Safari on a raft

PADAWAN Bamboo Raft Safari — now, that may sound like Anakin Skywalker taking up a new hobby. But it is a bamboo rafting competition organised by the Padawan Municipal Council at Sungai Sarawak Kiri in Kuching.

It is one of the biggest events in the Padawan region and I am about to undertake the gruelling 3½-hour challenge.

There are over 100 teams — all are up early and stretched out by the river of Kampung Padawan. Everybody looks eager and ready to tackle the river.

Rafts are basically 4.6m long and 1.2m wide, made of tightly bounded bamboo, giving enough room for four team mates to take up arms and power it down the cool waters.

Options in paddling or pushing are given with either a small paddle or a long bamboo pole. I choose the pole, thinking that I have more advantage standing up and using my body weight to push the raft.

At 9am, the whistle to kick off the competition goes off. The excitement is rushing through the fluorescent life-jacket wearing rafters, most of whom smell of sun lotion and tuak (rice wine) from the night before.

At the sound of the whistle, my crew and I start our little expedition. We crash straight into some trees at the first corner!

“Hmmm ... not so bright future ahead,” I’m thinking.

I have to say it’s a lot harder than it sounds. It’s not just pushing this thing down a river.

You have to keep the raft balanced and navigate the rocks and little rapids in the water, all the while being distracted by the beautiful scenery.

Continue reading (Incl. Pics) at: Safari on a raft
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Visitors flock to Gawai Tourism Open House

THE recent inaugural Gawai Tourism Open House at Kampung Annas Rais in Padawan attracted more than a thousand visitors — both local or foreign.

The event was jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism and Heritage on September 3 and launched by Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk James Dawos Mamit.

A lot of activities were lined up for the day and both domestic and foreign tourists alike were impressed with the traditional and cultural programmes put up by the Bidayuh community.

The activities, held at the Kampung Annah Rais longhouses, started at 3pm and ended at about 2am the next day.

One of the highlights was a traditional Bidayuh dance performed by the womenfolk from Kampung Semban in Ulu Padawan.

The Gawai Tourism Open House was aimed at promoting the homestay programme in the village to help boost the local tourism industry. There are presently 13 homestays in Kampung Annah Rais, according to the organising chairman Edward Kurik.

He pointed out that the Gawai Tourism celebration was to promote the Bi-Anah culture which includes Anah Rayang, Semeru, Sadir, Simuti, Dunuk, Bisira, Sibakar and Tepoi.

“We showcase the local cultures that are related to the tourism sector such as cultural performances, playing of traditional musical instruments and traditional games,” Edward added.

A German tourist named Alexander said as a first-time visitor, he was impressed with all the cultural activities planned and would definitely tell his friends and relatives about them when he returned home.

“I’m impressed with the dances, music and musical instruments. The people are very friendly and my friends and I will bring home fond memoraies of their warmth and hospitality,” said the Frankfurt native who stayed at one of the homestays for a few days to enjoy the scenery and environment, including the Annah Rais Hot Springs.

Alexander’s views were shared by his friend, Gemma, from Barcelona, who said she never expected to have an experience “like no others” during her visit.

“Thanks to our tour guide who recommended this nice place and wonderful event, we really had fun watching the cultural performances.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Visitors flock to Gawai Tourism Open House

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Thrilling Padawan Raft Safari 2011 calling for entries

KUCHING: The annual Padawan Raft Safari 2011, which be held on Oct 30, will see the debut of Expert Rafting and Kayaking categories to woo more local and foreign participation.



Covering a total distance of 41km, from the riverbank of Kampung Annah Rais to the finishing point at Kampung Git, it would take mental toughness and physical endurance to win the ‘Raja Sungai Semadang’ title.



Organising chairperson Isabell Julau Mejat said nature lovers should not miss this safari if they yearned adventure.



“The added 15 km, combined with the famous Keyu and Giam rapids, will be a good test of one’s physical endurance.”



In a press conference held here yesterday, Isabell enthused that other challenging categories include the ‘26 km Rafting Men’s Open’, ‘15 km Rafting Women’s Open’, `Rafting Government Departments’ and ‘Rafting Hotel and Tour Agencies’.



She added that the organisers hoped to attract 500 participants, to better the 436 recorded last year. There were two foreign teams in 2010.



Cash prizes totalling RM21,800 await winners in all four rafting categories, while a total of RM2,700 would be offered to winners in the Kayaking category.



“Registration fee in the expert rafting category has been set at RM200 per team, while fees in other categories are RM140 per team. These fees are inclusive of personal accident insurance and raft disposal.



“As for the kayaking competition, the fee is RM60 per team, including insurance coverage.”



She pointed out that each team was required to register an extra member to act as reserve. Substitution can be made anytime at any part of the race.



Continue reading at: Thrilling Padawan Raft Safari 2011 calling for entries

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Sarawak State-level Gawai at Annah Rais Sept 3

KUCHING: State level ‘Gawai Celebration’ organised by Tourism Malaysia (Sarawak) and Ministry of Tourism and Heritage will be held at Kampung Annah Rais in Padawan on Sept 3.



The organising chairman Edward Kurik said the celebration was the second time ever aimed at promoting tradition and culture of the Bidayuhs in Padawan.



He said the festival more popularly known as ‘Gawai Tourism’ will also provide opportunity for tourists to see and understand first-hand the unique culture of the Bidayuhs and their traditional dances and games.



There are a lot of things that tourists can learn from this experience, he said yesterday.



Agencies involved in the event are Padawan Municipal Council and Village Security and Development Committee of Kampung Annah Rais.



He explained that there would also be a cultural exchange programme involving residents of Kampung Annah Rais when they received the visitors from Kampung Semban, during the celebration.



Those from Semban, a traditional village, will also display their own brand of unique culture which may be a bit different from those of Annah Rais, he said.

Continue reading at: Sarawak State-level Gawai at Annah Rais Sept 3

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Kuching to be promoted as geopark city

PADAWAN: Ministry of Tourism will apply to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) for the rebranding of Kuching as a geopark city.

The ministry’s deputy minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit when revealing this said upon approval, the city would be promoted as a geopark to attract more foreign tourists.

“Kuching is qualified to be recognised because there are many attractions such as the number of unique mountains available here.”

“Therefore, if it is approved, Kuching will be the second global geopark in the country after Langkawi,” he said.

Langkawi is the first in Malaysia and South East Asia recognised by Unesco in June 2007.

He said this to reporters after closing the Gawai Dayak celebration at Kampung Bra’ang Bayur, about 58 kilometres from here on Saturday night.

“Along Borneo Heights Road in Padawan here, there are many tourist spots that could be developed like mountains so that the local people can help to promote local tourism products.

“With this, they can also generate extra income if they wish to be involved part-time in the industry like bringing tourists for mountain climbing.

“I also encourage local people in my constituency to be involved in this industry which can give lucrative income as long as they are interested and committed to be successful,” Dawos, who is also Mambong MP, said.

Earlier, he officiated at the opening of a 500-metre road costing RM50,000 that leads to the village’s 18-door longhouse.

Continue reading at: Kuching to be promoted as geopark city
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48 teams already registered for Padawan Raft Safari

PADAWAN Raft Safari 2010, a bamboo rafting competition at Sungai Sarawak Kiri on Oct 31, promises a challenging time with contests in kayaking and three categories of raft races.

The raft races, divided into the Men’s Open, Women’s Open and Hotel and Tour Agencies, offers cash prizes totalling RM17,000.

The competition is now open for entries and the closing date is Oct 22 at 5pm.

The event organised by the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) is open to Malaysian and foreign participants aged above 18 years.

Organising committee secretary Kho Ai Mei said that more than 40 teams had already entered for the rafting events while eight had registered for kayaking.

“We expect more entries in the next few days as participants usually come in at the last minute,” she said.

She said that the registrations should be made on official entry forms available at the MPP office in Kota Padawan near Kuching.

The starting point will be the river bank at Kampung Danu in Penrissen and the finish point will be the river bank in Kampung Git.

The competition will be flagged off by Bengoh assemblyman Dr Jerip Susil in Kampung Danu at 9am while the closing ceremony will be held in Kampung Git at 3pm.

Kho said the race distance was approximately 26km.

Continue reading at: 48 teams already registered for Padawan Raft Safari
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