Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
mineral-rich saline water is put in giant vats over a roaring fire until all that's left is high-iodine salt that goes per-
fectly with local specialities such as deer and wild boar. This traditional production technique is beginning to die
out, but in Bario you can still purchase salt made the old way - look for something that resembles a 20cm-long
green Tootsie roll wrapped in a leaf (RM17 to RM20).
Drinking
Finding a beer in Bario can be a bit of a challenge. This is a very Evangelical town -
you're as likely to hear Christian country as the sound of the
sapé
- so most establish-
ments do not serve alcohol, and some of those that do keep it hidden. But what was it that
Matthew once said? 'Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find'.
At Pasar Bario, don't go through the swinging doors of the Bario Saloon looking for a
stiff drink - it's a unisex beauty salon!
BAR
Y2K
( 7am-midnight or later)
Local men quaff beer (RM4 to RM6) and play pool. Has
karaoke in the evening (until 10pm).
Keludai
(mains RM4; noon-1am or 2am)
An all-wood saloon with beer (RM4), instant
noodles, satellite TV and a pool table.
BAR
Shopping
Sinah Rang
(Bario Asal Longhouse; daily)
Sinah sells lovely Kelabit beadwork, all locally made,
from her living room. This is a good place to pick up a
kabo'
(RM50 to RM100, depend-
ing on the quality of the beads), a beadwork pendant shaped like a little beer barrel that's
worn around the neck by Kelabit men.
HANDICRAFTS
Y2K
( 7am-midnight or later)
An old-fashioned, Old West-style general store that sells
everything from SIM cards to something called Zam-Zam Hair Oil.
GENERAL STORE
