1) Random History

Don’t go to Sarawak: it’s probably too interesting for you. Apart from the bizarre and kitschy things like the Cat Museum in Kuching (which means “cat”), Sarawak was the only territory to have a White Rajah, or king. Rajah Brooke was crowned by the Sultan of Brunei in 1841, and in 1946, even the Sarawak members of the Negri Council (Sarawak State Legislative Assembly) didn’t want the White Rajahs of Sarawak to cede the territory to England so they could eventually be self-governing.

If this isn’t odd enough, the largest chunk of the population in Sarawak comprises the Iban, better known as headhunters. No, not the corporate kind: literally headhunters. Don’t worry, headhunting hasn’t been practiced there since World War II, and the days when they were known as the fiercest headhunters in Borneo are now just another chapter in history.

You’ll probably find Fort Margherita boring too, unless you’re intrigued by the fact that it was built to defend against pirates, invasions from the river, and used as an execution site as recently as World War II.

2)  Gunung Mulu National Park

There are enough limestone caves at Gunung Mulu to film your own version of your favourite subterranean scenes from Lord of the Rings, as well as a short horror flick about what happens when your phone battery runs out and your can’t take selfies in a cave any more.

If you hate the rugged beauty of limestone karst formations, and you’re totally uninterested in exploring the largest cave system in the world, then give Gunung Mulu a miss. I mean, it’s only caves, after all. It’s not like pirates could have possibly hidden any treasure in here while escaping from the authorities, right? Plus, there’s all this nature and a cave called Clearwater Cave that you can swim in – without any worries of getting chomped on by alligators.

3) Underwater Adventures

Who would want to dive in pristine coral reefs off Miri as schools of barracudas whirl past you? Or watch as leopard sharks and marble rays swim gracefully around the reef? Come on, warm, crystal-clear water with excellent visibility is overrated. So are wreck dives like the Sri Gadong Wreck, which used to be a cargo ship and is now home to schools of batfish, fusiliers and giant groupers. The Miri-Sibuti Coral Reefs National Park is the place to be if all this underwater wildlife is your cup of tea.

4) Wildlife Galore

Sarawak is home to an impressive array of flora and fauna, some of which are found nowhere else outside Borneo. Even better: only a handful of them will try to eat you. Hooray, the odds are in your favour! Saltwater crocodiles are part of this group and will eat you as soon as look at you, so going for a dip in rivers with brackish water is probably not a great idea.

Happily, despite its somewhat alarming appearance and odour, the Rafflesia flower found in Gunuing Gading National Park is not a carnivorous plant, although you would be well advised to keep a healthy distance if you ever want your nose to work properly again. Trek through the jungle to uncover hidden waterfalls and scenic views, if you’d rather be outdoors than watching HBO in your hotel room.

5) Sarawak Rainforest Festival

Why would anyone want to go for the Sarawak Rainforest Festival? This annual music festival from August 7–9 this year is, after all, only set amidst the backdrop of the rainforest (surprise) and Mount Santubong at the Sarawak Cultural Village in Kuching. The lineup is diverse enough to give you a headache trying to decide which act to go for at any given time, and the wide availability of food and drinks means that you’ll just have to dance those calories off, like the other festival-goers. With musicians from Georgia, Tunisia, Spain, Mexico, Scotland, Mongolia, Morocco and Poland, along with Penang, Indonesia, and Sarawak, you’ll be spoilt for choice.