Described as Southeast Asia's finest living museum it offers the culture, arts and crafts of the State's many ethnic groups in one location. The Cultural Village has won a string of international awards and high praise from travel writers. No wonder, within its seven-hectare site, and just five-minutes walk from the beach hotels, are replicas of traditional longhouses, roundhouses and huts built around a lake.
Each house is inhabited by staff from the appropriate ethnic group, dressed in traditional costume. They live traditional lifestyles and keep alive the arts and crafts of their own tribe. In each house a storyteller explains the tribal traditions to visitors and invites them to take part in the activities.
Nowhere else can you perform an Iban war dance, shoot darts from a blowpipe, drink tuak, the potent rice wine, team Bidayuh bamboo carving, watch Penans making traps, hear Orang Ulu legends or a performance on the sape all in one day.There are daily performances of native dances and music and special events can be organized for groups.
The Sarawak Cultural Village is sandwiched between Holiday Inn Damai Lagoon and Holiday Inn Damai Beach Resort. Walking from these two resorts is possible. From Kuching, the journey takes about 45 minutes through the spectacular peninsula of Santubong at which Damai seaside resorts are located. Taxi hire from downtown Kuching is possible but it can cost you a lot. Then there is a question of getting a taxi back to Kuching after you have finished visiting all the attractions the village. There will be an exorbitant surcharge should you require the taxi driver to wait for your return trip. |
