Highlights of Cultural Tour, 10 May 2002 


Photos Courtesy of Galen R. Frysinger

A visit to a longhouse is often the highlight of a trip to Sibu / Sarawak, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle of various tribes who have for generations lived in the remote interior of Borneo. Out-of-town guests have the option of participating in this half-day guided tour by an express boat.

To the Iban, the longhouse is more than a home--it is a way of life. It is always built next to a river, which is both a transport route and a source of water. The size of a longhouse is calculated by the number of doors, which can vary from half a dozen to almost a hundred, although the modern norm is around 20 plus. Each door is the entrance to an apartment or bilik with a combined living room and bedroom, a kitchen at the rear and an attic which is used to store rice. Opposite the bilik is a covered verandah, or ruai, which is used for ritual functions, making handicrafts, entertaining guests or just relaxing with friends in the evening. Outside the ruai is an open verandah, the tanju, which is used for drying pepper and rubber.

A well-established, prosperous longhouse will be made of belian (ironwood) and other high quality hardwoods, and roofed with belian shingles or zinc sheeting. Pioneer longhouses in new areas are often made of bamboo and tree bark, with attap roofs. As the community becomes more established, the longhouse will gradually be improved and upgraded.
 

Photos Courtesy of Galen R. Frysinger

Modern longhouses are busy farming communities, and traditional clothes and ornaments are only worn for festive occasions, so if you want to be sure of seeing traditional costumes and rituals, come on an organized tour with cultural performances included, or visit during Gawai Dayak, the harvest festival, which takes place at the beginning of June each year.

The Iban are famous for their handicrafts, and you are bound to see weavers, woodcarvers and blowpipe makers at work. You can try your hand at blowpipe shooting, visit the rubber and pepper gardens, and go for a walk in the nearby forest, learning about the different plants and their many practical uses. Depending on the season, you may witness rice threshing and rice pounding, but whatever time of year you are sure to enjoy their hospitality.