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
