Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching, Sarawak, features an entire mix of tribes and this posting talks about the Bidayuh people and lifestyle, which is located in this Living Museum.
The Bidayuh people are the fourth largest tribe with over 8.4% of Sarawak’s population of about 180,000 people.
Bidayuh People of Sarawak Cultural Village
The name “Bidayuh” also means ‘inhabitants of the land’ where they are found mostly in Lundu, Bau, Padawan, Penrissen and Serian district in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia.
Bidayuh Bamboo Bridge
The Bidayuh Longhouse is the first home you visit when you enter the Sarawak Cultural Village. Next, a wooden walkway will lead you to all the tribe houses were stopping at the Bidayuh longhouse; you will learn about the culture and lifestyle of these ethnic people.
On Approaching the longhouse, you will have to cross an authentic Bidayuh bamboo bridge. Well, a choice is given as you can experience walking across this sturdy bamboo bridge or just walk around it.
The Bidayuh people are not known as fierce headhunters as they were more on the protective side among all the tribes.
Shielding their families from invading enemies back in the day, they would build a Baruk (Head House), similar to a lookout post just outside or in the centre of their longhouse community.
The Rumah Baruk is a circular head house about 3 to 5 meters above the ground and serves as their stronghold.
Bidayuh Baruk centre
The male Bidayuh warriors would sleep inside the Baruk at night to keep a watch for invading enemies.
It was built in such a way to keep the enemies out where once the enemies were sighted, the 5-foot tall drum would be sounded, families are then rushed inside the Baruk, and the shutters and doors of the tower would be closed.
It would be quite impossible for the enemies to get into the Baruk, giving the Bidayuh warriors an upper hand on attacking the enemies from above and protecting the families.
Bidayuh girls inside the Baruk
Inside the Baruk, skulls of the enemies are hung high above the main centre fireplace, where it is said that the shaman would perform rituals here.
The Baruk serves as one of the main places for their rituals, festivals and traditional dances, which can accommodate over 30 to 40 people at one time.
Multi-tiered Bidayuh longhouse veranda
The Bidayuh people are the best bamboo crafters among all the tribes where bamboo is the main tool, and almost everything is made from bamboo.
The multi-tiered Bidayuh Longhouse is usually built on slopes. However, the amazing talents by the Bidayuh are using bamboo to make an incredible water system conduit carrying water supply from a river nearby into the longhouse.
Gongs and erns inside the Bidayuh longhouse
Inside a traditional Bidayuh longhouse, you will see many traditional items like gongs, erns and ceramic jars.
Most of them were traded centuries ago when the Chinese traders came to the lands seeking items that could not be found in China.
There are also hand-weaved baskets, carved wooden masks and an assortment of ethnic Bidayuh weapons.
Bidayuh ladies grinding rice
The Bidayuh people are claimed to be the original Dayak people that have been in Borneo for centuries. They are even claimed to be the first people of the land.
Known as the Land Dayaks as the Iban people are known as Sea Dayaks, most Bidayuh people converted their religion into Christianity and Muslim from Animism.
Bidayuh man carving a bamboo
At the Bidayuh longhouse, you would be able to see a variety of skills being performed. One of them, a master craftsman, will show you the art of bamboo carving.
You can even buy some of the finished items as souvenirs, and the prices are relatively low, considering there are any for sale when you are there.
A Bidayuh lady weaving a mat
Moving around the Bidayuh longhouse, you will see several Bidayuh women demonstrating various skills—one of them being weaving.
They would weave from baskets, table mats to even large floor mats—some of these mats or
Tikar as they are locally known fetch high prices in the market.
Bidayuh mat weaving
Inside the Bidayuh longhouse, an elderly lady demonstrates intricate Bidayuh beadwork, which is a dying trade. Not many people are skilled in this exquisite, delicate skill—the bead headgears to pouches and even their traditional attires. Mostly used during major Bidayuh festivals or wedding ceremonies.
Bidayuh lady beading a hat
One can easily spend a good hour just watching the Bidayuh people with their skilled work and some of them even speak good English.
You are free to ask them questions, and better if you have a personal guide that speaks their language as they will interpret it much better to you.
Finally, the Bidayuh people are very friendly and hospitable towards everyone. They live simple lives, and modern-day Bidayuhs have moved on in society and to better pastures.
Visiting the Sarawak Cultural Village to witness the lifestyle of the Bidayuh people opens up your imagination to what used to be these peoples lives and can be very educational.
If you plan to stay at any of the hotels around Santubong, it is only a 5-10 minutes drive or even a walk here. For more information, you can visit the website of the
Sarawak Cultural Village.
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Bidayuh hat beading |
Entrance Fee to the Sarawak Cultural Village
- RM 60.00 (Adult)
- RM 30.00 (Child: 6-12 years old)
- Free for Children aged under 6.
- Tickets can be purchased at the entrance of Sarawak Cultural Village.
- You can also get it from the authorised local travel agents around Kuching town and Sarawak.
Sarawak Cultural Village Opening hours are:
0900 – 1715 daily
They are two Cultural Shows per day which are:
1130 – 1215
1600 – 1645
Sarawak Cultural Village Address;
Pantai Damai, Santubong,
P.O.Box 2632, 93752 Kuching,
Sarawak, Malaysia.
Telephone: (6082) 846 411
Fax: (6082) 846 988
Email: enquiry@scv.com.my
Conclusion
If you are planning to visit Kuching or Sarawak, make sure you take the time to visit this amazing ‘Living Museum’, which is only about 45
minutes from town.
The SCV is an award-winning attraction and has been around since 1989 and has served over a million visitors to date.
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