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Hi Friends,

the last 3 days were probably the weirdest days in my life! After a 7.5 hours trip from Kuching to Betong (which is only around 180km distance!!) we arrived at a totally non-touristic place close to Betong in a so-called Longhouse (see here for information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longhouse#Borneo_longhouse) where the relatives of one of our guides live. After having some delicious cashew nuts, papaya slices and loads of coffee we went to a longhouse not far away to take part in a funeral.
Around 200 people from different longhouses came together. We were the only white guests taking part in a funeral at that longhouse ever, so everybody came to see us and we were offered loads of food (such as for example very sticky rice in a piece of bambo) rice wine, beers and other spirits. After being in one apartment for a while, we were asked to move to the next one, and to the next family, where the procedure of eating and drinking continued. In total we were in 3 apartments and then in the main entrance hall in front of all apartments. Fortunately, I found out how to decline drinking more and more (very, very strong) rice wine and beers in a friendly way (just by drinking water all the time!)- our hosts didn't accept a "no, thanks". One family invited us to stay over at their place, so we had a very short night in a room with 10 other people (including 2 babys in hangmats) and at 6 o' clock in the morning we had to leave together with the other guests who cannot stay for another 2 days (what you have to do if you stay longer than that).
After some coffees in Betong we headed to a very isolated longhouse in the middle of the jungle to see our other guide's uncle there. He told us stories about the Iban people, we went for a ride on his boat and swimming in the river and in the afternoon he took us to the jungle close to his longhouse where we cut a palm tree to get some vegetables for the dinner. Stanley and his wife cooked for us, arranged beds for us and were amazing hosts.
Today in the morning we left to go to see a massive artificial lake that was built to win electricity. More than 10.000 Iban people who lived in the area had to move as their communities were flooded. More dams and artificial lakes are planned and our friends from Sahabat Alam (Friends of the Earth Malaysia) are campaigning against this. Maybe we can find a way how YFoEE can help as the corporations who built these dams are european or get money from european banks...
Tomorrow, we are going to Bako to see some animals in the night and add another 1000 pictures to the existing 1000000 ones ;)

Love,
Anna