History of Bario

Bario is a peaceful village located in the centre of the Kelabit Highlands in the north east of Sarawak, Malaysia. It is almost sharing international borders with the Indonesian Kalimantan, and is about 3280 feet above sea level. It is the main settlement in the Kelabit Highlands. There are regular flights between Bario Airport, Miri &  Marudi. As for their history, the Kelabits are mostly found in the region stretching from the Karayan and the Kelapang River northwards to the Upper Limbang River, a belt of the Kelabit hinterland.

More than 200 years ago, these groups of people were only known among themselves by their settlement. The name Kelabit was only 'given' to the tribe later. How the name was actually derived was unknown. One of the more popular theories is that it derives the name from the River Pa' Labid. But due to wrong pronunciation, the words Pa' Labid was pronounced as 'Kelabit'. Thus, it now refers to the tribe of kinsmen speaking the same dialect.

Over a century ago, the Kelabits were somewhat involved in headhunting 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 History 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. 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 40 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 Bahasa Malaysia.

Infrastructure and facilities

Despite its remoteness, there are some basic infrastructures such as an airport, telecentre for internet access and computer services, schools, churches, clinic, police station and shops. There are two daily flights to Bario from Miri and it takes about 50 minutes on the Twin Otter airplane.  At Miri Airport, each passenger is only allowed to take around 10 kg loads or luggage with them to fly to Bario. When passengers are returning from Bario airport to Miri airport, their luggage cannot exceed 15 kg simply because the runway at Bario airport is very short.

 In the past, even after tourists have purchased a confirmed ticket from Bario to Miri, they still require to go to MAS office at the Bario Airport to register their name into a log book to further confirm their return date to Miri. This was necessary then because the plane has limited seats and the local MAS-Wings officer accorded special privileges to Bario citizens in securing a seat on the plane (before tourists!).

However after the newly reconstructed runway, everyone has been treated equally irrespective of their citizenship status. Despite this, it is essential to make an effort to be at the airport well in advance of departure time to avoid disappointment.  Flights can still arrive and depart early irrespective of weather conditions. For overseas tourist, upon reaching Bario, it is a courtesy to go to the immigration department for a simple and quick registration. If you encounter any problems during arrival at Bario airport, do not hesitate to ask for help around, the Kelabit people are very warm and friendly and will always go out of their way to ensure that visitors are comfortable.

Bario Airport, Sarawak – Malaysia.

Agriculture

The community's main economic activity is agriculture, mainly growing Bario rice. The cool climate at the average 20 degrees centigrade enables the residents to cultivate citrus fruits besides rice. Besides, Bario is famous for its Bario rice & mountain salt as well as the refreshing juicy Bario pineapples. In addition the Kelabits take keen interest in sheep, and cattle farming.

Pa' Umor Salt Spring

Salt Artesian well

Woman pouring and filtering salt water

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Boiling salt water round the clock ie 24 hrs.

Process of boiling

Salt residual after completion of boiling

Salt  is put in bamboos to solidify and holes are made underneath the bamboos to further remove salt water.

Result of salt collection from Bamboos, Salt water are put back into the drums to reboil again

After draining all salt water , it is stack near fire to further dry them.

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Completed salt ready for packing

Salt packed and ready for sale

Wrapping of salt

Unique Handicraft

The Kelabits value ceramic jars, brass gongs and beads. These items are inherited from their ancestors. 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 from the Bario handicraft Shop.

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 from wires. 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, the school children will form a bamboo band where all the musical instruments that are played are made from bamboo.

Kelabit beauties

Activities

 A.      The Bario & Kelabit Highlands’ Food & Cultural Festival is a unique community-run event that takes place in the beautiful forested highlands of Central Borneo. Established in 2005, it has grown into a 3 day celebration of food, farming, forest and cultural heritage in the longhouses, plains and mountains of the Kelabit Highlands, the cultural homeland of the Kelabit race and one of Malaysia's largest surviving forested areas. The Bario & Kelabit Highlands’ Food & Cultural Festival takes place in the month of July and is a yearly affair. If you love exotic and traditionally farmed foods, wild foods, jungle trekking, wildlife watching and cultural tourism, come and join the community for this celebrations. With traditional cultural shows, wild food walks and home stays, it promises to be a wonderful experience. The Bario & Kelabit Highlands’ Food & Cultural Festival is supported by the Kelabit Highlands Community, Rurum kelabit & Ministry of Tourism.

B.     Adventure: Fishing & Hunting

Fancy making your adrenalin rush by shooting down rapids or go for jungle treking while enjoying the tranquility of one of the highlands of Bario? If you are one of those thrill seekers, then you are very much welcome to Bario.

Guarded by the majestic Mount Murud (3480 feet above sea level) and located amidst a lush green jungle, Bario is home to more than 5000 Kelabits, an ethnic group of the Orang Ulu community.  For the adventure seekers, this would be an ideal place for its challenging fishing, hunting & water activities due to the beautiful Pa’ dapur River.  Opt for exhilarating trip down the Pa’Dapur River to Long Bayu campsite for an overnight stay and enjoy the cool and windy weather.

 
Another activity that you can indulge in is fishing along the Pa’Dapur.  Bario boasts of its abundance in fresh water carp, which is locally known as ' Ikan Semah'. People can go for a relaxing picnic at one of the numerous 'rocky kerangans' of the Pa’Berang River while enjoying its flora and fauna & its rich fishing grounds.  In Bario, one can only depend on farming, fishing or planting fruit trees for an income.