Dynamic Tourism » longhouses http://blog.dynamictourism.com Backpacking in Malaysia | Borneo Backpackers | Malaysia Travel Guide Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:05:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 Longhouse Tours http://blog.dynamictourism.com/longhouse-tours/ http://blog.dynamictourism.com/longhouse-tours/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:14:29 +0000 admin http://blog.dynamictourism.com/?p=32 A holiday in Sarawak is not complete without a visit to the longhouses that are the traditional dwellings of many of the natives here such as the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu. A longhouse is a terraced street of separate dwellings covered by one roof. A tuai rumah (headman) is the head of the longhouse. Every family has their own separate bilik (room). Communal activities are carried out on the ruai (verandah). Male visitors will spend a night on the verandah whereas female visitors are invited to stay in the bilik or room.

Longhouse communities normally wear practical clothes like jeans and T-shirts. They only wear their traditional costumes during festivals like Gawai Dayak or the Iban harvest festival and also during weddings. Tour groups are normally greeted with a glass of tuak or rice wine and a welcome dance. After that, they will tour the longhouses and will be entertained by various cultural performances. You are usually invited to join in the dancing. Visitors can spend a night at the longhouses or in a nearby guesthouse. – source: tourism malaysia.

Sarawak Longhouse

Sarawak Longhouse

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