Passport to another world

DO you possess two international passports issued by Malaysian authorities? I do.

One was obtained through the local Immigration Department in Penang where I reside and the other in Kuching.

Illegal? Both have official stamps. So far the police have not come after me.

The passport from Kuching also has numbered pages. All I have to do is to stamp them myself when visiting any ‘country’ of my choice.

If you intend to get the second passport, then head to the Cultural Village in Kuching. The processing fee is only RM15.

It is a breeze to own this passport. No question is asked, except for your identity as a Malaysian. For foreigners, the fee is RM30.

The passport entitles you to watch spectacular cultural dances of the various Sarawakian ethnic groups in an air-conditioned 400-seater theatrette.

After the show, you proceed to the life-sized model houses of the ethnic groups in the spacious 17-acre site.

It is the finest ‘living museum’ in Southeast Asia. It has won national and international awards.

The surroundings are serene, tranquil and well-landscaped.

Against the background of the Santubong Mountain, shutterbugs can snap picture-perfect scenes.

It is here that you stamp your passport yourself after visiting each model house.

In some of these model houses, you can meet the Sarawak natives in person. Dressed in their finery, they are ever ready to pose for photographs.

Issuing of these passports is a very good advertorial gimmick and a boost to the tourism industry in Kuching.

Visitors like me are fond of collecting souvenirs from the countries we visit. That passport is something unique to me.

The village is a 45-minute drive from Kuching and taxi fare costs RM60 for a single journey.

It will take half a day for a visitor to explore this village, including enjoying the cultural show.

As I had time on my hands, I stayed two nights and three days at a nearby hotel. The setting sun by the sea was a kaleidoscope of colours.

I also climbed Santubong Mountain with the hotel’s sports instructor as a guide.

A visit to Kuching is not complete if you do not include the Cultural Village in your itinerary.

I enjoyed visiting Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in Jakarta and the Safari World in Bangkok.

The planners of these theme parks are very creative in showcasing the many cultural backgrounds of their countries.

These countries could emulate Sarawak’s Cultural Village by issuing ‘passports’ to boost their revenue.

Truly, a ride into the Tunnel of Love at Jakarta’s theme park will leave a lasting impression in the minds of tourists.

It offers a journey into a wonderland of beauty. The fantasy world in Jakarta is Indonesia’s version of Disneyland.

Exhibits look life-like and we can take in the sights and sounds as the remote control boat passes through the tunnel.

You don’t have to go far to look for beauty. It can be at your doorstep. What I love most is the beauty of the heart.

> A.R. Amiruddin was a journalist with the defunct National Echo for 10 years and The Star for 19 years. The views expressed here are entirely the writer’s own.