Updates from June - August

Its been a long while since my last entry; and is all due to my busy schedule or more accurate the 'laziness' of writing.  So this round, I will just put the events picture based.  How does that sound?

So I will start with the last event in August and then proceed to June!  I had the privilege of being part of the organizing committee as well as participant to the 6th Iban Cultural Symposium.  It was 3 days event from the 22 - 24 August in Sibu.   If you want to read more on the symposium, do go to the SIDS Sibu blog at www.sids-sibu.blogspot.com.

I was honored to be in the great companies of the Iban leaders, professionals, academicians, etc etc; and if only we could all speak in One VOICE with a vision, mission, objectives and targets; we could be the FORCE.  Unity is vital in our community.  We need a paramount chief that could lead; unite all of us, regardless of where we are from.  Ari Batang Rajang, Ai Skrang or Ai Kemena - penyerakup kitai bangsa amat beguna endal.  Aku endang pecaya ke Tuai ke ulih ngerempung kitai bisi duduk alam dewan nya maya simposium, tang semina nganti iya Angkat aja! :)

Siti utai ke deperati ke aku mega, ianya bala kitai ke indu enggau simposium mimit aja.  Arap ke dudi ila, mayoh agi kitai enggau.  Semina Assc. Prof. Dr. Madeline Berma meh ke ngari ke kitai mansut ke siti kertas kerja.  Tubuh kitai ke indu Iban enda empai datai ba penyukat ke disebut perintah (siti ari buah Merdeka) ianya 30% megai penuduk alam perintah ke ulih 'decision making/policy'!  Nama nadai indu Iban ke pandai?  Berpelajar?  Pengelama aku ke udah enggau SIDS serta begulai enggau bala, MAYOH indu Iban ke bepelajar, berpenemu serta berpengelandik - semina nganti peluang ke diberi.  Ka ngambi peluang, nadai ngah ulih.  Tang penyikap diri udah lengkap. Nya alai sama meh kitai nyangu ke kitai ke Iban, serta sekeda nyangu ke kitai ke indu; beguna amat k sokong pagan diri.  Chukup dibagi pengawa/penuduk. 

Group picture with Deputy Chief Minister and dynamic Iban ladies/men!

Community Leaders - only 1 female, Pemanca Valerie Manyi.  We need MORE MORE!

Aku maya betemu enggau pemesai maya simposium, bisi mega meresu ke guna/peminta kitai ke indu.  Udah chukup tempoh kitai ke indu bisi tuai raban bangsa alam penuduk Temenggong, Pemanca, tauka Penghulu aba setiap bahagian di Sarawak!  Semina Tatau udah ngelantik siko indu, ianya Pemanca Valerie Manyi.

I was happy to meet up with a dear friend, another dynamic Iban lady professional, Pn. Serawa!

Jayum and I met with a relative, Dato' Dr. Anthony Nait and his wife. 

Great to be attending the symposium with my dynamic big brother, the 1st Iban Professor in the Universe :D, Prof. Dr. Jayum Jawan!  Wish that my other brother, who is the 1st Iban Ambassador could be around, then it would have been even GREATER! :)

Prior to the symposium, I was also caught up with 'Ngiling Bidai' celebration which marks the end of Gawai Dayak.  On top of that I was also attending various 'Berbuka Puasa' functions.  Basically, its all food and more food!!  I would not wan to share with all of you the amount of extra kgs lying around in the most unwanted places!!  Maybe you could see it in my August pictures or the snug-ness of all my beautiful blouses!!  haha  sssshhhhsss

It was 'ngiling bidai' at the SDNU Sibu Jaya, and that was really merry making and a time of fellowship with the community in the area.  It was held at a community hall with about 300 Iban from the area.  Thank you for inviting me to the function!

As usual, the only lady in the crowd; bendal ngiling bidai ... pedis meremik! :)

Then it was dinner with Muslim colleagues for the 'berbuka puasa'.  They fast the entire day, and then we join them for breaking of fast; and what fun that was!  Yes, I need to get some 'RESPECT' from my staff!  haha He's just the 'joker' in the group; and afraid that his 'horns' will show, he pretend its mine! ;)  

Muslim & Christian friends/colleagues enjoying a great dinner at RH Hotel Coffee House.  Sorry, can't take pictures of the food, as it was disappearing faster than I could count up to 3!! :D

Then in mid July, it was the Council of Churches (CCM) Malaysia Women Convention.  There were about 60 women from all over Malaysia who participated in this 3 days convention.  Out of these 60 women, about 25 women were from GCMW!!  So it was a get-together time for all of us, again.  During this period, I met an unexpected friends from Bintulu & Miri from the Anglican & SIB churches - it was great connecting with you ladies!

GCMW members at the CCM Women Convention

SIDS Sibu Mothers' Day - yes, in our busy schedule; we also manage to organize a simple Mothers' Day gathering.  We let our 'hair down' and had lots of fun dancing, singing, and more dancing!  Your be amazed at how talented the women are! 

Exco SIDS Sibu cutting the Mothers' Day cake.

Earlier in July or was in late June; it was the installation dinner of the SDNU Sibu and 10 Exco attended this event.  We're sorry to note also that this was the night that our SIDS Sibu Secretary was an victim of snatch theft as she alighted from her car to go to the hotel.  Luckily, there was not much cash in the bag, just her cards/licenses/etc.  So do be cautious ladies, wherever you might be.  On this night, YB Tan Sri William Mawan graciously gave us a government grant of RM10k!! Hooray!  The least expected, as we're guests also but our charms & effectiveness in reaching out to the Dayak women in Sibu, overwhelmed him!

In all the busy schedules/activities, I did make time to spend with family.  In mid June, my cousin Michael Lu and his family came home for a month visit.  Michael is immigrant of USA ;)  It was fun taking them, especially the children, to try out local food!  They are adventurous, at least the boys, even when I offered them chicken butt!! haha  Crispy & tasty was the word of choice! 

Coconut was the drink of choice! 

My daughter also had her moment with Kung Fu Panda at the Universal Studio, Singapore.  This was a post Gawai holiday with the family.  It was a moment to treasure when the gang (prof, sis in law, karl & val) came out of the 'revenge of the mummy' ride!  The Mummy got them good! haha

Thank you Lord for the blessings!

I am under the 'influence' of several friends (especially you know who you are in Miri ;) ); with the craze on Royal Alberts etc!!  *BIG SIGH* now am also browsing for good deals on Royal Alberts, and getting information on where to get them!!  So now my gift of choice - Royal Albert!  (I love Noritake, also :D )