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Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in Sarawak

Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in Sarawak

lachau-sarawak-town-iban-parangs Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in Sarawak

Lachau Town is a tiny town located along the main highway to Sibu, Bintulu, Miri and Sarikei in Sarawak, Malaysia Borneo.

One may ask what is so special about this town that you would miss it in the blink of your eye. But, I am serious, once I was looking the opposite side, and when I asked my driver where is the town, he said we passed it a few seconds ago.

Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post

Lachau or Pekan Lachau is well known for stopovers with tourist on route to visiting the original Iban longhouses near Lubuk Antu or Batang Ai (Where the Aiman Longhouse Resort is located).

It is also a favourite toilet stop for drivers and also visitors on this long journey. However, this place thrives with local activity like a day market with locals selling all sorts of produce and craft on the weekend.

lachau-sarawak-town-road-sign Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in SarawakSignpost on Highway 1 in Sarawak

Sarawak has only one main highway (Highway 1 or Pan Borneo Highway) connecting all the main towns from Kuching, so Lachau would be along the way after Serian and Sri Aman.

Most people would just drive past this town as there is nothing special here, but Lachau is an important stop for a toilet break for the traveller or tourist.

For long-distance drivers, it is a place to stretch their legs and has a drink while on the way to visit the Iban Longhouse or heading to Miri, Sibu or even across the border to Brunei.

lachau-sarawak-town Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in SarawakGeneral stores at Lachau.

The town is so small that there are only three rows of shops here. So I kid you not when I say, “blink your eye, and you would have missed it”.

The unique thing about this town that closes after 4pm is that many of the Iban people would bring their wares here and barter trade with the local shopkeepers.

And you thought barter was no longer in use? Well, you are wrong, as barter trading still goes on here in Lachau.

lachau-sarawak-town-gorcery-shop Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in Sarawak One of the Grocery cum Souvenir shops

The shops here are all run by the Sarawakian Chinese, and all you see are general grocery stores, about 10 of them, and about five coffee shops cum restaurants.

You get your general groceries here, and it is usually frequented by the local Iban people from around the area or from across the Kalimantan border.

lachau-sarawak-town-handicraft Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in SarawakAll kinds of groceries sold.

So, what is so special about this place called Lachau? First, it is a fact that the Iban people would bring handcrafted items to barter with the shopkeepers for general goods.

Items are usually handcrafted parangs (swords), warrior shields, statues, weaved baskets and even antique Iban items like Gongs, Jars and Jewellery.

lachau-sarawak-town-iban-weaved-baskets Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in SarawakIban weaved baskets

Occasionally, you would find some scarce Iban artefacts being sold here for a steal. But, trust me, this is one of my main shopping grounds whenever I visit Sarawak.

The prices here are way much lower than what you find at the craft shops at the Waterfront in Kuching city.

lachau-sarawak-iban-wood-carvings Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in SarawakIban wood carved statues.

I was also told by Berek and Selvam – My personal guides in Kuching, that native tribe, namely the Iban of Kalimantan, would cross over the border with wares and visit Lachau to barter trade.

In return, the shopkeepers would give them a place to stay before they make their way back to Kalimantan via foot.

Yes, these Kalimantan Iban would trek over 4 to 6 hours across the border by foot with a basket of wares.

Note that the Kalimantan border is just a two-hour trek from Lachau and is the nearest border point to Sarawak.

lachau-sarawak-iban-weapons-parang Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in SarawakIban parangs and knives

So, depending on the time you visit Lachau, you would get different designs and styles of items sold here at the general shops.

Excess items are also sold to dealers from the shops at the Waterfront in Kuching, and the price would be almost 30% to 50% higher there.

lachau-sarawak-iban-craft Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in SarawakAssortment of Iban craft

There are about 3 to 4 shops in Lachau that specialise in barter trading with the Iban people, so you get a good variety of goods here.

Among some of the other items available are miniature-sized statues of tribesmen and various animals. They come in small, medium and large carvings, and some of them very well finished.

lachau-sarawak-iban-carving-craft Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in SarawakIban warrior shields and daggers

One of my favourites is the Hornbill Bird carvings. Locally known as the Burung Kenyalang, these intricately carved birds also come in a few sizes.

I personally bought 3 of them for my collection. Well, I do have an eye on one of the extra-large antique Kenyalang carvings, which cost about RM1,200. So maybe on my next trip there, I would get more of these.

lachau-sarawak-town-teh-c-peng-special Lachau Town, an Iban Trading Post in SarawakTeh C Peng Special (Local Special Tea)

The town of Lachau has also been in the media back in 2005 due to a conflict of meaning where a member of Parliament brought this case up.

Mr Junaidi (An MP) suggested that the name of a small town in Sarawak – Lachau – be changed as it carried an inappropriate meaning.

MPs were tickled as they knew what he was referring to. “Lachau” sounds similar to the word for male genitalia in the Hokkien dialect.

Finally, stopping over at Lachau town before the Iban longhouse, I always make it a point to have my favourite Teh-C-Peng Special (Special Layered Tea with Brown Sugar) and a plate of Kolok Mee (Sarawakian Dry Noodles).

Map to Pekan Lachau in Sarawak



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How To Go To Lachau Town? 

The best way to get to Lachau would be to self-drive from
Kuching city and the drive is about one and a half hours. You can take a slow drive here and be back in Kuching for tea time.

Alternatively, you can take a Longhouse tour package as the tours will make a stop here. Other packages like going to the Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort would also make stops here.

No local buses or taxis come to this part of Sarawak; hence, the best option is one of the above.

Conclusion

For those interested in a Sarawak cultural experience, a trip to Lachau Town will be one of your best choices and make sure this is done on the weekend.

The realism of this place makes the experience very worthwhile, as this place is not one of the commercial tourist spots. Trust me, you will not regret visiting Lachau, given a chance to do so.

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comments user
Anonymous

That iced Teh C is something different. We have teh C here and I like to drink it hot. But never served with brown sugar. It's served with evaporated milk and sugar.

The Iban weaved baskets are nice souvenirs.

comments user
ColinJong

I went to Sri Aman from Kuching a few times and never stop there. The last time I stopped there was more than 10 years ago. :p I don't even know they sell handicrafts. Thanks for your info and I will stop next time I go to Sri Aman.

Ha.. The "highway" from Serian onward needs to be improved.

comments user
Nicholas Leong

Teh C Peng with brown sugar is now making its way into KL coffee shops. heh, I do not need to go so far to get a dose of it.

But now I know where to find cheaper handicrafts. To Lachau the next time I am there!

comments user
Malaysia Asia

Mei – The Teh C Peng Special is found throughout Sarawak and different places give you different types. There was one in Miri where I tried it with Green Pandan Sugar. Most amazing!

Colin – Yes, I agree, they need to continue the highway all the way. Smooth ride to Serian then back to old roads.

Nicholas – Strangely it does not taste good at all here. I mean after you have the best in Sarawak, the ones here are not quite there. I mean, it's like eating Penang Fried Kuey Teow in Kuching.

David

comments user
CathJ

Lachau…. OK… need to pronounce it few times, to make it 'right'… ;-p

comments user
louisebah

cool post david! on the way to which iban longhouse? would going to kapit be a good idea? are there longhouses there?
how can i get in touch with your local guides, berek and selvam? send me email ok? it's on my blog profile. thank you!

comments user
louisebah

oops i see it 🙂 lubok antu/batang ai

but why would one go there when there is already an iban longhouse, as you yourself pointed out in another blog entry, in SCV? if i'd been to the one in scv, wouldn't i see more of the same thing in batang ai/lubok antu? thanks, appreciate your feedback

comments user
Malaysia Asia

Cath – You're right as a Malaysian 🙂

Louise – Actually, SCV is for those who do not have time in Kuching. A quick visit would see most of the tribes in one place.

however, the one in Lemanak is actually a real living Iban longhouse. So you get to see the real thing. How they live and so on. Plus it would be an eye-opener to visit these longhouses.

Regards,
David

comments user
Anonymous

Hi there,

As our guide told us: if you pronounce Lachau as 'Lanchau', so with an 'n', then you're making the Chineese blush…

The more orignial souvenirs are to be bought in the Iban longhouse. If you can't find anything there, shopping in Lachau is a good 2nd option. And if you still can't succeed, go to the Borneo Trading Post in KK…

Greetings!

comments user
Anonymous

lachau mean small lizard(in iban language)…….tq

comments user
Anonymous

That's funny!

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