After back from Rumah King at Julau

What an exciting trip to Julau last week. I went to a long house name Rumah King. I learned something new, which the name of the long house actually related to the Tuai Rumah (the leader of the long house). So, King is the name of the Tuai Rumah !!! So, if we think deeper, how are we going to develop a good map? The name of the long houses keep changing!!!

So, I think I will write about my trip to Julau here. Its very exciting too, but not as advanterous as Bario. There is a telecenter too at Rumah King. So, I think I will be working with this field because of my experiences, which bringing ICT to Rural area for improving the lifestyle of the villages.

So, on the 22nd of March 2006, me, my supervisor (Dr. Alvin) and the Dean (Prof. Nara) flew to Sibu. We stayed at Hotel TanahMas. Just 2 years never been to the town of Sibu, so many changes.

The next morning, we started our journey to Julau ( located at the Pakan District). I am the driver and this was my first time driving a 4WD truck.

I think this is the most modern long house I had seen before so far. Its totally make of bricks and look like a row of houses sticked together. The peoples (Iban ethnic group) are so friendly and the hospitalities is perfect.

The enviroments around Rumah King is beautiful. There is a river behind the long house which all the children will go there and play water. For the adults, this is a good fishing place.

I will be going back in to Rumah King next month for quantitative survey. Its a nice place and you can go a good vacation there :)

My Second day at Bario... 12th Oct 2003

Hi,

Its been a long time I didn't update my blog. Quite busy last few weeks but still got time to go to Ranchan Pool waterfall at Serian for Brothers' camp. So, this was what I wrote on the second day at Bario...

12/10/2003

I woke up at 7am. The weather was freezing cool and the water was extremely cold too. I just simply brushed my teeth because of the freezing cold water. Then I ate breakfast (toasted bread with butter and tea). Around 8am, we walked to Gem’s Home Stay for an interview session with Jaman Riboh (the owner of the home stay and also a good tourist guide). The house is nice and it made me felt relax.

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This is the interview report with Jaman Riboh:

Owner of Gem’s Home Stay ( Pa’ Umur)
15 years of experiences in jungle tracking
RM20 a day per person for accommodation
RM5 for breakfast
RM8 for lunch
RM15 for dinner
Transport from Bario’s airport to Gem’s Home Stay – RM20
Email: gems_lodge@yahoo.com

Jungle tracking area covered at Bario:
Cultures and egotrekking
Bario loop (stay at long houses down South)
Trekking
Combination of adventurous – camping and living naturally

Egotrekking – tougher (need day and night trekking) area covered including swap forest, farm and primary jungles (to see eatable plants and herbs and also wildlife at different stages of jungles) RM65 per day not including boat transportation for river trekking.

Trekking around Bario and Bario loop, fishing, night walking to see wildlife at night and hunting – RM65 per day

Best time recommended for trekking (Jan – Aug) and more adventurous trekking at monsoon season (Sept – Oct).

Peak time to visit Bario – January (the paddies harvesting season)
Good for family vacation – joining the peoples for harvesting at paddy fields
Major problems – stay with family that do not speak English

Planting season (July – Aug)
Visitors can join in planting paddies

Flower Season (Feb – Sept)
Wild orchids and the biggest flower in the world – Rafflesia

Stay at long house for 2 days with Sina’ Ngeluun Pasan as she is a food caretaker for tourist at long house. Visitors can get a lively feel of staying at long house, see peoples make good handicrafts, beads, traditional music and dances. The long house is situated at Long Dano.

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After the interview, we walked back to our Pala Balaba’s house. Around 10am, we went to the church next door for morning prayer. 1230pm, we had our lunch ( Bario’s rice, curry pineapple, vegetables and soup).

Nuba Layak(soft rice) also served (refer photos). It is the Kelabits’ traditional food made of rice.

Around 2pm, we walked to Pa’ Umur salt spring. The journey took about 1 hour. We passed by paddy fields and a hanging bridge made of unused iron oil tanks left over from World War 2 (refer photos). When I walking on it, lots of sounds came out and it was so terrifyingly. The walking path was muddy and had leeches. The salt spring is a big hole with salt water (refer photos). It was a good experienced to know how to make salt at Bario. The salt is brownish in color!!! We went back to Bala Palaba’s house around 4pm and we ate fresh corn for tea break. On the way back, we passed by paddy fields and it was a very nice sceneries.The weather was cool and raining at night. We ate dinner around 7pm ( Bario’s rice, Kelabit’s soup and long beans). The Kelabit’s soup is made of husk and wild boar’s fats. It tastes weird!!! We slept at 9pm.

My first day at Bario... 11th Oct 2003

I found my diary. This was my experienced from my Bario trip.... and this was what I wrote in my diary....

11/10/2003
Fly again at 9.35am to Bario from Miri. The plane is very small, its a (refer photo)


twin otter (Malaysia Airlines) MAS aircraft. The scenery along the journey is nice and we can see lots of green trees and blue clouds. The plane is a little bit noisy and bumpy along the way but it’s a good experience. We reach Bario around 10.45am. Before landing, the paddy fields sceneries are very nice (refer photos).Get to know that Vision Air and Hornbill Skyway did not provide flight to bring passenger but more for cargo purposes. MAS has 2 planes coming to Bario per day. 1 plane from Miri and 1 plane from Marudi (refer photo for a sample schedule that paste on the airport wall). This is the schedule we taken on 2003, its better to check with Malaysia Airlines for the latest update. For the first time visitor to Bario, make sure double check the schedule before starting your adventure. There is no announcements or arrival/departure screen to refer. Just remember the schedule on the airport wall... EXCITING!!At the airport, there was a café. It can accommodate around 20 peoples. The Café sell maggi mee with egg, carbonate drinks, sweets, junk foods and biscuits. We ate 3 maggi and 3 cups of tea cost RM9.00!!
After finished our high cost instant maggi mee and tea, Esther Bala paid a man called Julfiues Raddish (the owner of Raddish Lodge at Bario) to use his big 4WD truck to carry our luggage and also to send us to Bala Palaba's Lodge at Pa’ Umur. The road is very bumpy and full of water blots. The weather was sunny but cooling wind. This is raining season at Bario. The weather is quite cold same like Cameroon Highlands. When we reached Bala Palaba's Lodge, we take a rest. Bala Palaba (refer photo below) is a very good host. When we stayed at his homestay Lodge, we hardly to get hungry because of the huge amount of foods provided by him. Because of the cold weather, hahaha....we eat and eat and eat non-stop.
Around 4.30pm, we walk to Batu Narit. We reach at Batu Narit at 5pm, 30 minutes walk from Bala Palaba's lodge (refer photo). Along the way, we saw lots of pitcher plants beside the road. The road is wet and in bad condition. We pass by paddy fields, pineapples farms and fruits farms. The noise of the natural blowing wind is so peaceful. The paddy fields is nice and green. The weather is cold.
Before going to Batu Narit, we ate pineapple. It is juicy and sweet. “VERY NICE”.
We came back around 5.30pm and take bath. Water is freezing cold and I did not took bath that day. Anyone can take bath in the morning at Bario, I salute you. Even the Kelabits do not dare. The condition of the toilet is terrible. We ate dinner around 7pm. We ate Bario's rice, curry pine apple, vegetables and fish soup. The food was super nice thats why not even got time to take photos we already finished the food.
Around 8pm, we go to Pa’ Umur SIB church, which located just next door. Its so nice and happy to be in the House of The Lord. All the Pa' Umur's villagers were here for prayer meeting. Around 8.30pm come back to Bala Palaba’s house. 9.30pm generator turned off and we sleep.