Borneo Sarawak River Tour Malaysia Travel Pictures
Traditional stilt homes, boats, native markets & crafts
I'd come on this Borneo Sarawak river tour on my second morning at the Royal Mulu resort. The day before, I'd come from Mt Kinabalu and a two-night stay at the Kinabalu Mountain lodge, via a flight from Kota Kinabalu. Earlier in the week I had been on Borneo Island, I'd toured the Malaysian state of Sabah, gone to see the Sepilok orangutans, then stayed at Libaran Island near Sandakan, to see the turtles. Here, in Sarawak, the other Malaysian state on Borneo, not far from Brunei, I was to hike to the caves and stay at the Royal Mulu Resort. See Borneo main page for general Borneo Malaysia travel information.
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Royal Mulu Resort Dock ~ Start of River Boat Ride to village, caves  At 8:30 a.m. (one of the latest departure times I was to enjoy on this tour), we headed to the Royal Mulu dock to board our boat for the thirty minute ride up river to a native village. From there, we'd go downstream again to tour two more caves. I'd changed some US dollars into RM (ringitt malay) as I hoped to buy local crafts at the village market. |
Steep Cliffs along the river  These steep cliffs line the river for some distance upriver from the Royal Mulu. At the resort, there's a boardwalk from the river side of the dining room that goes past the wing that houses the spa and continues along the riverbank for some distance, so you can admire these cliffs without benefit of a boat ride. This day, we three lifejacket wearing travellers, along with guide and driver, got close views from the water. |
Traditional River boats Sarawak These men were gathered at a river side dock with their traditional boats. While much of the riverbank lands seemed uninhabited, we passed a number of houses and small settlements. Each one had a dock out front, attesting that river travel was the only travel option to go any distance easily. As always, rain threatened, and my rain jacket was close at hand. Even this early, it was quite warm and humid. Some tours go at night, which, again, I hadn't been aware of when I planned to travel here. You would have an entirely different perspective on a night river cruise. |
Traditional Stilt homes along the River  Here's a fairly prosperous looking home, with neatly kept, large buildings and a few longboats docked. Kayaks are also available at the resort, though I didn't see any in this part of the river. Another river boat tour option is through the swift rapids from Melinau River to Batu Mulong. You can also arrange to go board rafting down the river. |
River stilt home near Batu Bunang Sarawak As we headed for Batu Bungan, a native Penan village, we passed a number of these tidy-looking riverside homes. The Penans were originally hunters and gatherers who lived inside Gunung Mulu National Park long before it was a park. When the park was established, these peoples were moved to this village as well as another village called Long Iman. |
Penan Village Children come to greet, not to beg These children, who didn't speak to us or plead for anything, were outside the small market, near a one storey building with a sign that a dvised it was the 'Evangelical Church of Borneo'. [In the picture, you can see someone in shorts and flip-flops -- thong sandals. This is the opposite of what I would suggest for touring the area caves and trails. Generally, until you are familiar with local customs -- religious, practical. political -- it is always better to dress conservatively. (See travel tips pages for what to pack and types of clothing, etc.) |
Traditional Beaded and woven native crafts at the market  While Sarawakians can turn bead and jewellery into art, this village offered more homely simple crafts, with wooden beads. They also make intricately carved baskets from bemban or reeds. This village market offered the reed baskets. I also bought what the guide called a Borneo guitar -- a foot-long hollow tube with gut strings affixed lengthwise and held out from the tube by small chips of wood. The strings were 'tuned' when the chips were positioned to hold the strings away from the sides, so they could be strummed. |
Women's Market stalls Penan Village  Most of the vendors were women, who stood behind tables laden with their particular craft. Most tables were sheltered under the building, but several lined the path in front, that led to the river. The guide of course could translate, or explain various items. I bought some rattan bracelets, dyed purple, and some inch-wide bracelets made from multiple strands of tiny wooden beads in varying shades of natural wood colors. See Borneo main page for general Borneo Malaysia travel information.
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