Jika dahulunya tumpuan pelancong ialah pintu sempadan Sarawak Kalimantan iaitu Tebedu. Apabila Serikin dibuka pada hujung minggu ia menjadikan Tebedu kurang pengunjung.
Punca utamanya ialah harga yang ditawarkan di Serikin jauh lebih murah darpada Tebedu.
Jika di Tebedu gerai atau bangsal dibina dilereng-lereng cerun bukit, tetap di Tebedu di sepanjang kiri kanan jalan.
Kebanyakn barang di Serikin dibawa oleh pedagang Indon menggunakan basikal tua melalui denai denai atau jalan tikus.
Kasut tentera ABRI boleh dibeli dengan harga RM 20 jika bijak tawar menawar. Sebiji botol antiq boleh dibeli dengan harga yang cukup murah jika bijak berceloteh.
Gitar Tong dan set drum jenama 'Yamaha' pun ada tetapi bukan yang asli.
Pengunjung dari Malaya cukup berminat dengan tikar rotan atau kayu, raga, tudung saji yang diperbuat daripada rotan, kain baju, telekung dan barang mainan sehingga bidai siput, telur penyu semua ada. Peminat paku pakis juga boleh mendapatkan dengan harga yang murah,
Perfume standard Petaling Street pun banyak.
Pengalaman ke Serikin sekali tu sajalah tak berminat untuk ulang kali kedua. Rasanya Uptown yang bersepah lagi banyak pilihan barangan.
Berikut ialah petikan dari akhbar.
Serikin, a small town located on the Sarawak-Indonesia border, is a favourite destination for shoppers, especially those from the Peninsula.
Situated in the Bau district, not far from Tasik Biru and the Fairy Cave, it takes 45 minutes to reach this town by road from Kuching city.
On both sides of the road leading to Serikin, one can see vast tracts of empty land alternating with swathes of green jungle, as well as the homes of people from the Iban and Bidayuh communities.
A small roadside police post indicates our arrival in Serikin.
A SHOPPER'S PARADISE
This writer, on her first trip to Serikin, found the unevenly-tarred car park half full on her arrival at about 8 am.
The first stall to greet visitors is one selling dried food stuff, such as the keropok belinjau (a type of cracker made from fruit) and dried shrimp of various sizes.
Most of the products sold here are from Indonesia. The main attraction is the ability to bargain freely.
"The traders here are genial. Hardly anyone raises their voice over here. The goods are neatly arranged within and outside the stalls that stretch up to two kilometres," noted Bedah Zainudin, who visits Sarikin at least twice a month.
Bedah, a teacher, brings along her relative, Badiah Raduan, who she refers to as 'Eteng', to help her make purchases and carry back the goods.
They leave from Petrajaya as early as 7 am and complete their shopping by 9.30 am.
"This place gets very hot, so you cannot come too late or stay for long," she explained, while turning to look at Eteng.
In the stalls, one can find various types of textiles and kebaya fittings with unique embroidery and glittering labuci for weddings. They are priced reasonably: one pair costs RM155.
HEAT NO OBSTACLE
In Serikin, the sun is directly overhead much earlier than elsewhere in Sarawak because of its proximity to the Equator.
"I came to Serikin for the first time last year. After window shopping and buying, I felt so satisfied. Then, I was not concerned with the time of day, but found that it is better to go there early. If you are late, you not only have to bear the heat but also face problems in finding a place to park," said Siti Ismail, another shopper in Serikin, who makes it a point to visit each time she comes to Sarawak.
Siti visits Serikin as she is interested in crystals, memorabilia made from glass and storage containers, all of which are available here are reasonable prices.
However, it is apparent that the heat does not deter shoppers from visiting at other times of the day. When this writer was about to leave, there were several buses parked in the parking lot. It was obvious that people came in busloads to Serikin to spend their money and the heat was no obstacle.
GREAT OFFERINGS AND PEOPLE
There are numerous types of jeans, cotton blouses, textiles, ovens, guitars and even spices, packed neatly for buyers.
"The price of textiles from Bandung is only RM39, kak. Four metres long and 60 inches wide. There are also many colours to choose from," said a trader who was promoting his textiles in his soft and pleasant voice.
As several of the customers were eager to bargain, the trader brought down the price to RM30 for three pieces of fabric.
In another corner, there was a trader selling a long sleeved blouse. Most of them cost RM30 per piece after bargaining.
One can bargain over the price of jeans as well: a pair of jeans for adults priced at RM120 was being sold for RM70.
Apart from these goods, table top gas ovens, shaped like boxes, were also on sale. "Medium-sized ovens that can accommodate four trays cost RM200; it's RM220 for one that can accommodate eight trays. You can bargain, come and see," said a well-built trader, probably in his 30s.
The writer also spotted turtle eggs on sale, though selling these eggs in Malaysia is forbidden.
Several onlookers were initially curious, but after asking the price and taking a closer look at the eggs in polystyrene bags, they had second thoughts.
"They are not fresh. Moreover, they are high in cholesterol. Maybe that is why they are cheap. The trader said he would sell 10 eggs for RM10," noted Salimah Hashem, a prospective buyer who was there with her child.
Another good feature about this place is that traders do not get angry if you don't buy after looking at an item and asking its price. Here, traders seem more determined to woo customers and ensure that they return to Serikin.
-- BERNAMA
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