Long Pasia Adventure

Long Pasia Adventure @ Diverse Borneo

If your looking for breathtaking nature, interesting historical sites and great hospitality, then your next destination should be Ulu Padas. It is one of the richest plant diversity sites in Borneo and it is especially known for its abundance of orchids, rhododendrons and pitcher plant. A small ethnic group call Lundayeh can only be found in Ulu Padas with the  population of only 550, they were once known to be the fearless headhunters, today most of them are Christian community and has a homestay programmed which the locals bid you to come into their homes.

The Lundayeh people live mainly in the south western region of Sabah, close to the borders of Sarawak and Kalimantan. The word Lundayeh means people of the interior or upriver, the Lundayeh were farmers but then mainly depending the jungle produce and hunting wild animal. They were once renowned as the fearless warriors and headhunters where they lived in one great Long House (ruma kadang), but now most people live in single dwelling houses where they have developed Homestay program which bid you to come and stay with them. One of the most interesting ceremonies of the Lundayeh is their wedding ceremony (awah), which is the most elaborate rituals and us based on the local adapt or customary law. Prior to the wedding, serious negotiations for the engagement (gayum tuduk) are initiated after the father of the prospective groom has agree with his close kinsmen. Traditionally, exchange plays an important role in Lundayeh society where it is closely linked to spiritual and physical health. Normally during a wedding the exchange of valuables consist of sulang (return valuables from the brides family) and furut (gifts from the groom's family). These will include money, livestock and prestige items consisting of jars (rubi and tabu), ceremonial swords and beads (baau). Nasi Buaya (little crocodile rice) is placed in front of the bridal couple and it is accompanied by items such as Gongs (represent as money) and coils of rattan (1 coil of rattan equal to 1 buffalo). In the olden days, the father of the bride might ask for 30 buffaloes as bride-price. It is understood that once the groom uncovers the Nasi Buaya, they are bound to the bride's father request .