Stuif's Adventures

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Sarawak trip: Iban Longhouses
A trip into the interior of Sarawak (9-22)-12-2006

Part 6: Marudi & Iban longhouses.

The Twin Otter flight from Bario to Miri took us first to Marudi, a small cowboy town on the banks of the mighty Batang Baram river.
Here six of us started the second leg of our trip, while the rest flew back to Miri and from there to KL.

Marudi is now less isolated than in earlier days, because it is possible to go to Miri overland, by 4WD.
But most of the transport takes place with longboats over the Baram river.

We stayed in the Victoria hotel, with a nice view of the jetty, always busy.
This was our first 'town' after Lawas, with a Chinese temple, a wet market, and more of those modern commodities..:-)

The next day we visited several Iban longhouses, guided by Thomas, a friend of Neal who had organised the trip.
These longhouses are generally quite modern constructions, with electricity, fans and fridges. Several of the newer ones, near Marudi, have road access
But the structure is still traditional, with a number of apartments ('doors') which share a common verandah

In one of them, Sepetang, we stayed overnight.

Of course there was tuak!

Back in Marudi, before leaving for Loagan Bunut NP, we had a farewell meal with more tuak. Nice brew!

Click here for the last episode.

Marudi airport
 

Farewell!
 

Marudi landmark
 

Chinese Temple
 

detail
 

Funny detail
 

The Batang Baram
 

The jetty at sunset
 

Fort Hose
 

Dinner time
 

Morning view of the Baram river
 

Remains of the past
 

Longboats at the jetty
 

View of the jetty from hotel room
 

A fighting cock?
 

Longhouse
 

The outside verandah
 

The communal verandah
 

Relaxed existence
 

Suba talking with the kids
 

The Puyut longhouse
 

Info board about the longhouse council
 

Bringing bamboo back to the longhouse
 

The Sepetang longhouse
 

Communal verandah
 

Welcome conversation
 

Meeting the penghulu
 

Kids always like pictures
 

Let me see, let me see..!
 

Orange juice and tuak
 

Preparation of the dinner
 

Are there waterfalls around here?
 

Romantic sunset
 

Longhouse dinner
 

This is an insect, disguised as a leaf!
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Longhouse meeting
 

Durians
 

Weaving a mat
 

They have astro!
 

Rubber mill
 

Rubber sheets
 

Picture please!
 

Our last longhouse
 

Newly built
 

Modern style
 

But with animist remains
 

Back in Marudi
 

It will rain soon
 

Downpour
 

After the rain
 

drinking 'amicitia' with Thomas
 

Farewell dinner in marudi
 

wrote on Jan 17, 2007:
Wonderful camouflage! It is a moth!

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