Trekking Up Bung Jagoi to the Old Kampong

DATE: Sunday 16^th October 2011;  TIME:       08h30 - 14h00

WHERE TO MEET: Parking of Mini-zoo & Café @ Turn Red, Jalan Serikin, Bau

BACKGROUND

Bung Jagoi is a sandstone hill about 360 meters high, half-way between Kampong Serasot and Kampong Duyoh. The Jagoi Bidayuh tribe used to live at the top of the hill in Kampong Jagoi Gunong. Most of them have now moved down to Serasot and Duyoh. When we first visited Jagoi on Sunday 8th February 2009, there were still two families living up there in the old Kampong, but the Head of the Village, Tua Kampong Jagoi Gunong, Mr Odeka anak Dirop, was very sick and the traditional healer from Kampong Stass was visiting him. At our second visit more than two years later on Sunday 7th August 2011, we learned that he had died in the meantime and there was only one single lady, Jema, left by herself in the old Kampong. However, our friend, Miku from Duyoh, keeps a house next to hers and the villagers from Duyoh and Serasot still visit their orchards around the Old Kampong regularly and come back for the various “Gawia” ceremonies.

DESCRIPTION 

The trip is an easy trek, close to Kuching. In 2009, the hill was still a fairly wild place, only rarely visited by school-children, as commemorated by a panel reading “Pandu Puteri SMK Lake was here on 29.8.98”, although concrete steps had already been built as early as 23.9.1989! However, Yung Kong Hardware were known regularly taking their staff on visits to the old village.

On our more recent visit, we found a group of tourists brought by boutique hotels from Kuching. Obviously, the place has tourism potential and it is timely for MNS to visit it. The nearby market at Kampong Duyoh, and the zoo and cave at the Turn Red Café are also worth visiting on the way. 

AGENDA

• 08.30: Meet on the car park at Mini-zoo & Café @ Turn Red, Jalan Serikin, Bau. Arrange car-pools as required.
• 08.45 sharp: Leave from the meeting point in a convoy and drive until the SIB Church at Kampong Serasot.
• 09.00: Regroup and park at the SIB Church. Briefing by William Ding, who will be leading the trek. Safety by Jacinta Wong, Registering of name and car number, signing of indemnity form by Kwan Cheong. From there, we take a small path through the fields to the hill a few minutes walk away. Steep climb up a path with typical Bidayuh wooden steps and rest benches, through tall fruit trees (durian, cempedak) with the occasional majestic tapang. We will also see some pitcher plant along the trail. Near the top, we will refresh at a lovely spring.
• 10.45: We reach Kampong Jagoi Gunong, take a leisurely stroll in the village and pay our respects at the Shrine of the Skulls.
• 11.15: Regroup and walk for the last stretch of path (about twenty minutes) to the summit of Bung Jagoi (359 meters) and to the balcony over-looking Kampong Serasot. Enjoy the view of the hills to the North. 
• 11.45: Walk back to Kampong Jagoi Gunong. Have a well-deserved lunch. Madame Jema has offered to cook us some rice. William will cook Bidayuh delicacies. We will taste the local tuak. Take Group Photo.
• 12.45: William will lead us back by the same path and on to a lovely stream near Serasot and then back to the car-park. Some of us may prefer to take the easy path direct to Kampong Duyoh and arrange to be picked up there later. The steepest parts on that side have convenient albeit sometimes slippery concrete steps. There is a small waterfall, popular with school-children near the road at Kampong Duyoh. Do not forget to register with Kwan if you choose that option.
• 14.00: Regroup to check-out, then drive back to the Turn Red Café or go shopping for plants and vegetables at the roadside market in Kampong Duyoh, a typical Bidayuh village near Serikin.

 For your safety, the MNS-KB committee will not leave until all participants are checked out. HOW TO GET THERE

Both Kampong Duyoh and Serasot are easily reached from Kuching since the Serikin Road and the Stass Road have been tarred. The Turn Red Café is at about one hour's drive from Kuching. Take either the old road to Bau from Kota Sentosa or the new N1 road through Batu Kawa and turn left at the T-junction on the Bau-Lundu Road. At the traffic light, where the old and new roads to Bau join, take the Serikin Road (Jalan Station). Keep on the Serikin Road at the junction with the road to Fairy Cave. The Turn Red Café is on the left a few meters after that Junction.

FACILITIES

There is ample parking space at the Turn Red Café. The Mini-zoo and the Cave are worth visiting to unwind after climbing Bung Jagoi!

WHAT TO BRING

Please bring along your camera, binocular, pocket-size note pad, hat, flip-flops, raincoat, insect repellent, extra clothes, lots of water, your own plates, cups and cutlery, biscuits for the trek.

FEES

Participation to expenses of RM5/- will be collected from Members. Non-members may join the trip but will be required to pay a total of RM10/- including that participation and an additional fee to the Society. Free for students.

REGISTRATION/INFORMATION

For registration please contact Kwan at mnskuching@gmail.com. You will need to provide IC numbers and to sign an indemnity form. You will agree that he trip will be reported with photos in the MNS weekly column of the Borneo Post.

For more information about the trip please contact Georges Schneider at 012-886 0033 or Jacinta Wong at 012-886 2911


REGISTRATION OPEN TO MNS MEMBERS AND GUEST OF MNS MEMBERS ONLY!!!!!!!!!!