Sarawak baby carrier
The Iban people of Sarawak are famous for their beaded baby-carriers, which are adorned with colourful beads and in past times, often, with the claws and teeth of bears.
Shield
Dayak carvings on a ceremonial shield in Sarawak
Sarawak Tattoo
A young Iban man submits his body to hand-tapped tattoos, which he says will stand as a proud reminder of his peoples' beliefs and traditions.
Hornbill
A colourful hornbill - a common motif for all the Dayak tribes of Borneo - forms part of a giant mural on a wall in old Kuching.
Sarawak
An armed soccer-player forms a bizarre piece of ornamentation on a ceremonial Iban hornbill in Sarawak Museum.soc
Sarawak Museum
Sarawak Museum was especially built in 1891 as a place to display artefacts from the dozens of Dayak tribes that call the Malaysian state home.
Kuching River
Kuching River flows through the city that inherited its name - most likely inspired by the Mata Kuching (Cat's Eye) trees that lined the banks.
Pua Kumbu
A 150 year old pua kumbu in Sarawak Museum displays a motif known as Baya Ngeradai (literally 'Crocodile basking in the sun'.
Lemanak River
Longboats wait on the banks of the Lemanak River to carry passengers up to Ngemah Ulu longhouse.
Longboat
Ngemah Ulu longhouse lies four hours drive and an hour by longboat south-east of Kuching.
Iban Sleeping Mat
At Ngemah Ulu longhouse an Iban lady prepares one of the beautifully intricate sleeping mats for which the Iban are renowned.
Ngemah Ulu longhouse
A group of women prepare dinner in the private kitchen of one of the bilek (family units) of Ngemah Ulu longhouse.
The beautiful eyes in the tail feathers of a burung ruai (Argus Pheasant) are a common motif in Iban art - and especially in tattoos.
In Ngemah Ulu longhouse one of many talented craft workers makes a hat that will be used in the paddy fields.
Basket
The baskets that the Iban weave these days frequently have strips of coloured packing tape to reinforce the corners and the effect can often be unexpectedly attractive.
Dragon Jar
A dragon jar - once among the most precious trade goods that the Chinese imported -stands on the platform at Ngemah Ulu longhouse
A boy walks down the platform outside Ngemah Ulu longhouse.
Iban basket
A modern take on a timeless object: these days baskets are often woven with coloured packing tape to make them more durable. The effect can sometimes be unexpectedly attractive.
A woman sets out from Ngemah Ulu longhouse towards the paddies - even today her hats and baskets are still handwoven at home.
Traditional Dress
Benefiting from a favourable exchange rate this young lady's grandparents were able to buy the stacks of Indonesian coins that adorn her traditional Iban dress.
The covered hard-wood ruai (main-street) of Ngemah Ulu longhouse is raised on stilts two metres over the jungle floor.
An Iban maiden models the traditional 'sugu tinggi' crown and 'marik empang' collar that are part of the Iban's ceremonial dress.
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