Selamat Hari Gawai ...

Selamat Hari Gawai, Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai!

Ngajih ke semua bulih Penglelantang, Pengerai & Pengerindu!

wwoooooo ... hhaaaaaaaa

Happy Birthday .... Reflection ...

Yup yup its that time of the year when the numbers start adding up, and you wonder what happened to numbers in the 20s ...

Another year past, and over the weekend I got plenty of time to reflect on what I have done & achieved over the years, and what more needs to be done. More importantly, how & when.

Life has so many ups and downs, so many fulfilled dreams and equally so many unfulfilled dreams ... So many more things that I want to do, how to go about it ... etc etc. However, one of my greatest success - comes in such a small bundle, gave me so much love, joy, and peace; easily wrapped around my arms but not for long. My sweatest darling Valerie! The first to shake me awake today because she wants to be the first to give me a Birthday kiss!! :) (As if there's a long queue of people waiting in line to give me THE kiss!! :D)

Where's my present? :( Of course, a blogger friend/colleague 'gave' me a flower on Friday - Terima Kasih Bujang Cmanggang - although it was for a different reason, tang amat pandai orang bujang ari Cmggg mujuk ngambi nulong iya ngiga sulu baru? ;) lol A couple of years ago, I bought (together with the Bank) a car for my own birthday gift! This year? Well, I thought I would be galloping through Europe; unfortunately Mr. Swine H1N1 came along - so it would have to be belated - double dose next year!

All those sharing this date ... Happy Birthday!

Gawai Dayak Dinner ...

The Gawai Dayak Dinner was successfully held last night 23.5.09 at the Civic Center with
about 1200 guests. The guest of honor was the Minister of Land Development Sarawak - YB Dato Sri James Jemut Masing.

I didn't get to take lots of pictures because I was just too busy. Here are just some of the pictures that I managed to take ... I couldn't resist taking a picture of my darling in her full Iban maiden finery!! WOW my daughter, the great beauty (with intelligence!) :D I am biased ;)

Launching Gawai Dinner, l-r : Me, Chambai (Chairman of SDNU), Mejun (Chairman DBNA) and Lade (Chairman OUNA).

To all DAYAKS, Valerie & I wish you and your family ...

Selamat Hari Gawai, Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai,

Awak ke Allah Taalah Merkat Semua Kitai Berlimpah Tuah.

Masterpiece ... new Iban rock band ...

Rock music!!!! oh yeah!!!!!

Right!!!! Rock music is something that I 'tolerate' because its the music of the young and at times we must blend in! My nephews love it!

Tonight I was invited to launch the new album (1st album) of a 'new' rock band - Masterpiece!

WOW!! Now you wonder why I would do it, if I am not a 'rocker' ;) Well, for one, the members of the band had been the music provider for my Gawai events (2 consecutive years) and also my Sarakup function. I agreed in the name of Friendship!

The last time I attended a concert or musical show was a couple of years ago, Il Divo concert/show in KL and before that to a Michael Jackson concert at the UTK, Knoxville in the 80s!

It was indeed an honor to do it, ie to Launch their album - why me? I don't know, for they know I am not a rocker ...

Surprisingly, it was a wonderful, enjoyable & different evening ... Music was good! The band played 2 of their new songs, and I must say, they were good! The lead singer was great, and the musicians are fantastic! I was amazed that I could enjoy the music ... at my age! hahahaha

So all you Rockers, check out the album at www.rumahpanjai.com/profile/masterpiece

Kumang & Keling Gawai Dayak 2009 ...

The Beauties & Warriors of the Gawai Dayak ... Sibu ...

Who is the fairest of them all?


Sarakup have always strive to find a Kumang with beauty & intelligence. I might add that this year, we are closer to reaching that goal! Among the hopefuls were quite a mix of working women from various fields or college/university students.

Keling - well, this year, we got all the handsome & strong MAN! Manly man!! :) Interprete that however you want!!

This is one of the best ngajat .. among the Keling! Thought I will share it with all of you ... a little bit of culture!

These are the hardworking committee members ... all the Kumang & Keling of yesteryears!

Angelyn & Rose ... sms vote for Ms Photogenic?Keling Temawai & Exco/Kaban SIDSPn. Catherine Nain (in white blouse) & the judges ... lucu kajat Kumang/Keling?

Selamat Hari Indai ....

Selamat Hari Indai!!

Karl nurun sekula ...

Anak menyadi aku tu, umur iya 4 taun, penama iya Karl Pengabang. Peda penyigat iya, tang oh oh ni 'iko' mmm udah ditempo mummy iya alam tanjut kini!! hahahaha mancar amat anak kami tu. Iya baru masuk sekul bulan tu, ngambi iya belajar; lalu iya mega rindu amat. Chelabut iya nusi diri udah sekul serta pengerindu iya sekul! Tu gambar hari terubah iya nurun enggau baju uniform 'sailor' iya!! :D

Here's my lovable nephew, Karl Pengabang, who is 4 years old and in his school uniform. He entered the pre-kindy school earlier this month, and he's enjoying it lots!! He was chatting non stop, when I stopped over in KL for a few hours the other day, telling me about his school, friends & teachers. Of course, as usual, I only understood 20% of what was said! He's still learning to put his words together in sentences. He understands & speaks Iban & English .. hmmm maybe Mandarin also?

Gawai in Europe ...

Decisions ... decisions ...

I had to make an Executive Decision on the Gawai holiday to Europe! We're scheduled to depart on 29 May and return on 14 June with visits to:-

1. Switzerland - I had always love this country and this would have been my 3rd visit ... 3 days of exploring Lucerne, Zurich & the mountains
2. France - oh yeah, the city of love or is it romance; but for Val & I .. Disney Paris!!! That's the love part!!
3. England & Scotland - all the historical & countrysides!

Well, after reading about all the 'advisory' messages from Wisma Putra & MOH for the last couple of days, and the travel agent 'pushing' to confirm on the hotels etc ... I have yet to come up with my decision!!

My little advisor - very wise comment - how our child had matured right before our eyes! Val told me a moment ago ' Mummy, we continue to monitor the situation reported in the news and then we decide on Friday. Tell Aunty Za (my travel agent) to call only on Friday morning.' That's exactly what I will do. But, unlike sister sebugey who says 'its now or never' ;) , I think there's always next year. Anyway, I hope for the speaking engagement in London next year to come through, then cheaper on me! :D

So, friends, I will be in Malaysia for Gawai (most likely) but probably holding our Open (semi aja ;) ) House in KL; so if your in KL, ngabang ngagai rumah aku ditu! Come and taste the wonderful tuak!

* PS - Sebugey, high tea di Miri or Sibu aja lah!

Pictures from South Africa ...

These are some of the pictures taken in Cape Town, Pretoria & Johannesburg during my working visit. The sceneries are just beautiful and my pictures actually did not do justice (am not a good photographer!), and its worth every Ringgit spent! :)

This paper presentation had established me as an international speaker on NRW (Sarawak NRW Program) and at the Water Loss 2009, I had received a couple more invitations to speak for next year. So maybe ... Brazil? ... England? ... we're wait and see! Overall the experience was wonderful, the conference was a great success; in terms of networking & learning 'new' systems/technologies. I put in quote 'new' because the practice of NRW is practically standard world wide and everybody is doing the same thing. What makes it a success or different is the the individual/human resource handling/implementating it. The people makes the different!

Cape Town scenes ...

Pretoria & Johannesburg scenes ...

Sawubona Afrika Selatan ... Berita 2

Tiga minggu aku tu belelang di benua Afrika, lalu mayoh macam endol ke dilawak. Aku semina ngagai tiga bengkah endol ianya Johannesburg, Pretoria, enggau Cape Town. Tuju pejalai endang ketegal kerja; tang sambil-sambil meda menoa. Tu meh keterubah iya aku sangkai di benua Afrika. Negara Afrika Selatan tu diluar jangkaan aku, ari segi pemansang & pemanah menoa. Pengasai aku mula datai, asai ke di Amerika, lalu endor ke dilawak pen cukup teratur, bersih, serta kawasan menoa (environment) endang dijaga. Cuaca maya diatu benong belaboh chelap diantara 5 deg C - 17 deg C ... tang asai aku chelap agi, maya bisi angin (lebih-lebih agi di Cape Town).

Endor ke bisi dilawa aku:-

1. Pretoria & Johannesburg - Freedom Park, Museum, Safari, serta endor2 ke semak, etc

2. Cape Town - Stellenbosch, vineyard, Table Mountain, Cape Point, Victoria & Albert Waterfront, township, etc

Aku mega di Pretoria, sempat niki opis High Commission of Malaysia lalu betemu enggau bala pegawai2 nyengkaum High Commissioner ( ;) menyadi aku empu!! ). Ketegal pejalai rasmi, sida ari Maltrade/Perwakilan mega bisi ngatur sesi betemu makai serumpu. Mayoh diri orang Malaysia ke kerja di Afrika Selatan.

Ari Kiba: Timbalan Pesuruhanjaya Tinggi, En. Ilham, Cik Norshima, aku, Pn. Josephine (bini TYT PTM), TYT Pesuruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia, En. Kennedy Jawan.

Maya ke berandau enggau orang ai ditu, ianya Rand Water, sida nyebut ai ulih diirup terus ari pili tap. mmmm? Kitai di menoa agi bepanoh ke ai - sekeda; taja ai kitai pen ulih diirup ari pili tap (ai di Sibu!! :D)

.... sambung baru ila ... gambar2 endor ke dipeda ...

Sawubona ari Afrika Selatan ... Berita 1

Dua minggu aku tu belelang aba menoa Afrika Selatan, ketegal kerja - ianya ngari ke opis mantai ke siti kertas kerja pasal Non Revenue Water (NRW) ianya ai ke nyau ari paip2. Dua orang ari Malaysia bisi mantai ke kertas kerja maya nya; siko ari komponi Ranhill (orang ribai) serta aku (orang Iban). Laban ke 'pandak'; nuh enda dipeda tudah mua maya bediri bejako dipodium. Laban ke enggai enda dipeda orang, maya sessi jako tanya, berdiri di tisi podium pagan diri! Peda bandingan peninggi aku enggau Luntz (kaban ari Germany ke mega bisi mantai ke produk). Tang bisi ngah orang ke ngeninggi aku. Aku sekali berandau enggau sida iya ke tinggi2, nuh pedis rekong ngeladak ke atas!



Aku ke ngagai park jelu2 tu, lalu begambar enggau Mr. Giraffe; teringat ke aku begambar enggau Luntz! :D

Puas begulai enggau orang ke biak-biak, lemai ngiga sida ke tuai agi ngah enggau besulu makai, aba siti kedai seafood - Ocean Basket. Aku ngeoder ikan kingsklip - sedap amat! Di nah ke restaurant tu alam kali!!


Tu bala anak2 mit koir gereja ke dikagau belagu (nadai ngena musik) maya bejadi aum nya. Rindu amat aku ninga sida iya; landik amat!


Pengari ari Malaysia mayoh diri ngah - 40 orang - ketebal agi ari Sabah (17 orang), Sarawak (1 orang), serta ke bukai ari Semanjung ari perintah negeri & komponi.

... ila nyambung baru ...

Suwabona South Africa ...

I just managed to get to a computer with internet connection after ... 9 days in South Africa! The connection are so slow!! SO friends, don't feel bad when our rural towns cannot or get slow connection - this urban city, lebih teruk!

The cities I have explored are Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Cape Town - just beautiful!! The weather refreshing in Pretoria & Joberg; but Cape Town .. woooow!! One moment it is sunny and warm, next raining; and then windy and cold!!

Presentation went great; but very challenging as I was asked so many questions!! Either my paper was so good, that the delegates wanted to know more; or it was not clear. Like to think, its the former! ;)

More pictures will follow later, as connection is slow.. here!! Definitely luggage will be overweight!! :D