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10th August 2006
GUNUNG MURUD-KELABIT HIGHLANDS ADVENTURER 2006 (updated)
Attached some up date information, trails name marked after the met with Resident Ose in Miri and name of our tour. Reddish and John are our coordinator in Bario to help us of organising program in Bario.
We've now received 25 participants and hope to get maximum of 35 Pax.
Attachments:
Pic 4 [News: Promoting Mt Murud to boost ecotourism]
Pic 5 [Gunung Murud – Kelabit Highlands Adventure 2006]
Pic 6 [Poster]
DOWNLOAD EVENT INFORMATION:-
MS Word Format
Text Format [For faster downloading]
(source:
Chua Limbang via email to Kelabit Net)
9th August 2006
GUNUNG MURUD-KELABIT HIGHLANDS ADVENTURER 2006
I am organising a trip for Murud-Bario highlands adventure 2006 on 31st Aug-3rd Sept. We may have 20 participants from British (working in Brunei/Miri), Bintulu, Kuching, Miri and Limbang. This special trip is to promote and highlight the highlanders of Northern Sarawak and also in conjunction of the 43rd anniversary Malaysia day. We've sponsor 3 journalist from Miri to do the full coverage of the journey. (hopefully STUB could able to sponsor us for the 3 journalist or otherwise our trip is on)
After my first experience trip to Barrio in 2002 when I attended Capt.David wedding ceremony in Barrio ASAL. I came back again in March 2006 with the Sarawak State Secretary trip led by Datu Amar Abdul Aziz together with Limbang and Miri Resident. Attached photos would like to share for all of you.
See you in Bario!
Attachments:
Pic 1 [The Highlanders Of Bario]
Pic 2 [Ekspedisi Suk Ke-Ba’Kelalan-Gunung Murud-Bario 9th – 13th Mac 2006]
Pic 3 [HighlandsTrekking: Murud-Bario Highlands Adventure, SARAWAK]
http://www.brushfirefilms.com/Limbang/pages/index1.html
http://www.brushfirefilms.com/returntolimbang/pages/index.html
http://www.confluence.org/confluence.php?visitid=7582
http://www.pwpconsult.com/buda.site/expedition2000.html
(source:
Chua Limbang via email to Kelabit Net)
MAKING GOOD IMPRESSIONS
In the light of the recent debate about Malaysians being rude, the Kelabit I am in rough and crude KL tended to agree, especially with respect to the way KLites drive on the road and perhaps in a few other things like littering, indiscriminate stops by buses and taxis and the road bullys and most irritating to me is that some people do not want to accept that I cannot speak Chinese. "Aya, lu bukan Cina kah? Ma la yu kah? Pi li pi na kah?." "Tadak. Orang Sarawak," I'd say. "Orang Sarawak pun boleh cakap Cina ma!"
And my worst experience was at the market where a lady refused to believe that I am not Chinese.
"Aiya, lu mesti Cina punya. Lu kecik Ma la yu angkat punya la."
This happens to me every other day. And some could not care less if the whole supermarket hears what they have to say. You could of course imagine who they would be stared at! Anyway, that is life in KL.
But when I think of our people - the people in Sarawak, or our own people, I feel very disappointed that such a sweeping remark (a finding by Readers Digest, it seems) must be made of all Malaysians. It is therefore heartwarming to hear or read of great remarks by people who actually have the direct contact or experience with our own people. Impressions such as the following article which appeared in The Star is what we must continue to make upon others. In fact, a friend called me up to tell me about the article when it was out that day. I feel so proud of the Bario people! Do keep it up!
(Contributed by
Sineh Liteh Ulun @ Lillian L Bulan)
MAKING IT MEMORABLE
By Kirsten Cunningham
The hospitality of longhouse people cannot be surpassed. Travellers come from around the world to experience a unique stay in one of Sarawak's many tribal longhouses, and more and more Malaysians are doing the same.
However, the popularity of the longhouse visits has turned a once unique experience into a highly profitable commercial enterprise, and many longhouse tribes feel forced to 'perform'. Many travellers also feel the tours are too fabricated and would prefer a more 'authentic' experience.
Getting off the beaten track to stay at a less touristy longhouse, as we discovered, has its risks. You are literally at the mercy of your guides, and should they turn out to be like Captain Undies, you are going to be stressed out, not relaxed.
The incompetence of Captain Undies could have had more serious repercussions than leeches and wet passports.
The attitudes of the guides in the Belaga area towards women make it unsafe to travel without a male, and the amount of alcohol consumed can also make you feel very unsafe.
Yet problems with alcohol and attitudes on guided longhouse tours towards women seem to be a problem in the Belaga area only.
The other popular area for longhouse visits is the Kelabit Highlands, where the guides are highly knowledgeable about local flora and fauna.
After Belaga we travelled to Bario and did a combination of jungle trekking, longhouse stays and river safaris in the Kelabit Highlands. The gentle and welcoming nature of the Kelabit people make it much safer for women travellers, and many solo females travel alone with a guide. Alcohol abuse is frowned upon because of religious reasons making a trekking and longhouse tour around Bario a much safer and stress- free option.
TIPS FOR TREKS AND LONGHOUSE VISITS
-You must be invited to a longhouse. Guided tours are the easiest way to do this although you may be lucky enough to meet someone who invites you to stay.
-Guided tour prices are negotiable. So bargain!
-Guides are plentiful in both Belaga and Bario. If you are uncomfortable with one guide then choose, or ask for another.
-Make sure it is absolutely clear what is included in the tour as some of the operators can be deceptive and you may find yourself having to pay for food and lodging at the longhouse when you thought it was included.
-Also make sure you are clear on your itinerary, what are you supposed to be doing and when.
-Alcoholism can be a huge problem with the guides in the Belaga area. If you are uncomfortable with this then refuse to go unless your operator can promise the guides will be sober during the day.
-Women should not travel alone or without a male companion around Belaga, however many women have done so safely in Bario.
- Gifts for the longhouses may not be appropriate. Always check with your guide what you should and shouldn't bring. As a general rule, biscuits that can be shared with adults and school supplies for children are preferable to candy and cigarettes.
(Source: TheStar Online – L I F E S T Y L E
Saturday April 22, 2006
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2006/4/22/lifetravel/13982275)
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