Independence Day, on 31 August, passed us by a little this year.


More significant for us here is today's celebration, Malaysia Day, marking the day in 1963 when Sarawak and Sabah became part of the newly formed Malaysian Federation.

But the flags of state and nation have been out in force for a while now, covering both events.

Our walk this morning, another of our favourites, took us round the "peninsula", as we have named the bit of land on the big river bend to the west of the city centre.

There are lots of interesting houses down there:





And the flags certainly lend a festive air:



For the second year running, the main Malaysia Day event is being held in Sarawak. Last year it was in Kuching (we decamped to Kota Kinabalu). This year it's in Sibu (where people weren't always fans of federation, it seems).

Some of the historical payload and ongoing tension is apparent in various Sarawakian VIPs' Malaysia Day wishes.

It's not easy being a federation...