Bario is a remote village deep in the Borneo of Malaysia in Sarawak state, near the border of Malaysian Indonesia. The locals are known as Kelabit ingenious tribe. Kelabit are known to emphasize in education upbringing that have produced many prominent figures in the corporate as well as political world of Malaysia.
The journey to Bario started with a domestic flight from Kuala Lumpur to Miri town in East Malaysia. From there, we took a small Twin Otter flight that could only accommodate less than 20 people. The flight was about 30 minutes from Miri. With low flying altitude, we could enjoy the bird's eye view with mountains, forests, valleys and rivers below.
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| The 2 pilots of our mini Twin Otter flight |
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| View from the plane |
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| Our mini flight |
We arrived in mid Mac and that was the pineapple season with pineapples that caught our sight upon arrival in the tiny remote airport of Bario. Bario pineapple is the sweetest pineapple I have ever had. But strangely, as warned before, the taste changes upon bringing it back outside of this tiny town. Could it be the weather?
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| Authentic Kelabit dishes |
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| Dining cum viewing platform of our guesthouse |
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| Our guesthouse |
Our guesthouse was about 15 mins drive from the airport. It was a relaxing cowboy town reminiscence feeling, as we were now in a village house with plenty of surrounding land and dusty roads. Our first excursion was a short climb to the viewing platform in the village town center. Looking down at the lust plain field below is the rewarding view. Next, we visited an abandoned crashed WW2 plane next to the paddy field before we explored the streets in the center of village.
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| View from viewing hill |
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| The Land of Highland paddy |
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| Lush paddy field |
The next day, we rose to the sound of cocks and the cooling feeling of morning mist. We climbed a small hill called Prayer Hill with the cross statue at the peak, symbolizing Christianity as the key religion. Imaging looking down at the valley with surrounding hills and paddy fields, that is the mesmerizing reward of Prayer Hill. In the afternoon, we explored further the local community's longhouses to understand their way of life.
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| Start of Prayer Hill Trek |
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| View from top |
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| The symbol of Christianity in Bario |
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| Penan tribe village near the foot of Prayer Hill |
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| Shy Penan |
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| Inside Longhouse |
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| Traditional kitchen |
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| The hallway |
On 3rd day, our adventure began with a visit to local highland rice factory, followed by 20 minute trek in a muddy laterite road to a local salt producer to experience how a bamboo salt is made. This is a unique salt, as it is made of natural salty underground water extracted via a well. There were claims this natural spring salt is more nutritious than normal sea salt and the price skyrockets in the city. After the excursion, we went to a trader's shop that packs the famous Bario rice, a highland rice. We ended the day with a traditional dance performance in the local community hall.
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| Rice mill |
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| Vacum packed Bario Highland rice |
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| Salt factory |
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| The well where the salt water comes from |
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| Boiling the salty water |
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| Bamboo salt in the making |
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| Premium priced bamboo salt |
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| The reward of mud trekking to the salt field |
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| Relaxing afternoon at the guesthouse |
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| Traditional Kelabit Dance |
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| The veterans |
What made the trip more fun was the ride at the back of a 4 wheel drive to explore other villages1-2 hours away, such as Pak Mada, on a logging laterite trails in the midst of jungles, mountains and valleys. We explored the longhouses of the local indigenous people. There was even a small lake to walk quietly with only the sound of surrounding nature. It was indeed a heaven on earth.
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| Ready for 4 wheel excursion |
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| Journey to the end of world |
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| Typical longhouse architecture |
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| Arriving in another village |
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| A narrow walkway in the longhouse |
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| Nicely decorated house |
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| The excursion to villages continued |
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| Mural on the wall |
We were glad to have explored Bario as one of the last frontiers of Borneo. Many young generations here have left their own homeland to chase for city life and success. But when they retire, they will return to their very own homeland. Home sweet home upon retirement...
