Ready…set…mark your calendars because something extraordinary is about to hit the shores of Sarawak! The inaugural Borneo Sonic Music Festival is set to take place at Sarawak Stadium, Kuching, on 6-7 October 2023. 

International Superstars Light Up the Stage

This highly anticipated event sends ripples of excitement through the hearts of music lovers far and wide. It has already garnered significant attention for what’s in store – a star-studded international lineup that will set the stage on fire…metaphorically speaking.

Prepare to be dazzled by some of the biggest names in the music industry. With the likes of Taeyang (BIGBANG), CL (2NE1), Suho (EXO), Hyo (SNSD), and many more set to grace the festival, you can expect an electrifying experience that will keep you dancing all night long. 

Music and Food Lovers…Unite

What’s a festival without food? Catch the Seoul Good Food Festival just outside the stadium to satisfy your palate! Besides, you’ll need the energy for all that dancing and singing.

If you’re feeling adventurous, spend the night with other music lovers at the Borneo Sonic Music Festival campsite. Click here for the festival map.

Getting There

Getting to the Borneo Sonic Music Festival is a breeze. Shuttle buses will be available to ferry festival-goers to and from the venue. There is also an option to take e-hailing cars to the event. 

However, for those who prefer to travel in style and comfort, look no further! With TREVO, you can rent a car of your choice and make your way to the festival grounds at your own pace and accord. 

“Come for the Festival, Stay for the Experience”

While you’re gearing up for the sensational beats at the Borneo Sonic Music Festival, remember to carve out some time to explore the enchanting city of Kuching, Sarawak. This captivating destination is a treasure trove of culture, boasting extraordinary cuisine, breathtaking natural wonders, and much more. For a start, here’s a listicle of 10 Exciting Things to Do in Kuching!

To make the most of your experience, plan your trip for ample preparation and snag your festival tickets before they’re sold out. Make sure to setel your transportation needs earlier, too — just head on to the TREVO app and choose your festival ride!  

The post Borneo Sonic Music Festival: Unveiling Borneo’s Biggest Music Event! appeared first on TREVO Stories.

Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching

Sarawak Cultural Village is a living museum located 32km away from the capital of Sarawak, Kuching. It is a must-see location for tourists who want to learn about Sarawak’s rich, diversified, and unique traditions and cultures. The village is home to a variety of traditional homes, each representing one of the various ethnic groups in Sarawak. 

The cultural village displays the tribal ways of life practised by several ethnic groups throughout Sarawak, the stunning Land of Hornbills. The village has roughly 150 residents who participate in regular events that showcase the arts, crafts, games, and delicacies that belong to the seven main ethnic groups, namely, Malays, Chinese, Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Melanau and Penan.

Brief History of Sarawak Cultural Village

First and foremost, it is owned by the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation or SEDC. The tourism sector encouraged the village’s establishment in the 1960s. The concept arose spontaneously as a result of the distinctiveness of indigenous people’s house architecture in Sarawak, as well as the area’s attractive, green, and pristine natural surroundings. 

The village was built on a 17 acres area which was already put aside. Cultural performances in the village garden in the 1970s are thought to have been the driving force behind the 1989 establishment of the Sarawak Cultural Village.

Due to civilization and modernity, many of Sarawak’s native tribes have left their homelands and moved to the city. They believe that the Sarawak Cultural Village is an excellent project for preserving culture and traditional practices, hence preventing the extinction of these tribes. 

Sarawak Cultural Village Entrance Fee

Sarawak Cultural Village entrance fee offers 1-Day Admission and 1-Day Admission with Lunch. The prices are as below:

1-Day Admission 

Note that the ticket is for entrance only and valid for only 1 day.

Adult: RM85

Child: RM55 (2 to 12 years old)

1-Day Admission with Lunch

Note that the ticket is for entrance and lunch only which will be valid for only 1 day.

Adult: RM117

Child: RM80 (2 to 12 years old)

If you wish to get a tour of the Sarawak Cultural Village, Klook offers a half-day trip where you can learn everything about the cultural village. The package will cover admission to Sarawak Cultural Village, an English-speaking guide, bottled drinking water as well as round-trip transfers to and from your hotel Click here to book your trip! 

Besides Klook, Amazing Borneo Tours & Events also offers a 4-hour tour which will be sufficient enough for you to cover the whole cultural village. This package includes hotel pickup & drop off, land transportation (seat-in-coach) and an English-speaking guide. You can click here to book your trip! 

Both of the tours offer a morning session as well as an afternoon session with Klook priced at RM175 and Amazing Borneo Tours & Events priced at RM260 per adult and RM130 per child with a minimum of 2 people per group.

What To See & Expect in Sarawak Cultural Village

When walking around the village, there are many Sarawak Cultural Village activities where visitors can observe local culture and daily routines. Wood and bamboo carving, beadwork, weaving, sago-making, sugarcane crushing, pepper planting, and bird nest preparation are among the activities available. Expect to learn how to throw a Malay spinning top, fire a Penan blowpipe, and play an Orang Ulu sape!

These are some of the highlights you can see at the Sarawak Cultural Village:

1. The Collection of Traditional Houses

The collection of traditional houses in Sarawak Cultural Village is its best feature. There are a total of seven houses, each of which represents a different ethnic community. You can view real Bidayuh, Iban, Orang Ulu, Penan, Melanau, and Malay homes in addition to a Chinese farmhouse. The houses are constructed using traditional techniques and supplies, decorated and furnished with authentic items. They reflect the unique cultural identities of each tribe and are created to be beneficial and aesthetically beautiful. 

Locals who live in the homes will describe the traditions and customs of their particular ethnic community. This offers tourists a unique chance to learn about the day-to-day activities of Sarawak’s native population.

2. The Cultural Dance

Visitors can immerse themselves in traditional dances performed by people dressed in traditional attire, such as the hornbill dance and the ngajat. Additionally, traditional instruments like the sape and gendang are used in musical performances. These performances offer viewers an insight into Sarawak’s rich cultural past, which makes them both amusing and educational.

The scheduled programme of the cultural performances allows guests to organise their visit accordingly so be sure to check before coming! The Sarawak Cultural Village showtime is at 11:30am and 4:00pm daily.

3. Sarawak Cultural Village Museum

Another thing to see at Sarawak Cultural Village is the museum. It includes displays of traditional clothing, weapons, and musical instruments as well as exhibits on the history, culture, and traditions of the numerous tribes of Sarawak. The museum offers a deeper appreciation of the unique traditions and the relevance of the cultural heritage of the community.

How To Get To Sarawak Cultural Village

The Sarawak Cultural Village is about a 40-minute drive from Kuching. No car to drive around Sarawak? Trevo will get you covered with an extensive car selection for you to drive around the state.

If you are near the Grand Margherita Hotel, Kuching, you can take the van shuttle that is already prepared there. You can also take Grab to the cultural village, but we recommend planning your return transportation as well! 

Sarawak Cultural Village address is located at Pantai Damai Santubong, Kampung Budaya Sarawak, 93752 Kuching, Sarawak (Google Maps).

Ride with TREVO

TREVO has the perfect car for every occasion, such as cruising by the beach, a fun ride around town, a road trip, or exploring the Sarawak Cultural Village!

Rent a car with TREVO and immerse yourself in the traditions and cultures of the Sarawak Cultural Village!

The post Guide to Visiting Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching appeared first on TREVO Stories.

Sarawak, which is the biggest of Malaysia’s 13 states, is renowned for its distinctive regional cuisine, which features native herbs and fresh seafood. If you’re visiting Kuching without indulging in a hefty bowl of laksa Sarawak or sipping tuak, a traditional rice-based alcoholic beverage that is unique to the Dayak community, you cannot tell us your trip is complete!

Like all Malaysians, Sarawakians take great pride in their cuisine. The late Anthony Bourdain even referred to Sarawak laksa as “the breakfast of Gods” in one of his books. Aside from that specific cuisine, Sarawak is also known for kolo mee and kek lapis, which can be found pretty much everywhere in the state.

Uniqueness of Sarawak Food

You will find that the food in Sarawak is just as diverse as the state’s many different ethnic groups if you spread out a table with different Sarawak cuisines. Every indigenous community in Sarawak has a speciality that is distinctive to that group—their own culinary character. 

The spiced rice porridge known as Bubur Pedas is a speciality of the Sarawak Malay people. The Iban, meanwhile, enjoy their Tuak, a sort of rice wine. Moreover, the Linut, a treat produced from sago starch, is a speciality of the Melanau people, and Sarawak’s Chinese cuisine is renowned for its Kacang Ma, believed to be from the Chinese Hakka origin with a lot of health benefits, and Kueh Chap, flat rice noodles in pork broth topped with sliced pork meat and innards. If you ever wonder what to eat in Kuching, don’t worry because there are plenty of options!

10 Foods To Eat in Kuching

1. Kueh Chap

A Teochew meal known as kueh chap basically translates to mean “cake and gravy.” For those who are unfamiliar, kueh chap is a hearty bowl of flat rice noodles drenched in a pork stew that is stuffed to the gills with meat and innards.

Most kopitiams and hawker centres in the Kuching area sell kueh chap, but the best place to eat in Kuching for the best kueh chap is Woon Lam Cafe. There is a kueh chap stall that has been around since 1985 and is still a locals’ favourite. Their pork meat is presented in a flavorful stew and is fresh, tender, and well-marinated. 

*non-halal

2. Sarawak Laksa

Sarawak laksa, which is closely linked to other laksa variants, is the best food in Sarawak! It is distinguished by a delicate, mild flavour. The soup is served with vermicelli noodles, shredded omelette, cooked prawns, and shredded chicken. 

It also consists of a savoury chicken or shrimp-based broth that is seasoned with thick laksa paste, which occasionally contains more than twenty distinct ingredients. Lime and hot sambal are typically provided on the side. 

3. Kolo Mee

One of the Kuching famous food one must try would be kolo mee! It is a simple noodle meal that is served for you to eat anytime whether it is for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is made up of yellow egg noodles that have been mixed in a light sauce before being topped with chicken cutlets, minced beef, or pieces of grilled pork, also known as char siew. For the non-halal ones, it may contain lard.

There are typically two flavours available for the dish: red sauce seasoning or plain. Additionally, you could ask for it to be seasoned with black vinegar or soy sauce, depending on your mood of the day.

*non-halal

4. Tebaloi (Sago Biscuit)

Tebaloi is one of the traditional Malaysian snacks with origins in Sarawak. Sago flour, eggs, desiccated coconut, turmeric, sugar, and different flavourings are typically used in its preparation. The dough is made up of Sago flour, coconut, sugar, and eggs.

It is flattened and set over hot embers on a big banana leaf. Once they needed to be cut into squares, the dough is removed and put back after cutting. The crackers are even more flattened by the addition of a large block on top of them. These crackers have a distinctive flavour because of the woodsmoke.

5. Crispy Tomato Mee

Another popular dish in Sarawak is the tomato crispy mee. This recipe is perfect for you if you enjoy tomatoes. Even if you’re not a fan of tomatoes, you might change your mind once you take a bite of this. Deep-fried and topped with copious amounts of tomato ketchup soup, the kolo mee is served with chicken, prawns, fish balls, green vegetables, fish cake, squid, and prawns.

6. Kacang Ma

Famous Chinese Hakka confinement cuisine known as kacang ma is initially prepared for women to replace the body’s nourishment following childbirth while they are in confinement. Motherwort herb, also known as Ka Chian Ma, is the primary herbal component in this chicken meal, which is usually prepared and served with sesame oil, ginger, and rice wine or Chinese cooking wine.

This meal is special because it has a powerful liquor flavour with a delicate dry and sweet flavour, so it could take some getting used to. These days, both men and women eat this dish frequently for its excellent nutritious content.

*non-halal

7. Umai

The Melanau fisherman from Central Sarawak invented the well-known native dish umai as a quick meal during fishing trips. Thin slices of raw, fresh fish, prawns, or squid are marinated in calamansi lime juice with chilies, onions, garlic, and salt in this meal. It is best served with steamed rice because the acidity in the lime juice will quickly “cook” the contents.

8. White Lady

The renowned ice kacang of Malaysia has inspired a local dish of Sarawak called White Lady. Condensed milk is used in place of the syrup and gula melaka that West Malaysians are used to seeing in traditional ice kacang, but the technique and ingredients are otherwise the same. The outcome is a delightful cool-down on a hot day: a bowl of sweet and creamy shaved ice topped with jellies and fruits.

9. Ding Bian Hu

Ding bian hu is a type of flat rice noodle that is prepared in a distinctive way. It is a cross between pan mee and hor fun. The batter will be distributed on the sides of the heated wok while the soup cooks after a large wok has been prepared to boil the soup.

In order to allow the soup’s flavour to permeate the noodles, the batter must be fully cooked before it hardens and may be scraped off and placed into the hot soup. Meatballs, pork slices, coriander, and fried shallots are frequently included in the serving.

*non-halal

10. Nasi Aruk

In contrast to typical fried rice, Nasi Aruk is a traditional Sarawak Malay fried rice that uses no oil to fry the rice. That means Nasi Aruk is considered healthy too! 

To generate a smokey, barbecue flavour, the steamed rice will be continuously seared in a dry wok with chopped garlic, onion, and anchovies. This dish is available to order in nearby Malay eateries and coffee shops at Kuching.

Ride with TREVO

TREVO has the most extensive car selection, with models ranging from low-cost to the greatest vehicles for every need. TREVO has the perfect vehicle for any occasion, whether it’s beach cruising, a fun ride around town, a road trip, or food hunting in Kuching, Sarawak!

Rent a car with TREVO and tour around Kuching and Sarawak, savouring all the delicacies!

The post 10 Things To Eat in Kuching You Should Try On Your Visit! appeared first on TREVO Stories.

Top things to do in Kuching, Sarawak

1. Catch a water show at Kuching Waterfront

The Kuching Waterfront is the best place to soak in sunset views of the city and go for a refreshing walk. With a boat ride, you’ll be able to see the Malay kampungs along the Sarawak River, Fort Margherita, and Astana. However, when night falls, the waterfront becomes a nightlife haven — expect vibrant water shows and sample the best local cuisines from nearby restaurants. 

2. Shop for souvenirs at Main Bazaar

When you’re looking for souvenirs to take home after your trip, why not stop by the Main Bazaar? It’s located near the Kuching Waterfront, and you’ll find a market’s worth of ethnic handicrafts and antiques. 

After that, you can explore the rest of the street’s old-fashioned Chinese shophouses and enjoy a small treat at a cafe. 

3. Go cafe-hopping at Saradise, an urban township in the city

Saradise is a lively township in Kuching that centres around the lifestyle category. There is a shopping mall and a residential area, a grocery store, and many F&B outlets to explore. Chill with a cup of coffee or two Elementary Coffee Roasters or dig into a rich avocado burger at Avocbar Malaysia Saradise Kuching. Cafe-hopping is one of the best things to do in Kuching; you certainly won’t regret it!

On a different note, if you love art, the Saradise Gallery is a great place to immerse yourself in the works of local artists.

4. Immerse yourself in local arts and culture at Think & Tink 

Speaking of art… There’s another spot in Kuching to bring out your creative side! Think & Tink is a supermarket-turned-art space that hosts all kinds of creative events worth signing up for. These include interactive workshops, film screenings, art exhibitions, live performances, and more! Either way, Think & Tink has some of Kuching’s best things to do. 

5. Step into a purr-fect world of felines at the Cat Museum

In Malay, the word “kuching” directly translates to cat. Hence, a trip to Sarawak’s capital isn’t complete without visiting the Cat Museum. The museum is the first of its kind in the country, and it’s one of the best Sarawak attractions in the city. On your first visit, check out the cat-themed exhibits and admire the unique artefacts on display. You certainly won’t regret it!

Afterwards, you can hunt for Kuching’s famous cat statues, including the feline family in between Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman and Jalan Abell and the gorgeous white cat at the Padungan Roundabout. 

6. Snap the craziest pictures at Upside Down House 

Speaking of wacky museums, you must also check out the Upside Down House. As one of the best Sarawak attractions, it’s located near the Tune Hotel and is the perfect place for memorable pictures with your loved ones. There are tons of upside-themed rooms to test out, so go all out with your poses!

7. Spend a day lounging on a beach

The City of Cats is no stranger to stunning beaches, and there are plenty of beaches in Kuching for a more laid-back vacation. For example, Damai Beach is famous for its peaceful surroundings, while Pasir Panjang Beach is great for families who want to picnic by the shore. On the other hand, Rambungan Beach has crab sightings for little ones who love animals, while Pantai Puteri has pristine white sand. 

8. Treat yourself to a staycation at a resort 

Likewise, there are many resorts in the city to treat you and your family for the week. The Damai Beach Resort has comfortable rooms that face the sea, luxurious spas, and casual restaurants perfect for families. On the other hand, the Permai Rainforest Resort is a haven for nature lovers in the city. Expect a hillside cafe and spacious cabins, and fill up your time by kayaking or tackling a rope course. 

9. Learn about orangutans at Semenggoh Nature Reserve

Sarawak is home to many remarkable wildlife, including the orangutan. If you’re interested to learn more about these intelligent creatures, the Semenggoh Nature Reserve is the place to be! The nature reserve is a rehabilitation centre for orangutans and many other native bird species. In fact, one of their most famous attractions is the orangutan feeding sessions, which occur twice daily. 

10. Enter an ethereal world at Fairy Cave

The Fairy Cave is arguably the most popular attraction for travellers in Kuching. They are a marvel to behold. Stepping into one of the caves grants you a sight straight out of a fairytale book. The interiors are laden with moss, stalactites and stalagmites, and at certain times of the day, you’ll see why the caves are named a certain way. The light trickling in through a hole will refract across the stones, resulting in a dreamy backdrop like no other. 

Getting around Kuching

Getting around Kuching is relatively available. Many travellers in the city typically book a taxi or take the public bus, which will get them to their destinations at an affordable rate. However, if you want to skip the hassle, you can drive a car. Car rental services and a convenient way to get around Kuching are available. 

TREVO is an affordable car rental service based in Malaysia. From compact cars to SUVs, you can easily rent a car that will suit your family’s needs at the convenience of a smartphone. All you have to do is download the TREVO app for free, and you can enjoy up to 50% OFF on your first booking. Rent a car with TREVO today!

The post 10 Exciting Things to Do in Kuching With Family & Kids appeared first on TREVO Stories.