Sarawak Convention Bureau

CALENDER OF EVENTS AND FESTIVALS 2007 IN CONJUNCTION WITH VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2007

Date: 1 May 2007
Event: Labour Day
Venue: Public Holiday

Date: 1 May 2007
Event: Wesak Day
Venue: Public Holiday

Date: 6 - 7 May 2007
Event: Miri International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament
Venue: Off the coast of Miri
Organisors: Miri Anglers Club
Tel: +6085 413 550
Fax: +6085 414 358
Email: n/a
Website: n/a

Date: 11 - 12 May 2007
Event: Miri International Jazz Festival 2007 - The aims to be the leading tourism-driven music festival in the region. By assembling regionally and internationally recognized, jazz musicians, the musical event aims to draw visitors to Miri and the Northern Region of Sarawak for a fun-filled and entertaining experience and at the same time showcasing Miri as a city of cosmopolitanism and relaxing lifestyle.The 2007 festival will have a line-up of musicians from Europe, Australasia and Asia performing jazz funky latin, oriental jazz, carribean roots, blues, contemporary fusion, boogie woogie and more.
Venue: The Pavilion, Park City Everly Hotel, Miri
Organisors: Secretariat of Miri Jazz Festival
Tel: +6085 434 181
Fax: +6085 434 179
Email: info@mirijazzfestival.com
Website: www.mirijazzfestival.com

Date: May 2007 (TBA)
Event: Kapit Fest
Venue: Kapit
Organisors: Kapit District Council
Tel: +6084 796 266
Fax: +6084 796 323
Email: n/a
Website: www.kapitdc.sarawak.gov.my & www.kapitro.sarawak.gov.my

Date: May 2007 (throughout)
Event: Miri May Fest
Venue: Miri
Organisors: Miri City Council
Tel: +6085 424 111
Fax: +6085 415 486
Email: n/a
Website: www.miricouncil.gov.my

Date: May/June 2007 (TBA)
Event: Tidal Bore Festival
Venue: Bandar Sri Aman
Organisors: Resident’s Office Bandar Sri Aman
Tel: +6083 322 011
Fax: +6083 321 648
Email: n/a
Website: n/a

Date: 25 - 27 May 2007
Event: World Harvest Festival 2007 - Gawai Festival is the celebration of the end of the harvesting season and the start of new farming season. Nowadays, the Dayak community of Sarawak celebrates Gawai in their villages and urban homes with open invitation, sharing the finest of their hospitality with other communities.
This is the kind of celebration that we want to share with our friends from Taiwan, Vietnam, The Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia, Brunei, Japan, Burma, India, China, Thailand, and Laos along with the cultural troupes to this wonderful World Harvest Festival
Venue: Sarawak Cultural Village, Santubong
Organisors: Sarawak Cultural Village
Tel: +6082 846 411
Fax: +6082 846 988
Email: info@scv.com.my
Website: www.whf.com.my

Date: 1 – 2 June 2007
Event: Gawai Celebration
Venue: Throughout Sarawak - Public Holiday

Date: 2 June 2007
Event: Birthday of Yang Dipertuan Agong
Venue: Public Holiday

Date: 10 June 2007
Event: Pesta Babulang 2007
Venue: Limbang
Organisors: Pesta Babulang, Sarawak Bisaya Association
Contact: Mr. Antonio Kathi Galis
Tel: +6085 433 503 or +6085 433 504
Fax: n/a
Email: n/a
Website: n/a

Date: July 2007 (throughout)
Event: Padawan Festival
Venue: Kota Padawan
Organisors: Padawan Municipal Council
Tel: +6082 615 566
Fax: +6082 611 832
Email: n/a
Website: www.mpp.gov.my

Date: 30 June - 7 July 2007
Event: Borneo Cultural Festival 2007 - The BCF is a fun filled event that showcases the rich ethnic diversity and racial harmony in Sibu, Sarawak. Apart from the cultural extravaganza, there is also the food at the Borneo Traditional Food Fair!Borneo Trade Expo will be from 30thJune to 7 July 2007.
Venue: Sibu Town Square, Sibu
Organisors: Sibu Municipal Council
Tel: +6084 333 411
Fax: +6084 320 240
Email: smc@smc.gov.my
Website: n/a

Date: 13 - 15 July 2007
Event: Rainforest World Music Festival - 10th Anniversary The Rainforest World Music Festival is a unique festival that brings together on the same stage renowned world musicians from all continents and indigenous musicians from the interiors of the mythical island of Borneo.
Venue: Sarawak Cultural Village, Santubong
Organisors: Sarawak Tourism Board
Tel: +6082 423 600
Fax: +6082 416 700
Email: stb@sarawaktourism.com
Website: www.rainforestmusic-borneo.com

Date: August 2007 (throughout)
Event: Kuching Festival - With Food Festival (Evening)
Venue: Kuching
Organisors: Kuching City Council South and Kuching North City Council
Tel: +6082 242 311 or +6082 446 688
Fax: +6082 417 372 or +6082 446 414
Email: n/a
Website: www.mbks.gov.my or www.dbku.gov.my

Date: 4 August 2007(1st Saturday of August evening)
Event: Kuching Street Parade 2007 - If you are planning a visit at this time, consider taking a corporate float in the Kuching City Parade. Promote your company to cheering locals as you wind you way through the city streets – enjoy the colour and fun of a unique Cat City Mardi Gras.
Venue: Kuching
Organisors: Kuching City Council South and Kuching North City Council
Contact: Cik Norhayati Bidin ( DBKU)
Tel:+6082 242 311 or +6082 446 688
Fax: +6082 417 372 or +6082 446 414
Email: n/a
Website: www.mbks.gov.my or www.dbku.gov.my

Date: Mid-August 2007 (TBA)
Event: Borneo Invitational Kites Festival
Venue: Bintulu (Old Airport Compund)
Organisors: Persatuan Wau Sarawak (Sarawak Kite Association)
Contact: Mr. Allan Chew
Tel: +6019 836 8235
Fax: n/a
Email: alanccb@yahoo.com
Website: n/a

Date: 9 - 12 August 2007
Event: Miri International Mass Wedding
Venue: Miri
Contact: Ms. Christina Tan
Tel: +6012 805 8005
Fax: n/a
Email: n/a
Website: n/a

Date: 31 August 2007
Event: National Day
Venue: Public Holiday

Date: 1 - 2 September 2007 (1st weekend of September)
Event: Sarawak Regatta - The popular Kuching Waterfront becomes the gathering venue of thousands of people from all walks of life who come to witness this flagship event of Kuching City. It is an offshoot of the Baram Regatta that was originally a contest between traditionally huge war canoes bringing ferocious daring warriors travelling upriver. They were first held on the Baram River to settle local rivalries between disputing tribes without resorting to war and headhunting. The excitement of those warlike, bygone days is rekindled as the State's expert boatmen take up their paddles to prove their prowess. International groups are welcomed to participate. Usually 20 pax in a group, 15 male & 5 female.
Venue: Kuching Waterfront
Organisors: Sarawak State Government / Kuching Resident Office / Ministry of Urban Development & Tourism Sarawak
Contact: Mr. Wayne Kalang
Tel: +6082 243 301 or +6082 422 263
Fax: +6082 243 304
Email: waynek@sarawaknet.gov.my
Website: www.kuching.net.my

Date: September 2007 (TBA)
Event: Lambir International Rainforest Challenge
Venue: Miri
Organisor: Secretariat
Tel: +6085 430 210
Fax: +6085 411 840
Email: n/a
Website: n/a

Date: September 2007 (TBA)
Event: Borneo International Yachting Challenge
Venue: Miri
Organisor: Secretariat
Tel: +6085 423 033
Fax: +6085 417 249
Email: n/a
Website: www.borneorace.com

Date: September 2007 (TBA)
Event: “Nenas” Pineapple Festival
Venue: Sarikie
Organisor: District office, Sarikei
Tel: +6084 651 421
Fax: +6084 651 012
Email: n/a
Website: n/a

Date: Mid September 2007 (TBA)
Event: Padawan River Safari
Venue: Kota Padawan
Organisor: Padawan Municipal Council
Tel: +6082 615 566
Fax: +6082 611 832
Email: n/a
Website: www.mpp.gov.my

Date: 19 - 25 September 2007 (whole week)
Event: Inter-cultural Mooncake Festival - Jointly organized by the Chinese community and Clan Associations at carpenter Street and their Malay counterparts from across the river in Pantai Damai, the festival aimed to revive and foster spirit of tolerance , goodwill through this unique festival where street performance, stage shows and fashion shows are highlighted.
Venue: Carpenter Street, Kuching
Organisor: Festival Secretariat
Tel: +6082 244 633
Fax: +6082 253 025
Email: n/a
Website: n/a

Date: 13 – 14 October 2007
Event: Hari Raya Puasa
Venue: Public Holiday

Date: 20 - 21 December 2007
Event: Hari Raya Qurban 1428H
Venue: Public Holiday

Date: 25 December 2007
Event: Christmasfs Day
Venue: Public Holiday

Kuching Major Attractions

Fort Margherita

Completed in 1879, Fort Margherita commands a breathtaking and strategic position along the Sarawak River, with a location chosen to overlook the long stretch of river approaching Kuching. Named after the second Rajah Charles Brooke's wife Ranee Margaret, it was built in the defensive edifice/castle style of the late English renaissance.
Today, inside the great castle-like building is a police museum, the most interesting sights of which are the depictions of criminal punishment.

Kuching Waterfront

The Waterfront, now transformed into a landscaped esplanade, was an important place in the founding of Kuching. Its location on the Sarawak River was chosen not only for its strategic and commercial importance, but also for its enchanting natural beauty. In days gone by the river was the city's main highway. Present day life is still concentrated on the waterfront.
A meander on the Kuching Waterfront is a walk through time; from Kuching's humble, ancient origins, to its status as a modern city. No visit to Kuching would be complete without a stroll on the modern esplanade, or to sit, relax and experience a Sarawakian sunset.

Kuching Major Attractions

Sarawak Cultural Village

Famously referred to as a living museum, the Sarawak Cultural Village typifies the heritage of the major ethnic groups in Sarawak and duly showcases and celebrates the respective lifestyle amidst 14 acres of land - about 40 minutes drive from downtown Kuching. A visit will offer a lifetime chance to see and sample Sarawak's rich culture diversity - namely the Iban, Melanau, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Penan, Malays and Chinese - in a day. And at the end of the visit, do attend the 45-minute cultural performance of songs, dances and entertainment. It is something that you will not want to miss out during your visit.

Kuching Major Attractions

Satok Market

It is recommended that visitors to Kuching should spend a few hours at the Sunday Market at Jalan Satok, which besides selling the usual market produce may have antiques on sale. A place for unusual herbs, fruits, plants and animals, the Sunday market at Kuching's Jalan Satok is a colourful place to which the villagers bring their fresh jungle herbs and fruits not available elsewhere.

Kuching Major Attractions

The Islamic Museum

The building that houses the Islamic Museum, opened in 1992, today was initially a James Brooke Malay College. This Museum consists of seven galleries. Each of the galleries displays items that are related to a particular discipline such as History of Islam in Sarawak; Islamic Architecture; Science, Technology, Economics, Education and Literature; Music, Costumes and Personal Ornaments; Weaponry; Decorative Arts and Domestic Utensils; and the Holy Quran Collection.

The Chinese History Museum

Officially opened in 1993, the museum building itself is historic and was built in 1912. Situated at the Kuching Waterfront, it was initially used as a court by the Chinese community from 1912 to 1921. The museum portrays the rich and fascinating history of Sarawak's diverse Chinese groups. Visitors will acquire in-depth historical knowledge relating to the origin of each Chinese dialect group, their respective traditional skills and cultural heritage, and progress achieved throughout the years.

The Cat Museum

The Cat Museum's cat artefacts displayed were previously on show for the first time at the National Museum, Kuala Lumpur, in 1987 as one of its gallery. Later it was brought to Kuching (The Cat City) under the care of Sarawak Museum and was put on display for the first time on 1 August 1988, when Kuching was proclaimed as a Cat City.
Today, the collection of the exhibited materials from all over the world is one way of making the Cat Museum as a "Cat Information Centre".

Main Bazaar

No visitor should miss the old Main Bazaar, Kuching's oldest and most famous shopping street where souvenir-hunters can seek out an assortment of traditional brassware, pottery, ceramics, tribal arts and crafts, bamboo mats, rattan basket and much more.
The handicraft shops here are stacked floor to ceiling with cultural curios and antiques, and are a treasure trove of Iban icons, Bidayuh bric-a-brac and Orang Ulu ornaments. Located near the Kuching Waterfront, shoppers are advised to always bargain for the best deal.

Santubong Fishing Village

This quaint fishing village is 32 km from Kuching and can be reached by express boat or taxi from downtown Kuching. It has good beaches and is the site of several archaeological findings. Ancient Hindu and Buddhist rock carvings have been found around the Santubong River delta. During the Tang and Sung dynasties from the 9th till the 13th centuries, Santubong was an important trading centre. Santubong today can be reached by road across the Santubong Bridge

Kuching Major Attractions

The Sarawak Museum

The two-storey building was completed in 1891 to permanently house and display local native arts and crafts as well as collections of local animals. A famous naturalist Alfred Wallace spearheaded the effort then.
Today, the ground floor of the museum holds the natural history collection and specimens of Sarawak fauna and animals - all expertly prepared and mounted for display. The west wing of the museum houses Shell exhibition - featuring the history of petroleum industry of Sarawak. The first floor displays exhibits of ethnographic artefacts such as models of longhouses of the various ethnic groups in Sarawak, musical instruments, various kinds of fish and animal traps, handicrafts, models of boats and others.