Friday 6 June Kuching

Santubong 2014

We have arrived in Borneo. Jackster is one of ten boats anchored in the river at Santubong. This is a good anchorage; plenty of space, protected from swell, use of a private jetty to tie the dinghies, very little boat traffic to rock us and a warm welcome from the village.

Today's agenda was a required visit to the Harbour Master, Customs and Immigration to clear in and out, quick lunch in Kuching, a visit to an Orang Utan rehabilitation centre and dinner at a cultural village.

he's called (Lionel) Richie

watch me Mum!

Naturally the orang utans are a highlight and this afternoon we saw half of the 27 resident apes in the reserve. These animals have either been returned or rescued from being pets or were born of the rescued animals. Baby orang utans make popular pets for people who can afford up to $30k to buy one. But babies grow into strong adults (a male is eight times stronger than a man, a female four times) which make them no longer suitable pets. At the centre they have a protected environment with high tea of bananas and coconuts served each afternoon.

Us white faced, slightly less hairy orangs were handsomely fed and entertained in the evening at the Damai Cultural Village near Santubong. This is a model village with examples of the different types of traditional long houses found in Sarawak. The original peoples are dayaks who are the same we met in the Indonesian side of Borneo, or Kalimantan as it is known there. A dance group of sixteen accompanied by gamelan (gongs) and drums demonstrated local dances and were kind, or brave, enough to ask the guests to join in. I thought I knew many of the dances as we did variations on Hoke Koke, line dancing and the Makareina. There was even a version of the chicken dance. Who would have thought these originated in Borneo? Or not.

not Michael Flatley

hoke koke

We sat at on cushions at low tables for our traditional rice wine and dinner – fish, beef, chicken, pumpkin, rice and plates of fresh melon. The joy, enthusiasm and genuine warmth of our hosts made this a most memorable evening.