Sarawak culture Village

Finally 2 weeks have passed since ive been in Kuching, and almost a month since I have left. And this trip has proved to be better than the last. Anyhow, Dee (her parents owning a renowned travel agency) got us some tickets to the Sarawak culture village yesterday. the regular cost was RM45 but I got mine for RM30 after a long drive to Dumai we made our way to the culture village, we looked around and took some photos of the indigenous tribal settlements, we took a few photos of a Budayu hut, and then it was time for the big show.

Now mind you that the state of Sarawak is comprised of many different ethnicities. The majority of which are Hokkien Chinese. Then you have your Malay, and many indigenous tribes like Iban, Ulu, Budayu to name a few, and each of them has their own different culture. So being in Malaysia is like having a mix of new and old and a constant mixture of cultures wherever you go.

Anyways on with the story, the show is supposed to be mostly displaying the native dances of the native people, there were some great dances, and unlike what some other people my think, my eyes weren’t fixated solely on the women. But rather the men who were constantly daring acrobatics that makes my body ache in sympathy.

Mid show there was a man who went on stage to demonstrate the hunting technique used by many of the tribes, he danced around, and used his sharp machete. And but the most exciting was when he was using his blow gun. He was using the blow gun to shoot targets that seemed to be at least 50 yards away. Now it was impressive, but watching someone who is perfect at doing something isn’t completely fun. So he decided that he would jump off of stage.

Now at first I had thought to myself that he must be looking for a participant (willing or unwilling). And being that I like to have fun and sometimes tease people. I decided to point with my left hand to my right at Dee. but still he looks around the crowd... again I point with my left hand gesturing that he should take Dee up on the stage, finally he reaches over and pulls her up, and brings her on stage.

Now, at first she looked like she was a cat that had been thrown into a bathtub, a bit embarrassed to say the least. She stood there, while he circled her slowly, what in my humble opinion appeared to be him checking her out. Finally after he checked out the goods, he gave me a big proud looking thumbs up. then he shows her how to use the blow pipe(where my movie began) he gestures for her to blow, and then points right at me, at which point I cant stop from laughing. And then he has her point at a balloon from above, and tries to hit it.

he decides that perhaps 20 feet is too close, perhaps 2 would do better, so he loads another dart into the blow gun, and then walks her straight dab in front of the balloon, and finally the balloon pops, and everyone gives their applauds then Dee and the exhibionist do a bow, and she walks off of stage

Afterwards we continued to roam around the culture village, and take more pictures, I got lost while Dee snuck off to the waterfall (which I wish I would have gone to) but all the while it was a great trip. And I would be looking forward to another soon.

Anyhow I have some video of the culture village and some pictures of Dee as well, but if you would want any they would have to be at request sent to my e-mail. And then I could either provide the password to her photo album, or send the movies via e-mail (although you should probably make sure to make some room before asking me if you’re using web mail.)

Dee's performance 10mb
Scarf dancing 20MB
Budayu dancing 50MB
Malaysia vocal finale 40MB

Meow

First of all I realize that I hadn’t updated my Blog recently, and I have been procrastinating. And I'm sorry, but ill try to write about all of the many things that I have done within the past 2 weeks. But I have to probably put some subsections in.

But well, on the first I arrived in Kuching (meaning cat in Malay) and I was met in the airport by Diana, she is a girl that has been to more countries that I care to count. anyhow, story goes, that she picked me up in the wee hours of the morning, and she got me a room at the B&B inn being that her family are somewhat important people in Kuching, she was able to get me a room that was normally RM 30 per night for RM 24 per night and with air-con. I admit that I couldn’t probably do better myself.

Anyhow when I first arrived she fell terribly sick, and didn’t see me for a few days, she had food poisoning, and so I made my way in Kuching by myself for the most part. The first day I made my way through Kuching and I met an English fellow at one of the cyber cafe's that were nearby. He told me his story about how his GF broke up with him, and how he was trying to contact her. And through that we got to chatting, and then to drinking. We went to one of the bars near the Hilton. Were we had a few beers and talking about our poor luck with women. Turns out that we were quite similar, although not by profession, but by attitude.

After we had about 2 beers, came an Irish man, who decided that he would just sit down and order a round of beers for us. Now, as strange as it might have been that he sat came so unexpectedly, the company was appreated, and the beers were as well. He and the British fellow that I was with went at it like a couple of army mates, both making shots at the other. And although the Irish gentleman "has the gift of the gab”, "kissed the blarney stone", etc he was funny to talk to. Anyhow we talked and drank until the late hours of the evening.

Another day I had actually met a friend from my hostel Yochiko and because of the fact that Diana was with her family on that Sunday afternoon; I spent the good portion of the day with Yochiko just talking about Japan, and eating. I now remember how refreshing it is to talk to like minded people, and not to be so surrounded by ignorance all of the time. Anyhow, we went on a river cruise that cost us RM 25 per hour, going up and down the Kuching River. We got many pictures that would be hard to get from any other spot, and there was the added bonus that being in the river was quite cool. After the nice river cruise me and her saw some movie that resembled a 1920's comic book although I cannot remember the title at the moment. The movie was also good, but not one that I would choose to see again.

Anyhow that evening Diana got out of church, and I got to meet all of her friends for the first time. I was introduced to Wan, Jenny, Leonard, Angela, and of course Cynthia. They are some of the nicest people that I have yet meet in Malaysia; I got to know Cynthia and Leonard the most. Leonard is as Diana calls "a big puppy dog". And Cynthia who is also an ox and a Gemini like me are also incredibly..... Like myself. But we get along well, despite some cultural and communication problems.

Recently I've been also attending the Fit for Life gym in Kuching, and every day lately I’ve been attending, kickboxing and X-circuit being my favorite. And with the help of Leonard especially I’ve been able to do a lot of things that I didn’t know I could do. And fix a lot of things I didn’t know that I needed to fix. so at the moment its been pointed out to me that my upper back is weak, and my lower back (which is too strong, and my abs, are making my upper back hunch too far forward.

Anyways I'm going to post another about the Sarawak culture village, and if you want to see those pictures click here for all of the other photos click here