Kaban baru SIDS, Sibu di Naman ...

Hari Minggu tu bisi 30 iko kami bejalai ke Rh. Gruna, Naman bejalai ke pengawa Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak, Sibu - lalu bisi kira 43 iko bala indu di pelilih Naman ianya 9 buah rumah deka enggau masuk Sarakup. Nyangka nya ninga berita pemanah enggau Sarakup? Ke bendar iya, bala indu di Naman tu endang lama udah ka enggau tang ketegal ke nadai hari ngelawa sida, nya meh nangul sida enggau. Tang bala ke nunga kami, bisi kira2 80 iko nyengkaum sida ke laki, anak mit enggau sida ke indu; lalu mega bisi 4 urang Tuai Rumah.

Berasai gaga serta tekenyit aku maya meda pemayoh tubuh sida, enggau pengelantang & pengaga sida nyambut kami sebuat! Enti dibanding, tu meh ke terubah sambut ke chukup manah maya kami nemuai.

Tu bala indu Naman ke deka enggau berSarakup begambar begulai enggau sekeda bala EXCO.

Gaya sida nyambut kami ... chukup manah! Semina aku sinu amat ke tudah ngugutnya, enda sampai ati aku!

Tu pemayoh bala di ruai Rh Gruna, di Naman ke nunga kami! Iya ke nyadi MC ianya kaban lama - Paderi Chuhan! Gaga amat ngah betemu enggau iya.

Nerima borang masuk SIDS, Sibu ari Pn. Senah, ko-ordinatur sida ke diatu. Kawasan Naman deka dibuka enggau 8 iti buah rumah panjai. Hurrah bala indu!!

Nyambut pemeri TR Gruna - chukup manah ukir terabai nya! Aku endang lama amat ngah ka meli terabai, baka ke nemu utai ke dikerindu aku ngah sida! Mayoh sida ke tuai2 ditu, ngelala serta semua ngenatai ke pengaga laban baru nemuai!

Terima kasih ngagai bala-bala Tuai Rumah (TR Gruna, TR Nyabang, TR Bria, TR Peter, Pengerusi JKKK, Penasihat JKKK En. Ben (datai ari Bintulu), dll) enggau bala anembiak di menoa Naman.

Ulang Taun ke 20 SIDS Sibu ...

Pengerami Makai Malam

Ulang Taun ke 20 SIDS, Sibu

kena

3 Oktober 2009

di

Dewan Suarah Sibu

Rega tiket (semija): RM500, RM400, RM350

1st Official Appointment ...

Leadership is a part and parcel of our daily life, be it our own family, the community, or the world at large. This week, its yet another small step to the learning process - leadership - with the 1st appointment!

I can still remember the time when as a baby sitting on her baby chair at the corner or coloring at the corner table or even now sitting at her chair reading.

Noooooooooooo not mine! Valerie's!!! she had been anxious to be a 'leader' in her class - class monitor - since standard one. She was appointed for only half of the 1st term, but was dropped after being absent from school for more than 2 months, and was never re-instated!

In her fourth standard, she was appointed as the School's Prefect - CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Mummy is so proud of you! :)



What next .... ?!!

Serumpu Gawai Staf Dayak ...

Sehari tu amat lelak ... terebai ke Kuching pagi tu tadi, laban ke dikagau ke ngulu pengawa opis meda Menteri nyain MOU ke Solar Hybrid Power, udah nya terebai pulai kena bilun jam 9 malam. Naka pengelelak, ati bisi enggai nurun meda pengerami Serumpu Gawai Ngiling Bidai - tang keni ko enda nurun, aku ngah ke ngerumpung sida iya. Pengawa diatur ngambi ke bisi begempuru, bekela enggau pagan diri serta sebilik sida.

Nuh jam 10.30 malam baru aku datai. Dinga ari jauh lagu sida. Apu udah hebat amat sida! Pemakai mayoh macam disediaka sida - aku makai pansuh manok aja - dua kali nyinkau asi enggau manok! Ambis pengelelak nyau maya udah datai serta begulai enggau sida. Rindu amat! Terima kasih Bujang Cmanggang ke udah ngenuai ke pengawa - ukai semina sigat, landik mega ngerja pengawa! :D Terima ke semua bala staf Iban/Dayak (serta enggau bini sida) ke udah nyendia, ngatur pengerami, serta nyokong pengawa tu.

Tuai rumah?

Belakang Bujang Cmanggang (baju cholat) aja ke ulih dipeda ber-poco poco ...

Pemanca nguyap manok ...

Bala bini-bini staf ...

Tukang kagau & tukang egin...

Bejalai baru ...

I couldn't quite grasp the message yet ... a quickie oversea trip next week! My first thought was .. oh noooo, am going to miss the Borneo Cultural Festival events!! I got so much to do - well, maybe none since nobody had highlighted anything to me, so it might be the year when I would get the chance to appreciate the sound, smell, and taste of BCF!

This weekend was spent preparing for my paper presentation for the overseas trip next week. It seems that this is another trip relating to NRW.

Well, I look forward to the trip to 'killing fields' country - my 2nd trip over - all in the name of work! Just the preparation work is 'hard' and its not completed yet. So I have another 3 days to finish my paper & slides, but it is an honor to be 'recognized' for ones work! Can't complain about that!

Ngintu Hari Apai & Indai ...

Nitih ke adat pendiau barat aka orang putih, kemari ianya Hari Apai ... ya anang enda ingat bulan Mei tu kemari .. Hari Indai. Nyangka dua hari tu, dibai orang ngingat ke Apai & Indai tauka sehari alam setaun kitai ngerja utai ke lebih ke apai indai kitai?

Apai & Indai - tu endang dua iko orang ke berat amat alam pengidup kitai. Dua iko orang ke ngada lalu mentuk pengidup kitai; orang ke disayau serta orang ke endang meruan enka kitai - no. 1 alam pengidup seduai. Alam dunya reba baru tu, cara2 apai indai enggau kitai kurang pengubah; tang cara2 anak enggau apai indai peda aku - bisi pengubah.

Endang dalam adat kitai Dayak, kitai sigi ngibun apai indai kitai maya sida nuh tuai; tang orang barat - nama udah 18 ke atas, lalu ngati ke diri. Dini endor sida ke tuai tu pengujung iya - aba nursing home tauka ke rumah pengandal tuai. Taja endor tu manah serta bisi utai ke lengkap ari segi mayoh macam utai diguna, lalu sekeda baka endor bercuti (holiday resort). Tang sebilik nadai. Aku maya di luar negeri, bisi nemuai ngagai endor orang tuai - ianya ke private & perintah, beza iya bisi endal.

Kitai endang nemu, maya sida apai indai udah tuai, nuh mayoh penyakit lalu sekeda beguna ke medical care ke lebih. Kati patut ka enda perintah kitai ngaga facilities ke ngibun/ngemata ke sida udah maya nya?

Aba aku, setiap hari ianya Hari Apai & Indai ..

Selamat Hari Apai enggau Indai!

Tu mesej dikirum siko ari bala menyadi alam Kristus ... sama2 kitai bepikir ...

The Wooden Bowl

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.
The family ate together at the table.. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. 'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.'
So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.
When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. ' The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Anak Orang Iban Barat Sarawak ...

Val is developing all sorts of passion ... dancing, volleyball, and the joy of good food!

Brownie with ice cream and chocolate syrup ... RICH ...

Thick juicy steak with pepper mushroom sauce ... oooooohhhh

She just loves her western food ... of any kind! Throughout our vacation all the time is western food aja - be it in fast food or 'slow' food (as my 4 yrs old nephew would say!!) So it was either at The Ship, Outback, San Franscisco, Pizza Hut ... McDonald - she has worn out this phase because her TEACHER told her its unhealthy food! I would like to talk with her Teacher to include KFC, Wendy, etc also!!! :D I am seeing GREAT savings in this economy period!

Ngiling Bidai enggau Orang Tuai di Rumah Sri Kenangan ...

Malam tu tadi kami bala Sarakup di kagau ke orang enggau Majlis Ngiling Bidai Gawai aba Rumah Sri Kenangan, Sibu (RSK). Rindu amat! Aba RSK Iban/Bidayuh, Melayu serta ke lebat agi Cina - nyadi sida endang selalu ngintu macam2 pengerami. SIDS Sibu tu tadi bisi ngatur penemuai alam progrim welfare lalu dipinta sida nyadi temuai.

Tonight I had the pleasure of attending a function at the Rumah Sri Kenangan (old folks home). This Rumah Sri Kenangan (RSK) is an old folks home run by the Government for those senior citizens that have no children to take care of them, but its also a place for abused women/domestic cases. It has always been one of my favourite place to visit; as I felt sad/pity for these old folks who have nobody to care for them - just not in our Dayak culture! Most of the citizen there are Chinese, with a few Malays and Dayaks. They need all the care & love that we could 'spare' them!

This year, the Gawai Committee made a commitment to donate RM500.00 to them and the amount was top by SIDS & OUNA - at the request of the administrator, we bought them 3 units of standing fan & a small gift for each of the residents. The gift was given in conjunction of Gawai, Mothers & Fathers Day - yup we love to combine events!

The residents had a great time, entertained with songs & dances by the members.

Warga staf RSK poco-poco ... sporting amat!


Warga groovy SIDS ... :)

Warga emas ....

Penghuni/warga emas betanda maya siko bala staf Sri Kenangan belagu ... Rindu endal sida ...
Two of the residents dancing ...

Bala SIDS, Sibu be poco-poco ngerindang bala ke enggau ...
SIDS entertaining them with poco-poco dance aka .. line dancing ...

Tu meh pemakai ke di bantai - nitih ke putar jam; kek lapis, pansuh manok, undang pedas, kari upa, buah, rojak - paling sedap pansuh manoh digulai empasa ... apuuuu ... nyamaiiiiiii...
Food served - best dish is the one on extreme right, chicken in bamboo with tapioca leaves ... yummmmmmmmmy....

SIDS, Sibu begulai enggau Komiti Gawai Dayak Sibu 2009 bisi meri pemeri ngagai setiap warga tua pemeri mit serta 3 iti kipas berdiri di kena di Rh Sri Kenangan. Bujang sigat ke ditengah ianya Pengerusi OUNA, En. Lade, lalu ke kanan ianya Pengetua, Rh Sri Kenangan Sibu.

Handing over the gifts ....

Penemu senentang Pekit Kumang ...

Pemenang-pemenang Pekit Kumang Gawai Dayak Sibu 2009 ...

Kiri-Kanan: Imelda John, Terrasse Inez Mawas, Priscilla Justin

Setiap taun maya pengerami Gawai Dayak endang bisi diatur pekit Kumang & Keling Gawai aba peringkat Bahagain, lalu kadang-kadang peringkat Negeri. Bala di rumahpanjai pen bisi ngatur bepekit ke baka tu maya sida ngatur pengerami sebedau Gawai.

Nama tuju kitai ngatur pemekit? Tuju ke amat sigi ngiga indu Dayak ke bajik gamal. Kati pemajik aja cukup? Cerita-cerita Kumang ari Panggau Libau endang selalu nusi indu ke benama Kumang tu ianya siko indu ke pengambis bajik, pintar & bepenemu. Pengelandik iya alam mayoh macam pengawa kerja jari. Nama kebuah orang ka enggau bepekit?

Maya aku belaboh enggau bala ngatur pekit tu, cara iya mega mudah aja - ngiga indu ke bajik; tang pengudah belasan taun tu, mayoh pengubah udah dibantai. Pekit Kumang ke diatur ianya Pekit Kumang Gawai Sibu, Pekit Kumang BCF, serta Pekit Kumang Gawai Dayak Sarawak. Atur-atur iya lebih kurang sama. Alam bulan Mei mega bisi siti pemekit pemajik ke diatur ianya Miss Fair & Love diatur enggau cara komersial.

1. Sapa ke ulih enggau bepekit

a. Bangsa:

Semua bangsa Dayak ulih enggau bepekit. Aku berati semina di Miri & peringkat Negeri bisi ngator alam 3 iti kategori ketegal mayoh agi tubuh. Di Sibu ditu, endang diatur alam pakaian Iban tang semua bangsa Dayak ulih enggau. Bangsa kitai ditetap ke nitih ke bangsa apai - nya siti ari pemutus Komiti mega. Contoh, indai Cina (tauka ke bangsa bukai) & apai Iban/Dayak agi dikumbai kitai Iban/Dayak; indai Iban/Dayak & apai Cina (tauka ke bangsa bukai), anak bangsa Cina/bukai. Taja bisi penemu ke madah tu bangsa Cina Iban or CiBan or nama2 kombinasi; ketegal kombinasi tu empai dikelala opis perintah, dilengka ke dulu. Enda ngah aku nemu, nyangka bisi ngah urang Dayak/Iban ke benama Tipong Siew Ling Meta (contoh) - nama kombinasi Iban & Cina? Aku enda ka meri komen pasal tu kediatu! Laban maya ke diatu, mayoh amat kahwin campur antara bangsa antara diri sama Dayak enggau ke ukai Dayak. Amat-amat 1Malaysia, 1Sarawak, 1Dayak!!

Pemekit Kumang BCF 2007 - ulih ngena ngepan bangsa diri empu.

Ketemu aku, atur Ms Fair & Lovely tu asal kitai warga negeri ulih enggau bepekit; lalu pakaian ke dikena pen bemacam-macam.

b. Umur & status kahwin

Endang bisi diletak atur umur, ianya enda kurang ari 18 taun lalu enda lebih ari 30 taun (enti betul ingatan aku), indu Dayak ke dara ianya empai berkahwin.

Selalunya Komiti bepangai aba 'honesty' pemekit tauka bantah bertulis orang bukai aba senentang tu. Umur tu senang kitai ngabas, ari kad tinke' sida; tang status dara - apu pedis tu, laban kitai nadai kala ngeluar ke surat/sijil kitai tu dara! Leka jako 'dara' pen mayoh reti - tang iya ke diambi iany nadai laki sah. Pengelama aku udah enggau ngatur pemekit tu, bisi ngah datai aba aku (enggau cara jako) orang mantah pemekit ketegal udah bisi anak tauka laki. Enti komplain nya madah sida udah belaki; aku selalu ngasoh sida mai rekod surat kahwin indu nya ke bukti tauka mai tuai2 ke ngelala indu nya. Tang enti nadai surat kahwin, kira ke dara meh nya; nginjau leka jako siko kaban blogger - nyangka nya orang ke 'advance'.
Atur nadai nyekat aba tu, lalu nadai mega nyebut dara bungas. Bisi mega mantah madah ke indu pemekit nya dara tang beranak siko - atur mega nadai nyekat pasal anak. Atur semina nyebut - dara. Laban ke dunya diatu udah jauh berubah; bisi mayoh orang dara beranak - dunya 'advance'.

Ari segi atur, nitih meh sida ke enggau. Munyi ko sekeda meh nya, ila ngatur Kumang ungkup sida ke 'mature' - ulih lah enggau ila!!

2. Cara pemilih

a. Pengelandik

Pemekit Kumang Gawai Sibu aja diuji pengelandik alam jako tanya, ngajat, enggau belagu. Pekit Kumang BCF nadai tu; Ms Fair & Lovely - enda nemu bisi ke nadai? Kategori tu diatur ketegal deka milih Kumang ke bisi kualiti ari segi penemu enggau pengelandik sida. Alam awal taun 90an suba, bisi mega ngatur sida Pemekit tu mansut ke diri lalu nyebut data diri mimit enggau tanya saut. Atur tu enda tentu mujur ketegal bala pemekit, empai ulih nitih ke atur; laban tuju kitai ke ngasoh sida nyebut data & tanya saut, ianya mantai ke kualiti suara & peningi penemu sida alam adat resam; tang utai ke sebalik iya nyadi. Enti enda salah ingat aku, 2 taun berturut cara tu diatur; udah nya diubah; enggai ke sida malu. Aku berasai malu laban kitai ka mantai indu Dayak ke 'pandai', bekualiti, bajik, serta bisi pengelandik.

Tu udah lebih kurang 15 taun aku enggau ngatur - kemayoh agi semina ke deka enggau ianya bala indu kitai lepasan pom 5. Tang bisi ke sekali sekala bala indu kitai Dayak ke bisi diploma/saujana muda - tang enda mayoh. Arap ke mayoh agi bala indu Dayak kitai ka lepasan sekula tinggi agi enggau bepekit.

Peratusan mata aba senentang tu ianya 15% - 20%.

Pemekit Kumang & Keling Gawai Dayak Sibu 2009 - maya pekit pengelandik seminggu sebedau malam Gawai.

b. Pemajik

Pemajik tu enda sigi digiga aba semua indu maya bepekit. Tang pemajik aba mata siko siko enda sama; nya alai kadang-kadang dikumbai orang akim enda betul, akim tu becheping, serta mayoh agi jako anu urang! Kadang-kadang bala Komiti pun dianu apai/indai pemekit. Jako pesan aku - adat bepekit betanding endang bisi alah enggau menang; enti enda ulih nerima pemutus orang bukai nge-akim kitai; anang enggau! Aku ingat lebih kurang 10 taun suba, siko ari bala Komiti aku ditikau ke orang enggau duit saguhati, laban iya enggai nerima nya. Kebuah iya, laban anak iya patut nyadi Kumang ko iya (anak iya tu, finalist pen enda) lalu iya berasai malu, ko iya.

Bakani akim merati tauka ka meri markah pemajik? Selalu nya, utai ke dipeda ianya: pemurak, gamal, gaya gamal udah di antah, kesemua gamal iya - tang munyi ko aku tadi - mata siko siko enda sama. Pemanis gamal indu dipeda, senyum ka enda, etc.. Kadang-kadang stail buk pen diperati ke bala akim.

Peratusan markah diantara 30%-40%.

Gambar-gambar dibaroh ianya dua iko pemekit Kumang Gawai Sibu 2009, ke terubah Cik Ilias, siko ari finalist serta ke kedua Cik Mawas, Kumang Gawai Sibu 2009. Dikena kita merati ke ngepan enggau pemajik seduai.

c. Ngepan

Ngepan enda dipeda ari ke asal tauka ke palsu (iya ke asal perak enda tentu berkilat), ngepan ke ngenap ari sugu tinggi, tangu, rawai, lampit, tali ai, tating kain, selampai, kain, buah angkung, gelang jari & kaki, lalu ke bukai ke lebih. Tang enda semesti nya enti semua utai ke bisi dilekat, laban enti iya kelalu mayoh/lebat, nuh salah ngah iya. Akim endang udah mereksa utai tu sebedau belaboh sida bepekit aba panggau. Nya alai, sida pemekit selalu diasoh siap sedia aba jam ke diberi; laban nya meh maya akim ke dipadu ke meri markah belaboh ngabas ngepan. Bisi ngah kala kami tetemu ke pemekit ke empai datai nitih ke jam - nadai discipline - lalu rugi markah.

Peratusan Markah antara 40%-60%.

d. Pejalai

Tu enda sigi di perati ari segi gaya, stail, etc sida bejalai ngelinggi panggau.

Peratusan markah antara 10%-15%.

3. Hakim

Siti ari atur ke digaga ianya - PEMUTUS AKIM ENDA ULIH DIBANTAH!

Munyi ko aku ari tadi, pemajik belain aba mata siko siko (beauty is in the eye of the beholder), nya alai bala ke udah diberi tanggungjawab nyadi Akim enda tau disalah dan dibantah, taja kitai enda besetuju enggau sida.

Sapa ke dipilih nyadi Akim?
Dulu suba enda bisi ngah aku ninga cerita munyi ke disebut bala kaban blogger pasal pemutus ke ngerakal tauka ngasoh kaban belayan si 'pemesai' menang. Nya nyangka ulih nyadi enti Akim siko aja; tang keselalu akim bisi 3 iko (kadang-kadang lebih) enda patut sepakat magang? Taja pia, cara ngambi milih Akim (enggau naka ulih) ke nadai kaban belayan enggau bepekit, sida ke 'temuai' di menoa tauka sida ke (dijangka) nadai kaban enggau bepekit. Selalu kami mesan bala Akim matak diri enti bisi kaban enggau. Bala Akim pen enda nemu diri dipilih, sampai ke lemai/malam nyadi; tu ngambi nadai orang ngelobi tauka bekempen sebedau nya.
Alam penemu aku, ke diatu, adil - tang tu penemu aku aja.

Selalu bala ke meda pekit kumang enda ingat tauka ke enda berati ke bisi siti pekit pengelandik ke di adu ke sebedau malamnya; lalu markah 15% tu mayoh lalu meri pemekit kumang nya menang tauka alah aba malamnya - taja pemajik, pejalai & ngepan sida nadai endor mantah - ketegal alah alam peratusan markah pengelandik!

Indu kitai Dayak - endang bisi pemajik (alah Jessica Alba ngena ngepan laban sekeda ari Kumang-Kumang Gawai), pemandai serta pengelandik ke ulih diansah.

Nyaut jako tanya aku ari mula tadi:-
1. Nama tuju kitai ngatur pekit?
2. Nama kebuah orang ka enggau bepekit?

Jako tanya ke terubah, ianya kitai ngatur pekit ketegal deka ngiga indu Dayak ke bajik, landik, serta bepenemu ngari ke kitai. Imej indu Dayak! Tang kitai endang sigi ngandal ke mayoh agi bala indu Dayak graduan ulih enggau laban nya mega deka mantai ke ukai semina pemajik tang mega 'kualiti' naka ke ulih. Pemajik aba gamal aja enda chukup; pemajik mesti ari gamal sampai ke dalam (segi pemandai (intelligence), manah ati, manah ulah, etc etc ) - internal & external beauty! Nya meh Kumang Dayak ke deka digiga! Nyangka enti prais pemenang manah agi, prais ke be'kualiti', prais ke merangsang; nyengkaum duit belajar serta nyadi 'duta' alam progrim komuniti Dayak - mayoh agi indu Dayak ka enggau. Kumang Dayak ke ulih nyadi contoh? Tu visi aku/komiti aba pekit tu!

Tanya ke dua, enti munyi ko saut sulu ati aku (anak) - laban iya ka ngulih ke 'crown'! :D Ketawa aku ninga iya; nya ko aku nyaut iya - Mami meli ke deh siti crown ari kedai, lalu ditimbal iya - "its not the same, mama!" Tuju bala indu tu mayoh, asai aku - keda engka nya baka sulu aku ka ke crown/duit prais, keda ka ke 'nama', keda nyangka nya ngambi dikelala orang mayoh agi. Bisi ngah aku macha ari bala kaban blogger - enda semesti nya 'laku' udah menang! Amat nya; tang bisi ngah cerita-cerita ke sukses! [Anang aja nyadi Sleeping Dictionary/Jessica Alba alam wayang nya, tang maybe nyadi Walking Dictionary (kitai meri reti ke lekanya). Walking Dictionary - person of intelligence.]

Cerita amat -

• siko ari Kumang Gawai Sibu udah nyadi Datin diatu;
• siko/dua bisi pengidup ke meruan,
• lalu siko Kumang ke dipebasa ke aku amat, ke mega dikelala - Puan Senorita Linang - pemajik ari semua segi sampai ke diatu!!
• sekeda bisi ngah graduan diatu lalu mujur dalam kerjaya sida.

Nama-nama pengandal di alam ati, kitai endang patut berusaha ngulih ke iya.

At the Zoo Negara ...

Lebih 20 taun aku udah enda ke Zoo Negara ... endor nya jauh berubah! Maya aku ke kin suba, aku agi berumur belasan aja lalu rindu amat meda jelu-jelu din. Sehari tu tadi, kami mai bala ke mit ... laban ke lalu empai kala dibai!

Ari segi endor, nuh jauh berubah ari segi pemanah atur & pemersi. Ari segi jelu-jelu ke bisi ... baka ke memit agi? Tak nadai mayoh jelu peda aku, enti dibanding enggau zoo ke bukai. Dibanding enggau zoo di China, USA, South Africa, etc, jauh alah zoo kitai ditu.

Rindu amat ngah sehari tu, bejalai diri sebilik .. ragak alam moto, belagu enggau sida ke mit. Tang bisi ngah geram, kitai kah ninga radio lagu, sida ka ninga lagu katun alam CD!!! hahahaha

Val & Karl ... after shopping!

The last time I was at the National Zoo was more than 20 years ago! As a teenager, I loved going to the zoo to study the animals! I was not bothered with the 'poop' smell!! hahahaha

Today, I finally took my daughter for her first visit to the zoo (this is NOT her first visit to the zoo, as she had visited the Beijing Zoo) and we had a great time! She enjoyed studying the animals, as I was when I was 'older' than her. In school, as part of science, they studied about the animals, so now she gets another chance to see them. Of course, at different zoo - you get to see different animals!! I didn't realized that she had never seen a wild boar ... although she loved eating them ... well, she saw the wild boar!!

It was another great family day ... outing! :)

Gawai Celebration ....

Taun tu, kami sebilik ber Gawai di Semenanjung ... pengudah ke enda nyadi ke Eropah! Laban ke aku ke nusun progrim ke Eropah, cuti-cuti Malaysia tu aku nitih aja atur bala. Kami sebilik enda milih dini endor/menoa - ulih aja ngintu Gawai, asal kami begulai (taja taun tu lima orang ber Gawai ke menoa bukai ketegal gawa). Gawai di rumah panjai semina enti bala ulih pulai magang. Tuju Gawai di rumah panjai tu, semina ketegal diri sebilik ke bukai (bala ayah/ibu/petuggal) ke semua pulai magang, lalu tu meh maya nemu brita pagan diri. Aku enda nemu kita ke bukai; tang kadang-kadang betemu sekali setaun enda chukup asai sepi aku ngeyemak ke agi kaul.

Ngena ke Gawai tu kemari; malam nyadi kami sebilik ngintu aba restoran Outback di Bangsar Village - makai pemakai stail ribai. Restoran tu nyendia ke pemakai ari Oz. Laban ke rindu stail pemakai tu; sedap amat serta endor pen manah diri.

Hari Nyadi (1 Jun), kami bisi ngulu anak kaban ke kahwin (apai iya enggau iya empu sama bela ngajar aba UPM) di Bangi - aku tu 'gatecrash' pengerami iya!!! Nadai dikagau tang nurun aja, ninga anak iya kahwin. Gaga amat seduai melaki bini meda kami sampal datai, laban ke enda disadang ko iya - nadai nemu bisi di KL! Amat ngah nya! Kad jemputan iya nyebut 'sekeluarga' - kira ke nyankung meh nya ko apai. Manah amat stail - nuh angan-angan ke engku empu ... ;) Lemainya, bisi ngagau ke sekeda bala kaban makai serumpu aba rumah kami ditu; sedap diri utai di panok ipar aku! Aku tu pelayan aja! Tu keterubah kami ngator 'open house' ditu.

Sehari siti kami sebuat, lalu niki ke Bukit Fraser - manah, sunyi, serta chelap umbas iya! Puas bejalai (hiking) - pecaya! tan diri aku bejalai! hahahaha agi pen bisi pengasak (motivator) enggau! ;)

Sehari dua tu, nyangka nurun ke tebing pantai laban bisi sekeda enggai enda bejemi ngeangus ke tubuh! Kitai bebedau ka burak, sekeda enggai enda bisi 'tan' - diturut ke aja, asal lantang.

What does Gawai means to each of us? Over the years, I had celebrated Gawai in various ways and each method as exciting and joyous event. Last couple of years, it used not to coincide with school holidays (peninsula) and that was hard for the family.

Gawai for me is a time to be with family! In the Iban context, Family has always included extended ones and there are many/extensive, everyone would try their very best to come home to the longhouse during this season. However, my celebration has always been wherever we could converge as a Family (immediate) Time together. Further to this, we always attempt to have family/friends over either before or after the actual Gawai, if we are not going to at the longhouse.

Likewise, this year, we originally planned to spend Gawai in Europe but at the last week decided to postpone it - thus, a quick re-planning it was Kuala Lumpur, Fraser Hill, and the beach. I left the re-planning to my love one - what comes to mind was the song ... "I will follow you, wherever you may go".

On Gawai Eve, we went Western - as we were supposed to be 'celebrating' our Gawai in Switzerland - the Outback Restaurant at Bangsar Village - was the choice meal. Delicious!! The chief chef needs her time off - no cooking!

BBQ Chicken Alice Spring Chicken & Ham

We miss the 3Bs .... wish you guys were here! Uncle Prof. did take a picture of his steak to mms to you guys! Hopefully, Christmas we could spend it together ... we're working on it! I just need to get you know who ... to agree!!

Gawai day (1 June) we attended a Malay wedding of a friend's daughter - how times flies - I only remember her as a little girl, and now she's on her next journey of womanhood! :D It was a grand Malay wedding; held at the parents' house in Bangi. Lunch consisted of a sumptuous Malay spread of briyani rice, chicken masak merah, beef curry, acar, keropok, syrup water, and ais kacang. As we were leaving, the bridegroom arrived accompanied by the beat of the kompang ... so we stayed on for a little while. A very handsome couple! The bride is a tutor with University Putra Malaysia and the bridegroom ... mmmm I didn't ask!

Family enjoying a Ais Kacang ... yeah, the setting was formal; with the tent for the lunch, and then there was a ais kacang stall in the grounds; so everyone was just standing around under the trees etc enjoying the dessert.

Bala makai ais kacang - sedap amat - laban hari ke bangat angat!

Selamat Pengantin Baru Aini & Hubby.

Later that night, we had open house at our home in Kuala Lumpur for close friends ... its our first time having an open house. (Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures!) The great Gawai meal consisted of Curry Chicken, Beef, Laksa Sarawak (most popular that night - completely out to the last drop of soup!!!), the usual spread of goodies of Kuih Chuan, Jala, Kek Lapis, fruits, and of course Tuak!! Tuak was very very popular that night! :) All our guests left each with a bottle of Tuak (they all came with a bottle of wine/liquor and cake!). It was a great time to catch up and just have time together with close friends.

Next day, it was R&R at Fraser Hill - in view that we didn't make it to England, we lunch at the famous Smokehouse. Very English atmosphere and the meal was wonderful. Weather was great! Posh environment, well protected. The place was not crowded so there was a lot of time for togetherness ... love the walking trails!

Val & Keem at the Clock Tower, Fraser Hill

Parents & Grandkids @ Ye Ode Smokehouse

Gawai Lunch at Ye Ode Smokehouse