Being the largest state in Malaysia, Sarawak covers a vast area of 124,000 sq-km of land along the northwest coast of Borneo, the third largest island in the world. To see Sarawak in one day, this is the basic concept of Sarawak Cultural Village. One leisurely stroll opens seven homes to the visitor, seven cultures, including the famous longhouses of Borneo.
The idea for the cultural village stems from the 1960s, with the first tourism as we know it now. The original idea of building a “model village” took shape close to Kuching and opened in 1989.
Sarawak Cultural Village, close to Mount Santubong, is the venue for the World Harvest Festival (April) and the Rainforest World Music Festival (July). This living museum depicts the heritage of the major cultural groups in Sarawak and conveniently portrays their respective lifestyle amidst 14 acres of tropical vegetation.
Here it is possible to see Sarawak's ethnic diversity at a glance. The handicraft is both bewildering and tempting, including the Kain Songket (Malay cloth with gold inlay), Pua Kumbu (Iban housewives’ textiles), Melanau Terendak (sunhat), Bidayuh tambok (basket), Iban parang (swords), Orang Ulu wood carving and Chinese ceramics.
Sarawak Cultural Village’s mission is threefold:
1. To showcase Sarawak's multi-ethnics cultures and traditions through innovative products and top-class services.
2. To give all visitors a memorable experience of Sarawak's rich cultural heritage.
3. To promote the appreciation of Sarawak's culture amongst the younger generation.
Text source: SCV
Photo by Thomas Quine (Aboriginal Sarawak meeting hall) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
