MENTAKAB - ITS BEAUTIES YET TO REVEALS

The land mark for Mentakab, UMNO Building (Above), Old Shophouses with attractive paint and decoration (Centre), Abu Bakar Mosque (Below)

I went to visit Mentakab, a small town under the administration of Temerloh District, Pahang. A trip from KL is only taking about 2 hours with a hilly view of rainforest. The bus fare is only RM10.40 from Pekeliling Bus Station, Kuala Lumpur to Mentakab Bus Station.

From my arrival until I left Mentakab, I still lost on the icon for this small town. I know that the Temerloh district is famous for it Ikan Patin (Pangasius Sutchi). So maybe the same icon for Mentakab. This town is well developing mostly because it was of the one stop for traveler from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan. An army camp is situated about 5 km from the town and play its roles to rejuvenate the developments. Anyway, oil palm, rubber and logging are still the major industry in this town.

Local food is of course glamour for it Ikan Patin.

Mentakab was once considered by the State Government in the year 1901 to be the new centre of all administrative works in the state of Pahang. However, due to a problem of uneven land, Kuantan was to be the new capital of the state.

This town is well connected by road, around 121 km from Kuala Lumpur and 136 km from Kuantan. Railway is also available but reported to connect only to Kelantan.

Amazingly, one of the country's fastest growing private universities, the Open University Malaysia's (OUM) is located at Mentakab.

Some famous people that have their histories linked to this town include Datuk Bahaman, Pak Sako, and Sudirman. The first two individuals mentioned are remembered for their fight against the British during the British colonisation.

Therefore, I believed that this town still have a lot of its beauties to reveals...

Streets in Mentakab

Amazingly, this small town needs parking coupon to park your car. Be careful, or otherwise you will compouned RM 10.00. Oh Ya! I drived around the town actually...

Muslim is majority, but Mentakab also have temples and churh. The symbols of Malaysian unity....

This building is the tallest building in Mentakab

Open University Of Malaysia, Mentakab, Pahang

Lanchang Town (Above) and Karak Town (Below), the one stop from KL to Mentakab

Main access to Mentakab, Mentakab Bus Station (Above), Access road to Mentakab Railway Station (Centre), Jalan Kuantan - Kuala Lumpur (Below)

After two nights in Mentakab, I feel that Mentakab has his own identity, history and beauties that yet to reveals. And before left Mentakab, I took two bottles of Stout.... He he

DAYAK SELAKAU - THE LOST AND FOUND TRIBE IN SARAWAK (Part 2)

Narakng – The Revival of Selakau Biggest Celebration

A ritual at Kampung Pueh during Pesta Narakng in 2006

A Selakau leader offering"Nyangahan", a traditional blessing for the opening ceremony

It was in 1960’s when it was last celebrated. After it was almost forget by the younger generation, it was revive again, with a new breath in combination of modern and traditional way. In 2005, the Pesta Narakng was first celebrated after almost half a century in deep sleeping. Kampung Pueh was the reviver, with the support of YB Ranum Mina, who is also the sole YB from Selakau community.

The custom originated in Kalimantan several hundred years ago and was practiced by Selakau ancestors who migrated to Sarawak. The narakng procession was celebrated involving a few villages participated by over a hundred villagers, going on foot to visit one village after another.

Narakng in Selakau means lightening. This traditional celebration, normally in the conjuction of Gawai celebration for the blessing of their God calls “Jubata”. It is celebrate by visiting from kampong to another kampong in a group. In the past, they walked as far as from Kampung Pueh to Kampung Biawak which is about more than 30 km. In fact, there were no vehicles and even they walks through jungles to reach to their destination. It takes maybe one or two weeks to their last destination.

On their way, they will overnight in a few kampongs. All the way, traditional music is played and normally together with their traditional dance. On every kampong, they will be celebrating with a traditional dance and foods.

At each kampong, the villagers performed a different type of Salako dance - the “Totokng”, “Tarabakng”, “Tingkakok” and “Uwek Jongan”. Each kampong also welcomed the procession with Salako delicacies and demonstrated some of their rituals and handicrafts.
During the procession, the village elders also performed rituals to seek a bountiful harvest as well as good health and long life.

Back at the starting kampong, the procession was received with a welcoming dance called “Sikap Dayu”.

In 2006, this lost and found celebration was recognised and fully support by Jabatan Kebudayaan, Kesenian dan Warisan Negeri Sarawak.

A group of Selakau dancer is performing their "Uwek Jongan" dance

The participants are walking through the jungle track and Siru Dayak Longhouse

The leaders in Selakau traditional costume plays their traditional music during the marching

A tourist as one of the participant in Pesta Narakng

"Kaangkakng", Selakau traditional bamboo altar

I am proud to be one of the participant and for the first time used my traditional Selakau vest. Anyway, my family and I just afford to follow them by car. There is still a lot of Traditional Selakau Ritual like "Ngoncong", "Badukun", "Basansam", "Nyamah Pulo", "Ngalah Bangas", "Basunat", "Basansam" and etc,..etc.. This ritual is dwindling due to modernisation of their surroundings and great spreading of other religions among the Selakau community.

END OF PART 2....

AMAZING SABAH - THE BAMBOO ORCHESTRA

I was given a VCD as souvenir from a Sabahan friend. He said that I will know a little knowledge about Kadazan culture, a dominant tribe in Sabah. At first I am not aware on the specialty of the VCD because I used to watch the Sumazau Dance for a few times on television.

After watching it, I realize that the fantastic and difference on the VCD is the music instruments. Please imagine that all the instruments are hand made from natural products mainly of bamboo. It really impressed since it was totally different from other races in Malaysia. The guitar or bass guitar even hand made!! Amazing. I guess, but maybe it just a decoration on a ready made modern guitar. I really can hear soft and harmonically sweet melodies, a whisper to visit the state synonyms to the “Land below the Wind”.

To visit Sabah especially to its beautiful islands, white windy beaches and hiking the famous Gunung Kinabalu is my ever dream. So I have to save money now as my next holiday will be in Sabah, depending on my "Kepala Agung"....

If you try to find something different, I would recommend this VCD. The price as shown on the cover is just RM 19.90, with an “Original” stamp by KPDN & HEP. This is fare enough for this 5 stars rate on my personnel rating.

A group of street artist performs their bamboo instruments at Central Market, Kuala Lumpur

Thumps up and congratulation to the Sabahans on the efforts to train the younger generation on your fantastic culture. I know the Japanese and some tribes in Africa are promoting their bamboo orchestra, and now I am proud that Malaysian also has the same to be proud of.

One of the song in the VCD. I love the young musicians and their harmonic melody.

MALAM PERPADUAN GAWAI DAYAK MUKAH - A SYMBOL OF MODERN GAWAI AND DAYAK UNITY

Two young generation of Iban and Bidayuh in their own traditional costume.

Gawai Dayak in Sarawak was first celebrated on 1st June 1965 and became a symbol of unity, aspiration and hope for the Dayak community. Today, it is an integral part of Dayak social life. It is originally a thanksgiving day marking good harvest and a time to plan for the new farming season or activities ahead. On the modernisation of Dayak, Gawai should also a thanksgiving day marking the good achievement of Dayaks in whatsoever field they involve.

For Mukah, our Working Committee or Ahli Jawatan Kuasa (AJK) was formed in 2005 with En Tuah Suni, a Bidayuh being the first Chairman. He was also the Chairman for Dayak Bidayuh National Organization (DBNA), Mukah Branch. Before the formation, the Dayak from three ethnics in Mukah which compromise of Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu was organizing their own gawai celebration, in different venue and date.

With the formation of the AJK, all the three Dayak groups were uniting in one committee to work together and succeed the new era of Gawai celebration in Mukah. The first Gawai Celebration was organized to only about 50 tables sold to the public. Most of them are Dayak in town areas and along Selangau-Mukah Road. This was considering successful for the pioneer of Gawai Celebration in this small town where the Dayak are the minority.

For the second celebration, which was chaired by the Chairman of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), Mukah Branch, En Solomon Kumbong repeated the success of first celebration with 65 tables was sold out. This was actually the maximum tables that could occupy at Dewan Suarah Mukah, the only venue for a big function in Mukah. And this time, the function is not succeeding only by the Dayak group but also attract the other races like Melanau, Malay, and Chinese.

For the third year of celebration, which was chaired by En Andy Rengkai, but later succeeds by his deputy, En Sulai Limbang creates a new history for Mukah on Gawai Celebration. For the first time, Malam Perpaduan Gawai Mukah changes its venue to the newly completed Kingwood Resort where 100 tables were sold out.

For the fourth year of Celebration, again at Kingwood Resort, 115 tables (approximately 1,150 crowds) were sold out which attract the participation from almost all the longhouses in Mukah and Dalat District and of course from other races as well. The Chairman was En Dobat Ponit, where his AJK try to create new changes for the celebration. Iban and Orang Ulu were performing their Ngajat accompanied by live music. The musicians were imported form their origin land, Orang Ulu from Belaga and Iban from Kapit. Bidayuh community was performing a dance from Bidayuh Bau (Jagoi/Singai), which I knew the first to perform in Mukah Division.

Who said that Dayaks could not be united? Maybe this is just my point of view in a very small scale of organization, “With the achievements, the Dayaks in Mukah have shown a very good example on the true Dayak unity. No doubt and I am proud to be part of the AJK which perhaps the biggest crowd for a modern gawai celebration organized by NGO in Sarawak.”

However, the participation from the other races and local leaders, as well as the head of department from government and private agencies also contributes major roles.

With very minimum resources on funds and materials, the Dayaks in Mukah have try their very best to close the leaks, through creative and innovative efforts to endure their tradition and culture. They still maintain the original Gawai with the appearance of “ranyai”, “miring” ceremony, “tuak” served and share among them, traditional crafts from various ethnics for the decorations, and unique traditional dance for the grand celebration.

As such, I have no doubt that the Malam Perpaduan Gawai Dayak Mukah is really the symbol of modern Gawai and Dayak unity in Mukah.


Please continue to support us….

"Miring" ceremony a symbolic for the opening ceremony...

A busy and packed Ball Room, Kingwood Resort on the Malam Perpaduan Gawai Dayak Mukah 2008

A young beautiful Iban maid in Iban traditional costume

Two Iban Warriors on their performance vying on Keling Gawai Mukah 2008

The Finalist for Keling Gawai Mukah 2008

The Finalist For Kumang Gawai Mukah 2008

Lady of The Nite.... Kumang Gawai Mukah 2008

The Finalist of Kumang and Keling Gawai Mukah 2008

KEMPEN BUMI HIJAU (PART 2) - My AQUARIUM FISH COLLECTION

For detail of Kempen Bumi Hijau, Please visit http://www.ppj.gov.my/


Here are my aquarium fish collection. I'am not yet stop and still continue collecting....

Name: Big Mouth Ara
Yellow tail Arawana. His daily meal is small fresh fish. Amazingly, his favourite meal are, cockroaches, lizards and grasshopper. In one day, he can eat at least five (5) adult lizards alive!

Name: Shiny Biawan
Mukahan call it Biawan. Grow well in swampy fresh water. Look like a species of Talapia. Originally black colour but change it colour to silver significantly to adobe to the treatment water.

Name: Rough Pinky
I call my eldest kaloi Pinky because of its colour. His daily meal is ordinary fish feed. Anyway, he can eat almost anything; fresh fish, meats, vegetables, breads, insects and even cockroaches and lizards. Some believed that this fish can grow as big as 5 kilogram and can live until more than 20 years. It is advised that this type of fish have to put inside a very thick aquarium, or otherwise he will broke it into pieces.

Name: Kampong Boy
He is my younger kaloi, imported from Julau, Sarawak. It can grow bigger than the town kaloi. Attractive look on its lines of scales.

Name: Fashionable Boeing
I get this fish from a relative from Sibu. This fish live independently in drainage in Sibu Town. Look alike puyu, but have bigger head, big eyes, small mouth and a line on its body. I call it Boeing because it likes to land on the aquarium base like airplane. He like whenever I took her photo, that’s why I call her fashionable Boeing.

Name: Shy Sepat
Sepat is local name for this fish. I don’t have any idea on this fish anyway, some call it Kaloi Sabah. It has doted on their body. She is a very shy type of fish and always hiding at others whenever I come closer. She has a very small mouth and I wondering on how she eat? I guess that she eat others s**t. He he…

This is not my collection anyway, this fish are for my Arawana.

Name: Tough Warrior Puyu
This fish live in most drains in Malaysia. Some believe that puyu can give you cool atmosphere in your home. Can you believe that puyu head still can swim a few minutes after you chop them? Perhaps, puyu is the easiest fish to feed, just nice for pet. This fish is delicious for masak lemak anyway. He he

Name: Greedy Toman
This fish can grow up to 14 kg (Thailand species). Like Puyu, this fish also can live anyway in fresh water. Do not put too much food for him, because he will eat it all in a second...

Name: Ugly Bakut

This fish is given to me by a Melanau friend from Mukah. A quite fish with less movement. His job is to help me to clean the aquarium.

"REDGOLDARAWANA SUPPORT THE KEMPEN BUMI HIJAU"


End of My Aquarium Fish Collection...