Sarawak - Borneo - page 310

TRINGGUS & GUNUNG BENGOH
Inland from Bau, most of the population is Bidayuh. Unlike their distant relations on the
eastern side of the Bengoh (Bungo) Range - that is, in the area around Padawan and An-
nah Rais - the Bau Bidayuh have never lived in longhouses. The area's Bidayuh speak a
number of distinct dialects.
Tour agencies in Kuching can arrange treks into the valleys around Gunung Bengoh
(966m) - including the fabled Hidden Valley (aka Lost World) - either from the Bau side
or the Padawan side. Kuching's Borneo Experiences ( Click here ) , for instance, runs treks
to the remote and very traditional Bidayuh longhouse community of Semban , where a
few old ladies still sport brass ankle bracelets. A three-day, two-night trip, including trans-
port, food and a guide, costs RM700/600 per person in a group of two/five.
Tringgus Bong , the furthest-inland of the three Bidayuh hamlets known collectively as
Tringgus, has a delightful homestay (per person incl food RM60) in House 392; for de-
tails, call Baon ( 012-882 9489) . At the confluence of two burbling streams, facing a
hillside pineapple patch and reached by a traditional wood-and-bamboo bridge, this para-
disiacal corner of Borneo is a great place to get away from it all. The nearest Indonesian
village, across the border in Kalimantan, is just two or three hours away on foot.
Two vans link Bau with Tringgus (RM4) four times a day until the early afternoon - for
details, call Baon ( 012-882 9489) or Bayin ( 014-579 7814) .
Getting There & Away
Bau is 43km southwest of Kuching. The town is linked to Kuching's Saujana Bus Station
(RM4.50, 1½ hours) by City Public Link bus B2 (hourly) and also by bus 2 (every 40
minutes), run jointly by Bau Transport Company (BTC) and Sarawak Transport Company
(STC).
Lundu
The quiet town of Lundu, an overgrown fishing village about 55km west of Kuching, is
the gateway to Gunung Gading National Park.
The road north out of town leads not only to Gunung Gading National Park but also to
two beaches that are popular with Kuchingites on weekends and holidays. Romantic,
coconut palm-fringed Pantai Pandan , 11km north of Lundu, is one of Sarawak's nicest