User:Lianpazan

BARIO

Bario is the capital of the Kelabit Highlands. Bario (population 900) is isolated from the rest of the world and you can only reach it by plane. It takes one hour by air from Miri on a MAS Twin Otter 19-seater aircraft. Despite its geographical barrier, there are many infrastructures such as an airport, internet access and computer services, police station, two schools, churches, clinic, shops and various offices manned by skeletal staff. The children recently started playing computer games and doing their English lessons on PCs.

The Kelabit Highlands are on a picturesque flat plateau in the north-eastern corner of Sarawak. It is 1,000m to 1,100m above sea level. All roads on the plateau lead to Bario.

Approximately there are still 5000 people, but there are about 1800 people living in 355 families at the Highlands. The others have moved elsewhere in Malaysia; younger people have left for large cities to further their studies, while others married outside their community and never returned. Many have landed well-paid jobs overseas and have settled there.

The Kelabit have their own language, although most of them have learned to speak English or Malay. However, its remoteness has been no barrier to locals, some of whom have become academic high achievers. The Kelabit have one of the highest ratio of professionals. Among them are an Associate Professor, medical specialists, lawyers, engineers and corporate high flyers who have travelled widely. The Kelabit live in the highlands at the head of the Baram River, until recently a very inaccessible area. The Kelabit are also notable for being very tall and large of build, and they built many megalithic (large stone) monuments. Over a century ago, the Kelabits were involved in head hunting raids, not so much for ritual purposes but as a means to prove one’s courage, bravery, guts or valency, and to get even with their enemy. However, things have changed. Today among other things, the Kelabits are well-known for the friendliness and hospitality. The Bario Highlands were first visited by Australian Christian missionaries many decades ago. The Kelabit embraced Christianity during the 1940s through the influence of Guru Paul, also known as Nimang Tepun.

http://www.kelabit.net/ http://www.ebario.com/ http://www.bario.info/index.php?title=Main_Page http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/myymc-miri-marriott-resort-and-spa/