BORNEO HIGHLANDS RESORT

This resort is called Borneo Highland Resort which located 28 km from my Backyard or 15 minutes drive. Form Kuching city it will took about 1 hour 20 minutes. It was the first highland resort ever set up in Padawan / Penrissen. My first trip to Boeneo Highland Resort was in the year 2000. It was a scout foot expedition attend by more than 300 scouts from school around Padawan / Penrissen area. The distance from the foothill to the resort is 10 km. We were flag off around 0900 and managed to arrived at the top around noon.

For your information, the journey itself took us about 5 hours to complete due to steep  gradient of the road. The views at the top are magnificent. My first impression "WOW!". It got the natural lake. In fact we can see Kuching city from afar. 

The main attraction at the resort are the golf course, jungle tracking, nature retreat etc. You can have a day trip to Borneo Highland Resort by visiting the sales office located at RH Plaza. (I'm doing a free marketing for them because the place itself is worth to share with all the people)

Along the way from Kuching, one can see all the Bidayuh villages, pepper farm, padi plantation, fruit orchard (if you are lucky, there are fruitsellers selling their own fruit by the roadside at their kampung), oil plam plantation etc. 

You will pass my Backyard when you see the Borneo Highland Resort big signboard on your left saying "28 km to Borneo Highland Resort".   

My Backyard

This is the actual photo of my Backyard. Surrounded by jungle. On the right, noticed a durian tree. Its much tidier now than this photo. At my Backyard, I have planted few type of vegetables for household consumption (not exist in the photo as the photo was taken earlier). the front of my house is facing small rubber farm belonging to other kampung folks. 

This is my house from the eagle point of view.

View Borneo Heights in a larger map

The Mountain

Noticed the telecommunication tower? It was constructed a few years ago to supplied the surrounding community with phone network. It is located about 15 minutes drive from my Backyard via road. In the old days (not so old) there is no phone network coverage whatsoever servicing Padawan / Penrissen area. Everytime kampung folks back from town, they will SWITCH OFF their handphone, no point let it switch on.

This is one of the many mountains surrounding Kampung Garung. In fact, there are four mountains surrounding Kampung Garung (I did not recall the name of each mountain) on all sides. During the el nino season, our kampung did not affected much because these mountains have given us protecting wall.

Rain Rain Go Away

"It was rained heavily last night. I was on my way to kampung to buy some refreshments on my bike then suddenly the rain fell. I speed up my bike to reach the convenient store. After paying for the goods I went off back to my house. Wind blew strongly. I am drenched and shivered." 

I only can experience this at my kampung not at town. Raining at town is what we used to called 'acid rain' meanwhile at kampung, it is just H2O.

My family and I is having small BBQ at my Backyard, due to heavy rain I have to reduce the quantity of foods for BBQ. All firewood is wet but nevertheless i managed to start the fire with a little help from 'kerosine'. While I was cooking the food at BBQ, suddenly it rain again. My dad rushed to get a couple of zink sheet to cover the BBQ before it put out by the rain.

The RIVER

This stream flows pass my farm house and magnificent Catappa tree. Still unaffected by the modern development, we sometimes play in the river, picnic and BBQ. Its a lovely spot. Its not deep just knee-deep. I usually just seat at the river floor and enjoy the cool water flowing around me.

By the river bank, its a perfect place for camping and picnic and having a lot of fun exploring the jungle. On the right side of the river bank is my father pepper farm, rubber farm, banana farm and orchards. When I was a little kid, I used to catch a lot fish and some small prawn in this river, but as the time goes by,  the fishes are not longer as big and many as they used to be 10 - 20 years ago. Nevertheless, having fun is top priority. In the old days, my dad and me used to  go hunting in the night and cathed a lot of frogs. Frogs are very nice delicacy.

Farm House at Krung

This is my family farm house which located some 20 minutes drive from Kampung Garung. This farm house is surrounded by jungle. "Far from  civilization yet so civilized". Have 24 hours electricity and running water from the mountain. My family used spend the weekends here for picnis etc.

The road leading to the farm house still dirt road. There is a governement tar sealed road project heading this way but only halfway. Normally I will drive beloved Landy (Land Rover Defender Series III) to my farm house due to uneven road condition. Actually this farm house is located near the magnificent Catappa tree.

Skillful Bamboo Cutter

This photo was taken few years ago but it worth to share. It was taken during the padi planting season at the clearing stage. Notice this guy on the bamboo trunk. He actually stand on the bamboo itself without any safety equipment. He is skillful in his trade. He managed to clear the bamboo trunk within one hour. If you asking me to climb the bamboo trunk to cut the bamboo, I think I'll have to pass.

This pond is located on left side of my Backyard. Constructed few years ago. No fish due to leakage at the pond bottom. On the pond's bank, I build a small garden which my dad have planted some fruit trees. This garden is excellent for morning strolling as fresh cool air filled the atmosphere. I'm planning to construct a small gazebo for reading and relaxation.

Magnificent "Duuh Tree" at Krung

This white tree are known as "Duuh" by the local is located at my farm (Krung). The scientific name is Terminalia Catappa. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminalia_catappa .This tree is estimated about 300 - 400 years. In fact, this tree located at my farm is the lowest "duuh" of its kind in the Padawan/Penrissen. this feature make its more unique as normally this type of tree can grow up to 50 - 60 meters high. It give natural shades to my garden. The tree itself grew by the river bank which my family and some local having BBQ and bath in the cold stream.

 Based on my dad stories, my granddad use to meditate at the base of this magnificent tree. In our culture and customs, it is prohibited to use this tree for any kind of construction especially house construction as this tree are considered as sacred. Therefore this tree save from being cut down.  

Some time ago, some individual offered to buy the tree and the land under it for few thousand. my dad answered them, " Its not I don't want to sell you this land but I cannot, because this land is not belong to me, it is belong to my childrens and their childrens' childrens".Under the tree, there a big compound by the river bank, which I plans to turn into recreational park with camping facilities with no or minimal impact to the surrounding area. About 15 minutes from the tree base, there is a waterfall which also located in my father's land. the trip to the waterfall will go through the jungle which will promised anyone with cold fresh air and the sound of birds.

St. Martha Kampung Garung 38th Anniversary Celebration

On the 31st of july 2010, St. Martha Catholic Church Of Kampung Garung have celebrated her 38th Anniversary. The event was attended by guest of hounours; YB Datuk Dr. James Dawos Mamit, Deputy Minister of Tourism of Malaysia (Member of Parliament of Mambong) and YB Dr. Jerip Susil (ADUN Bengoh).

There are about 300 something guests attended the event. The dinner itself is very unique as they served traditional Bidatuh delicacies such as premented fish, grounded tapioca leaves, anchovies paste and the rice was wrap with leave. While having dinner, all guest was entertained by music band which played quite a number of good songs.

There was also sponsered song session whereby a particular person or group sponsored a particular individual to sing and the money they sponsered will be channelled directly into church fund. The highest sponsor amount for the night is for YB Dr. Jerip Susil to sing a song for RM200. My dad also sing that night for sponsored amount of RM105.00. (My dad is the Chairman of St. Martha Kampung Garung).

The event was concluded at 1230 midnight. It was a success. Everyone go home with happy mind and thought.

Kampung Garung

Kampung Garung is a Bidayuh village located some 32 kilometres from Kuching City. Bidayuh Garung are one of the 6 Bidayuh Biperoh clans. Among others are Kampung Karu, Kampung Giam, Kampung Jambu,Kampung Git and Kampung Semadang. Photo shows the entrance to kampung Garung ... a place I have grew up.

Borneo Highland Resort is located 28km from Kampung Garung. This signboard was erected at the main junction heading to Kampung Garung (turn right).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View Borneo Heights in a larger map