A HOLIDAY TRIP TO REMEMBER.

Our family vacation last year is a beautiful memory that is very difficult to forget. The vacation destination that we were visiting was the Batang Ai Long House Resort located at Lubok Antu, Sarawak that is 275km from Kuching City. Batang Ai Long House Resort was one of the resorts managed by Hilton.

Our vacation this time was quite lively because our group comprised of myself and my family and my parents and parents-in-law. Besides them, in that vacation we were also accompanied by my two elder brothers and their families. We started the journey from Sibu city as early as 6.00am in a convoy of three cars. The journey from Sibu to the Batang Ai Resort Jetty was about 150km and took about three hours. Before reaching the resort jetty we firstly stopped at the town of Lubok Antu to fete our appetite and do some shopping because Lubok Antu town was popular for the sale of Iban traditional clothes.

Upon our arrival at the waiting room at the Resort jetty, we had to wait for a boat for about half an hour because the next boat was scheduled to leave at 12.45pm. The cars that we were travelling in had to be left at the jetty yard because the only way to get to the resort was to go by boat through Batang Ai Lake. The journey by boat took about twenty minutes. Arriving at the resort we were received with the Iban traditional dance accompaniment performed by employees of the resort. The accommodations at the resort resemble an Iban longhouse but equipped with modern facilities including air-conditioned rooms and a 25m swimming pool and a tennis coat.

After checking in and relaxing while waiting for the hot weather to decrease, we were impatient to start our own chosen activity. My children and I and my nieces and nephews chose to bathe in the swimming pool as we were quite tired. The adult male group chose to fish in a special area near the Jetty. The catch of seven fish was handed over to the restaurant for our evening meal.

On the morning of the second day at Batang Ai Resort we agreed to choose activities to enjoy the scenery around the resort, that is, either to enjoy a scenic hike on the hiking trail or explore the canopy walks of the local rainforest. After having leisure activities in the vicinity around the resort, we could bathe and swim in an area of the lake specially prepared by the resort. In the afternoon we have agreed to have a picnic in Wong Luih Waterfall, about 9km from the resort. Family picnic activities were very enjoyable especially for children fond of bathing. In the evening, we feted our appetites with the barbeque menu available in the resort's restaurant.

On the third day we chose to hold kayaking activities to explore the beauty of the lake of Batang Ai dam. Kayaking satisfaction was unspeakable because the clarity of the lake water enabled us to see the various types of fishes swimming in the lake. My children were very impressed with the beauty of the lake environment so much so that they called the resort and lake as a world heaven. In the afternoon, the anglers once again started their activities in the hope of catching more fish to be brought home.

The fourth day was our last day at Batang Ai Resort and on the last day, we left the resort by boat at 10.00 am. Our journey did not end here as the next destination was Kuching city.

The vacation at Batang Ai Resort is the most beautiful memory and the most valuable experience for our family. The vacation was not just for relaxing the mind and joy but it has also strengthened our family relationships. The vacation has also given a new experience especially to my children. I am very grateful to God for being given the opportunity to gather and have a vacation for the whole family. Hopefully we can have such a vacation in the future.