Tag: Heart of Borneo

The Lun Bawang legend of a giant man named Temueng

by Patricia Hului -

Long time ago, there was a giant man named Temueng and his friend named Pengiran who first lived at Kemaloh in Kalimantan, Indonesia. According to legends, these people were believed to be the ancestors of Lun Bawang people. Benedict Sandin in his paper The Bisayah and Indigenous Peoples of Limbang, Sandin recorded

The aftermath of the Indonesian-Malaysian confrontation at Long Bawan

by Patricia Hului -

Located at North Kalimantan, Indonesia, Long Bawan is a small town with a small airport which has become the only gateway via air to Krayan Highlands. Looking back on its history, it was one of the combat operations sites between British Commonwealth forces and Indonesian armies during the Indonesian-Malaysian confrontation. The

How salt was obtained in the olden days of Borneo

by Patricia Hului -

Salt plays an important role in not just Sarawakian cuisine, but in Borneo overall. Besides seasoning, every community, whether they were Iban, Bidayuh or Kadazandusun, used salt as a means to preserve their food. Here are just five ways how salt was obtained in Borneo back when there were no

Air Bunga, the Fountain of Youth in the Krayan Highlands

by Patricia Hului -

The Fountain of Youth for Krayan Highlands is rather accessible. Tales of the fountain of youth have been recounted across the world for centuries. Supposedly, it is a spring that restores the youth of anyone who drinks or bathes in its water. Up on the valley of Krayan Highlands in North

5 things to know about Kayan river, North Kalimantan

by Patricia Hului -

While in Sarawak we have Batang Kayan river in Lundu, in North Kalimantan they have their own Kayan river too. North Kalimantan borders the Malaysian states of Sabah to the north and Sarawak to the west, and by the Indonesian province of East Kalimantan to the south. Although they both

Hiking up the hill of legendary Lundayeh hero Upai Semaring

by Patricia Hului -

The mystical story of Upai Semaring (spelled as Yuvai Semaring in Indonesia) is unlike other local legends. It transcends international boundaries, from the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak, to Long Pa’ Sia in Sabah and even to Brunei. However, his legend started from theKrayan Highlands in North Kalimantan, Indonesia. Signage leading up

Relying on the Ba Kelalan-Long Midang border route for a livelihood

by Patricia Hului -

Living near the border between Indonesia and Malaysia, the Krayan Highland communities have one famous saying among themselves: “Harimau di perut, Garuda di dada.” It means ‘tiger in my stomach, Garuda in my heart’, with the tiger referring to Malaysia, and the Garuda to Indonesia. Although they are Indonesians by