Franz ElizI had a chance to visit Annah Rais longhouse a couple of years ago, thanks to my aunt, who was happy to take me there. The longhouse is located in Padawan, a sub-district of Kuching, Sarawak. It’s about 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Kuching city centre.
When my aunt invited me to tag along, I was excited because I had always wanted to visit the longhouse (it’s a century old). Annah Rais longhouse is the most famous Bidayuh longhouse in Sarawak.
While Iban longhouses are more common – although not many traditional ones are left – Bidayuh longhouses are rare these days. Annah Rais is likely the only traditional Bidayuh longhouse left in Sarawak today.
Visiting Annah Rais was a great way for me to explore my culture. Here’s my story and what visitors can expect from visiting this one-of-a-kind longhouse. Keep reading.
Annah Rais Is Sarawak’s Best-Known Bidayuh Longhouse
As mentioned, there aren’t many traditional longhouses left in Sarawak. Many longhouses (such as those of the Iban people) are becoming more modern – as in they’re not purely made of wood anymore and have incorporated a more modern look.
Today, you won’t find Bidayuh longhouses as traditional as the Annah Rais longhouse because most Bidayuh people today live in modern homes made of bricks and cement.
That said, a Bidayuh longhouse is a rare sight. So, visitors who want to see what a traditional Bidayuh longhouse looks like can visit Annah Rais Bidayuh longhouse.
Getting There
From Kuching, you can rent a car and drive to Annah Rais longhouse with the help of Google Maps. Here’s the location supposed you start your journey from the Kuching waterfront. Or, simply type “Annah Rais Longhouse Homestay” on Google Maps and key in your start location.
There’s no bus service available for this route, unfortunately. You can always opt for local taxis or Grab if you don’t want to drive.
Many people prefer taking a tour from a local agent. A tour package may cost less than RM200 or more, depending on the number of days spent there and the activities included.
Address: No. 9, Kupo Saba, Kampung Annah Rais Longhouse, Jln Borneo Height, 93250, 93250 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Exploring Annah Rais Bidayuh Longhouse
There are two ways to enjoy Annah Rais longhouse:
- Explore the longhouse on your own. Suppose you have a local friend who knows about the Bidayuh culture or is a resident there. You can get them to be your guide. Touring the longhouse shouldn’t take long if you’re not staying overnight – between 1 and and 3 hours suffice.
- Take a tour package from a local tour agent and spend a night there. Your local agent will guide you thoroughly so that you can learn more about the Bidayuh culture and the Annah Rais community. A typical tour package may include a longhouse tour, jungle trekking, a visit to a nearby waterfall, a picnic, and a local dinner.
I was fortunate to have my aunt take me with her to the longhouse. We explored the longhouse on our own for only about 30 minutes. A 30-minute tour was enough to do the things we wanted, from taking photos and chatting with the locals. A short and sweet trip, indeed.
Tourists can explore Annah Rais Bidayuh longhouse by paying an entrance fee of RM8 for an adult or RM5 for a child. There’s a car park for visitors to park their vehicles, although the space isn’t very big. Visitors can also find a public toilet just outside the longhouse.
A Bidayuh longhouse typically sits higher from the ground, So visitors need to walk up a small traditional stairway, as seen in the picture below:
The stairway is made of wood and bamboo. Watch your steps as you walk up the stairway, especially when it’s wet, as it can get very slippery.
There’s a hot spring in the area, so if you want to want to relax in the water, make sure to bring along your swimwear. Swimming in a t-shirt and shorts is acceptable in Malaysia, so if you want to do that, by all means, go ahead.
Staying at the Annah Rais Homestay
The attraction is also a homestay where tourists can stay with the locals. Staying at the longhouse is ideal for those planning to explore some of the area’s popular activities. That said, a tour package is worth considering. The following are indoor and outdoor activities available:
Rejuvenate in the Wild
Annah Rais has two gems for visitors to enjoy:
- Hot spring. This natural and rejuvenating hot spring is popular among the locals, so you may notice Sarawak locals enjoying themselves there.
- 3-tier waterfalls. Although not big, the waterfalls offer cold and clear water – perfect after a long day of exploration. Go ahead and relax and rejuvenate and enjoy a waterfall massage.
Go on a Bamboo Rafting Adventure
Love water adventures? Why not go on a bamboo rafting experience through the tropical rainforest? Bamboo rafting at Annah Rais isn’t just for the adventurous. It’s also family-friendly. To do this activity, visitors will go with a guide who will also show them how to build a bamboo raft and the right rafting techniques.
Do Jungle Trekking
A jungle trekking before enjoying the waterfalls sounds like a good idea, especially for the active traveller. This activity lets visitors explore the tropical rainforest’s exotic flora and fauna. With an experienced guide, visitors can learn traditional survival skills, how to use local herbs, bird-watching, and more.
Learn How To Use a Blowgun
The Annah Rais tour also may include teaching visitors about handling blowguns. Blowguns are traditionally used for hunting wild animals.
While taking a blowgun in the wild is okay, using a sharpened or poisoned blowgun, especially on animals, is strictly prohibited.
Go Harvesting
Visitors coming between February and April can join the locals at the paddy field for the harvesting season. The harvest season is important to the Sarawak locals. So, I highly recommend those looking to get a local experience in Sarawak partake in this activity.
Dine in the Jungle
A tour of Annah Rais may include a jungle barbecue session as well. The ingredients are to be provided by the guide. Your guide will teach you how to prepare delicious Bidayuh cuisine. I’m already thinking about bamboo chicken!
Explore Local Ornaments, Cooking Tools, and Handicrafts
While exploring the Annah Rais Bidayuh longhouse, I came across a traditional ‘oven’. The locals use it for cooking local dishes. The oven doesn’t look close to your average cooking stove at home. So, I recommend you to see it for yourself.
The Bidayuh community also loves basket weaving and making handicrafts. They use natural materials from the jungle to make them. There are ready-made handicrafts and accessories at the longhouse for purchase. They’re not cheap, so take extra cash with you if you plan to buy one.
Enjoy Local Recipes
Those staying at the longhouse on tour can learn how to cook traditional Bidayuh cuisine. Bamboo chicken is their speciality. Making the dish involves cooking rice and chicken in bamboo. The bamboo goes on top of burning coals and is left to cook slowly. Bamboo chicken, or ‘Ayam pansuh’, is one of Sarawak’s best-known local dishes.
Compete in a Blowgun Competition
If you’re competitive, consider joining the longhouse’s blowgun competition. The winner will get a prize. Of course, the competition is not meant for one or two people. Get your friends to join you in the challenge.
Dress in Bidayuh Traditional Clothes and Dance
After dinner, the Bidayuh cultural group and dancers will entertain visitors with traditional dance. During the show, rice wine will be served.
The Bidayuh dance involves graceful body movements. I remember dancing it in church and at several local events. I love it, and I bet you’ll love it, too. Don’t be shy; get dressed in the Bidayuh traditional costume, and dance along. There are also traditional musical instruments for you to play!
Is Annah Rais the Only Bidayuh Longhouse Left in Sarawak?
Annah Rais is not the only Bidayuh longhouse left in Sarawak. However, it’s the best-known Bidayuh longhouse that still preserves pretty much of its Bidayuh traditional elements.
If you’d like to visit another Bidayuh longhouse in Kuching, you can visit Kampung Bunuk. It’s also located in Padawan. The village’s longhouse isn’t as interesting as the Annah Rais longhouse, but it’s still worth visiting if you want to learn more about it and the Bidayuh community living there.
Don’t expect the longhouses at Bunuk and Annah Rais to be identical to the ones built several generations back. Yes, many things may have changed over the years, but the efforts for further maintenance and restoration continue. Your visit is very much appreciated.
If you come across a local, don’t be shy to ask questions. Many of the Sarawak people can speak English. If you can speak Malay, that’s cool, too!
Consider Joining the Gawai Dayak Celebration
Gawai Dayak is when the Dayak communities get together to celebrate the end of harvest. It’s an annual festival celebrated by the Dayak people from June 1–2.
Joining the celebration with local communities is a great way to learn more about the Dayak culture, such as that of the Bidayuh tribe.
During this time, the Dayak community will spend quality time with their loved ones, dancing, drinking, eating and many more. If you drink alcohol, make sure not to leave the celebration without drinking a glass of ‘tuak’ and enjoy the local cuisine!
Is Visiting Annah Rais Longhouse Worth It?
Being one of the surviving longhouses in Sarawak, a trip to the Annah Rais longhouse is recommended, especially if you’re interested in seeing what a traditional Bidayuh longhouse looks like. Despite some improvements to the structure, the longhouse hasn’t changed much.
There, you can also see local women weaving baskets and making other handicrafts, such as necklaces, a skill not everyone has these days. I don’t know how to make those handicrafts if you ask me.
A trip to the Annah Rais longhouse is also recommended if you don’t have the opportunity to join any of the Gawai celebrations, where you can see the locals dressed in traditional clothing, dancing, and enjoying a feast together.
Consider taking the Annah Rais Longhouse tour to experience the activities discussed in this article and have an unforgettable Borneo experience. I’d love to take one, too, perhaps with friends next time.
