A 23-door longhouse in Samalaju was completely destroyed in a fire on Sunday evening. [image: 1785719114352-samalaju_longhouse_fire_20260802.jpg] Source: Bomba / DayakDaily A longhouse at Rumah Padang Batu 37, along Jalan Bintulu-Miri in Samalaju, was razed by fire on Aug 2. The Fire and Rescue Department said it received the emergency call at 4.31pm. Firefighters from the Samalaju station were sent to the scene. When the operations commander arrived, the non-permanent longhouse, measuring about 200 ft by 400 ft, was already fully engulfed. No casualties reported All 125 occupants were reported safe. No victims were involved in the fire. Firefighters brought the blaze under control and carried out overhaul works at the site. Location: Rumah Padang Batu 37, Jalan Bintulu-Miri, Samalaju Details: 23-door longhouse destroyed; 125 occupants safe. Source: DayakDaily What do you think?

A fire gutted 62 doors of a 55-year-old longhouse in Simpang Nu, Batu Niah. [image: 1785557146689-longhouse_20260801.jpg] Source: Sarawak Tribune The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said Rumah Panjang Changgai, built in 1971, had 76 doors in total. The non-permanent longhouse had been unoccupied since 2023. No injuries or deaths were reported. Firefighting operation Bomba received the emergency call at 6.24pm on Friday, July 31. Firefighters from Batu Niah, assisted by Lopeng personnel, were sent to the scene. When they arrived, the affected section was already engulfed in flames. The fire was brought under control at 8.15pm, and the operation ended at 12.39am on Aug 1. A total of 19 firefighters, two Fire Rescue Tenders and one Emergency Medical Rescue Services vehicle were involved. Location: Simpang Nu, Batu Niah Details: 62 of 76 longhouse doors destroyed; no casualties reported Source: Sarawak Tribune What do you think?

[image: 1783656355307-baram-longhouse-fire.jpg] Source: The Borneo Post / Bomba A longhouse fire in Baram left 10 residents homeless after five bilik were gutted early this morning. The fire happened at Rumah Hendry Gomes in Kampung Mission, Ulu Teru, Tinjar, Baram. The affected residents included three women and three children. What happened Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department said the distress call came in at about 2am. Firefighters from Lopeng and Lutong were sent to the scene, around 134km away. Because of hilly terrain, narrow roads and rocky access, the teams took more than four hours to reach the location. By the time they arrived, about 95% of the affected units had already been razed. Nearby residents helped fight the fire first using 36 fire extinguishers and buckets of water. No injuries were reported, and the displaced residents are staying with relatives. Initial findings suggest the fire may have been caused by faulty electrical wiring. Location: Kampung Mission, Ulu Teru, Tinjar, Baram Details: Five bilik razed; 10 residents affected; operation ended at 9.35am. Source: The Borneo Post Scary reminder for rural homes, especially wiring and access road issues. What do you think?

I've been living in Kuching for a while now, and Annah Rais Longhouse was always one of those places I kept putting off. "Next time," I said. Well last weekend I finally drove the hour-plus past Batu Kitang and up into the hills — and man, I wish I'd done this sooner. This isn't one of those touristy "cultural village" set pieces. This is a real Bidayuh longhouse that's been standing for over 200 years. You walk in and the whole place smells like an old kampung house — creaky wooden floorboards, kids running along the corridors, grandmas sitting by their doors. [image: 1781402587113-annah_rais_01.jpg] Source: Annah Rais Longhouse exterior The highlight is the central gallery (they call it awah), a long open corridor that runs the entire length of the house. It's basically their living room, kitchen, playground, and social hub all in one. I was mid-way walking through when an uncle called me up, insisting his homemade tuak (rice wine) was the best in the whole village. Try saying no to that. [image: 1781402587354-annah_rais_02.jpg] Source: The central corridor (awah) If you want the full experience, they offer homestay packages. Found a review on Google Maps that said: "Staying overnight was an eye-opening experience. The family treated us like their own. Highly recommend the bamboo chicken dinner." — Bamboo chicken is exactly what it sounds like: chicken stuffed into bamboo tubes and roasted over fire. Sounds amazing. I didn't stay overnight this time, but next visit I'm booking it for sure. [image: 1781402587545-annah_rais_03.jpg] Source: Inside the longhouse Another traveler on TripAdvisor wrote: "It's not a tourist trap. It's a real community. The people are genuinely warm and welcoming. Just be respectful and you'll have a great time." Couldn't agree more. It's all about mindset — respect their culture, and they'll welcome you like family. Walking to the back of the longhouse, there's a small river where the kids swim. Some of the Bidayuh guides also offer jungle treks to nearby waterfalls. I even heard there's a natural hot spring in the area, but I didn't have time to check it out. [image: 1781402587755-annah_rais_04.jpg] Source: Scenery around the longhouse A quick word about the tuak. This isn't the sweetened, watered-down stuff you buy in shops. It's traditional Bidayuh-style — fermented rice with their own family recipe. Slightly sweet but packs a punch. My Sabahan friend had two glasses and his face went red. Said it was "legit strong" Practical Info: Location: ~1 - 1.5 hour drive from Kuching city. Waze "Annah Rais Longhouse" Best time: Morning before it gets hot Entry: around RM10 - RM20 (ask when you arrive) Homestay: roughly RM80 - RM150/night (includes dinner + breakfast) ️ Tips: Wear long pants, bring mosquito repellent, roads can be rough Always ask before taking photos — respect their customs [image: 1781402588210-annah_rais_05.jpg] Source: Bidayuh traditional crafts Bottom line: If you want an authentic Sarawak longhouse experience near Kuching, Annah Rais is the real deal. No over-commercialization, no hard selling. Just a real community living their daily lives. Take a drive up this weekend, it's worth it. Anyone here been to Annah Rais? Tried the bamboo chicken or the hot spring? Drop your experience below [image: 1781402588443-annah_rais_06.jpg] Source: Surrounding paddy fields and landscape