Balik Kampung

GETTING TO KAPIT

I was looking forward for our Balik Kampung Trip to Kapit this time since my parents In-laws decided to go back to their long house to celebrate Gawai. I was excited since it's the first time ever to actually experience the Iban's lifestyle.

From our place Labuan, we took a 45min flight to Miri, then another flight to Sibu, carter by Maswings (MAS). There was no direct flight to Kapit, so Sibu has to be the Check Point. We stayed a night in Sibu and  took Long Boat Express to Kapit which took 2 1/2hrs to arrive.

Express Boat Terminal, Sibu.

Finally Arrive at Kapit. This is a common view where kapit welcomes their long awaited return of "Kapitians" who have migrated to bigger cities for Gawai Celebration. The Wharf/Jetty was build so high to accommodate high tides and even flood .

On the far side of the river are the Logging Ship, docked properly. It will not resume it works until Gawai ends. Gawai is a Big celebration, so people will bring everything back home. Those super-size baggage will be placed on top of the boat.

KAPIT TOWN

This is Pretty Much Kapit town. Traffic can be a bit congested here and there and in Kapit, everyone knows everybody. I love to refer Kapit as the Borneo Atlantis, as its located at the heart of a " Giant Snake", covered with green hills and water everywhere.

This is Kapit Business centre. It is a two-storey market where local sells greeneries, meat, fish, souvenirs... anything you need for breakfast, lunch and dinner is here. While the 2nd story is where you can find clothings, beauty salons, tailors, etc...

The Iban's Eggplant or locally known as "Terung Iban" and "kantan" serves as a delicious meal.

The Great Rejang River now seen as murky water lost its pride to continuous logging industries, that fall victim to man's greed. My Father in-law told me his childhood was filled with memories of Rejang's clear water with plenty of fish...

This is one of the long house that was build just in front of Batang Rejang Waterfront.

The Famous Pelagus Rapid, located a few miles upriver from the Kapit town. Some locals still believe that the rapids are mythical and once in every few years some lives will be taken away and for this reason offerings are made to appease the spirit of the rapids.

JOURNEY TO LONG HOUSE MAJAU

Our Journey continued to my parents in-law longhouse called "Majau". Getting there was thrilling and adventurous! A big family, loads of stuffs, then a lorry is really a good transportation indeed.  It took us about 1 hour to reach the river bank where we were suppose to take another long-boat ride to get to the other side of the river.

Then another 2hrs drive through the logging area until we reach Long house Majau.

It wasn't until late evening that we finally reach our final destination. Rain was another blessing, being able to dip in the river is blessed. Oh, if you're searching for the long house, well you are looking at it. 

This is a modernize Iban's long house, yet the significant part of the "ruai"  (as seen on the pic ) still proclaim its pride. The actual long house is located on top of a small hill, some 100m away from the new long house. Since it was build for so many years, occupied and lived by my husband's ancestors, the long house was too old to accommodate new increased family members.

This is the middle part of our "Bilik", after the living room. My Father In-law with his Son's decided to make a internal house pond, to segregate the living room and the kitchen, just in case of a fire breaks out from the kitchen. Here, hubby and his bother are building a small jetty and giving some finishing touch to it.

This is an old jetty from the old long house build by the old folks to get to the riverbank. behind is the boat engine storage and some chicken coop.

The Iban's long boat

Barbecue at Sepako River.

Only a few walk down from the new long house is where do the washing. and after that, a nice refreshing bath..

Catching "Ikan Semah". One of the most expensive freshwater fish that fetches between RM150 to RM200 a Kg! Only found in Kapit division Interiors and Baram in Nothern Sarawak. Here, this expensive cuisine is free!

Living with my Iban Family was not that unusual at all, In fact the living culture is amazingly quite the same. The food is the same, but cooked in different ways, some traditions and taboos are also the same but practiced differently. Im proud to say that I have no problem whatsoever adapting to it.

In some cases however, I do find some things a really fascinating.... the great Rejang, The yummy Semah, Pelagus rapid, Iban's Eggplant and nothing can compare the Iban's Tattoos!