The mere mention of the name Sarawak conjures up images of mystery and adventure. When the name Borneo is added to it, the mystery and intrigue become clearer in people’s minds. At least most people have heard the name Borneo and can vaguely situate it somewhere in Southeast Asia and north of Australia. Not that many people outside of Southeast Asia have heard of Sarawak. In fact Gracie Geike, who heads up the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), put it to me directly when she said that Borneo gets twice as many hits on Google than does Sarawak. She should know—she is in charge of promoting the exotic state of Sarawak.

Borneo is the world’s third largest island and is shared by three countries, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the small oil-rich state of Brunei. The Malaysian portion is home to the states of Sarawak and Sabah, and they are well worth visiting.

Sarawak, the largest state in Malaysia, is an outback of sheer beauty, rich in resources such as pepper, cocoa, palm oil, timber and oil. Occupying an area of 124,450 sq. km, it is a region of endless fascination, containing the largest cave chamber in the world, verdant jungles, unique fauna and flora, white beaches, and remote islands. Its population of 1.5 million people is as rich and varied as the land.

Sarawak is home to 23 ethnic groups including the famous Iban Tribe, the last headhunters of Borneo living in traditional longhouses. Serving as both state capital and gateway is the charming and old world city of Kuching (the name means cat).

The most efficient way to get to Sarawak is by air, and Malaysia Airlines flies regularly to Kuching International Airport, as well as to Miri, from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Singapore, and Kota Kinabalu. Air Asia, a low-cost airline with high ambitions also flies to Kuching. The contrast between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo Malaysia is great. Coming to Sarawak feels like a literal step back in time to an era akin to the mid 1970’s. First you pass through the modern, squeaky clean and state-of- the-art airport that looks more like 2008, but the trip to town may well seem like a ride into the past.

The look and feel is British colonial. En route to one of the main riverfront hotels, I passed by Sarawak’s first Christian church, St. Thomas’ Cathedral, built on land donated by the first White Rajah of Sarawak, James Brooke. The structure is a testimony to Sarawak’s Christian/Jesuit heritage. Nearby is the Kuching General Post Office, a neoclassical building designed by esteemed Singapore-architects, Swan and McLaren, in 1931.

Kuching is a great base for exploring Sarawak. Some main attractions include combination adventure-meets-ecotourism with jungle hiking and organized trips to meet the indigenous tribes and observe wildlife. The Gunung Mulu National Park with its orangutans and longest tree-based canopy walk in the world is a major draw for visitors. The park is also home to Deer Cave, the largest cave passage known to man and home to a colony of a million bats. Every evening at sunset a swooping cloud of hundreds of thousands of them fly out into the dark. The event creates a spectacular darkening of the sky.

If time is short and your visit limited to Kuching and the surrounding areas, then a stop at the Semengoh Orangutan Rehabilitation Center is undoubtedly one of the best attractions to see. The Center is only half an hour from Kuching by public bus and offers the opportunity of getting close to some highly mischievous, semi-wild orangutans.

The best times to visit Semengoh are during feedings, which take place between 8.30-9.00 am and 3.00-3.30 pm. The semi-wild orangutans are good timekeepers and, as feeding time approaches, they descend from the trees of the surrounding forest reserve to offer visitors a unique wildlife experience and some excellent photo opportunities

No trip to Kuching would be complete without a visit to the Sarawak Cultural Village, a replica of village life as it once was for the varied tribes. Cultural shows are organized daily and the site is home to the world famous Rainforest World Music Festival held every July.

The best of Sarawak

The Best Views in town are from the Kuching Hilton located on the river front. It is an ideal destination for both business and leisure travelers. (15 minutes by Taxi from Kuching international airport)
Hilton‘s only jungle resort: Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse is a resort built in the rainforest in a traditional Borneo longhouse. The hotel nestles among 20 acres alongside Batang Ai Lake. The Batang Ai National Park is itself a two- hour boat ride away and is a fascinating day excursion.
For more information on Sarawak : visit www.sarawaktourism or www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/