Sarawak has been my favorite new spot to visit thus far on the trip. Immediately upon landing I knew I would love it. There and Bali have been the two places I have not been ready to leave behind.
We met up with A, a friend from KL on our second day there and spent all of our nights at the Singgasanah (spelling might be a bit off) Lodge. If you ever venture to Sarawak and choose to stay in Kuching, stay here. The rooms are clean, the bathrooms are clean, the staff is friendly as ever (Mac is awesome), and the place has a great vibe. Cool little rooftop bar/jungle lounge as well.
I would go through a play by play of what we did and what we saw, but it is one of those places where there is really no point. We hiked some mountains, saw some wildlife, walked around, tried local moonshine (more like wine really), played in the sand, and ate damn well. With only five days to spend there, we hardly scratched the surface. In hindsight I should have opted to stay longer, but decisions were made and it's time for the next chapter of this trip. In the end it's water under the bridge.
As I sit here staring out the window catching the last glimpses of the island through the tiny oval airplane window I already long to go back. Sarawak and I would guess Borneo in general isn't about the things you see and do, it's about the atmosphere that truly makes it special. The people here share my view on life, respect the world we inhabit and enjoy your time on it. Kuching, and Denver have a lot in common considering the vast distance between them. No matter where you come from or what your background is there is a general attitude of pride in the land (and of course, the food that grows on it). Both cities have a relaxed attitude. Sit down. Slow down. Have a drink and a meal outside. Enjoy the company of good people, good food, and a nice drink. Let the rest of the world hustle on by with its blinders up and earbuds in. This, I can relate to. There were several moments where I would say out loud 'someone just send me my dog and I'll be at home.'
We met a few people who live in Kuching and are from various kampungs
(villages) of indigenous tribes through A. They came to Kuching to work, but unlike most who leave a village for the big city, they enjoy going back. Unfortunately we came at a bad time, as most of A's friends had been back to their village longhouse recently or were too busy to make the journey. It's fine though, because it simply means we will have to go back. We covered only a small section of Sarawak and didn't even make it to Sabah so I'm sure we'll return as soon as 'the man' will let us.
When I travel to new places I often ask myself how long I could live there. In Sarawak, I couldn't say, but I could see myself getting happily lost in time. Who knows? Maybe someday...
All of this talk is making me somewhat sad. It's one of those moments where I just want life to be simple. If only we could erase boarders, regulations, debt, societal pressure, and the general funk that has been bogging down my country for the past five years. Today I just want to say 'fuck it' and make my own business somewhere else. Blurg...growing up...
There is something about this part of the world that I can't let go of. South East Asia is absolutely captivating and I really couldn't care less about how cliche that sounds. In reality, it is like any other place. There are things you hate, things that annoy you, and things that cannot be explained. However there is something beneath the surface that keeps calling me back. Perhaps this is why I travel.
Soaring over the South China Sea,
-M
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