Travel Agent - September 1, 2008 - (Page 25)

throughout the year. Here travelers can see and sample Sarawak’s rich cultural diversity, which is made up of Iban, Melanau, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Penan, Malays and Chinese influences. This is also the site of Sarawak’s annual Rainforest World Music Festival, a three-day festival held every July on the grounds of the village. Musicians from around the world gather to perform diverse ethnic music in an outdoor setting. Agents can expect to see the festival heavily promoted in the future, since tourism players are convinced they can build on this already popular event. This is also the most difficult time to book rooms in Kuching, so book a year in advance. One of the premier experiences in Sarawak is visiting the Semenggoh Nature Reserve, home to 23 rescued and semi-wild orangutans. Today, the nature reserve is an important part of the effort to make sure the species survives. The reserve is about a 30-minute drive from Kuching. Like any viewing of semi-wild creatures, it’s not always possible to guarantee an orangutan sighting, although during my visit, I saw nine of the colony, including a mother with her four-day-old baby. There are two scheduled feeding times, 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is when the orangutans are most likely to be observed. A couple of things to keep in mind: There are no barriers between you and the orangutans, so keep a distance of 16 feet. Also, keep your flash on your camera turned off—these creatures were heavily hunted at one time and are conditioned to think of a camera flash as the flash of gunfire. A visit to an authentic longhouse is also not to be missed. Visitors can approach the Iban longhouse in one of two ways: You can drive for several hours from Kuching and then take a one-hour longboat ride, or drive to the longhouse directly over a gravel road. If possible, arrange for a longboat ride—it’s a more authentic and exciting method of arrival. Longhouse traditional architecture consists of wooden dwellings on stilts. The entire population of a community lives under one roof, although each family has its own private room connected to the communal chamber. There’s some basic etiquette to follow when visiting a longhouse. You always bring a gift— this doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it does have to correspond to the number of doors in a longhouse. I was visiting a 24-door longhouse containing 24 families, so I brought 24 packets of cookies and coffee to be distributed among them. These are presented to the chief after they’ve performed their dances. If you’re traveling on your own without a guide, you’ll find general stores along the road where you can buy 24-packet bundles of gifts. You also take your shoes off when entering a longhouse, and you always shake hands with your right hand. When they offer you a glass of tea or tuak (homemade rice wine), don’t reject it, although you don’t necessarily have to drink all of it. Always ask permission before you take someone’s picture. No one denied my request. During your visit, you’ll sit on the floor and share some food and then they’ll perform a warrior dance. At some point, the Iban will spread their crafts and souvenirs on mats on the floor; some items are well made, such as the handcrafted reed baskets, which are attractive and a good buy. A longhouse overnight stay costs approximately $100 per person. This includes breakfast and dinner, a cultural show, traditional games, a blowgun and cockfight demonstration (non-lethal, the birds aren’t harmed) and a morning nature walk. Where to Stay The Hilton Kuching (www.hilton.com) overlooks the Sarawak River, affording panoramic views of the river, the green lowland at the foot of the Gunung Serapi Mountain and historic Fort Magherita. The hotel has 315 guest rooms and suites. Guests can choose from several room categories, including Hilton Guest Rooms, Executive Rooms and Executive Rooms Plus. Every room provides river and city views. The hotel’s Executive Floors on the 11th, 12th and Penthouse Floors provide a hotel within a hotel, with private check-in. The Governor Suite on the Penthouse Floor is the highest level of luxury at the hotel. Features include a pool, tennis courts, fitness center, Wi-Fi in all public areas and nine meeting rooms for groups of two to 750 people. The hotel has several restaurants, including Toh Yuen, which sports red and gold decor and views of the waterfront esplanade through the large windows. A house specialty is buttered prawns. The 14-story Crowne Plaza Riverside Kuching (www.ichotelsgroup.com) is centrally located and commands a scenic view of the city and the Kuching Waterfront. The hotel has 241 guest rooms and 35 suites. Rooms with the best views are Superior Rooms numbered 1202, 1302, 1402, 1502, 1218, 1318, 1418 and 1518; and Deluxe Rooms numbered 1201, 1301, 1401, 1501, 1219, 1319, 1419 and 1519. The top accommodation in the hotel, as well as the suite offering the very best view, is the Pinnacle Suite. The executive level of the hotel has the Crowne Plaza Club, which offers guests personalized services. These are the most requested premium CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 A guest room at the Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort September 1, 2008 TravelAgent | 25 http://www.ichotelsgroup.com http://www.hilton.com

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Travel Agent - September 1, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor From the Publisher Europe: Apartment Rentals Offer a Different View of Paris Pacific/Asia: Authentic Sarawak Culture and Longhouse Experiences are Highlights of a Visit to Malaysian Borneo South Pacific: Fiji’s Denarau Island Offers Paradise within a Paradise Las Vegas: As Business Slows, Discounts and Deals are in the Cards at Many Vegas Properties Central & South America: São Paolo, Brazil, is Ideal for Business or Leisure Vacations Caribbean: The Caves in Negril, Jamaica, Offers Quiet Luxury Rosecita Jeffers Takes Over the St. Kitts Tourism Authority Cruises: Crystal Cruises is Making Plans and Changes for the Future Keeping Cruises Affordable with These 12 Tips for Clients Cover Story: Top Supplier Sales Reps Hotels: At Chicago’s Stylish Avenue Hotel, the Kids are all Right Bali is Reinventing Itself as a Family-Friendly Destination Tours: GOGO Worldwide Vacations Renews its Commitment to the Travel Agent Community Agent Profile: Ramesh Kalicharran Looked for His Roots and Helps Others Find Theirs Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Luxury Travel Expo The YTB Controversy Rages On The Latest News From the Caribbean Australia Promotes Australia New Flagship to Relaunch Orient Lines Classified Marketplace Agent Access In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Trendwatch

Travel Agent - September 1, 2008

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