pesky plastic

I was shocked to find out that the interior folks have no garbage disposal system. In Kampung Muk Ayung, they burn rubbish, but in Kampung Sait each house has a garbage heap behind or beside the house that just accumulates over the years. (It looks bad, but doesn't stink because all leftover food is eaten by the livestock or the dogs.) The first time we spent a night in Nyegol, everyone had Maggi Mee for breakfast, and Chris saw the plastic packets being thrown into the fireplace after the meal. 

The large group we traveled with in the first week usually packed kolo mee for the journey; our local guide would always enjoy a packet of whatever we brought, and then cheerfully chuck the remaining plastic wrappers and chopsticks packaging into the bushes after the snack. Simon once said something about carrying our waste with us, but Johari remarked in his easygoing, mildly amused manner: "Kenapa mau bawak? Buang saja dalam hutan bah." (Why bring them along? Just go ahead and chuck it into the woods.)

Liza with her kolo mee and Johari tucking in in the background

The Orang Asal never needed a garbage disposal system, in the modern sense of the word, in the days when all trash was organic and biodegradable. That isn't the case today, though: the people are gradually becoming urbanised, and they now also eat biscuits, instant food and various other snacks with a high sugar content and psychedelic packaging. 

In a few decades, what will have become of the precious little forestland that remains in Sarawak? A rubbish dump?

Hopefully not.