Successful Sarawak River Festival

Huge turnout at the festival's concert.

Thousands including foreign tourists thronged Kampung Danu, along Puncak Borneo Road, 55km from Kuching to attend the inaugural Sarawak River  Festival 2012 held over the weekend of October 27 and 28.

Festival attendees enjoying their dancing. 

Organised by Ma’asa Event Management in collaboration with the Kampung Danu Development and Security Committee (JKKK), the two-day festival was held successfully and officially graced by Public Health Assistant Minister Dr Jerip Susil on October 28.

The festival was a combined activity of treasure hunt, water sports, live band performance and sale of food and beverages.




The festival kick-off on Saturday night (October 27) with live band performance by Dirgahayu II Band and the pack crowd were entertained and thrilled by songs from AF7 finalists Claudia Geres, a veteran Bidayuh singer Paul Kadun, Captain Miron Ganguly with his blues numbers, popular local DJ Peter John Apai and Hits FM DJ Aaron Gomes.

Some of the stalls set up during the two-day festival.

On Sunday morning participants of the Sarawak River Treasure Hunt 2012 were flag-off by JFAM Logistics Sdn Bhd managing director Jores Sidik at the riverbank of Kampung Bengoh.
Along their routes the treasure hunters had a thrilling and fun time hunting for the treasures hidden along the river, and each team were also required to pluck three types of edible plants along the river bank.
The hardest task was looking for the treasures hidden within the Kampung Danu vicinity.

Kampng Danu cultural troupe performing the Bidayuh cultural dance.

At the event site there were stalls selling food and beverages, handicrafts and cosmetics, while Maxis set up their stall to promote its services and Unimas Medical Centre gave free health screening to members of the public.

The Red Bull challenge was also a fun event. Hundreds of people rushed to look for 100 bottles of Red Bull drinks hidden within the vicinity of the village to win prizes offered  by Red Bull. ‘Gangnam Style’ and poco-poco dancing added merriments to the festival.

'Gangnam Style' dancing add fun to the festival.

The festival’s chief coordinator Robert Kenneth said due to unpredictable weather conditions some of events in this year’s festival were forced to be cancelled.

“It would have been better had the festival be held on the pebble field, but due to the heavy downpour on Sunday morning, and as we were worried of the high water level, all the activities except for the Sarawak River Treasure Hunt were held on land (in the village’s vicinity,” he said.




Overall it was a successful event and Robert promised a grander festival next year, which is slated to be held in August. Dr Jerip in his speech commended the organisation of the festival which he said as a very good way to promote the village to tourists and city dwellers. He commended Maasa Event Management for taking the initiative to organise the festival in Kampung Danu, whose beautiful has great potential of an important tourist destination and a perfect venue for community-based activities. He said all those tourist attractions like the river, caves, waterfall and the home stay is an asset to the villagers to generate income.

“If you work together to take care of the beauty of your village you can develop Kampung Danu as a popular tourist destination,” he added.

Dr Jerip handing over paints to Kampung Danu headman Encik Ahip Naii. The paints will be used to repaint the

village's suspension bridge.

Meanwhile Kampung Danu headman Ahip Naii who was delighted with the success of the festival had wanted Maasa Event Management to continue with the event next year. He said the festival has been able to attract huge number of visitors and had surely had benefited the village and promote the place as an interesting tourist destination.

Dr Jerip visiting Maxis boot during the festival.

“During the festival the villagers has been able to generate extra income by selling food and drinks as well as their farm produce to the visitors,” he added.

Meanwhile Maasa Event Management general manager Ceasser Robert announced that the company next event will be the Jungle Rock Muzik Festival scheduled in April next year at Maasa Event Centre located along the new road from Jalan Kampung Semadang to the Bengoh Resettlement Scheme in Penrissen.

Visitors reporting to participate in the Red Bull Challenge.

Dirgarhayu II female singers singing the dangdut numbers.

Among the visitors at the festival.

Participants of the Sarawak River Treasure Hunt 2012 ready for the the flag-off.

Participants of the treasure hunt pulling their kayaks at the 

shallow part of the river. 

Participants of the treasure hunt looking for the hidden treasures along 
the river. 

Visitors visiting the cultural house in Kampung Danu.

Participants of the treasure hunt  after the competition.

Peter John entertaining the visitors with his songs.

Participant of the treasure hunts on their way to Kampung Danu.

The crowd at the festival.

Encik Jores Sidik (second from left) presenting the prizes to the winners of
the Sarawak River Treasure Hunt.

Event director Robert Kenneth briefing the Sarawak River Treasure Hunt 

participants.

Winners of the treasure hunt carrying the treasures they collected.

Nestle event and sampling manager Tonny Merril presenting
the goodies to Maasa Event Management general manager,
Ceasser Robert  (left).

AF7 finalist Claudia Geres entertaining the crowd at the festival.

Visitors visiting the stalls at the festival.