, Kuching and Miri. Kuching has been declared as the city on August 1, 1988 while Miri get status as a city on May 20, 2005.

Sarawak Ethnic

Iban

Iban man and woman

Iban is the majority society in Sarawak. Iban is divided to a number of tribes include Balau, Sebuyau, Lemanak and others. This ethnic still hold their traditional identity strongly while practicing various types of unique customs. Geographically, most of the Iban inhabit some rural areas which is concentrated in the center of Sarawak while a small number live in urban areas.  

Melanau

Melanau girl.

Melanau is an ethnic community in Sarawak. Melanau is generally similar to the Malay community in terms of beliefs, culture and customs. Hence, this community is a branch of the Malay community. However Melanau still have their culture and customs on its own. This custom is evident in aspects of their lives such as birth, marriage and death. These customs are inherited from one generation to another generation and were still continuing until this day.

Bidayuh

Bidayuh man and woman

Bidayuh is one of Sarawak ethnic community which generally inhabits the hills area outside the city of Kuching. There are many different tribes among the Bidayuh and holding their practice and customs of themselves. Culture and customs are heavily influenced by elements of ritual and faith they profess.

Bidayuh traditional costume

The black color is the main color in the traditional costume of the Bidayuh community. The traditional costume for women Bidayuh ethnic is a complete outfit including short sleeves or half sleeves and a pair of black sarong knee-long decorated with multi-colored beads delicate embroidered which the main color is the combination of white, yellow and red. The women dress call jomuh or a short petticoat. The necklaces made up of beads and armlets of shell are worn as ornament. The Bidayuh men wear long loin-cloth called tawuop or tahup which is wrapped tidily around the body with one end hanging down in front and the other end hanging down behind. It is usually made up of blue cotton cloth with red, blue and white band at the end.

Melayu Sarawak

Melayu Sarawak is same as Malay.

The Malay community is 21% of the population in Sarawak. Most of them were fishermen. At the present time, many Malays have migrated to the cities where they have been involved in a variety of professions either in the public or private sector.

Most of the houses in the village of Sarawak Malay mostly made up ​​of wood and is still located on the banks of the river which is far away from the city or town. They still rely on traditional industries such as wood carving, silver and make a woven fabric.

Melayu Sarawak community were Muslims, where Islam was brought to Asia over 1000 years ago. Islamic religion greatly influenced the lives of the Sarawak Malay community especially culture and art. For the construction aspect, many homes or buildings have Islamic symbols or characteristics. Similarly, the marriage customs is held based on Islamic doctrine. 

Sabah, land below the wind

Sabah is a beautiful island in Borneo. Sabah is one of the thirteen state in Malaysia. It is the second largest state in Malaysia which share the island of Borneo with Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sabah is a blessed land rich with nature diversity, unique culture, amazing cuisines, beautiful beaches and scenery as well as extreme adventure. The world largest flower, Rafflesia can be found in this blessed land. The amazing Mount of Kinabalu which is one of the highest mountains in South East Asia attract many tourist from the outside country. Sabah is blessed with Sipadan Island, one of the world's top dive sites. The unique Sabahan hospitality attracted many tourists to come to this wonderland. 

Guide map 

The people of Sabah are known as Sabahans. Sabah is the third most popular state in Malaysia after Selangor and Johor. It is one of the highest population growth rates in country. Currently, there are 32 officially recognized ethnic groups in Sabah with the largest non-indigenous ethnic group being Chinese and the largest indigenous group being Kadazan-Dusun people. Bajau and Murut is the second largest ethnic in Sabah after Kadazan-Dusun. Apart from Sabahans' very own diverse mother tongue, Bahasa Malaysia and English is widely spoken as well as Mandarin and some Chinese dialects. 
Sabahans greet people and tourists by saying "selamat datang" (welcome) and "terima kasih" (thank you) with a smile. Sabahans are friendly. Handshake becomes custom as a way of introducing oneself. 

The Kadazan-Dusun

This is the largest ethnic in Sabah and is predominantly plant wet rice and cultivate hill rice. Their mother tongue belongs to the Dusunic family and shares common animistic belief with various customs and practices. Their ancients’ belief recover that everything has life – the trees, rocks, rivers has spirit.

Festival

Pesta kaamatan

It is also known as Harvest Festival. Pesta Kaamatan is a unique celebration of Kadazan-Dusun society. It is a celebration to respect the Rice Spirit – Bambaazon or Bambarayon and giving appreciation for another bountiful year. The rites and customs of the Pesta Kaamatan is a tribal practice of Kadazan-Dusun and also Murut peoples. The High Priests are Bobohizan or Bobolian will conduct the ritual.

It is believed that rice in whatever form embodies Bambaazon must be protected from harm. The homecoming of Babaazon is an integral part of the Harvest Festival. Ancient folklore tells of the ultimate deed of Kinoingan or Minamagun- The Almighty God or Creator, who sacrificed his beloved daughter, Huminodun so that his people will get food. Various part of her body was planted from which plants grew.

During the Magavau ceremony, Bobohizan will select some stalks of rice that are left undistributed until the harvest is over. In some districts, the chosen stalks are cut before the field is harvested and then brought to the owner’s house. Bobohizan is responsible to search and salvage the lost Bambaazon who is hurt or separated from the main mystical body. In the old days, the ceremony was often performed in freshly harvested fields during the first full moon after the harvest to request the rice spirit.

Bobohizan used archaic language whose meanings have been buried in time and only known to the few remaining Bobohizan these days. The paraphernalia used to summon Bambaazon is the vital aspect of Magavau.

The sacrament of Magavau may vary according to district practices. The ceremony ends with food offerings to Bambazoon and merry making for the village folks.

The climax activity of Pesta Kaamatan is the selection of the pageant queen or “Unduk Ngadau”which can be literally translated as “Zenith of the Sun”. Conceptually, it is adapted from the sacrifice of Huminodun. The maiden who has the honour of being selected should bear semblance to Huminodun and will represent all that is virtuous in the revered Huminodun.

Unduk Ngadau

Local Sabah Favorites

Bak Kut Teh

Bak Kut Teh

The name “Bak Kut Teh” means ‘pork bone tea’. This dishes consists meaty pork ribs broth of herbs and spices. A bowl of bak kut tea is also served with vegetables such as mushrooms, pieces of dried tofu, lettuce and offal. This famous Chinese cuisine is often eaten with rice and served with you tiao (strip of dried dough). Soy sauce mixed with minced garlic and chopped cili padi is usually taken together as a dip. Bak Kut Teh is usually served as dinner for those who want super healthy appetites. 

Beaufort Mee

A tasty Beaufort mee

Beaufort Mee is Chinese home-made fried local yellow noodles from the district of Beaufort. It is served with choices of meat or seafood and an amount of crunchy and fresh choy-sim (Chinese green).

Mee Goreng Tuaran

Tuaran fried noodle

Mee goreng or fried noodles become Malaysian favourite. In Sabah, there is a special kind of mee goring called mee goring Tuaran. Tuaran is the name of one district in Sabah. Mee Tuaran noodles is made up of mixed egg yolk and flour, which gives the noodle aromatic feelings when fried. It is cooked with local vegetables such as sawi as well as seafood, various choices of meats and eggs.

Fish head curry

Kari kepala ikan

The fish head curry is a famous Malay dishes. It is a dish where the head of ikan merah (red fish) is semi-stewed in a thick curry with assorted vegetables such as brinjals and okra served with rice. Fish head curry is tasty and has sour taste. Asam (tamarind) juice is added to the gravy to give sour taste to the curry.