We’re staying on the top story of a ‘long house style’ (not yet sure what this means) hostel. Last night we listened to the pattering of rain on the roof all night, punctuated by long loud rumbles of thunder. Apparently it’s the beginning of the rainy season in Borneo. Strange, since the rainy season is June in Japan and August in India, slowly moving north. Would I still have come to Borneo now if I knew it was the rainy season? … Probably.
We landed in Kuching early yesterday afternoon, checked into the hostel and went out immediately for a stroll along the river under the heat of the clear sky. The people have already made up for the lack of friendliness and generosity I experienced in Morocco. A girl selling fresh fruit by the river took the time to help me refresh my Bahasa and people have pulled up next to us just to make sure we weren’t lost.
Today we took a bus to the local Orangutan rehabilitation park and a boy in a van stopped beside at some lights offered us some of the rambutan he was carrying, still on the branch. The orangutans didn’t show for feeding time because it’s fruiting season, but that’s a good sign as it means that the rehabilitation program is working and the apes are finding their own food.
If we thought it was hot and humid in town, we were in for a shock in the jungle. In the half hour we were standing at the feeding platform, we became drenched in sweat that hasn’t dissipated with the return to town. Tomorrow we head to Bako National Park and it might be a tough contest between the jungle humidity and the beach breeze to decide our comfort.
Long House: Rumah Panjang
http://www.thingsasian.com/stories-photos/25979
“Can you imagine hundreds of extended family members live together under the same roof? That’s what I found on my recent trip to West Kalimantan, one of the five major islands in Indonesia. About three-hour drive from the capital city, Pontianak, there lies the legendary rumah panjang (the longhouse) in Pahauman, which shelter more than four dozens families. Rumah panjang is the traditional house of Dayak tribe in Kalimantan. Obviously, it isn’t for no reason that the house is called “the longhouse†because it stretches up to 186 metres long divided into fifty different cabinets altogether. What makes it even more unique is the fact that the entire house is designed for “living highâ€. It is built about three metres above the ground, standing upon rows of wooden pillars. In the past, the structure has protected the inhabitants from the attack of wild animals.”
Hundreds?? That would be interesting. But you say ‘legendary’. Does that mean it’s only a rumour?
I am no the one who wrote the article 🙂 .. but Id believe that its could be true (don’t think it still happening now though)
We celebrated our New Year in Kuching last year – went kayaking for a couple of days and then just relaxed. It was a great break.
Happy holidays!