Annah Rais Longhouse: A Testament of Borneo’s Rich Culture and History

The Southeast Asian country of Malaysia isn’t called one of the best tourist destinations in the world for nothing. It has perfectly blended the East and Western influences. Among the Petronas Towers are the temples and museums that speak a lot about the country’s very long history. Meanwhile, across the mailand is the island of Borneo, with cities that have learned to catch up with the more cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur, the country’s capital. Nevertheless, attractions such as Annah Rais longhouse remind you that not all have been lost to modernism.

There are many longhouses in Sarawak, a number of which are already remote, but Annah Rais Longhouse is around 50 to 60 kilometers from the bustling city of Kuching (also known as the Cat’s City). Like a lot of its Asian neighbours, the climate can only be classified into two: wet and dry. Nevertheless, every day is a good time to drop by and begin your adventure.

The Bidayuh people have found their home in Annah Rais Longhouse for so many years. The tribe, which constitutes almost 9 percent of the entire population of Sarawak, has an extremely long and rich history, which covers almost a millennium (though only a small portion of it has been preserved in writing). They are sometimes called the Land Dayak, especially by the European explorers, because they lived in the deepest portions of mountains primarily composed of limestone, near West Sarawak. But because of lush vegetation and constant source of water, they are able to keep their main source of livelihood, which is to plant and harvest cocoa, rubber, and pepper.

Currently, the Annah Rais Longhouse has more or less 80 families living there—yes, they literally live under one roof, which has been their tradition ever since. The different families, nevertheless, still have to manage their own quarters, as the longhouse is made up of differnet rooms. Visitors, meanwhile, especially those who are planning to spend a night or two, are billeted in any of the smaller rooms found in the divided quarters of the longhouse.

As expected, the guest rooms are nowhere near the accomodation provided by inns and even hostels in the main city. At the very least, you’ll only have the most essential items, such as a mattress, pillow, and a blanket. When the weather is somewhat colder, you can get away with turning on the electric fan. Needless to say, the main reason for being in Annah Rais Longhouse is to explore the culture, so sleeping only becomes secondary or even none of your immediate priorities.

The Annah Rais Longhouse and its surrounding villages and attractions are not meant for men and women who are looking for comfort and luxury. They are intended for those who are born to be wild, to people who have adventurous souls. Possessing such personalities, after all, allow you to venture and enjoy the lush vegetation in the deeper parts of the rainforests. You can also find great pleasure bathing in the river, or perhaps catching a live fish, which can serve as your lunch for the day. Some of the Bidayuh can teach you a thing or two about blow gun, so you can test your skills with the gigantic foliage that populate the area. And before you head to back to the longhouse for rest, you can create your own adventure in the running falls.

In the Annah Rais Longhouse, meanwhile, you can dine the way the natives do. Though some of their dishes can be found in a number of Malaysian restaurants, a lot of them are purely their own creation—and they are delectably good. And if you wish to do more than just eat, you can watch and help the natives prepare their chicken and rice in bamboo, as well as ferment the wine, which you can toas later with them.

Staying and immersing yourself in the Annah Rais Longhouse is truly a memorable and captivating experience. And to make sure it suits the kind of experience you’re looking for, you can choose among the various immersion or homestay programs available. You can decide how many days you’re planning to stay, as well as the kinds of activities you want to pursue (an there are plenty of them). The gracious Bidayuh can even serve as your tour guide. Most of all, you can even tag along the rest of your family, especially your kids who need to learn more of the world ouside their textbooks and classrooms.

In Annah Rais Longhouse, there are no Internet connection at the present, even your cellular phone may or may not work properly at times, and you are just like in the world away from the world. It’s just going to be you, the tribe, the people, and the history they try to preserve for so many years. Nevertheless, you won’t miss any of the simple luxuries you used to enjoy. In fact, just like the rest of those who have been here, you’ll go home rejuvenated, happy, and more appreciative of the diversity of the world you live in.

You can visit Annah Rais Longhouse Adventure's wesbite at http://www.longhouseadventure.com to find out more about their adventurous homestay packages