Location : Kampung Ayun & Kampung Sting, Padawan District, Kuching Division, Sarawak, Malaysia.

The rain has been punishing us for the last 10 days and some towns in Sarawak are already flooded. But that did not stop 9 of us from performing the last charity to bring down the curtain of 2013, a very fulfilling year indeed. 5 of us had to take leave from their employers. A peek at the Sarawak River just before making the journey warned me to expect a harder hike than normal. The river water was full of floating debris and hyacinth, flowing very fast towards the barrage and sea.
The trek started on a slight drizzle. Fresh green bamboos greeted us at the hanging bridges. Must have been less than a week old. Even the steps along the trail were replaced with fresh bamboos making it so much easier to walk compared to 2 weeks ago. However after about 45 minutes we were caught with a bridge submerged by muddy water. Luckily, it was only waist deep. Watching the black doggie ran back and forth, howling and finally plunged to swim across was extra entertainment. Quite an experience. Especially in a place we called ‘highland’.

authentic, bengoh dam, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Kampung Ayun, Kuching, medical service, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rura, seva, Sting village, volunteer
Last bamboo bridge to Kampung Ayun

authentic, bengoh dam, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Kampung Ayun, Sting village, Malaysia, native, Non Government Organization, orang asal, orang asli, rural, tribal, tribe, village, volunteer,

authentic, bengoh dam, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Ayun village, Kampung Sting, Kuching, medical service, native, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rural, seva, tribe, village, volunteer,
Doggie takes the plunge

The patient turn out at Ayun was low compared to other trips which we always did on a weekend. Besides, we started the program around noon so we could make it to Sting before dark. The villagers would still be in their farms until late afternoon. We had to service them still as the government’s flying doctors had not flown in for more that 2 months.

authentic, Bengoh dam, Borneo, charity, dayak bidayuh, dental, indigenous, Kampung, Kuching, medical service, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, seva, volunteer,
Medical service in Kampung Ayun

authentic, Bengoh dam, Borneo, charity, dayak bidayuh, dental, indigenous, Kampung, Kuching, medical service, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, seva, volunteer, tribal, authentic, Bengoh dam, Borneo, charity, dayak bidayuh, dental, indigenous, Kampung, Kuching, medical service, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, seva, volunteer, tribeThe 1hr trail to Sting was the muddiest I had ever seen, thanks to the non stop downpour.

authentic, bengoh dam, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Kampung Ayun, Sting village, Malaysia, native, Non Government Organization, orang asal, orang asli, rural, tribal, tribe, village, volunteer,
Nice view

authentic, bengoh dam, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Ayun village, Kampung Sting, Kuching, medical service, native, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rural, seva, tribal, village, volunteer, authentic, bengoh dam, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Kampung Ayun, Kuching, medical service, native, tribal, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rura, seva, Sting village, volunteer authentic, bengoh dam, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Kampung Ayun, Sting village, Malaysia, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, rural, tribal, tribe, village,Checked into Bodui’s house for some nice hot coffee. It was here and then that Borneo Irish coffee was born-‘3 in 1’ coffee plus Cap Apek w/ginseng. Mama mia! Nice & easy way to beat the cold. Sipping it and enjoying the heavenly view of the misty mountains here at Bodui’s bamboo deck-PRICELESS!
Patients trickled in at around 7.30pm for the medical consultation and ended around 10.30. Although very tired we stayed awake for the countdown which was not much of a bang but the echos bouncing off the circular Bungo Range were phenomenal. Never experienced in the city. Loud bangs could be heard in the distance probably from Ayun and Bengoh.

authentic, bengoh dam, Borneo, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, dental, indigenous, Kampung, Kuching, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, tribal, tribe, volunteer
Seva in Kampung Sting

authentic, bengoh dam, Borneo, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, dental, indigenous, Kampung, Kuching, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, tribal, tribe, volunteer authentic, bengoh dam, Borneo, charity, dayak bidayuh, dental, indigenous, medical service, native, Non Government Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rural village, seva, tribal, tribe, volunteer authentic, bengoh dam, Borneo, charity, dayak bidayuh, dental, indigenous, medical service, native, Non Government Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rural village, seva, tribal, tribe, volunteer

authentic, Borneo, charity, Community Service, indigenous, Kampung, Kuching, Malaysia, Non Government Organization, Padawan, rural village, Sarawak, seva, village, volunteer,
The Magic Bamboo, muscular treatment

authentic, Borneo, charity, Community Service, indigenous, Kampung, Kuching, Malaysia, Non Profit Organization, Padawan, rural village, Sarawak, seva, village, volunteer,

authentic, Borneo, charity, Community Service, indigenous, Kampung, Kuching, Malaysia, Non Government Organization, Padawan, rural village, Sarawak, seva, village, volunteer,
Patient came in with a neck complaint

Next morning at around 9.30 we decided to check out Mawi Waterfall 15minutes away with Berlin showing us the way. It was a 50footer but without a pool. I suggested that they build a weir so guests could come here for a few beers and a dip. I also suggested a bamboo deck (tanju) over a rocky spot and Berlin could not be more supportive when he said he would like to add a bamboo hut to make it even more exciting. authentic, bengoh dam, Borneo, Community Service, indigenous, Kampung, Kuching, medical service, native, Non Government Organization, Padawan, rural, seva, tribal, tribe, volunteer

authentic, bengoh dam, Borneo, Community Service, indigenous, Kampung, Kuching, medical service, native, Non Government Organization, Padawan, rural, seva, tribal, tribe, volunteer
Mawi waterfall

authentic, Community Service, indigenous, Kampung Sting, malaysia, medical service, native, Non Profit Organization, Padawan, rural, Sarawak, seva, tribal, tribe, village, volunteer

authentic, Community Service, indigenous, Kampung Sting, malaysia, medical service, native, Non Profit Organization, Padawan, rural, Sarawak, seva, tribal, tribe, village, volunteer
@ D Hermit’s Hideout

Talking to the villagers of Sting on any tourism project aroused intense enthusiasm not seen elsewhere. I like that attitude. They are the most left out as far as tourism industry is concerned. I strongly believe they have the fire to work hard to materialised all the ideas that I discussed with Bodui their headman. Kampung Sting will surely be the next village to be in the spotlight anytime this year.

Kampung Sting

authentic, Borneo, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, medical service, native, Non Government Organization, orang asal, orang asli, rural, seva, tribal, tribe, village, volunteer,
Kampung (village) Sting
authentic, Borneo, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, medical service, native, Non Government Organization, orang asal, orang asli, rural, seva, tribal, tribe, village, volunteer,
Morning view

bengoh dam, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Kampung Sting, Malaysia, medical service, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rural, seva, tribal, tribe,

authentic, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Kampung, Malaysia, medical service, native, Non Government Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rural, seva, tribal, tribe, volunteer,
Breakfast in the cloud

authentic, bengoh dam, charity, Community Service, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Kampung Ayun, Kuching, medical service, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rura, seva, Sting village, volunteer

authentic, bengoh dam, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Kampung Ayun, Kampung Sting, Kuching, native, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rural, tribal, tribe, village,
Pepper farm
authentic, bengoh dam, dayak bidayuh, indigenous, Kampung Ayun Sting, Kuching, malaysia, medical service, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rural village, tribal, tribe, volunteer
Tapang tree with at least 4 huge beehives in sight.

Bengoh dam, Borneo, charity, Community Service, indigenous, Kuching, medical service, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rural village, seva, tribal, tribe, volunteer,

Bengoh dam, Borneo, charity, Community Service, indigenous, Kuching, medical service, native, Non Profit Organization, orang asal, orang asli, Padawan, rural village, seva, tribal, tribe, volunteer,
Porters carrying our medical supplies and tools back to Bengoh dam

To see more photos, please click our FACEBOOK PAGE

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here
CAPTCHA

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.