Every year, the Rainforest World Music Festival is held here, at the Sarawak Cultural Village, over a span of 3 days. Groups from around the world are invited to perform traditional, folk-like music. During the day, there are music workshops, where people are introduced to various traditional instruments and tribal music and dance. At night, there will be al fresco concerts, with traditional performances which get more modern / rock as the night progresses.
Annually, this festival attracts many tourists from around the world. This year was the 13th installment, and Hubby and I have never ever been to a single one! We thought it was high time we went to see what all the fuss was about! Since the kids are all out of 'baby phase' (Solomon, the youngest, is almost 2, so officially a toddler), there are so many things that we now have more freedom to do (finally).
So, Tai Ku (Big Aunt) so kindly had the kids over for the night. It was a grand pyjama party for all! Only Solomon was not comfortable with the arrangement because he had never slept at TaiKu's house before.
Shortcut to the beer. Never mind slippery and treacherous... anything to get there faster...
Important things first. Hubby beaming with his cooler bag of beer-on-the-go.
Hubby and I only went for the first night's concert. The tickets which cost RM110 per person was for a whole day pass, but we could only spare a night and got there a bit late, after seeing to the kids' settling down. It was raining heavily before we got there, so the night was fresh and cool. We had to park our car a distance away, at Santubong Resort and then take a shuttle in. There is always less people on the first night and since this year was World Cup Year, I suppose it contributed to the smaller crowd which we encountered.
I love the ambience there, the whole concert-in-the-jungle thing had a carefree, hippie feel. The crisp sea breeze was splendid and the smell of mud and grass reminded me of great times sliding in the mud while playing softball in secondary school! Ahhh... those were the days, I was tempted to roll myself in the mud for a minute there!
This also reminded me of the only rock concert we have ever been to. It was a Bon Jovi concert in KL and Hubby and I were only 18! We went with a bunch of his housemates and man was it a blast! Okay, that was eons ago... back to the present...
Very appropriate sign placement. Notice the position of the totem pole man.
It was a lovely night in a quaint setting.
They placed screens all around. Even across the lake.
The Sarawak Cultural Village is quite a pleasant place, it is dubbed a living museum. There is a lake in the middle, and around it are houses built in the style of the traditional houses of the different ethnic tribes found here in Sarawak. During usual times, you can pay to visit the Village and see the ethnic people in traditional costumes pretending to do "daily activities" in their respective houses. One can also catch a performance showcasing all the traditional dances.
During the Rainforest World Music Festival, the Village is transformed. There are two outdoor stages for performances, an area for craft stalls, exhibitions, another for workshops and also a beer garden and food stalls.
The earlier performances were slower paced. Here is Hubby's "favourite", three Russian sisters doing something similar to yodeling! Accompanied by bagpipes some more! :) But to be fair, though it's not in everyone's taste, I think it is technically quite challenging to sing like that!
The crowd warming up to a Russian group with a more lively beat.
The last group was from Sicily and they were more "rock".
These kids obviously had a deprived childhood!! :)
Hubby and I enjoyed ourselves. I think we might go again next year...
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