Selamat Hari Gawai Dayaks to All.

Happy Gawai Dayaks to all readers, visitors and guest to Sarawak Travel Guide. Taking this opportunity to record my appreciation and thank you for the support and readership

Gawai Dayak or Pesta Gawai or Onu Gawai is being celebrated by the Dayaks community in SarawaK, East Malaysia in the first week of June every year. The Bidayuh, Iban and also the Orang Ulu had their own rituals and traditional ways in celebrating this event which marked the end of the rice harvesting season and the ushering in another year of bountiful harvest and goodness.

It is the time for merry making and gathering of family members from far and wide. Those working outside Sarawak always make the effort to be home with their parents, relatives and friends in the villages and longhouses.

There are variety of delicacies and menu to choose, from traditional cuisine to modern one. Some of them are chicken cook in bamboo, glutinous rice in bamboo and many more; each community has their own speciality.

It also the time of sharing as friends and stranger are invited to share in the celebration. This promotes unity and friendship among the various communities in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Various programs are held to make the celebration merrier and colourful, like beauty contest in traditional outfit like Kumang Gawai for the Iban community, Dayung Sikora for the Bidayuh, while the Orang Ulu community has their own Traditional Costume Beauty Contest. It is a feast for the eyes with the colourful rituals, traditional music and costume and variety choice of traditional cuisine and wine.

The official Gawai Dayaks Celebration in Sarawak is 1^st. June, every year but the celebration in the longhouse and the villages are held at different day and some last for a month.

HAPPY GAWAI DAYAKS TO ALL....

A day at Kampung Panchor Dayak Hot Spring

Kampong Panchor Hot Spring which is located at Kampong Panchor, 40km from Kuching City is surrounded by forest and nature, offering serene and calm atmosphere.

The hot spring which is located at Kampong Panchor Dayak is accessible via Kuching-Serian Road. The junction to the site is on the right side just after the Tapah Town.

The hot spring which is managed by the local community is open to the public daily from 7.00 am till 10.00pm. A nominal entrance fee of RM3 is charge per person; adult and Children over 12yrs. 

 

From the ticket booth, a plank walk was built from the entrance connecting the various hot water pools.

The temperature of the water is an average of 42 deg. C. You are advised to extra caution when you want to take a dip in the pool. A simple steps process:-

Dip your hand or legs into the pool first to get a feel of the water temperature that it is not too hot for you. This is to prevent you from being scald by the hot water. Everyone have different reaction to the hotness of the water.

Once you are sure that the water temperature is to your liking, slowly dip your body into the water.

If you get dizzy or uneasy while dipping in the pool, get out of the pool and take a rest, drink some cold water to cool your body temperature.

You are not allowed to take a bath immediately after getting out of the hot spring. Take a rest and let your body temperature to cool down to the normal level.

Please be advised that extra precaution should be absorbed by everyone while at the hot spring. There are also do and don’t which you should absorbed at all the time you spend at the premises.

Hot Spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermal heated ground water from the Earth’s crust.

The heated water contained mineral that are claim to have medical value and could cure various kind of ailments, among them skin diseases.

A number of pools were built, with wooden planks surrounded the pools for visitors to sit while soaking their feet at the pools.  The bottom of the pool is laid with hardwood plank to prevent the stirring of the mud at the bottom of the pool. 

You can also take a dip in the pools. The pools are cover to shield the visitors from the elements; rain or shine you still can enjoy the hot spring. There are also resting hut complete with benches and table being built in the premises for the visitors convenient.

There is also a canteen selling snack, drinks and simple food and next to it are the public toilets and the Changing room.

The hot spring attracts visitors from near and far, seeking cure for their ailments or just to savour the natural hot spring.