KUCHING: Australian couples were amazed by the beautiful and stunning traditional outfits displayed at the ‘Niti Daun’ 2023 Gawai Dayak Parade here today.
Phil Redding, 68, and his wife Jenny, 65, from New South Wales, Australia, visited Kuching to celebrate their 44th wedding anniversary. They were delighted by the cheerful expressions of the parade participants and couldn’t help but capture the joyful moments with their cameras.
“This was a must-attend event for us when we heard about the parade. It’s our third visit to Kuching, but our first time witnessing the parade,” said Phil. “We love this place—the people, the pleasant climate—and witnessing this spectacle is truly incredible.”
Jenny, beaming with happiness, described the parade as a great experience. She noted that the warm smiles and friendliness of the people were evident throughout the event.
Frank and Luisa Kelly from Melbourne, Australia, were also among the onlookers who were fascinated by the various costumes that represented different ethnic groups.
Having spent six days in Kuching, the couple expressed that the parade provided them with valuable insights into Borneo and Sarawak.
“This is our first visit to Kuching. We are currently sailing on a yacht and will be heading to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah via Brunei,” Frank shared.
Luisa characterised the parade experience as “fabulous” and intends to attend it again in the future.
“For Australians like us, this cultural experience is truly remarkable. Although we come from a multicultural country, we don’t have a festival quite like this. Kuching has left us in awe; it’s a marvelous place. We will certainly recommend it to all our friends,” she added.
