Borneo Shopping

Borneo is famous for its wide range of traditional handicrafts and cultural souvenirs unique to the heritage of Borneo’s many tribes and cultures. However, there are also places to do shopping for modern goods especially in city areas such as Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. Some of the traditional products you can find in Borneo are listed below.

Rattan

Rattan is a thin but durable palm wood harvested from Borneo’s rich rainforest. Whole long houses have been known to be held together by a string of rattan! Flexible yet tough, it is no wonder rattan is used to make many traditional household items.

The most prominent items made of rattan are mats, traps and baskets. Rattan mats are comfortable and possess an aesthetic quality. On the other hand, rattan is used to make different kinds of fish traps as well as equipment for planting and harvesting paddy. Finally, you have rattan baskets which are used by the tribal groups for various purposes around the house. The baskets offer lightness and strength in carting heavy good each day. Today, these baskets have been adapted to make original souvenirs such as pen holders and vases for flowers.

Beads

Beads feature prominently among the tribal groups of Borneo. The Rungus people from Kudat, Sabah are especially famous for their multi-stranded pinakol bead necklaces. The beads are imprinted with intricate designs inspired by local legends. They also make bangles, ear rings and brooches from beads.

Parang

The parang is a traditional knife that is curved in a slight crescent and features a stump for a handle. The parang is a very practical item used not only by tribal groups but urban dwellers that frequent the jungle often. Parangs are now commercially produced and every household in the city usually has one as it has many uses. However, the Bajau from Kota Belud, Sabah still make parangs the traditional way. The hilt and sheath are carved from wood while the blade is made from tempered iron.

Tudung Duang

Tudung Duang is the local version of a food cover made from fabric to protect your dinner from flies and insects. They also make nice decorative items, being available in bright colours, sometimes with motifs.

Wood

Woodcarving is one of Borneo’s most important traditional skills. Tribal groups in both Sabah and Sarawak carve wood into useful everyday items; some for decorative purposes. Some of the things they make with wood include boats, blowpipes, bowls, ritual masks, figurines and weapons.

Pottery

Pottery is yet another important tradition in indigenous culture. Using clay, tribal groups mould it into ceramic stools, drinking water cisterns, decorative jars and vases, lamps, candle holders, ashtrays, teapots, mugs and even photo frames. The Chinese that live in Borneo are also adept at making great pottery for the tourist market.

Pua Kumbu

Pua Kumbu is a beautiful fabric from the Iban people of Sarawak. They weave exquisite patterns and designs which are then tied-and-dyed on vertical threads. Pua Kumbu is used to make sarongs, clothes and overthrows.

Places to Shop

The major cities and tourist destinations in Borneo offer the best places to shop for traditional and cultural items. However, you can also engage in some modern shopping in malls and complexes in cities such as Kuching and Kota Kinabalu.

Kuching

Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak, is an excellent choice to shop for both modern and traditional goods. You can also find antiques in a street called Main Bazaar. Here, there are rows of shop houses peddling artefacts and handicrafts. Do note that certain antiques require an export permit from the Sarawak Museum if you plan to bring it out of the country.

For modern shopping, head to the main malls such as the Riverside Shopping Centre, Sarawak Plaza and Tun Jugah. Other great places to buy cultural souvenirs include Sarakraf at Tabuan Street and the Sarawak Handicraft Centre in the Sarawak Tourism Complex.

Miri

Miri in Sarawak is a shopping paradise for both locals and visitors from nearby Brunei. For fine handicrafts, head to Jalan Bendahara and Brooke Road which have many shops dealing in cultural products. Another place is the Miri Handicraft Centre at the junction of Merbau Road and Brooke Road. The popular shopping malls are the Bintang Plaza, Boulevard Shopping Complex, Imperial Shopping Mall, E-Mart and Miri Mart.

Kota Belud

Kota Belud is a quiet town in Sabah, home to one of its most unique indigenous groups, the Bajau who are skilled horse-riders. Here, you will also find the ‘Tamu’ Market, which takes place on Sunday. The market is a famous gathering place for traders who come to discuss and sell their goods that include betel nut stalls, exotic fruits, vegetables, dried and fresh fish, sarongs, pots, pans and even electrical items from Taiwan.

Kota Kinabalu

Kota Kinabalu as the capital city of Sabah combines both traditional and modern shopping. The most famous place for shopping is, undoubtedly Gaya Street, which was originally called Bond Street. Located in the Kota Kinabalu Central Business District, the area has been a commercial centre for over a century. The wooden shops of old are gone but the descendants of families who first set up shop here still continue to run their businesses. Every Sunday morning, Gaya Street is closed off to traffic to make way for the fair. Here, you can find everything under the sun such as traditional fabrics, fruits, flowers, arts and craft, footwear, antiques and souvenirs, cakes, herbs and even exotic pets!

Labuan

Labuan is a federal territory island located off Sabah’s coast. The island is famous for its duty-free shopping. However, you can easily find local products alongside imported goods. These include textiles, garments, embroidery, ceramics and carvings. Meanwhile, there are plenty of duty-free shops that stock a wide range of cigarettes, liquor, perfumes, electronics, pens, watches, lighters and leather goods.