Sungai Suraboya Kechil

After another early night and no alcohol my plan is to explore a little more of this wonderful city. After speaking with Peggy at the longhouse yesterday she was so informative of the history and has advised me to go to the fort. I leave the hotel and its only 3.5 km so have decided to walk. As I cross the bridge the whole place is a building site with them replacing all the slabs but somehow manage to manoeuvre myself through the gravel and cement. The rest of the walk takes me around the edge of the botanical gardens but I will return here tomorrow armed with mosquito spray. I arrive at the fort which is a museum of the history of Sarawak. It tells how a young English adventurer called James Brooke arrived into Sarawak in late 1838. At the time the country was ruled by the Sultan of Brunei.With intervention from James Brooke and his armed boats a treaty was written in 1841 ceding all political power to him and he became the first white Rajah of Sarawak and ruled until his death in 1868 when his nephew Charles took over as the second white Rajah. During his reign James Brooke encountered many invasions from head hunting tribes and only due to his strategies and arms was able to protect Sarawak. Charles Brooke also instigated trade deals and started putting Sarawak ont the map by exporting pepper and antinomy used in the production of metal alloys. The decent of the Rajah was through the male line but some of the women had interesting aspects as well.Lady Sylvia Brooke was the last Ranee of Sarawak and the consort of Rajah Vyner Brooke who ceded Sarawak to the British Crown in 1946. She associated with many actors like Errol Flynn and in her 80s wrote a book which was a big seller in the UK. The museum then brings you to the top of the fort giving you a bird's eye view of the river. After the Fort I take the walk back to the hostel having a quick dip in the pool to refresh. In the afternoon I have dinner in Indah and do a book swap for the Indonesian lonely planet which I think is a great find although when I get it home am slightly concerned by the message inside. Hopefully it wasn't written for me. I get an early night as I'm flying to Langkawi tomorrow and want to be fresh.Read more