Category: Updates

SINIAWAN – “RAJAH” a feature film on the White Rajah of Sarawak, Sir James Brooke, is an upcoming Hollywood feature film on the first White Rajah to be shown on the big screen throughout the world.

The filming of ‘Rajah” has gone well for the past one month with shooting   taken in various places of attraction including the rustic town of Siniawan, Fairy and Wind Caves, Santubong, Sarawak Cultural Village and Borneo 744.

The movie is also being spiced up with fantasy and romance to make it more suitable for commercial viewing,

The film is based on Brooke’s life when he first arrived in Borneo in 1839 in search of adventure and fortune and later to be known as the ‘White Rajah” of Sarawak.

‘Rajah’ stars include famed Hollywood actor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Malaysian actors, Shaheizy Sam, Bront Palare, Datuk Rahim Razali and also Sarawak born actors Kahar Jini and Peter John Labang.

It is directed by Michael Haussman and produced by Rob Allyn.

KUCHING – The launching of the newly refurbished Visitors Information Centre (VIC) Kuching was held on October 23, at Block B, Old Courthouse, Kuching.

With its official launch, VIC Kuching became the main tourists contact point to seek advice and to complete their information search about various places of interest in Sarawak.

VIC Kuching promotes various attractions through images, visuals and interpretation of destinations that depicts the diverse culture and heritage, including crafts displays.

It also showcased the various destination offering promotional collaterals including printed brochures, magazines, photos, posters as well as videos.

Besides being a boon to tourists, the VIC also carters for students of schools and colleges which have tourism programmes or courses to assist them in their knowledge quest.

KUCHING – Sarawak Tourism Board will launch its new Visitors’ Information Centre (VIC) Kuching on October 23 at Block B, Old Courthouse Complex in Kuching.

The information centre provides visitors and tourists for easy access to information needed to enhance their travelling experiences in Sarawak.

The centre will also provide applications for online permits and accommodations for the National Parks.

There are three VICs each located at Kuching, Sibu and Miri.

‘Keringkam’  a handcrafted textiles of gold thread sewn by Malay women of Sarawak was officially introduce to the outside world at the  ASEAN Lifestyle Week  held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre recently. 

Keringkam is traditionally hand-crafted with fine embroidery work, using mostly gold and silver-colored course threads.

There are two versions of gold-thread woven handiworks, the longer version called  “Selendang Keringkam” (Shawl) and the shorter type  known as “Selayah Keringkam” (Veil). 

Widely adorned and worn   by Malay women in Sarawak during the early years, Keringkam is said to be popular among women from the aristocratic circle.

It is exquisitely heavily and could worth more than a few thousand ringgit, depending on embroidery motifs and designs. 

The art of Keringkam is a proud legacy and it is an important part of Sarawak’s Malay heritage.  

For more information on ‘Keringkam”, you may log on to https://sarawakhandicraft.com.my/

 

KUCHING – For members of the National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Associations of Australia and New Zealand (NMBVA) its annual “home coming” to Sarawak will always be a day to look forward as they will gather together at Heroes’ Cemetery at Jalan Taman Budaya here to remember their fallen comrades.

This year, the veterans were accompanied by their families and friends for a return visit on August 29 and held a solemn gathering at the Heroes Cemetery here.

It was an occasion to remember their fallen comrades who laid down their lives during the confrontation with Indonesia (1963 – 1966) and solemnly placed commemorative plaque as a tribute of their sacrifice. 

Also present to commemorate this event  were the  Minister of Transport, Datuk Lee Kim Shin, High Commissioner of Australia, Excellency  Andrew Goledzinowski and High Commissioner of New Zealand, Excellency Hunter Nottage,

KUCHING – The third edition of the Kuching Waterfront Jazz Festival (KWJF) will be held from September 27 and 28. It is an outdoor jazz festival overlooking the majestic Sarawak River.

Performances by world-class musicians, including Ning Baizura, Harvey Malaiholo, Swaiv, Dawn Wong and the Shanghai Jazz Club, Q Sound, Xanaduduo, Ushera, Sitti Navarro, Saxx In The City, Dave Brewer and The DooDaddies, Z Yan and Violinist Nisa Addina are on the pipeline.

KWJF 2019 will also features a bazaar which will see participation from local vendors comprising arts and craft, including food and beverage vendors. The bazaar will increase the value of the festival by giving festival-goers a more holistic experience, especially tourists, where they were able to purchase local products and various delicacies.  

This year KWJF has chosen the digital route and collaborated with the “Sarawak Pay” app to promote the two-day event.

Organized by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), the event is endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts,  Culture, Youth and Sports Sarawak and supported by the Sarawak Tourism Board.

 For purchase tickets or to learn more about the event, please visit www.kuchingwaterfrontjazz.com and KWJF’s official Facebook page.

KUCHING: The Annual Kuching Festival, with a total of 281 food and 11 trade fair stalls, a garden corner and a large stage for nightly performances, is now happening at the Kuching City South Council compound for 24 consecutive nights starting from 6.00pm until 11.00pm nightly from July 26 to August 16, 2019.  

This year’s food fair with choice delicacies ranging from traditional, modern to fusion.  Celebrated as part of a programme for the Kuching City 31st Anniversary Carnival, the Kuching Festival is organised by Kuching City South Council to commemorate the Kuching City status which was announced on August 1, 1988.  This festival is held annually to boost the local tourism and food industry with this year’s theme, “Happy Kuching”.

This year edition of the food fair is introducing SarawakPay, the State’s online payment system aimed to encourage customers going cashless when purchasing food and products on sale.

MIRI- With sports fishing fast gaining popularity in Miri, anglers can now enjoy and experience deep sea fishing with the availability of the cruise boat, Seamax Explorer available for rental.

Armed with an experienced crew on board, this specially designed fishing cruise boat   caters up to 20 passengers including crew and captain at one time.

It is recommended that the best season for sea fishing is during the months of March till October.

For those interested to charter the Seamax Explorer for offshore fishing trip expeditions, please contact Mr Vincent Lo Kiun Sin – Miri Anglers Club (Secretary) at 6017 – 802 9002.

July is here with full of activities, entertainment, in celebration of arts, cultures, foods and festivals.

The month of July will kick start with the first ever Rainforest In the City to be staged from July 2 – 11.

The Rainforest Fringe Festival from July 5 – 12, presenting the best of Sarawak, will showcase music, arts, crafts, films, photography, food and culture. This event is happening throughout the Kuching city.

The 22^nd Edition of Rainforest World Music Festival, to be held from July 12 – 14 at Sarawak Cultural Village in Damai, will see 30 countries, 30 nationalities and 200 performers from over the world sharing one stage to showcase culture, arts, music and heritage.

To conclude the month of July, the 14^th Edition of the Borneo Jazz festival will be held from July 19-21 at Coco Cabana, Miri, featuring a series of international world renowned artistes, such as “Crazy Rich Asian” Jasmine Chen, Malaysian R&B singer Najwa and hip-hop ambassador Joe Flizzow and DJ Maestro from Amsterdam. For Info and tickets sales can log on to sarawaktourism.com

The Star Clipper with a capacity of 170 passengers including 74 crews from Star Clipper Monaco arrived at Senari Port, Kuching on 3 June.

The ship was on its 10 nights “eastbound” journey, starting from Kota Kinabalu, Pulau Tiga, Bandar Seri Begawan, Miri, and Kuching with its journey ending at Nongsa Point, Singapore.

The cruise passengers were given a Sarawak traditional welcoming ceremony by 10 member’s cultural troupe from Sarawak Tourism Board with series of cultural dance performances to introduce the uniqueness and diversity in Sarawak.

While in the city, they also had a chance to visit the Semenggoh Nature Reserve for feeding Orang Utan and Bako National Park to visit the beautiful rainforest and mesmerizing the nature.

The Star Clipper will be making another two trips to Sarawak this year and the ship will sail to Miri port for the first time.