Memoir of Rainforest World Music Festival 2012

A Jungle Village Festival!

... this was how SONGLiNES Magazine UK summed it up in four words about the Rainforest World Music Festival. 2012 was its 15th edition and the third year running that this homegrown music festival was awarded the magazine's '25 of the Best International Festivals'. Bangkok Post reckoned...' it remained a performer's festival, with the enthusiasm emanating from the stage itself rather than the promoter's bag of tricks'.

Here are our memories of 2012...

From a distance... the legendary Mt.Santubong omnipresence begets the phrase... 'the venue nestles at the foothills of Mt. Santubong'. And there is this legend that a princess was immortalised in that mountain.

Once close to the foothill, take in the sights. Some require a good figment of imagination.

Bathed in all their splendour ... the jungle stage (L) and the tree stage. The tree stage was so-named because it was built around two trees that balanced both sides of the stage. The huge banner was there for the first time, thus setting the tone for an exciting 15th edition...

There were 16 groups from 20 countries and the winner of the Rainforest Waterfront Talent Search. 

There's Zee Avi - a Sarawakian who having made a name for herself internationally, finally got her dream to perform in a home-grown festival. And 'sapelele' made its world debut, a miniature lute instrument in the style of a ukelele, the signature strum of Zee. She will use 'sapelele' far and wide. The acceptance by the fiery String Sisters, each successful fiddler in their own rights, to play as a group in Rainforest World Music Festival, was likened to winning a lottery.Then there's WOMEX '10 Award for Artists in Danyel Waro, charming the festival with his melancholic Maloya singing. And what about the Kanda Bongo Man who single-handley gave the world the infectious Kwasa dance? Sensual and hip! Cankisou wild rhythms and a multi-instrumentalist cast sent the Saturday night crowd to its frenzy. Who canNOT remember (provided you were there, of course) the haunting sound of the Mongolian throat singers - Khusugtun? Surreal indeed! The jungle probably needed some time to recover after their performance. Did you feel the passion of Le Trio Joubran on their ouds? Or the talking sitar of Samuel Dass ably backed up on tabla by Prakash? The frentic and powerful perfomance of Mamadou Diabate on their balafons raised temperature a notch higher in a surprisingly but welcoming cool and almost dry festival evenings. HATA's gigantic drum belied its soft and evocative enchanting eastern blend.  Oreka Tx weaved multi-media into a performance with an instrument - Txalaparta- that is almost as unique as what the instrument was made for - a medium of encounter. La Zikabilo rendered a varied mix of jazzy music genres that wriggled hips and swayed torsos and so did Raiz De Cafezal's carimbó rhythm led by their maracas-wielding front man. For the first time, the programme was interspersed with colours and chants of Sarawak; bringing an element of spiritual exoticism to an already exotic festival.  Ramping up the Malaysia flavour for 2012, the Diplomats Of Drum, Nading Rhapsody (winner of Rainforest Waterfront Talent Search 2012), the Music of Sarawak and Rythm of Borneo displayed the multi-faceted musical influence s of the country's poly-layered ethnic communities.

Gyrate and Flash

From the open plains of Mongolia to the lush confine of Borneo's jungle... the crowd's apparent favourite, if not memorable - Khusugtun

Cute and sublime

The daytime workshops, considered by many to be the soul of the festival. Here, the dancers swaggered and gyrated to reinforce the fact that flexibility was not an inherent trait. Ok, granted, the dancers had plenty of practice. Anyway, fun and education was aplenty... and in other sessions as well.

Tattoo - temporary ones were wildly popular. So were the performers' CDs and made even more special when you look back at such relevancy of your purchase and possibly, it being one of your lifetime experiences.

Sarawak Cultural Village - a living museum when it is not playing host to the festival. There were commentaries on the festival needing a bigger venue. Short of incurring the wrath of the princess who lives up that mountain, who for three days in a year when she can kick up her heels to forget about her woes and yours as well, part of the magic of Rainforest World Music Festival is the magic of the place itself. In development terms, new tourism infrastructures and natural attractions within the Damai Peninsular can do with some spotlights on them when the clefs and trebles have faded away. The sea, islands, resorts, wildlife, wetlands, homestays, the dive sites and the list goes on... 

Behind the scene of this festival, an army of volunteers are needed to ensure things happen with hiccups  very much part and parcel of a dynamic workforce that changes from year to year.

The staff of Sarawak Tourism Board and its subsidiary (STB Leisure & Properties S/B). The volunteers and interns...

... came from Australia, Brunei Darul Salam, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Holland, Singapore, West Malaysia and a healthy dose of Sarawakians. Indeed they were as varied as the performers themselves! 15 years on, a quiet evolution no more. FEEL that big Ooo...haa... hugs from us :-)

Can't leave you guys out, can we? Thanks for the huge support and for many, it has been a year in year out affair. Some may be weary, its ok... its good to recharge and come back stronger, right?

And the sponsors deserve the fair share of the ticker tapes too! Heineken, Malaysia Airlines System and Audio Technica. Thank you! :-)

This has been... Our Entertainment... The Rainforest World Music Festival 2012... this is Sarawak... where adventure lives

As the 2012 edition sets into a distance memory... 

... and whether the proverbial princess finds her suitor, we have to wait until June 2013, from 28th to the 30th, the next Rainforest World Music Festival to find out.

Written by: Michael Lu   - Sarawak Tourism Board

Semenggoh Wildlife Centre

Located 24KM from the Kuching City, the major attraction of Semenggoh Wildlife Centre is the Orang Utan.

To get there, you have 4 options depending on your budget. 

1. Public Bus

Visitors can take the City Public Bus, bus no. K6, rate RM3.50 per way. First bus depart at 7.15am and the last bus depart at 4.15pm; for every 3 hours interval. Note that the bus will stop at the entrance of Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and you will have to walk for about 20 – 25 minutes from main entrance to Orang Utan's feeding area.

2. Shuttle Bus

Shuttle bus also available  at RM10 per person, which can be arranged with the tour operator or by the hotel.

3. Taxi

Taxi to Semenggoh cost about RM40 per way and the price is negotiable if the you want a return trip.

(Semenggoh Wildlife Centre Map)

The best time to visit Semenggoh will be in the morning and afternoon for the feeding sessions.  That's when you have a good chance of meeting the semi-wild Orang Utan returning to the Centre for a free meal. Feeding time is between 9.00am-10.00am in the morning, and 3.00pm-3.30pm for afternoon session. Make sure you are there before feeding time.

(Welcome to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre)

During the feeding hour, visitors will be briefed on the dos and don'ts at the Orang Utan feeding area.

(Visitors from all over the world)

Its normally the younger ones that provide the antics to the amusement of audience

The feeding time takes about 1 hour. While we were there, the Orang Utans stayed on the trees while having their meals. Visitors like me will just have to watch from below.  It is such a wonderful feeling seeing the young ones playing freely while having their meal; knowing well that their pictures are being taken.

Ritchie - the oldest, the biggest and some say the meanest!

Feeding times provide a unique opportunity to witness the Orang Utan at a close range. These Orang Utans are either on the wooden platform, or on a nearby tree, or hanging on the ropes. Visitors will have an excellent view, a remarkable photo opportunity, and ample time to appreciate the intelligence and the beauty of these fascinating forest creatures.

By Visitor Infor Centre Sibu

Our People - Iban

Iban claims the largest population, thus making this language the most widely used in Sarawak.

The Iban, formerly known as Sea Dayaks, are famous for their head-hunting past, their massive ironwood longhouses, their ornate body tattooing, their wonderful weaving skills, and of course their potent rice wine, tuak, which is always offered to visitors. 

It is almost a crime to come to Sarawak without visiting an Iban longhouse.

Iban hospitality is legendary, and visitors are guaranteed a good time. A longhouse is basically a terraced street of separate dwellings covered by one roof, under the authority of a headman, or tuai rumah.  Each family lives in its separate apartment, or bilik, and communal activities take place outside on the verandah, or ruai. This is also where single male visitors spend the night.  Female visitors and couples will be invited to stay inside the bilik with the family.

Most longhouses are busy, modern farming communities, and people wear practical clothes like jeans and T-shirts when they are at work. Traditional costumes and headdresses are usually only worn for special festivals like gawai dayak (the Iban harvest festival, 1st June), gawai antu (the ancestor festival, very rare) and weddings. If you want to see traditional rituals, customs and dances, then unless you are very lucky it is best to go with an organised tour group.  Tour groups are usually greeted with a glass of tuak (rice wine) and a welcome dance.  They are then shown around and treated to various cultural performances, including dancing and drumming. You will usually be invited to attempt the ngajat dance. Do not try to refuse as guests are expected to contribute to the entertainment just like the hosts. If you know any dances, folk songs or poems from your own country, you will make some lifelong friends, no matter how badly you perform. Normally you will be able to stay in the longhouse overnight, but if you prefer some privacy, many tour operators have their own guest houses near the longhouse. 

Sarawak Top 10 Iconic Food

1. Sarawak Laksa - The Sarawak Laksa is essentially vermicelli rice noodles (bee hoon), cooked in a shrimp-based broth that is made to thicken with coconut milk.  This dish is served with generous amounts of crunchy bean sprouts, a few boiled prawns and garnished with shredded chicken and slivers of egg omelette.  For added spice, there's the thick sambal paste that is usually served on the side.  For some extra pizzazz you can squeeze some lime juice (limau kasturi) into your dish as well.
2. Kolo Mee - A bowl of piping hot Kolo Mee (Kolok Mee) is just the thing to start your day. This  light yellow egg noodle consists of lard, char siew (barbecued pork) sauce and black vinegar.  A common enough dish found in Sarawak, the Kolok Mee is available for breakfast, lunch and even supper!  (Note: Halal version is also available at Malay stall)
3. Ayam Pansuh - The Iban dish of Manok Pansoh (ayam Pansuh) or chicken in bamboo is a must try.  Cut chicken pieces, mushrooms, lemongrass and tapioca leaves are stuffed into bamboos and cooked over an open fire.  This seals in the flavour and the result is succulent and juicy tender chicken, with gravy hinting of lemongrass and bamboo.
4. Midin Belacan - Local vegetables are served widely, particularly the two types of crispy jungle fern, midin and paku.
5. Ikan Terubuk Masin - The numerous waterways provide the people with an abundance of fresh water fish like the Tilapia, which incidentally is the most widely cultivated.  it's no surprise then that some of the popular Sarawakian dishes also include these 'gifts' from the sea.  The salted ikan terubok is sold in markets around Sarawak.
6. Umai - Umai (Umei), This is a dish for the brave. The umai is traditionally a standard lunch meal for the Melanau fisherman.  Thin slivers of raw fresh fish, usually iced but not frozen, combined with thinly scliced onions, chili, salt and juice from sour fruits like lime or assam go into preparing this dish.  The dish is usually accompanied by a bowl of toasted sago pearls and is so simple that fishermen prepare it easily on their boats.
7. Kompia - Guang Bing (Kom Pia) initially served as dry food for Chinese hero Ji Guang's soldiers to carry during the anti-Japanese occupation war in China.  Ji Guang is credited with creating this popular Foochow food.  WHile resembling the French bread in taste, the Guang Bing also has a little extra in the form of sesame seeds sprinkled generously on top of the bread.
8. Terung Dayak Soup - This round yellow color fruit is popular among the locals for cooking sour dishes like assam sour fish and sour soup.
9. Dabai - Dabai is a seasonal fruit.  The skin of the fruit is black while the flesh is yellow in colour.  The seed is also yellow and diamond shaped and is also edible if you can crack it open.  The Dabai is a hard fruit but when you soaked for 10-15 minutes in semi hot water with a bit of salt, it becomes soft and edible and the texture becomes like dates.
10. Foochow Mee - Also known as Kampua Mee is very much similar to Kolok Mee.  This dry noodles is served with several slices of barbequed pork and a bowl of soup.  Kampua  can be prepared according to your preference, either you like to have it plain, with soy suace, with chili sauce or both.  (Note: Halal version is also available at Malay stall)

*The result was based on our facebook SarawakTravel  poll in 2011.

A Jungle Village Festival

Promo video for Rainforest World Music Festival 2012.

Are you ready to join the party in the jungle? 

Let's bring back the memories of Rainforest World Music Festival 2011..

The Night Show

The Workshops

The Crowd