Friday, March 24, 2006

New fun at Sarawak Cultural Village


By SHARON LING

SARAWAK Cultural Village (SCV) in Kuching, one of the state’s most well-known tourist attractions, has set its sights on raising its popularity by introducing three new products aimed at providing fun and a hands-on experience for visitors.

The new products – an arts learning centre, a traditional games and fun centre, and village stay – are part of SCV’s efforts to re-brand itself as a world-class attraction.

General manager Jane Lian Labang said that SCV had operated for the past 16 years with the mission of keeping Sarawak’s culture alive among its people and sharing the culture with the rest of the world.

“The introduction of these new activities and attractions will instil a sense of fun in visitors as they learn about Sarawak’s cultural traditions, resulting in a value-added experience.

“Hopefully visitors will spend a longer time at the village to participate in these activities,” she said.

The arts learning centre offers lessons in Sarawak’s ethnic dances and music as well as handicraft and cookery.

Programmes include bamboo carving, beadwork, Malay “keringkam” embroidery and making Iban or Orang Ulu shields.

Visitors can also learn the traditional dances and music of the Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Melanau and Malay communities.

The games centre, meanwhile, promises visitors a fun time. They can try their hand at blowpipe shooting, throwing a coconut “bowling balls” at bamboo “pins” or hooking glass bottles with a special fishing rod.

Finally, those who want to experience a little ethnic lifestyle can stay at the village for one or two nights.

Individual and family packages are available with accommodation in the Bidayuh longhouse, Iban longhouse, Orang Ulu longhouse, Melanau tall house, Malay house or Chinese traditional house.

The packages include meals, a tour of the village and a cultural show.

For more information about the new products, call SCV at 082-846 411.

Source: The Star

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