“The people have welcomed me and I finally understand why my grandparents spoke so much about Sarawak and how much they loved the people here.
“I know the history of my family but I didn’t know where I fit in. Coming here and meeting the people of Sarawak has been an amazing experience in my life,” she said.
Simpson is the granddaughter of Vyner Brooke, the last Rajah of Sarawak, who ruled from 1917 to 1941. She arrived in Sarawak with her family on Sunday.
Now 82, she said her grandmother would tell her about the different ethnic groups in Sarawak. As her grandmother was a painter, she even painted a picture of a Dayak warrior.
“She used to tell me that Sarawakian women are the most beautiful women in the whole world.
“When we were on our way to Santubong, I noticed that the view of Mount Santubong was similar to my grandmother’s painting, which I have framed back home,” she said.
Simpson said she decided to visit Sarawak after communicating with her cousin, Jason Brooke, through email and meeting up with him in London as well as Barbados.
Jason Brooke is the director of the Brooke Trust and the second Rajah, Charles Brooke’s great-great grandson.
“I was so caught up with work and family that I did not have the chance to visit Sarawak before.
“My mother used to tell me stories about Sarawak and I think one of the reasons why I didn’t want to come here when I was younger was because of her story about finding cobras in her bed. She also spoke about crocodiles.
“We have centipedes in Barbados but that’s about the most dangerous thing we can find there,” she said.
The author of books for children said she had a lovely time tasting local cuisine and visiting various places in the city, including heritage buildings built by her ancestors.
“The people of Sarawak are so warm and wonderful. I definitely want to come back,” she said.
Among the places she visited were Fort Margherita, Ranee Margaret’s memorial, Sarawak Cultural Village, Bako National Park and Santubong.
Simpson, her husband, Sir Kyffin Simpson, and daughter Heidi will head to Sibu for several days before returning to Barbados.