Books are among mankind’s most powerful inventions. Das Kapital changed the world as surely as the steam engine ever did, and with one small thesis Copernicus changed the whole universe. The list of books that have changed human existence includes Mein Kampf, Mao’s Little Red Book, The Bible, The Koran, Uncle Tom’s Cabin and The […]
Read the rest of this entry »Archive for the 'Culture & History' Category
Lacquerware in Chiang Mai, Thailand
There are still a few lacquerware shops operating in and around the Chiang Mai area. Chiang Mai lacquerware was designed to provide a waterproof finish to bowls, trays, and cabinets, utilizing lacquer produced from a tree found in Burma and northern Thailand. Today, lacquer, which is officially banned in Thailand due to its toxicity, is […]
Read the rest of this entry »James Ritchie on the religious basis for headhunting in Sarawak, Borneo
WoWasis correspondent James Ritchie on the religious basis for headhunting. You may also want to read How Headhunting originated in Sarawak, Borneo and An Iban veteran tells how heads are smoked in Sarawak, Borneo. Headhunting was the result of serious religious beliefs among the Ibans of Sarawak. It was a ritual filled with pomp and ceremony, […]
Read the rest of this entry »James Ritchie: An Iban veteran tells how heads are smoked in Sarawak, Borneo
WoWasis correspondent James Ritchie on how headhunters smoke heads. You may also want to read: How Headhunting originated in Sarawak, Borneo and The religious basis for headhunting in Sarawak, Borneo . TEMENGGONG Jinggut anak Atari, who is in his early 60s and is the titular chief of the Ibans in Kapit, has seen heads being taken […]
Read the rest of this entry »James Ritchie on How Headhunting originated in Sarawak, Borneo
WoWasiscorrespondent James Ritchie on how headhunting originated in Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia. You may also want to read: An Iban veteran tells how heads are smoked in Sarawak, Borneo and The religious basis for headhunting in Sarawak, Borneo. Are headhunters still alive in Sarawak today? The answer is yes and no. If you consider that Dayak […]
Read the rest of this entry »James Ritchie’s Borneo headhunting “how-tos”
James Ritchie is Sarawak’s chronicler, a near-legendary raconteur and bon-vivant who has spent a lifetime studying the customs of the State of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo. He has written a great deal on the practice of, and mythos surrounding the tradition of headhunting. The following three articles are available as posts on the WoWasis blog. […]
Read the rest of this entry »Visit a traditional longhouse in Sarawak, Borneo while you still can
Visiting a Dayak Longhouse is, by everyone’s account, one of the highlights of a visit to the state of Sarawak, Borneo. Some westerners, though, have an aversion to “roughing it,” and elect to go for a day visit, rather than an overnight stay. This is a mistake for several reasons, the chief of which is […]
Read the rest of this entry »Arts, Crafts, and Cooking classes in Kuching, Malaysian Borneo
A great way to enhance your stay in the city of Kuching, Sarawak is to take a cooking, crafts, painting, or traditional dancing class. These are affordable and taught by affable experts who speak English, and Melton Kais’ painting classes can even include a home stay on premises if you wish. Cooking, Crafts, […]
Read the rest of this entry »Letter from Melaka: Malay nightlife and culture as viewed from Jim’s Cottage Pub
Jim’s Cottage Pub is at the eastern end of the city of Melaka (Malacca), Malaysia, way past all the points of interest to tourists. Here, the barmaids are pretty much all past a certain age, wear miniskirts, drink and smoke with the customers, and don’t muck around with them. It’s strictly old-world convivial, where no […]
Read the rest of this entry »A go-go girl’s path to success, regardless of what the guidebooks say
Carmina works as a dancer in a bar in Angeles City, Philippines. Possessor of a deep, sultry voice, she was occupied as a performer-hostess at a men’s club overseas for more than 10 years, and made a very good living. Her specialty was singing jazz standards, and she can rattle off any Cole Porter tune […]
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