SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2001
Temburong tempts tourists
By June Ong
Temburong District, which is Brunei's second largest district, has many places of interest that can captivate both local and foreign visitors.
Trekkers following a walkway at the national park in Temburong.
A sign board informing visitor about "Forest Musicians", birds of the forest.
The Canopy Walkway at the national park.
Tour guides.
A longhouse in Temburong.
"Welcome to Temburong District".
Covering one thousand two hundred and eighty-eight square kilometres, the district is inhabited by about ten thousand people, consisting of the majority Malay, followed by the Chinese and other indigenous groups.
The main religion of the area is Islam, followed by Buddhism, Christianity and "free-thinkers".
The elderly in the area still grow rice and tropical fruits such as durian, banana, pineapple, coconut and langsat.
The younger generation works in the government and private sectors.
To reach Temburong from Bandar Seri Begawan, a visitor can take a forty-five minute to an hour boat-ride from the jetty which is located opposite Jasra Harrison in the Brunei capital.
A twenty to twenty-five minute drive from Bangar town takes the visitor to Batang Duri Jetty.
From there, you can take a thirty to forty minute ride on a long boat called Temuai to the national park.
At the park, the visitor can see a suspension bridge near the beginning of the walkway to the "Canopy".
The walkway to the Canopy has about one thousand, two hundred and twenty-six steps.
Under the bridge is the Sungai Belalong or Belalong river, which is a popular spot for the Temburong locals to go fishing or mouse-deer hunting. The people of the area believe that eating the brain of a mouse-deer will make them as smart as the animal.
Along the walkway to the Canopy, one is amazed to learn of the trees that can be used as for making herbal medicines, musical instruments, doors of mosques, blow pipes and long boats like the Temuai. Fruits from the trees can also be made into fruit salad.
Also along the walkway, curious wild animals like squirrels can be seen peeping out of tree trunks.
The forest is full of "composers" making different kinds of music such as the hornbills and owls, which can be heard but not necessarily seen.
At the end of the walkway is the forty-three metre canopy stairway where the trekkers can see a breathtaking view of Limbang, Sabah and Sarawak.
After coming down from the walkway, a stop-over at a longhouse is another fascinating visit.
The longhouse can house up to sixteen families comprising eighty-six people.
All of the people living there are either friends or family members.
Usually the head of a longhouse is first elected by the village members and then are approved by His Majesty's Government.
Although the members of the longhouse practise several religions, they live in harmony. A common get-together among them is the Gawai festival, which is celebrated annually by the Iban on June 1.
Many other interesting areas in Temburong can also be visited.
Visitors unfamiliar with the territory can be accompanied by tour guides.
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