Sarawak Cultural Village is the Best Cultural Museum in South East Asia.

 

 Rumah Bidayuh (Bidayuh House)

Seven unique traditional houses, spread over a beautiful 17-acre site, gives you the perfect introduction to Sarawak, its cultures, whether you are looking for insight into longhouse lifestyle or a taste of exuberant Sarawak hospitality, Sarawak Cultural Village is a must visit for visitors to Kuching and Damai.

Possibly the finest "Living Museum" in South East Asia, Sarawak Cultural Village combines history, tradition, lifestyle and architecture with a dash of education and portion of theatre to create a unique multi-cultural.

"Explore Sarawak In a Half Day..."

Sarawak is rich in history and heritage. It is also known as Land of The Hornbills. The population comprises of local ethnic groups namely Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Melanau and other minor tribes plus the Malays, Chinese and Indians living together in harmony for more than a century.

Being the largest state in Malaysia, Sarawak covers a vast area of 124,000 sq-km of land along the northwest coast of Borneo, the third largest island in the world. Sarawak offers you a journey of relentless discovery as you travel from city to city and from village to village where you will find, remnants of colonial architectures and in a rich heritage.

About Sarawak Cultural Village

Tucked away at the foothills of legendary Mount Santubong, 35 km from Kuching is Sarawak's fascinating cultural showcase, the award winning "Sarawak Cultural Village" which is also the venue for the World Harvest Festival and the Rainforest World Music Festival, an internationally renowned festival.

This living museum is wholly owned by the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) depicts the heritage of the major racial groups in Sarawak and conveniently portrays their respective lifestyle amidst 14 acres of tropical vegetation.

Here, it is possible to see Sarawak's ethnic diversity at a glance. The handicraft is both bewildering and tempting, including the Kain Songket (Malay cloth with gold inlay), Pua Kumbu (Iban housewives textiles), Melanau Terendak (sunhat), Bidayuh tambok (basket), Iban parang (swords), Orang Ulu wood carving and Chinese ceramics.

The 45-minute cultural performance of songs, dances and entertainment is something you will not want to miss during your visit to Sarawak.

To see Sarawak in one day, this is the basic concept of Sarawak Cultural Village, where the 48,000 square miles of Malaysia's most majestic state are condensed into just 17 acres. One leisurely stroll opens seven homes to the visitor, seven cultures, including the famous longhouses of Borneo.

Ever since tourism industry took its first commercial step into Sarawak in the 1960s, the intrepid 'adventurers' who veered off the beaten track found Borneo's unique house-form an irresistible attraction. Of course, they wanted to see the landscape of breathtaking splendour and the world's richest ecosystem, but the fascinating array of peoples and cultures was the real magnet. Unfortunately, Sarawak is huge, much of it covered by rugged mountains and jungle. How can a visitor hope to sample it all in less than three weeks of arduous travel?

A few far-sighted planners suggested that we build a 'model' village or longhouse within easy reach of Kuching. In the 1970s, cultural performances in a "langkau" in the Museum Gardens scored a spectacular success. This reactivated the idea; the Reservoir Park was suggested as a possible site, so was Sungai Cina in Matang. The Sarawak Museum contributed ethnographic and cultural input but nothing came of it. There were other development priorities.

But build it they did, SCV took shape with a Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu and Melanau longhouse, a Penan hut and a Malay village house, and a Chinese farm house. By mid-1989 a solemn house-warming ceremony with offerings and sacrifice put life into the empty wooden structures. The dream had become reality.

Your chosen destination is the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV), which is located at the foot of Mount Santubong. As Sarawak is the largest state in Malaysia, quite impossible kid roaming the entire contents niche in a short time.

So, the best way is to visit the SCV to approach the cultural traditions of various ethnic communities in Sarawak in half a day only. SCV can be likened to a museum 'life' that show how to live, home of ethnic, ritual, dance, clothing, crafts, food and so on.

The journey takes 40 minutes from Kuching. Quite early that morning because we still have not opened ticket counters and agent at Damai Beach Resort was not up yet.

The 17-acre village has 150 residents who demonstrate daily activities tribes of Sarawak like the processing of sago and handicrafts. Their traditional dress and performed traditional dances for the visitors. visitors who want to experience the lifestyle and unique residential real society.

The village also has a theater where visitors can watch a traditional dance many people, a restaurant and handicraft shops. You can even get married at the Sarawak Cultural Village follows the style of traditional Iban, Malay, Bidayuh or Orang Ulu. Longhouse found here have a row of rooms.

For more information please visit: Sarawak Cultural Village

 

Sarawak Culture: Culture in Sarawak Include the Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau and Malay

Sarawak, known as "State Land of the Hornbills" and is a state with ethnic diversity. There are about 30 ethnic groups in Sarawak. The Iban are the largest tribe in Sarawak, followed by Chinese, Malay, Bidayuh, parishioners and ethnic groups other. As a country which has various nations and tribes,certainly there are different cultures and customs practiced.

The Iban are holding fast to their traditional beliefs.

For example, the ritual 'tilt' (chants) rejects his destination.
Iban community is also very obedient to the taboo (mali) inherited their ancestors.

MALAY
RELIGION
They hold fast to the teachings of Islam.
Religion is shaping characteristics of their village as cohesive, moral welfare of the whole community bertanggungjawabterhadap and so on.
There are mosques that became the center of all religious activity, other than pray.
School also serves as a center of Islam in addition to the mosque.
Creed
The community also believe certain taboos.
Some examples:
1. The girl can not sing in the kitchen for fear of married parents.
2. Pregnant women are forbidden to leave the house at dusk for fear that her child would be taken away supernatural beings.
3. When you want to get into the forest, whether for forest products, hunting and so on. Will take a bit of ground and placed on the forehead to not 'bothered' by evil forces or the animals when they are in the woods. These tips are included with greetings, blessings on the Prophet Muhammad and reading Al-fatihah.
4. The practice of placing the leaves on the ear should be done when there is hot water. According to these groups, when the leaves are placed in the ears, is believed spirits will not bother them because whoever puts grass ear will look like green shrubbery.
5. There are also forbidden to plant sapodilla family because it will cause the death of family members.
6. Do not be discouraged wake up when the sun is rising because of the trust that parents will quickly old woman of her age.
7. taboos practiced aim to maintain racial harmony and the whole village.

MELANAU 
Religion
Originally they were pagan (not religious)
According to Kamus Dewan, pagan mean people who do not believe in any religions such as Islam, Christianity, Judaism and others.
Melanaus believe certain ghosts cause disease.
Ghost that causes abdominal pain and cramps, phantom sky brings headaches and fever, bringing the desert ghost swollen feet and sore joints hand.
But, due to the government of the Sultanate of Brunei and then the Brooke family, many of whom turned to Islam and Christianity.

Trust
Silt community has confidence in the supernatural and extraordinary powers before embracing Islam.They believe the world has three layers which are the elements of good and evil, Above, Middle,Under.

Supernatural forces that keep all three of these layers can not be bothered because they can cause disruption to the communities stricken by illness or distress Melanaus.These delicate creatures known as COPD, mow, tow, and during.Services healer or shaman used the event to persuade angry spirits.
However, confidence in the smooth power are declining due to modernization and Islamic faiths.


IBANThere are various tribes like the Iban Lemanak, Balau, Sebuyau, and more. This community (Iban) is still holding strong with their customs while still maintaining a tradition that reflects their ethnic identity. Geographically, most of the Iban community living in remote areas which are concentrated in the geographical heart of Sarawak state. But there are also a small number living in urban areas.

Iban

MELANAUMelanaus an ethnic community that are in Sarawak. Generally Melanaus have in common with the community, especially in terms of belief, culture and customs. Hence this society is a branch of the Malay community. However Melanaus still have the culture and customs of their own.

Melanau

BIDAYUHSarawak Bidayuh community is that most people live in mountainous areas. These communities also live in rural areas. There is also the Bidayuh community who had come to migrate to cities to make a living. However Bidayuh still holding strong in their customs. Culture and customs are influenced by elements of ritual and Fiduciary they profess.

Bidayuh

MALAYIndonesia is one of the people who originally hails from Sarawak. There are 21% of the total population in the state of Sarawak. Kebayakkan Malay community activities fisherman to find and add things. However, there are many of them who have moved kebandar since been involved in the economic sector, the public sector, private sector and others.

Melayu

  
From residential structures, the Malay community to build their houses using wood and build the house on the banks of the river away from the city. Sarawak Malays are Muslim, where Islam was brought to Europe since 1000 years ago. Islam greatly influenced the lives of the Sarawak Malay community, especially the aspect of culture and arts. For the construction aspect, most of the houses or buildings have symbols or characteristics of Islam. Similarly, the customs of marriage that is based on Islam.