Ber-Gawai ba Rumah Panjai ...

Gawai means a time with family, tuak, dancing, catching up with news, and celebrate the blessings! Family silent rule is that Gawai must be spent with FAMILY; but over the years, we have modify the venue to be any place where the family is. So at times, we will be celebrating in Kuala Lumpur or overseas. However, alternate years must be spent in the longhouse, going back to the 'roots'.

Setiap taun kami sebilik endang begempuru aba rumah panjai (begilir taun), di KL tauka ka menoa bukai. Asal sebilik bisi enggau, nyadi meh Gawai.

Two decades ago the only mode of transport to the longhouse was using the mighty Rejang River vide this slow boat. It takes an hour from the Sibu wharf to the longhouse. Then ferry service was provided connecting Paradom & Sibu vide the Lanang Road - the travel time was shorten; provided there's no ferry service queue/wait! If there's a queue, it could take easily 3 hours to reach the longhouse! About half a decade ago, the Lanang Bridge (private!) was completed and now it takes only minutes to reach the longhouse; however, at the cost of RM3.00 per journey for toll fee! Its worth it for the ... ferry queue or the boat journey!

Kelia nama ke rh. panjai sigi ngena moto/perahu, lalu sejam baru datai ari pasar ngelayang Btg Rajang ke Sg. Assan. Iya ngah moto, nama hari besai endang penuh belama.

This looks like the busy street in the town, doesn't it? Well, its the private road behind our longhouse and these are cars parked on both sides of the 1 lane road. How time have changed or how 'progressive our longhouse folks are now!! My bilik is at the end of this road.

Daitu, berintai motokar aba tisi jalai alun rh panjai. Pejalai pulai pen enda lama, kira 15 minit ari pasar. Nuh bisi utai endal bala kitai di rh. panjai; penuh jalai enggau kereta bermacam sida iya - kancil, proton, toyota, hyundai, nissan, macam2 bangsa. Bala ke biak2 bersegau merati ke model2 kereta!

There were several guests to the longouse ....

My parents with Pengabang greeting YB Datuk Dr. Soon Choon Teck who came visiting on the 2nd day.

Temuai ari semnoa tasik, sida YB Menteri Muda, enggau kaban2 lama mayoh ngabang taun tu. Nuh pedis betis aku ketut2 nyendia ke ai.

Families - Tiong family....

Bala ipar/anak menyadi ari Indai Kim...

Friends from Semenanjung attached with the Tradewind Plantation in Rantau Panjang.

Taun tu pagan ari menyadi aku Prof ke lebat agi. Bala pagan aku bisi datai tang aku enda ingat ngambi gambar laban ke nuh syok berandau. Agi mega, sida iya udah diasoh aku ngabang ke rumah di pasar; laban aku tu ka bejegau di rumah panjai!

Childhood friend (in red t-shirt), Penoh, with his family. On right is Aunty Tuai ;)

Kaban lama enggau sebilik iya.

Dad with Sebastian Goh (2nd left, another childhood friend of Prof.) and 2 Korean visitors attached with the Bakun Project.

Bala ari Korea.

Eating time after Gawai Eve Prayer at the longhouse bilik. Rev. Jelanding (4th left), TR Chendang (blue t-shirt), and Rev. Tiong

Paderi Jelanding & Paderi Tiong makai pengudah Sembahyang Bilik Lemai Gawai.

Families at the Gawai Eve Prayer ...

Bala diri sebilik enggau sembahyang...

Karl enjoying his walk along the 'ruai' ..

Karl rindu bejalai aba ruai; nya meh ke lelah begagai ke iya niti ruai 60 pintu!!!

Fellowship with family members ...

Makai serumpu enggau bala petunggal & sebilik sida ...

Niece-in-law & great niece Cornelia ..

Menantu bilik sepiak enggau anak iya. Ya ya .. udah bisi Uchu!

Mom, Kim, Val & Karl with Cousin Maria and her daughter, Imelda, ..

Baju terang petuggal sekali aku. Sida menyanak bisi pulai ari Miri! Gaga amat ati begulai enggau iya!

We took time to visit Ng. Kedada, my uncle/cousin house from Dad's side. Forefront .. Uncle, seated ... L-R: Keling Abai, Bakal Keling Larry, Akie Bujang Telajak, Kumang Lori ;) ...

Lemai hari ke-2, kami sempat nemuai ngagai bala petunggal/ayah di Kedada. Rindu ngah bersulu enggau sida budak2 besai ke machal tu .. Abai, Larry & Lori.

Grandmothers play the music, the granddaughter do the ngajat; whilst the grandson watched!!

Inie-inie betaboh, uchu ngajat ... stedi anak ku!!

Not to be left out .. Cousins/Aunties/Friends .. doing the moves ;)

Indai Val sempat ngah ngayun ke punggung enggau diri sebilik .. boleh tahan!!

After all the eating, dancing, talking and merry making ... we're beat and flop anyway we could find space and coolness ... till next year .... hoooooooo haaaaaaaaaa!

Nama udah lelah, lalu ngaring ke diri sebarang endor; baka Keling kami siko tu meh bala kami!