Bario
Encyclopedia
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- For the genus of characid fishes, see Bario (fish).
Bario is a Malaysian village located in the centre of the Kelabit Highlands
Kelabit Highlands
The Kelabit Highlands are a mountain range located in the northernmost part of Sarawak, on the island of Borneo. The highest mountains in this range are Mount Murud at 2,423 m , Bukit Batu Buli at 2,082 m , and Bukit Batu Lawi at 2,046 m .In the Kelabit Highlands, there are 14...
in the north east of Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
, very close to the international border with Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
n Kalimantan
Kalimantan
In English, the term Kalimantan refers to the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, while in Indonesian, the term "Kalimantan" refers to the whole island of Borneo....
, and 3280 feet above sea level. It is the main settlement in the Kelabit Highlands. There are regular flights between Bario Airport
Bario Airport
Bario Airport is an airport in Bario, a town in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia.-Airlines and destinations:-External links:* at Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad...
and Ba'kelalan
Ba'kelalan
Ba'kelalan is a group of nine villages in the Bario Highlands of Sarawak, Malaysia about above sea level and 4 km from the border with Indonesian Kalimantan. The villagers belong to the Lun Bawang tribe...
, Marudi and Miri
Miri
Miri is a city in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It is the second largest city in Sarawak, with a population of about 300,000, and the government administrative centre of Miri District in Miri Division....
.
People
The Kelabit, at approximately 5000 people, is one of the smallest ethnic groups in Sarawak. Like many other indigenous communities in Sarawak, the Kelabit live in longhouses in the highlands. However, due to economic and social factors, many have migrated to live in urban areas over the last 20 years. It is estimated that roughly only 1200 Kelabit are still living in the highlands.The Kelabit language is widely spoken, and many have also learned to speak English and Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
.
History
Over a century ago, the Kelabits were somewhat involved in headhuntingHeadhunting
Headhunting is the practice of taking a person's head after killing them. Headhunting was practised in historic times in parts of China, India, Nigeria, Nuristan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Borneo, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan, Micronesia, Melanesia, New Zealand, and the Amazon Basin, as...
raids, not so much for ritual purposes but as a means to prove one’s courage, bravery or valour, and to get even with their enemy. However, things have changed. Today among other things, the Kelabits are well-known for their friendliness and hospitality. They embraced Christianity during the 1940s through the influence of Guru Paul, also known as Nimang Tepun.
In the year 1946, the first school was opened by Tom Harrison, who lived with the Kelabits for two years after the Second World War. In the year 2001, the Bario community was named as one of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities by World Teleport Association.
Location
The Kelabit Highlands is tucked in the north eastern of Sarawak and is very close to the international border between Kalimantan and Sarawak. Bario is located on the Kelabit Highlands, 3280 feet above sea level. It is the unofficial capital of the Kelabit Highlands. All roads lead to Bario. Due to geographical barrier, this wonderful place is isolated from the rest of the world.Infrastructure and facilities
Despite its remoteness, there are many infrastructures such as an airport, telecentre for internet access and computer services, schools, churches, clinic, police station and shops.The people
The Kelabit, at approximately 5000 people, is one of the smallest ethnic groups in Sarawak... Like many other indigenous communities in Sarawak, the Kelabit live in longhouses on the highlands. However, due to economic and social factors, many have migrated to live in urban areas over the last 20 years. It is estimated that roughly only 1200 Kelabit are still living on the highlands.Education
The Kelabits include lawyers, doctors, politicians and professionals. Kelabits are high achievers, highly educateed and an extremely bright bunch of people! An example of this would be that in the mid nineties, the heads of the legal departments of all the major oil companies operating in Malaysia were Kelabit.The Kelabit speak their language which is called "Kelabit". Today, many have learned to speak English and Malay languages.
Agriculture
The community's main economic activity is agriculture, mainly growing Bario rice. The cool climate at the average 20 oC enables the residents to cultivate citrus fruits besides rice. Besides, Bario is famous for its high-potash Bario-made salt and the refreshing, juicy Bario pineapple. In addition the Kelabits are interested in sheep, and cattle.Unique
HandicraftThe Kelabits value ceramic jars, brass gongs and beads. These items are inherited from their ancestor. The beads are used to make beaded hats (peta baa' rawir) and necklaces that are worn by the Kelabit women especially on special occasion. Visitors can purchase some of these beads as souvenirs too.
Musical instruments
A traditional musical instrument is the sape', a plucked lute instrument. It is carved from tree trunk in an elongated rectangular shape with a homogenous neck extending from one end of the body. Formerly, its three or four strings were made from finely split rattan, but today they are made of wire strings.
The Kelabit also play the pagang (tube zither), which is made from a length of bamboo tube closed at both ends by its natural bamboo nodes. The strings are finely cut strips from the surface of the bamboo tube itself, which are still attached to the tube at either end.
On special occasion such as Iraus or during visits by VIPs (Very Important Persons), the school children will form a bamboo band where all the musical instruments that are played are made from bamboo.
In 1946 the first school was opened by Tom Harrison, who lived with the Kelabits for two years after the Second World War. In 2001 the Bario community was named as one of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities by World Teleport Association .
Agriculture
The community's main economic activity is agriculture, mainly growing Bario rice. The cool climate at the average 20°C enables the residents to cultivate citrus fruits besides rice. Bario is also famous for its high-potash Bario-made salt and the refreshing, juicy Bario pineapplePineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
.