Sarawak Malaysia. Sarawak: a picturesque corner of Malaysia

The history of Sarawak is full incredible events, lyrical legends, exciting legends about adventurers, pirates, turtle hunters and in general is similar to the plot of a sensational novel. From events new history we can only say that after the end of the Second World War Sarawak was transferred to Great Britain and became an English colony. In 1963, Sarawak joined Malaysia and follows a democratic system of government.

Sarawak

Nature has endowed this state with amazing beauty that amazes everyone who comes here. Dense virgin jungle, unique in its richness of vegetation and animal world, magnificent beaches, picturesque islands off the coast, the largest caves in the world - this is all Sarawak, a unique country inhabited by diverse ethnic groups and tribes with a rich culture. A day in Sarawak doesn't start with a banal crowing of roosters, but with a tune that gibbons hum all day long. Every hectare ancient forest filled with such species and number of trees that you will not find even in North America. More than a thousand species of different insects live on each tree. Also in the forest lives an unlimited number of species of monkeys, flying lizards and other "flying" animals, such as squirrels, frogs, etc.

The ancient rainforest is teeming with sinister and beautiful animals: a small deer the size of a cat, owls as tall as 15 centimeters (some butterflies even bigger) and many other species that are not found anywhere else on Earth - such as strange monkeys with trunks or gentle orangutans. , which are found only in Sumatra.

The territory of Sarawak is huge, some of its areas are completely impassable and can only be reached by light aircraft or helicopter. Boats are also a generally accepted means of transportation in the state, since its territory is all cut up by rivers.

Friendly ethnic tribes live in Sarawak, who preserve ancient centuries-old customs passed down from generation to generation. Many countries and even cities have their own Business Cards". In France, this is the Eiffel Tower, in London, the changing of the guard, in New York, the Statue of Liberty, and the main attraction of Sarawak is the "longhouse", a long house. This is a long log house, standing on high rafters - “chicken legs”, from time to time another compartment is attached to the first floor (not just up, but along) other family members and other relatives living there. Such houses can be seen throughout the state. The rituals, dances and clothes of the inhabitants of such houses are very colorful. Sumatra and Borneo are the only places in the world where orangutans - people of the jungle - live in the wild. Staying here, in this land of adventurers and romantics, would be incomplete without visiting the mysterious caves, which are another miracle that nature has given to people. Sarawak offers all kinds vigorous activity: from mountain biking and rafting to adrenaline safari through the dense jungle. And after that, you can be transported to the magical world of a tropical paradise, where white sand and emerald sea will give you new adventures and unforgettable impressions.

The capital of Sarawak is the city of Kuching. The city has a rather unusual name, because in Malay kuching means cat. However, one should not expect that there are more cats here than in any other city. The city is spread on both banks of the Sarawak River, about 32 km from the sea.

Excursion program

View of the city of Kuching

Kuching stretches on both banks of the Sarawak River, about 32 km from the sea. The architecture of the city has a strong European influence, and it is not surprising, because for many years the “White Rajas” ruled here. During a sightseeing tour of the city, a visit to the Sarawak Museum is a must, which is proud of its ethnological and archaeological collection of Borneo.

ethnographic village

Spread over 6.8 hectares, this museum is sometimes referred to as a "living museum" because people live there. It is a huge village, consisting of separate villages, each built in its own unique style. Here you can get acquainted with the rich culture of different tribes, see their colorful dances, listen to their music and songs.

Caves of Niah

Niah caves are another miracle that nature has given to people. After the excavations, scientists found that people settled here already 40 thousand years ago. The inner walls of the caves are decorated with drawings of ancient people.

Skrang River Safari

A four-hour boat trip along the Skrang River, crossing mountain rapids in some places, will take you to the village of the Iban tribe. There you will be given a warm welcome, during which you may have to take part in some national ceremonies.

Visit "Longhouse" - Longhouse

You will be offered several options for visiting the Longhays, the cost of which will vary depending on how far from the capital the village where a particular tribe lives is located. Naturally, the farther from civilization, the more exotic the tour will seem to you, the more carefully traditions are kept there.

Crocodile farm

The farm occupies a vast territory, which contains more than a thousand crocodiles. various kinds from all over the world.

Semongok Orangutan Rehabilitation Center

Orangutans found by lumberjacks or suffering from wounds and diseases, as well as being in European zoos for some time, are kept here until they are fully recovered and then released.

State Reserve Mulu

One can only admire the amazing knife-sharp rocks of Gunung Mulu once again marveling at the ingenuity of nature.

Gunung Mulu is located in northern Sarawak. Here is one of the most amazing cave systems in the world - Mulu. Chamber Cave Sarawak is considered the largest natural cave in the world. Its dimensions are amazing: 600 m long, 450 m wide, 100 m high. The world's largest cave passage belongs to the Deer Cave: 100 m wide, 120 m high. Pure Water Caves is the longest in South-East Asia a chain of caves stretching for 51.5 km. in Mulu is the second highest mountain peak in Sarawak, Gunung Mulu (2376 m). These mountains are over five million years old.

Bako State Reserve

Wildlife lovers are attracted by the unusually diverse flora and fauna of the state of Sarawak. Here you will see the impenetrable tropical jungle, various species of birds and animals.

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state of Malaysia
Sarawak
Malay Sarawak Jawi: سراوق
Ibu Pertiwi Ku
The country
Includes	11 districts
Administrative center
Date of formation	1963
Governor	T.Y.T Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin
chief minister	Y.A.B. Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Bin Mahmud / Pehin Sri Dr. hj. Abdul Taib b. Mahmud
Population	2 471 140 people ( 2010) (4th place)
Density	19.86 people/km² (16th place)
Confessional composition	Christians, Muslims, Buddhists.
Square	124,450 km² (1st)
Height ・Maximum	2423 m
Timezone	UTC+8:00
Abbreviation	SWK
ISO 3166-2 code	MY-13
Telephone code	082-086
Postal codes	93000–98999
Official site
Audio, photo and video at Wikimedia Commons

Malaysian Act 1963 (document)

Agreements relating to Malaysia in English texts (document)

Sarawak(Malay Sarawak, Jawi: سراوق; code: SWK listen)) is a governorship of Malaysia. One of the two states of East Malaysia, located in the northwest of the island of Kalimantan. Sarawak- most big state in . The neighboring state on the island is . Sarawak borders on and the Sultanate.

The administrative center of Sarawak is a city with a population of about half a million, literally Cat City. The largest cities are (200,000), (202,000) and Bintulu (102,761). The total population of the state exceeds two million people. Sarawak is a multicultural state with no clear ethnic majority. Governed by a governor appointed by the central government of Malaysia. Governor - Abdul Taib Mahmud. In 1988, the flag of the state of Sarawak was adopted.

Geography

The coast of Sarawak is washed by the South China Sea. The coastline is slightly indented - there are only two bays: Datu - in the west and Brunei - in the north. A low-lying alluvial-marine plain stretches along the coast. In the hinterland, along the border with Indonesia, mountains reach 2423 meters (the highest point is Mount Murud). The largest rivers are Rajang, Baram and Limbang. Due to the abundance of precipitation, the rivers are full-flowing. all year round, in the lower reaches they abound in large deltas and spread into many branches and channels, and are navigable for a considerable distance. The climate is equatorial, hot and humid. The air temperature is 26-28 °С all year round. Precipitation up to 4000 mm per year.

Story

white rajah

Sir James Brooke

Until the 19th century, colonists came to the island - Chinese, Malays, Filipinos. But the main population of the island were Dayaks - numerous warlike local tribes who lived (and still live) natural life, and spending time in endless wars with their own kind.

Iban tribe (Sea Dayaks or sea ​​pirates- although they live mostly deep in the jungle) - one of the most numerous Dayak tribes.

In 1839, Sir James Brooke, a retired official of the British East India Company, by coincidence went to Borneo on an errand from the ruler. He had a well-equipped warship. An educated and experienced man, he quickly won the confidence of the Sultan, who began to consult with him on the suppression of the rebellion raised by the Malays and Dayaks in Sarawak. Having received authority from the Sultan, James Brooke landed in Sarawak and, after a small military operation and a skillful diplomatic mission, put things in order in ten days, stopping the rebellion. By agreement with the Sultan, James Brooke took possession of a small area on the Sarawak River, where he founded the city in 1842 and laid the foundation for a dynasty of local rulers (the so-called White Rajas). authority among the tribes and were able to restore order.

Among the Dayaks, the custom of headhunting was widespread, leading to self-destruction, with which the white rajahs tried to fight.

From 1868 to 1917, the country was ruled by the second Raja - Charles Anthony Johnson Brooke, James' nephew. Through thoughtful and strict measures, he was able to stop the headhunting and lead Sarawak to peaceful development.

The third Raja, Charles Viner Brook, ruled until the Japanese occupation of Sarawak in 1941.

Japanese occupation

Occupied Sarawak in 1941 and held the entire war until Sarawak was liberated by Australian troops in 1945.

The Japanese occupation of Sarawak was unexpected and difficult, especially for the British. Having suffered an unexpected and crushing defeat, the British did not come up with anything smarter than declaring a total guerrilla war against the Japanese, appealing to the old Dayak traditions. For the head of each Japanese was supposed to reward ten dollars.

The Japanese suddenly noticed that single patrols heading for the jungle began to disappear. Lurking in the jungle, Dayaks with stinging pipes eagerly waited for their 10 dollars, but did not show disloyalty or hostility to the Japanese with a single movement. The Japanese did not soon understand what was happening, and began to patrol the forests in well-armed compact groups, which is why the income of the Dayaks began to fall sharply. Then, instead of the Japanese, the Dayaks began to hunt for Chinese farmers, and the British hastily canceled their tariff and tried to abolish the headhunting again.

Within the British Empire

After the surrender of Japan in 1945, the white raja did not return from Australia, but advised the government to transfer the country to the possession of the British crown. The Raja formally handed over power british crown in 1946, under the influence of the environment and his wife, having received a rich content for this.

Civil war and incorporation into the Federation of Malaya

The Raja's nephew Anthony continued to defend the independence of Sarawak. The Malays resisted British rule, the first British governor was assassinated under dramatic circumstances. From 1962 to 1966, a confrontation arose with Indonesia, which tried to include Sarawak into its territory.

The tradition of headhunting has been revived again thanks to Indonesian President Sukarno. The Communists, in addition to being partly supported by the Chinese, unleashed a confused civil war that overlapped with Indonesian ambitions and, in places, Indonesian claims to Sarawak and even mainland Malaysia. Tribes from the Indonesian part of the island and from the Malay side entered into heavy internecine squabbles, which, moreover, were superimposed on the general political contradictions of Sukarno, the Malay authorities, the Communists and the Chinese. Britain and Australia urgently sent troops to Sarawak and blocked the Indonesian border, and then the Malayan authorities were able to defeat the communists stuck in the jungle. The struggle dragged on even after the final defeat of the communists in Malaysia, according to the recollections of local residents, separate clashes took place almost until 1969.

Those skulls hanging from the ceiling, which are now shown to guests in the Long Houses, most likely belong to the victims of this particular campaign - the unknown supporters of Dr. Sukarno - or maybe they just fell under hot hand residents of a neighboring village.

On September 16, 1963, Sarawak was included in the Federation of Malaysia, despite the partial resistance of part of the population, which manifested itself in the initial period.

Administrative division

Counties of Sarawak

Sarawak is divided into 11 administrative districts:

№	county	Square, km²	Population, people (2000)
1	betong	4 180,74	99 800
2	Bintulu	12 166,21	179 600
3	Kapit	38 933,98	99 800
4	Kuching	4 559,55	606 000
5	Limbang	7 790,01	72 400
6	Miri	26 777,07	316 400
7	torments	6 997,61	101 600
8	Samarakhan	4 967,45	204 900
9	Sarikei	4 332,35	126 500
10	Sibu	8 278,29	257 300
11	Sri Aman	5 466,25	90 600

Population

Parliament of Sarawak

Modern longhouse (long house) of the Iban people

Sarawak is home to 28 peoples with different cultures, languages ​​and lifestyles.

30% of the population is made up of the Iban people, belonging to the Dayak natives. The Chinese, who live predominantly in cities, make up a quarter of the population. About a quarter of the population is also made up of Malays, concentrated along the coast. The Bidayu, Melanau and other Aboriginal peoples live in the state.

Various religions are practiced in Sarawak - Islam, Christianity, religions of China (Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism) and local animistic beliefs. Part of the Dayaks are Christians.

Economy

Sarawak is a highly developed state rich in resources. The presence of oil causes high prosperity. In addition, Sarawak is an exporter of timber and furniture, but the government restricts timber harvesting to support the self-reproduction of the forest. One of major articles export is also black pepper.

Attractions

• Niah Caves National Park

see also

• Dayaks
• White Rajas
• Bako (national park)

Notes

1. No.10760: Agreement on Malaysia (pdf). United Nations Treaties Collection (unavailable link - story) . United Nations (July 1963). Retrieved July 29, 2010. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011.
2. United Nations Treaties no. 8029 between Philippines, Federation of Malaya and Indonesia (June 31, 1963)
3. United Nations Treaties no. 8809, Agreement for the Implementation of the Manila Agreement
4. United Nations List of Non-Governmental Organizations, Non-Self-Governing Territories, North Borneo and Sarawak
5. Members of the United Nations

Literature

• L. W. W. Gudgeon (1913). British North Borneo. London, Adam and Charles Black.
• S. Runciman (1960). The White Rajahs: a history of Sarawak from 1841 to 1946. Cambridge University Press
• Chin, Ung Ho (1997) Chinese Politics in Sarawak: a Study of the Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) (Kuala Lumpur, New York: Oxford University Press, 1997) (ISBN 983-56-0039-2)

Links

• Sarawak report
• Visiting the bounty hunters
• Sarawak government website

The state of Sarawak is a large part of East Malaysia, occupying territories along the northern coast of the island as part of the Sunda archipelago. Kalimantan - the third largest island in the world - is the only sea island divided between three states: Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Moreover, the Sultanate of Brunei was surrounded by Sarawak on land from all sides.
Sarawak coast of the South China Sea - with a slightly indented coastline and only two bays: Datu - in the west and Brunei - in the north. The coastal lowland is formed by the flow of rivers running down the slopes of the mountains in the interior of the state, along the border with Indonesia, rising to a height of almost 2.5 km. It often rains heavily on the coast, so the rivers are full of water all year round, they form vast deltas with many branches and channels and are navigable for a considerable distance.
Almost all of Sarawak is covered with evergreen equatorial forests.

Story

In the XVI - the first half of the XIX century. Sarawak remained the personal possession of the Sultans of Brunei. However, the power of the Sultan was a relative concept here: there were no roads in Sarawak, impassable swamps and impenetrable jungles everywhere.
Having heard about the local free life, settlers poured in here: Chinese, Malays, Filipinos ... The most free morals dominated, piracy, smuggling and the slave trade flourished. In addition, local Dayaks regularly plundered villages, saying that they were not going to get their own food. Sultan Omar Ali Raja Muda Gassim was already thinking about selling Sarawak for a nominal fee, but then James Brooke (1803-1868), a retired employee of the British East India Company, came to the island. It was 1839, Brooke was on an errand for the Singapore authorities and arrived in Kalimantan on board his own well-armed ship, bought by him for 30 thousand pounds, bequeathed by his father.
A quick-witted man, Brook instantly realized that such luck falls once in a lifetime, and offered the Sultan help in exchange for the post of ruler of Sarawak. Sultan Omar gladly agreed to Brook's terms, and he quickly put down the revolt of the Dayaks and Malays.
So, since 1841, the dynasty of White Rajas began to rule Sarawak. Brook gradually expanded his territory and declared independence from Brunei. The Sultan had to agree, because the state of Sarawak was recognized by the USA in 1850, and by Great Britain in 1864.
James Brooke ruled until 1868. The first White Raja exterminated pirates, allowed free trade (for which he was almost made rich by Chinese and Indian merchants), and created the code of laws of Sarawak. Before his death, he gave the throne to his nephew Charles (1829-1917).
The second White Rajah continued the work of his uncle: he cut off the lands of Brunei to Sarawak, taking advantage of the fact that the agreement with the Sultan did not clearly stipulate the borders of Sarawak. Charles Brook built a beautiful city Kuching achieved a British protectorate over Sarawak, finally breaking with Brunei. Under him, oil was found in Sarawak, Railway and a parliament was created.
The third and last white rajah in 1917 was Charles's son, Weiner Brook (1874-1963). He ruled Sarawak until the Japanese invasion during World War II, and then returned to England. In 1946, Great Britain bought the "rights" to Sarawak from the Brooke dynasty.
From 1946 to 1963 Sarawak was a colony of Great Britain, and in 1963 it was included in Malaysia as a state.
Sarawak thrives not only on oil revenues, but also thanks to its commercially advantageous location on the maritime trade routes from the Pacific to Indian Ocean, as well as from the countries of Southeast Asia - to Indonesia and Australia.

Headhunters

In our time, the Dayaks get along quite peacefully with all other peoples inhabiting Sarawak, preferring the trade in souvenirs to the old customs.
As such, there is no indigenous population in Sarawak: the same Dayaks who have lived here for centuries are descendants of people from continental Southeast Asia.
The population of the state settled mainly on the plains. In the mountains, life is almost impossible due to impenetrable forests. Only a few small native tribes leading a primitive way of life have survived here.
Sarawak is a multicultural state with no distinct ethnic majority. Perhaps that is why, no matter what religion different groups of Sarawaks profess, almost everyone believes in the divine character of the hornbill. In the mythology of Sarawak, there is a special pantheon of gods, the main one is Sengalang Burong, the earthly personification of which is the hornbill. And besides the worship of rice (the basis of the diet of every Sarawak), divination is widespread here by the flight of birds, and especially, of course, the hornbill.
Up to the middle of the 20th century. in Sarawak, headhunting and various human sacrifices remained quite common, without causing any indignation. It was considered good manners among the Dayaks to present a human head to a beloved girl, and it turned out to be very difficult to dissuade them from this.
The second White Raja almost destroyed this custom, but it was revived twice: during the Japanese occupation, when the British announced a reward for the head of a Japanese military man, and during civil war under President Sukarno. Today, this custom has practically disappeared.
The state's economy depends on mining and harvesting in the fields, and even on the turnover of the seaports of Kuching and Sibu.
The main wealth of Sarawak is oil, on which the prosperity of the state and even the emergence of new cities depend: the large city of Miri was founded in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe oil field a few months after its discovery in 1910. Large oil refineries operate in the cities. Also found in Sarawak large deposits gold and bauxite.
The rural population grows rubber, coffee, cocoa, coconut and oil palms, and almost all processed products are exported. Sarawak is world famous for its high-quality black and white pepper plantations. And the main crop for domestic consumption is rice. Pig farming is not able to feed the growing population, and the disadvantage is compensated by coastal fishing: the entire coastline of the South China Sea is an endless series of fishing villages.
Traditional crafts are also export-oriented. Here, entire areas are engaged in wood carving, bead weaving. The people of the Ibans, or sea dayaks, inhabiting, oddly enough, the most remote areas of the jungle far from the sea, are recognized masters of "pua kumbu" - special hand-made fabrics. The Pinan tribe has preserved the ancient technology of "ajat" - the manufacture of baskets and mats.
The city of Kuching, whose name literally means Cat City in Malay, became the capital of Sarawak in 1841, after James Brooke came to rule here, intent on crushing rebellions and riots. Today, Kuching is the main industrial and commercial center throughout East Malaysia. The ethnic "face" of today's Kuching is a complete copy of the whole of Sarawak: Malays, Dayaks, Chinese and a lot of Indian peoples coexist quite peacefully here.

general information

Location: northwest of the island of Kalimantan (Borneo).
Administrative status: a state in Malaysia, part of the East Malaysia region.
Administrative division: 11 districts.
Administrative center: Kuching - 325,132 people (2010).
Large cities: Miri - 358,020 people. (2010), Sibu - 162,676 people. (2010).
Formed: in 1963 Languages: Malay - official, English, Manglish (a mixture of English and Malay), South Chinese dialects, Tamil, Dayak languages.
Ethnic composition: Malays, Chinese, Hindus, Dayaks (Ibans), Melanau, Kayans, Kelabits, Bidayu, Punans.
Religions: Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Animism.
Currency unit: ringgit.
Rivers: Sarawak, Skrang Lemanak, Batang Ai, Rajang, Baram, Limbang.
Neighboring countries and territories: in the northeast - the Malay state of Sabah and the Sultanate of Brunei, in the south - Indonesia, in the west and north -.

Numbers

Area: 124,450 km2.
Population: 2,471,140 (2010).
Population density: 19.8 people / km 2.
highest point: Mount Murud (2423 m).

Climate and weather

Equatorial.
Average annual temperature: from +26 to +28°С.
Average annual rainfall: up to 4000 mm.
Relative humidity: 60-70%.

Economy

Minerals: oil, gold, bauxites.
Industry: oil production and oil refining, light (woodworking), food (oil milling).
Seaports: Kuching, Sibu.
hydroelectric power(HPP Bakun on the Rajang River).
Lumbering.
Agriculture: crop production (rice, rubber, coffee, cocoa, coconut and oil palm, black and white pepper), animal husbandry (pig breeding).
Coastal fishing.
traditional crafts: woodcarving, beadwork, handmade fabrics, baskets and mats, ceramics.
Service sector: tourism, transport (including river navigation), trade, financial.

Attractions

Natural

Niah Caves National Park, Gunung Mulu National Park and Mulu Caves, Gunung Mulu and Santubong Mountains, Sarawak Cave (Sarawak Chamber), Clear Water Cave, Deer Cave, Bruit Island (Rajang River Delta), Kuching National Wetland Park, National Bako park.

City of Kuching

Fort Margherita (1879), Astana (former Raja Palace, 1870), Sarawak Museum (1891), Cat Museum (1993), State Assembly Building (2009), Tua Pek Kong Taoist Temple, Central Bazaar, Chinese Museum, Islamic Museum, Textile Museum, cat statues, river embankment, Chinatown, Carpenters' Street, Indian Street.

Sibu City

Esplanade (bank of the Rajang River), Tua Pek Kong Buddhist and Taoist Temple (1870), Kutien, Khan Hua and Permai gardens and parks, El Quadim Old Mosque (1883), Military memorial Complex, Guanying Pagoda (1980s).

Curious facts

■ Every year, Kuching hosts the World Rainforest Music Festival, a unique cultural event that favors folk instrument players.
■ The origin of the name Cat City (Kuching) has not yet received a well-founded explanation. It is generally accepted that the roots of the name lie in the word "cochin" (translated from Hindi - "port") or in the name of the plant "cat's eye" ("mata kuching"). However, there are sculptures of cats all over the city and a very popular Museum of Cats.
■ Charles Brooke managed to subdue the Dayaks because, unlike the Sultan, he did not start a war in the jungle, doomed to failure, but by cunning captured the leaders of the Dayaks. He hanged some indicatively, and mercifully let the rest go. Then he began to set one tribe against another and waged a war of extermination by the hands of the Dayaks themselves. Gradually they accepted the authority of the White Rajah and began to abandon headhunting, human sacrifice and cannibalism.
■ The Sarawak Museum has a unique collection of historical documents and items. Traditionally, during the war, a military man became its director. During the First World War, it was an English officer. When did the second World War and Sarawak were occupied by the Japanese, a Japanese officer, a passionate lover of history, became the director of the museum. Thanks to his protection, the museum was almost not damaged and was not plundered, like others.
■ Fort Margarita was built in the era of the White Rajas in the traditional style of English castles. The fort was intended to protect against Malay pirates - cruel and merciless. In 1971, it was announced that the pirates were finished, and the fort became the Police Museum, and then transferred to the Sarawak government, which turned this fortification into a tourist attraction.
■ Sarawak is home to the largest HPP in Malaysia and throughout Southeast Asia, Bakun, 205 m high and 740 m long with a design capacity of 2,400 MW, built by the PRC.
■ Astana - the palace of the second White Raja Charles Brook (1829-1917), who built it and presented it as a wedding gift to his wife Margaret de Windt. Together with the castle, she received the title of Rani of Sarawak - the wife of the ruling rajah. She was a woman of penetrating intelligence and great spiritual strength. Fascinated by her virtues, the great Irish writer and poet Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) dedicated to her the tale "The Young King" ("Dedicated to Margaret, Lady Brooke, Rani Sarawak").
■ The Sarawak Cat Museum exhibits 4,000 exhibits related to this animal. And even the entrance to the museum is decorated in the form of a wide-open and toothy cat's mouth.
■ In the Niah National Park there is a cave of the same name, in which the remains of the ancient man found in these places, 37-42 thousand years old. Paleoanthropologists describe him as a pygmeoid with a height of about 1.37 m, in the structure of the skull close to the Negritos type.

The state of Sarawak, in northwestern Borneo, is the land of hornbills, intricate rivers, and peppers. It attracts visitors with the richness of its jungle and a colorful picture of the way of life of the local peoples.

Sarawak borders Indonesia to the south and Brunei and Sabah to the north. It is the largest state in Malaysia, covering 124,450 sq. km, consisting of nine districts, with the capital in Kuching (Kuching).

The jungle covers two-thirds of Sarawak, and its 1.7 million people belong to 23 ethnic groups. The state is famous for its treasures folk culture and nature. The symbol of Sarawak is the protected hornbill.

ECONOMY
The largest share of the state budget comes from its oil-bearing coast. The prosperity of Sarawak is highly dependent on natural resources - the same oil and liquefied gas. Gas is exported mainly to Japan.

Other sources of income are the production of the famous white and black pepper, rubber, sago, copra, bird's nests and timber. Malaysia produces approximately 27,550 US tons of pepper annually, and 90% of this mass comes from Sarawak.

PEOPLES OF THE STATE
One third of the population consists of Ibans and Chinese, the third largest ethnic group are Malays, followed by Bidayu, Melanau and Orang Ulu. The Ibans live mainly by fishing, hunting and farming. Malays are mostly peasants and fishermen who settled in coastal areas. Melanau, who are considered to be the original population of this region, are also engaged in fishing. Most of the native Sarawakians inhabit the shores big rivers. They live in longhouses that fit almost the entire village under one roof. They are distinguished by sincere hospitality, and many travelers have the opportunity to spend the night in a long house.

STORY
Archaeological finds on the Santubong Peninsula prove that Chinese merchants arrived here during the Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties between 618 and 1368 AD. Much less is known about the subsequent period, except that at some point Sarawak came under the control of the Sultan of Brunei. Sarawak did not arouse much interest until the rise of Singapore, which meant the emergence of a new regional market. In the 1820s, some Singaporean nobles moved to Sarawak, hoping to sell local gold and jungle gifts to merchants.

Their policies soon aroused opposition. In addition, clashes began between the coastal Malays and the Dayaks of the land (Bidaya) who inhabited the hinterland. And then the English adventurer James Brooke appeared on the arena, who had previously served briefly in the army of the East India Company.

Once Brook sailed on his yacht to Singapore, and he was asked to deliver a message to the Brunei Viceroy in Kuching. There, the heir to the Brunei throne, Prince Hassim, begged him to help put down the rebellion. Brook managed to persuade all parties to agree to a truce, for which the Sultan of Brunei granted him the title of governor and ruler (raja) of Sarawak. Under these unusual circumstances, Sarawak fell under the rule of the Brooke dynasty.

James Brooke ruled fairly, and it paid off well. He was succeeded by his nephew Charles, and it was during this period that oil was discovered in Sarawak, hevea began to grow, and several elegant buildings were erected in Kuching. After the death of C. Brooke in 1917, his eldest son Charles Weiner ascended the throne, but in 1945 the state's lands were transferred to the British crown. Since 1963, Sarawak has been part of the Federation of Malaysia.

ATTRACTION
Kuching
The state capital stands on the banks of the Sarawak River about 32 km from the sea. The city boasts several landscaped parks and gardens, graceful colonial buildings, colorful markets and a bustling waterfront. The main mosque of the state is located in the city, christian churches and Chinese temples. The local museum is one of the best in Asia.

Embankment of Kuching
The embankment stretches along the street. Jalan Gambier. Along the street lined up in rows of tents with food, fruits and vegetables. There is also a small retail center with clothing stores and handicrafts.

Palace Astana
This is a charming palace consisting of three bungalows with verandas. It was built in 1870 by Raja Charles Brook as a gift of love to his wife, Rani (Queen) Margaret. The palace stands on undulating meadows north coast R. Sarawak and is clearly visible from the Pangkalan Batu pier on the opposite side. This advantageously located building now houses the official residence of the Governor of Sarawak, where all the most important state events are held.

Fort Margherita
Near Astana is Fort Margerita built in 1879. It is also dedicated to the wife of Raja Charles Brooke, Rani Margaret. The fort occupies a strategic position above the Sarawak River and was intended to protect the city, primarily from attacks from the sea. After the restoration, the Police Museum was located in the fort.

Courthouse
This is also the legacy of Brook's empire. Entrance doors, window bars and the vaulting of the building's imposing façade are decorated with intricate traditional ornaments. different peoples Sarawak. Construction was completed in 1874, and during the reign of the White Rajas, the state government was located here. In 1883, a clock was installed on the building, and in 1924. - Memorial plaque in memory of Raja Charles. The building is currently occupied by the Supreme Court of East Malaysia.

Main post office
Kuching's main post office was built during the reign of Raja Charles Weiner Brooke. Its Greek-style portico is supported by Corinthian columns. The facade of the building is unique for this region. The first major highway of Sarawak originates from the post office.

City Tower Square Tower
True to its proud name, the Tower of Kuching, like its prototype of London, was originally erected as a place of detention, with a dungeon in its lower part. The tower itself was added later. True, in the Brooke era, the tower no less successfully combined the functions of a fortress and a ballroom.

Pavilion
This building directly opposite the General Post Office is the oldest in Kuching.

Sarawak Museum
The building of the museum, whose appearance was inspired by the ideas of Norman architecture, is considered one of the most beautiful in Asia. The fine collection includes ethnographic and archaeological artefacts, as well as permanent displays of the state's craftsmen. Many of the items on display here were part of the collection of the naturalist A.R. Wallace, who together with Charles Darwin created the theory of evolution. Wallace lived long in Borneo and was a good friend of the Brook royal family. Chinese porcelain is exhibited in the wings of the museum, and collections are placed that tell about the way of life of local tribes. A model of the Niah Caves is also on display, where traces of human activity, whose age reaches 40,000 years.

Entrance to the museum is free, the exposition is open on working days, with the exception of Fridays, from 9.30 to 17.30. Sundays and public holidays The museum is open from 9.30 to 18.00.

Main mosque of the state
The construction of the mosque was completed in 1968. It is located on the site of the old wooden Masjid Besar, the “Great Mosque”, built in 1852. With the growth of the Muslim population, the need for a larger mosque became more and more obvious. This is a magnificent building with golden domes.

Tua Pek Kong Temple
The oldest temple in the city of Tua Pek Kong is especially famous for the feast of commemoration of the souls of the dead, Wang Kang, celebrated here. The temple was built in 1843, but its existence was officially recognized only in 1876, after repairs and reconstruction.

Kuek Seng Ong Temple
The temple, built in 1895, is named after the deity to whom it is dedicated. Chinese henhua fishermen pray here, asking for a rich catch and a safe return to shore. According to legend, Kuek Seng Ong was a fisherman in Fujian province a thousand years ago and then became a deity, and never leaves prayers addressed to him unanswered.

OUTSIDE KUCCHING
Safari on the Skrang River
For the full experience of Sarawak, a visit to the traditional longhouse is a must. For this, safaris are held, the initial stage of which is a four-hour road trip to the banks of the Skrang River. Further, the path lies downstream of this shallow river, in some places through the rapids, to the rows of long “communal” dwellings of the Iban people, lined with iron wood. The house is divided into adjoining compartments-rooms, opening onto a long common hall for spending time together carving wood and weaving baskets. Guests are often invited to attend nightly ceremonies and taste strong homemade tuak rice wine. The Ibans are very friendly people. There are comfortable hotels to accommodate visitors.

The fishing village of Santubong
This picturesque village is 32 km from Kuching and can be reached by express boat. These places can boast of good beaches and valuable archaeological finds made here. Ancient Hindu and Buddhist rock carvings have been discovered in the Santubong Delta. During the reign of the Chinese Tang and Song dynasties from the 9th to the 13th centuries. Santubong played an important role shopping center. Visitors can stay in government chalets, but it is recommended to book in advance by contacting the District Office in Kuching.

folk culture village
This "living museum" is located near the village of Santubong, at the foot of the famous mountain of the same name, in the natural jungle. The village is made up of longhouses belonging to the various ethnic groups that inhabit the state. Folk arts and crafts are exhibited here, dances and music of the Iban, Kayan, Kenya and Bidayu are performed.

Wildlife Restoration Center in Semengokh
The reserve, where wounded or captive orangutans undergo rehabilitation, is located 32 km south of Kuching. Representatives of other species, orphaned or illegally captured monkeys, honey badgers and hornbills are also undergoing a recovery cycle here. When visiting the center, it is most interesting to catch the time of feeding the animals from 8.30 to 9.00 and from 15.00 to 15.15. The reserve is open daily from 8.00 to 12.45 and from 14.00 to 16.15.

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS

antiques
Kuching is an excellent place to shop for tribal handicrafts, with the widest selection available at Main Bazaar, Lorong Wayang and Jalan Temple Streets. The prices are quite high, but bargaining is quite acceptable. At Jalan Satok, during the Sunday fair, antiques can also be found next to groceries. Give the fair a few hours.

Sunday Market at Jalan Satok

Here you can see rare herbs, fruits, plants and animals. Villager trade in jungle bounty or livestock. You may find boar or turtle meat side by side with rare medicinal plants and fruits. Delivery of goods takes place in the afternoon on Saturdays, and auctions begin at 5 am on Sundays.

pepper plantations
Sarawak is the largest exporter of pepper in the country, and plantations of this crop stretch along the Kuching - Serian highway. Sarawak pepper is famous for its taste and quality.

ECOTOURISM AND ACTIVITY TOURS

There are more than 550 species of birds in Sarawak alone, and reptiles, insects and large mammals are simply innumerable: barking deer, wild pigs, honey badgers, gibbons, crocodiles and orangutans. The state's waters are home to four species of sea turtles, and one of the state's hatcheries is located on Thalang Thalang Island near Kuching. The hornbill is protected here and is the official emblem of Sarawak. Most of the representatives of the local wildlife can be seen in the reserves and nine national parks located in the state.

River expeditions
In many parts of Sarawak, rivers serve as the only transportation arteries. Traveling under the trees hanging from the banks past the long houses of the locals leaves an indelible impression. Safaris along the river are especially popular. Skrang, Lemanak, Batang Ai and Rejang. It usually takes a long time to get to long houses. The highlight of such a visit is usually the performance of folk dances and music, when guests can pay tribute to the strong local wine tuak.

Rejang River

The route to the headwaters of this longest river in Sarawak and throughout Malaysia usually starts at Sibu or Kapit and leads through the villages of Kanowit and Song. These lands are inhabited mainly by the Ibans. An hour's boat ride from Kapit, the famous Pelagus rapids seethe. Behind them begin the areas where the orang ulu settled. The tour can end in Belaga, where the Penan forest nomads often come with their goods, or continue on, penetrating deeper into the territory of the Kayan and Kenya peoples.

Belaga can also be reached from Bintulu in a four-hour journey along the Batang Kemena River through Sebau, Pandan, Labang and Tubau. Then it is necessary to overcome 65 km along a paved log road to the banks of Rejang, and then along the river to Belagar (Belagar).

Cave exploration

Gunung Mulu caves are open to visitors, where routes of varying degrees of difficulty are laid. Beginners without any equipment can explore the caves of the Drunken Forest, Deer, clean waters, Lagang and Tower. More difficult to pass and require special equipment are the Stone Horse systems - Fern Rock, Cobra Cave, Spider Web, Black Rocks, Simon, Green, Wind, Serpent Path, Benarat Hollows and the world's largest Sarawak Hall. Many travel agencies in Miri and Limbang offer visits to these caves.

Movement within the state
Sarawak is known for its intricate river system, and there are indeed many rivers. In the main cities of the state of Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Marudi, Limbang, Kapit and Belaga, you can use the services of speedboats. On land, in cities and some rural areas, regular services are provided by bus companies. The main cities also have a taxi service operating within the city limits and performing long-distance flights. Along with express buses, river boats and boats are an important means of transport in Sarawak.

ACCOMMODATION
Finding shelter in the main cities of the state is not a problem. More than 50 hotels await you in this tropical paradise, ranging from low-key Chinese establishments to five-star hotels. The price range can be from 30 to 500 RM.

LOCAL KITCHEN
In Sarawak, cuisines of all local ethnic groups and abroad are represented: Western, Malay, Chinese (including Baba Nyonya), Indian, Japanese, Indonesian and Filipino.

PURCHASES
Sarawak has several modern shopping malls. In Kuching, this is Wisma Saberkas on the street. Jalan Green, Sarawak Plaza and Tun Jugah Complex on Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Wisma Hopoh on Jalan P. Ramlee ), Wisma Phoenix on Jalan Song Thian Cheok and Kuching Plaza on Jalan McDougall. It sells almost everything that a buyer might need.

Products of folk craftsmen and antiques
Sarawak boasts many handicrafts. Local woodcarving, beadwork, weaving, ceramics, bamboo and rattan baskets are distinguished by exquisite design, fine workmanship and vibrant colors.

Kuching is excellent for hunting for tribal artifacts and jewelry in the shops on the street. Main Bazaar, Lorong Wayang and Jalan Temple. The exotic neighborhood of antiques and gifts of the jungle will appear before your eyes during the Sunday fair on the street. Jalan Satok.

HOW TO GET TO SARAWAK

Malaysia Airlines fly to Kuching and Miri from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu. Royal Brunei Airlines flights land in Kuching three times a week. Merpati Airlines flies through Pontianak in Indonesia. The state's two international airports are located in Kuching and Miri. Domestic airports and runways are available at Sibu, Bintulu, Kapit, Belaga, Marudi and Limbang.

Malaysia's largest state, Sarawak, is full of surprises. His story alone is already un and kalna, and one can only talk about those gifts that nature has generously awarded him with admiration. From the quiet capital city of Kuching to national parks with giant caves, Sarawak as a whole is the bestits a place to relax with the whole family. It is here that both the child and the adult wake up every morning with a sense of awe and anticipation of what the new day is preparing for him.

Kuching
Kuching is the capital of Sarawak, built along the banks of the Sarawak River of the same name. Colonial-style buildings, a charming waterfront stretching along Jalan Gambier Street, temples, parks, markets, supermarkets, antique shops - there is something to do and see in Kuching.

One of the main attractions of the city is the palace of the white Raja Charles Brook, built in 1870. A British subject who ruled Sarawak many years ago erected such a gift in honor of his beloved wife. The palace, Astana, is located on the opposite bank of the Sarawak River from the city, and at night, when all its illumination lights up, the lights from these white walls fall into the water, illuminating everything around. Today, the palace is the official residence of the governor of the state, and it is here that all official events take place. Next to the palace is the parliament building.

Another building that Brook gave to his beloved is Fort Margarita. It was built in 1879 to protect the city from pirates and to this day bears the name of the wife of the white ruler. In 1945, after the surrender of Japan, the son of Charles Brook, who took over, became convinced that power in Sarawak should be transferred to the British crown, for which he received a rich reward. Today, the fort houses a police museum.

The courthouse in the city center is another monument of architecture that tells the story of Brooke's reign to its attentive guests. Since the middle of the nineteenth century, the government has been sitting here, and today - Supreme Court East Malaysia.

Of the many temples in Kuching, it is worth visiting the Sarawak State Mosque, for the construction of which about a million dollars were allocated from the treasury. With its golden domes, it undoubtedly adorns the city. And, of course, the temple of Kuek Seng Ong, built in honor of the great deity, who gives blessings to everyone who turns to him. His special patronage was found by fishermen who come to the temple to pray for a good catch.

Ethnographic village of Sarawak
This is no longer a museum, but real life in its most original form. The village tells about all the ethnic groups living in the territory of Sarawak. Here you can climb inside the traditional "long houses" - these are long houses, standing on high wooden piles, in which the natives of the Borneo tribes live in huge families for several generations.

In one of these houses you will see craftsmen covering bamboo sticks with intricate designs, in another - the dance of tribal warriors to drums and gongs, in the third, shamans will reveal the secrets of their communication with the spirits of the local jungle.

Sarawak Museum
Oh no, now those who hate museums will sob. But to visit this old museum, the building of which was built back in 1891, will be of interest to everyone who is not indifferent to the unique culture of Borneo. But even here it was not without Brook: most the museum collection was collected by his close friend Alfred Wallas. A naturalist, a follower of Darwin's theory, he was able to capture the history of Sarawak by collecting many of its artifacts.

The museum contains not only handicrafts of local tribes, their musical instruments, reduced models of traditional houses, life-size boats, but also more ancient archaeological finds, as well as stuffed animals that live in the jungles of Borneo.

Santubong village
This fishing village lies on the banks of the Santubong River of the same name, thirty-two kilometers from Kuching, and it is notable for the fact that during excavations evidence of a Buddhist page in the history of the state was found here. Buddhism was brought here by the Chinese, who in the ninth century AD made these places a strategically important trading point.

But Santubong is remarkable not only for its living history, but also for the fact that it is located on the sea coast, at the edge of the sea on the coast with a wonderful beach. Reserve a cozy chalet and stay here for a couple of sunny days.

Rehabilitation center for orangutans
A rehabilitation center for orangutans, who are being helped back into the wild after being abandoned by their parents or severely injured in the jungle, is located thirty kilometers from Kuching in the Semenggoh Reserve (Semenggoh).

The best time to visit the center is during the feeding hours of the orangutans, who come to a special area reserved for this from the jungle. This is not a zoo, animals are not kept in captivity, on the contrary, it is here that orangutans can be observed in their natural environment habitat.

caves
The crown of sights of both Sarawak and, perhaps, the entire island of Borneo as a whole is its giant caves. In the territory national park Niah is three kilometers from a town with the sameThe name contains unique natural monuments, in which traces of the most ancient human settlements in Southeast Asia were found. And Mulu National Park contains the largest cave in the world called Deer Cave, Deer Cave. Its dimensions are so huge that forty Boeings could fit inside without any problems, and the legendary Motherland could fit in its entire height.

True, quite recently, in January 2011, an even deeper cave was unexpectedly found on the territory of the state of Vietnam, more than four and a half kilometers deep, but even despite the new nature record, the Deer Cave does not cease to amaze the imagination with its titanic scale.