|
|
Day
1 >>
Start your rafting adventure with a journey by road in the early
morning from your hotel in Kuching to the hydro lake at Lubok
Antu 155 miles away. On the journey there, you will pass small
roadside towns, farmhouses, Malay, Chinese and Bidayuh villages,
padi-fields, pepper orchards, rubber, coco and oil palm plantations.
Stopover at Serian to stretch your legs and for a short tour of
the town where you will view a quaint monument of that king of
fruits - the durian. The bazaars and the market-place will fascinate
you with its wide variety of exotic and strange tropical fruits
and vegetables. Continue with your journey until you reach Lachau
or a similar roadside town where you will break for lunch. The
terrain becomes more hilly and undulating as you go deeper into
the interior and farmlands soon give way to creeper-covered trees
of the secondary jungle and tall towering trees of the virgin
rainforest. The deep blue water of the hydro lake looms in front
of you as you arrive at the dam at Lubok Antu. This will be the
last modern structure of any significant size that you will see
for a few days. Board an Iban longboat to cross the lake and into
the Engkari River. Arrive at Ugat Longhouse, where 40 families
of the Batang Ai's Iban tribe live under one roof. Spend the evening
observing and experiencing the traditional and communal lifestyle
of the inhabitants who still spin cotton, weave the pua (traditional
cloth), hunt with blowpipes, dance to the music of the gongs and
drink tuak. Dinner is included and overnight at CPH's guesthouse
equipped with basic amenities.
Day 2 >>
Your breakfast will be provided at the guesthouse. Depart Ugat
longhouse for Lubok Pantau longhouse situated on the upper reaches
of the Engkari River. The river starts to narrow as you proceed
into hilly terrains. Overhanging branches reach high across the
river creating a scenic view. The water flows faster as the boat
climbs higher inland and this is when the boatman has to occasionally
"shoot the rapids". PM. Arrive at Lubok Pantau longhouse, consisting
of 13 doors or families and still largely untouched by modern
civilization.In this longhouse you can still see old human skulls
hanging from the rafters of the "ruai" (communal verandah). Activities
include swimming and in the evening participation in the social
and cultural activities of the inhabitants of the longhouse such
as dancing, drinking, etc. Dinner is included and overnight at
the longhouse.
Day 3 >>
Your breakfast will taken in the longhouse. Commencement of construction
of traditional Iban rafts made from timber or bamboo and vines.
With the completion of the rafts you will be able to travel downstream
in near "white water" condition. One Iban raftman will be assigned
to every 2 pax. Dinner and accommodation by the river bank or
at a nearby longhouse if the water level is too high. Your accommodation
by the river bank will be in either tents or make-shift shelters
made from jungle produce.
Day 4>>
Your breakfast taken at the river bank. Continue rafting until
you reach Ugat longhouse where you will board a longboat to take
you to the jetty at Lubok Antu hydro lake. Depart by van/coach
for Kuching. Your lunch is included. |
