Apple Fiesta Ba' Kelalan: The Colourful Heart of Borneo

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Ba' Kelalan: The Colourful Heart of Borneo

"Ba' Kelalan, My Home Sweet Home" song were sung by the Lun Bawang natives choir almost everyday at the Apple Fiesta last March. The song describes how much they love their ancestral land and how they adore the beautiful life of their birthplace in this misty highland of Borneo. Hosting two dozen of media members and guests, Ba' Kelalan residents and those who worked outside also came home to cherish the moment of togetherness and the charming ambiance of the three-day long Apple Fiesta 2008.

This year, the annual Apple Fiesta was held for the second time from 27 until 29 March 2008 and much to the villagers' delight, MASwings also launched the inaugural non-stop flight from Miri to Ba' Kelalan on the first day of the festival.

Previously, the residents of the 13 villages of Ba' Kelalan were using the twice weekly flight from Miri via Lawas. They can also choose to commute by motorbike or four wheel drive pickup vehicle to other location of Lawas in Sarawak or Long Bawan in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Lawas is another 170 km by distant and Ba' Kelalan is the last frontier town four km away before the Kalimantan boder.

Now MASwings has provided an easier way for tourists to get to this highland, which is at 900 meter above sea level. All year long, this highland offers a spectacular view of mountainous terrain with its glorious padi fields. Apart from the view, there's more you can find in Ba' Kelalan.

At the beginning of Apple Fest, the Lun Bawang's rich culture was demonstrated by the "Long Dance" as soon the the guests walk out off the 19 passenger DHC-6 Twin Otter plane. At the end of the one kilometer airstrip, a group of 15 women in black and white attire and yellow beads head cover dance gracefully to the VIPs who just arrived from Miri. The younger women wear black attire with yellow beads on their head and thigh. A local bamboo band performed as a welcoming gesture.

On the first day the media representatives arrived, we were taken to an uphill walk to the place called View Point and a waterfall at Barui River. We have to walk at least 800 meter uphill and go through mud and thick forests. We were heavily soaked when there was a sudden downpour just after reaching the waterfall.

Nevertheless, it was a nice experience for all participants especially when we arrived at the View Point. The panoramic view of the whole village and the surrounding mountains was tremendous and breathtaking.

The Apple Fest 2008 displays a wide array of appeals in cultural aspects, the adventure, the people and most importantly, the apple itself.

Ba' Kelalan apple orchard offers a variety of apple hybrid and type namely Granny Smith, Lady William, Apple Anna, Manalagi (renamed Ba' Kelalan Apple), Tropical Beauty and Rome Beauty besides apple pie and apple jam which were the by-product that also came out of the Apple Lodge's kitchen.

When we were at Long Langai, one of the main villages of Ba' Kelalan, the guests once again experienced the colourful cultural displays of dance, music and food. Most of the villagers participated in showing the life in Ba' Kelalan including a unique way to catch fish in padi fields. That morning around 15 women were involved in the exercise where they have to usher the fish into bamboo traps placed along a mud barrier. They managed to catch some and one of the older ladies laughed and said in English, "Only a small fish!" That makes all the guests laugh and giggle.

From Buduk Nur, we can reach Long Langai in half an hour. We walk on a cemented pavement, crossing two wooden bridges, along padi fields. The surrounding view was spectacular especially when the morning mist moves slowly between the peripheral hills.

The primary school of Ba' Kelalan is situated in Long Langai and most of its pupils stayed in hostels because their village is far away.

At Long Langai, we had another Lun Bawang merry occasion with melodic songs in the air, foods galore and the most interesting part: the war dance. Guest were delighted to participate in the "Bele' Dance". This is when everybody dances to a simple joyful beat and make a big round of long line and the song never seems to end!

The tune of Home Sweet Home is still melodiously ringing in my ears as we make our way back home. The truth is, Ba' Kelalan definitely provide just the break I needed in many ways. Ba' Kelalan has give me a great adventure and a great understanding of the Lun Bawang's culture and its friendly people.