Rainforest World Music Festival 2022

Come to think of it…it has been three years since I travel out of Singapore. I’m so glad that I finally had a chance to travel to Kuching, Sarawak for the Rainforest World Music Festival 2022 (RWMF 2022), organised by Sarawak Tourism board and endorsed by Tourism Malaysia. Kuching is the capital city of Sarawak, part of East Malaysia and located on the wider island of Borneo.

It was a very exciting trip as it has been so long since I took a flight. COVID-19 pandemic has indeed changed our lifes by a lot. I flew via Malaysia Airlines to Kuching, Sarawak together with my bff William for this media trip .

The airline was very sweet to prepare hygiene kit for travellers so that we can fly with a peace of mind.

The official hotel was Damai Beach Resort and we went there one day in advance to check it out.

The Resort was located by the sea and the scenery was so beautiful. Despite the heavy rain for the first 2 days, we manage to grab some photos and videos by the beach once the rain stopped.

There was a beach bar in the resort so we took the opportunity to have some drinks and chill out at the deck.

We tried the buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner in Cafe Satang in the Resort as well.

I love the fact that there were Sarawak Laksa and Sarawak Kolo Mee during breakfast and you can go as many rounds as you want.

Just looking at the photos makes me hungry! Bring me back to Damai Beach resort pls.

The Sarawak people were also very hospitable and made me feel very welcome. We even had BBQ buffet dinner by the beach on one of the nights. It was so fun dining on the beach itself under the sky.

Oh yes, we ate a lot that night cos the food was so yummy, especially the BBQ chicken wings!

The 25th Rainforest World Music festival happened on from 17th to 19th June 2022 at the Sarawak cultural Village. This year‘s festival was themed ‘Legendary Rainforest Celebration’.

And this is the first time it was hosted as a hybrid event since the beginning of the music Festival in 1998. So while the physical concert took place at the Sarawak cultural Village, viewers can also livestream it from their homes by an online viewing platform.

The RWMF is an annual three-day music festival which celebrates the diversity of world music held in Kuching Sarawak Malaysia. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the festival could not be held for 2 years.

I felt so lucky that I managed to attend it and got a special media pass which gave me access to the space right in front of the stage to feel the electrifying sensation of talented performers, playing various musical instruments.

It was such an eye opener and super touching to see people from all over the world united through music and cheering one another one.  That feeling was indescribable.

Some of the performers included Alena Mura, At Adau, Bamboo Woods, Rining Peter Paris, Bourbon Lassi, Fauziah Gambus & The Geng, Hayree Hashim, Lan E Tuyang and Nikita Sarna from Malaysia, Balawan Batuan Gamelan Fusion from Indonesia, BluGuru from Australia and of course from Singapore, we had Flame of The Forest.

There were also daytime music workshops, cultural displays, craft displays and food stalls, besides the Main Stage evening concerts.

We stopped by Journify booth by Malaysia Airlines and again, the hospitality was amazing. The people rung a bell to announce that Singapore influencers were in the house. So cute!

Look at the talented Sarawak people who make these handicrafts! This is indeed traditional culture to be preserved for many years to come.

We wanted to try the Sarawak Laksa and Sarawak Kolo Mee from the food stalls and we gave it a 10/10. Thumbs up.

It’s true that music brings people together.

I managed to participate in the Sape class and Zephyr Dance Performance and Workshop together with the visitors from all over the World.

We also joined the City Tour on 19 June to do sight seeing in Kuching. We visited the Borneo Cultural Museum, followed by lunch in the Court House, followed by a walk around the vicinity and ended off with a stroll by the Waterfront, where we saw the Astana. ok, I shall let the photos do the talking.

So grateful that I manage to catch the Rainforest World Music Festival this year. Can’t wait to travel back to Kuching Sarawak again!