A Very Long House..
Today I'm tagging along with someone else's mission - a moonshine run by Frankie. Yes, it's that time when the stocks of rice wine have diminished warranting a visit to the local Longhouse community where local, authentically made booze does brisk business. No additives, preservatives or any other nasty chemicals here, just pure sweet tasting alcohol.
We are at the Bidayuh community, one of a dozen or so tribes and clan communities still in existence around Kuching and Sarawak. Although it is mentioned in some tourist guides this place is not easy to reach via public transport and so not really on the tourist trail. Despite this I still have to pay 8 Ringitt for the privilege of taking a look around as Frankie gets acquainted with the folk she a visually knows so well! Oh, and I get a shot of rice wine, very nice actually, sweet, alcoholic. Not being a particularly boozy person, one is enough thank you!
A simplistic settlement situated in the foothills bordering Indonesia. A wide mountain river runs beside with a suspension bridge across the ravine - a bridge of the kind I haven't seen before. Just 2 bamboo poles for the walk way, one slip and serious damage could occur between the legs! I make it halfway before deciding this is a little too dodgy for comfort and gingerly creep back. Then it's over walkways between simple wooden structures and onto bamboo decking. Primitive lifestyles here, that of course also means primitive waste disposal too as there seems to be plenty of garbage around. The odd whiff of sewerage passes on the breeze as the mamas attend to their domestic chores - washing in buckets, washing down the kids with a hose, putting out the rice to dry on Bamboo woven mats and preparing vegetables for lunch.
The longhouse, the village centre and originally the first structure, divided into, well, as many rooms as would possibly be comfortable. About 8 in this particular longhouse and development grows out from here. Bamboo and timber being the primary building materials, but the odd concrete structure pops up, an indication of modernisation perhaps.
Time to head back as Frankie has procured her supply of rice wine. An interesting morning looking around this Longhouse community, an actual working village with real people living their simplistic lives away from the pressures of modern day. There are of course modern elements - some have a car, the government supply electricity free and wifi is provided, also free. They just need to get a grip of the waste disposal and this would be a pleasant place for any Western tourist to stay over a few nights.
Today I'm tagging along with someone else's mission - a moonshine run by Frankie. Yes, it's that time when the stocks of rice wine have diminished warranting a visit to the local Longhouse community where local, authentically made booze does brisk business. No additives, preservatives or any other nasty chemicals here, just pure sweet tasting alcohol.
We are at the Bidayuh community, one of a dozen or so tribes and clan communities still in existence around Kuching and Sarawak. Although it is mentioned in some tourist guides this place is not easy to reach via public transport and so not really on the tourist trail. Despite this I still have to pay 8 Ringitt for the privilege of taking a look around as Frankie gets acquainted with the folk she a visually knows so well! Oh, and I get a shot of rice wine, very nice actually, sweet, alcoholic. Not being a particularly boozy person, one is enough thank you!
A simplistic settlement situated in the foothills bordering Indonesia. A wide mountain river runs beside with a suspension bridge across the ravine - a bridge of the kind I haven't seen before. Just 2 bamboo poles for the walk way, one slip and serious damage could occur between the legs! I make it halfway before deciding this is a little too dodgy for comfort and gingerly creep back. Then it's over walkways between simple wooden structures and onto bamboo decking. Primitive lifestyles here, that of course also means primitive waste disposal too as there seems to be plenty of garbage around. The odd whiff of sewerage passes on the breeze as the mamas attend to their domestic chores - washing in buckets, washing down the kids with a hose, putting out the rice to dry on Bamboo woven mats and preparing vegetables for lunch.
The longhouse, the village centre and originally the first structure, divided into, well, as many rooms as would possibly be comfortable. About 8 in this particular longhouse and development grows out from here. Bamboo and timber being the primary building materials, but the odd concrete structure pops up, an indication of modernisation perhaps.
Time to head back as Frankie has procured her supply of rice wine. An interesting morning looking around this Longhouse community, an actual working village with real people living their simplistic lives away from the pressures of modern day. There are of course modern elements - some have a car, the government supply electricity free and wifi is provided, also free. They just need to get a grip of the waste disposal and this would be a pleasant place for any Western tourist to stay over a few nights.
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