A peak at our culture

This post has been long overdue. It is the continuation of this one.

These are the traditional equipments used in paddy planting. We can hardly find these equioments nowadays,let alone see them in use. The functions has been replaced by modern equipment that are more efficient in terms of time and energy. Nevertheless, I consider myself very lucky because I have had several hand-on experience on them way back when I was a little kid (in primary school, if not mistaken) and my parents were still planting paddy.

The name of these unique equipments :-

L-R : "kikizapan" (literally translated as 'fan' or 'kipas' in Malay) and "ragus" (sorry, I don't know the translation for this one in English and Malay...hehe..) .



The "laadu" (again, I don't have the translation for this one) and "su'ud" (literally translated as "comb" or "sikat"). The ragus, laadu, and su'ud will need the help of a buffalo and a skilled farmer to function well.

The "inai-inai" (aunties) enjoying their friend's performance of the "kudian" (accordion). Seldom can we hear this type of instrument these days...well, except at Gaya Street every Sunday. There are a band of talented blind street musicians playing the accordion besides the guitar, harmonica and tamborines. And there can sing a variety of songs too. :)

The 2nd photo was the photo session showing lovely Kadazan ladies of different ages clad in traditional costume, "boludu" or "morudu". Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the costume got its name "boludu" from the type of the black cloth it was made of, which is velvet or "kain baldu" in Malay. "Why only got photo session for the ladies only?" Well, there were photo session for the guys too but I mistakenly deleted it from my camera. No discrimination involved ya...hehe...

There were two different "magagung" (beating of the 'gongs') sessions held. The first session was performed by the guys team and the second by the ladies. Bulih tahan kama tu inai-inai magagung..jangan main-main ah... :)

The "magagung" and Sumazau dance session.

Old cloth with the "koi'ing" (small bells) attached. These cloth were used by the "Bobohizan" (KadazanDusun high-priestess) during the "monogit (blessing/cleansing)" ceromony. I haven't seen this ceremony in a long time. I remember having seen it shown on TV few years back during the live telecast of the Tadau Kaamatan (Harvest Festival) celebration at the KadazanDusun Cultural Association (KDCA) building on 30 May.

In the first photo are other common accessories, the himpogot , tatangkong and pada'ang (sword).The second photo shows the siga (headgear) on the gandang (drum/gendang) besides the baa'di. Some antic brass pots and other decoratives in the third photo.

A close-up of the brass candle-holder and miniature "bakid" (2nd photo) and a few wooden canes with head carves to resemble a snake's head and a "suling" (flute/seruling) among them. The container which the canes are put inside is called "topukon" or "tajau", a large pot made of clay.

And these are random photos of Vanessa...having a closer look at the full set of "tagong" and "kulintangan". As a kid, nothing escapes her curiosity. She wants to look closer and touch everything new to her. :)

And this last photo is of a giant tortoise shell. The tortoise was my Uncle's pet. It died a few years ago and Uncle decided to keep its shell in memory of the tortoise. It makes a unique wall decoration, don't you think so? Okay, that round-up the tour to our KadazanDusun's traditional lifestyle and culture. Its not a comprehensive one but enough to give some info. :)

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Borneo Road Runner

Congratulation to dear friends of mine on incorporation of their new company, Borneo Road Runner (BRR). As promised, here I am helping her promote BRR. Well, I intended to do so a few days ago but got preoccupied with work, work and work. * sigh* Need to clear some pending task and the IN /OUT / KIV tray before I go off. Hehehe.... I’m going to KL over the weekend with my family. Planned to meet-up with old friends, Just and KadusMama during my stay there. :)

Okay, back on track. BRR is a 100% Bumiputra company, business is run by two superwomen :) . BRR provides a number of interesting inbound tour packages. Here are some of the packages available:-

[1] Homestay Mitabang, Kiulu:-

Day trip / 2D1N / 3D2N, 4D3N and Longstay packages are available.

· Experience the Livelihood and Live Style of subsistence farmers via Mindahu (Going to farm), Momutanom (Cultivation of cash crops), Mongumoh (Cultivating paddy), Momutung (tapping rubber trees), Picking tropical fruits, Fish catching-the traditional methods

· Appreciate the local Culture and Art – admire the traditional musical instruments and handicraft, participate in cultural dance, enjoy traditional massage and herbal medicine

· Nature Conservation Adventure - Go jungle trekking, mountain/hill climbing, river bathing, fish feeding, experience the grasshoppers/frogs medley on the night tour

· Team Building Adventure (Borneo Bamboo Explorace)- Experience the 6Ms- : Mongogos tie/ assemble bamboo raft), Mamangkar (bamboo rafting) , Mongiad (untie/disassemble bamboo raft) , Manampatau (bamboo swim) , Manangkus (bamboo pole run) and Mamarampanau (bamboo stilts walk/run)

# [2] Homestay Tambunan :-

~ 2D1N Package (RM120/pax, Min 30 pax.)
~ 3D2N Package (RM240/pax, Min 30 pax)

These activities can be incorporated to the Homestay programs: -
· Planting or Harvesting in Rice Fields
· Traditional Rice Wine Making
· Riding buffalo
· Traditional Cooking
· Harvesting Forest Vegetables
· Visit Local Markets
· Visit Local Bamboo Factory
· Jungle Trekking
· Observing worlds largest flower, the Rafflesia
· Swimming in cool mountain streams
· Traditional music & dance performances

[3] KK City Tour with Lok Kawi Wildlife Park

~ RM 180 per person (Malaysian), Min. 10 pax
~ RM250 per person (Non-Malaysian), Min. 5 pax
~ Rates are inclusive of Transfer, Entrance, Guide Fee and Lunch.

Activities include:-

Visit to some famous landmark in the city, the Sabah State Museum and its Heritage
Village, Atkinson Clock Tower on Signal Hill, Tun Mustapha Tower and the Lok Kawi Wildlife
Park

[4] KK City Tour with Monsopiad Cultural Village

~ RM250 per person, Min. 3 pax
~ Rates are inclusive of Transfer, Entrance, Guide Fee and Lunch.

Activities include:-

Visit to some famous landmark in the city, the Sabah State Museum and its Heritage
Village, Atkinson Clock Tower on Signal Hill, Tun Mustapha Tower and Monsopiad Cultural
Village in Penampang

These packages are perfect for anybody who wishes to gain insight on the culture and history of Sabah's indigenous people. If you have friends who are coming over for a visit, why not recommend one of the Homestay Package and let them experienced a unique Homestay away from Home. It’ll make their stay here even more memorable * wink*

For further info, feel free to contact The Road Runners @ 013-554 8823/016-844 4478 OR visit their office at No. F-1-20, Lot 20, Level 1, Block F, Plaza Tanjung Aru, Mustapha Road, Tanjung Aru, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

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Monday blues...

After a long break, I woke up this morning with super lazy feeling and a blurry mind. I was like..Huh?! Why wake up so early today?? Aiseyman, today is Monday already, got to work bah pulak. *sigh* Eventually, I managed to drag myself from the bed.

Surprisingly… but gratefully, today is not as busy as I expected, only some documents need to finalized and double-checked. Thank God, I’ve prepared them before the break. Today, tinggal sign, seal, deliver. Bersusah-susah dahulu, bersenang-senang kemudian, right?! It’s peaceful in the office today, no KL staff fussing this and that. Perhaps, they are still on leave.

As I mentioned in my last post, my holiday schedule is quite tight…Well, it is. BUT it didn’t turn out as I expected. Hmm…a lot of changes here and there. First of all, I only attended one open-house on the 1st Raya. The host, hubby’s colleague was very generous with all the delicious food (rendang, ayam masak merah, serunding daging etc) and drinks served. However, I’m a little bit dissappointed bcos all the kuihs are modern type (almond/chocolate cookies, fruit cakes, carrot cakes)…my favourite batang buruk was nowhere to be seen.

On 2nd day of Raya, didn’t attend any open-house as MIL summoned us to go back to Keningau. She insist to do daughter Vanessa’s 1st birthday party there on 3rd Oct. Initially, we planned to do it in KK but had to postponed as most friends and relatives were unable to make it.

Next day, we rushed back to KK as we need to attend cuz daughter’s birthday party. Niece, Bethany was also celebrating her 1st birthday. We reached Atlantis Restaurant, Bundusan an hour late. Nasib baik the party is still on going. When it’s time to distribute the goody bags, all the children went out of control, all swarmed cuz hubby at one time. Not long, cuz’s hubby surrendered and left the goodies on the podium. LOL …The children masing-masing berebut, takut kehabisan bah. When the function is over, they berebut again, this time for the balloon decorated on the ceiling. After that, we’re supposed to attend hubby’s friend garden wedding at Lembah Impian Resort, but we’re too exhausted to go.

However, we attended their reception at KDCA Hall yesterday. It was a nice one, although not many guests attended. The setting was quite interesting and a bit different from other weddings, the lights were dimmed, so the backdrop with all the blue lights really stood-out. I should have snapped some pics and let them do the talking. But I didn’t…am too occupied with daughter’s antics. She wants to explore he whole dewan…excited that she can walk already *sigh * The 3-piece band was good too…they belted some popular songs in harmony accompanied by acoustic guitars and the upright bass. It sure was an evening to remember. And of course, as well as the Sumazau, the Poco-Poco dance was also performed.

Congratulations to the bride and groom, Didi & Jojo!! :)

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Wedding 'must-have'

Attended many weddings reception over the years here in Sabah. Regardless of where it is held, be it at the bride/groom’s residence, community hall, restaurant or hotel, I noticed a few things in common.

Most obvious one is the song, Yue Liang Tai Biao Wo De Xin/The Moon Represents My Heart. This evergreen song by the late Teresa Teng is a ‘must sing ‘ song in every reception, regardless of whether the wedding couple is Kadazan or Chinese. This song has simple yet meaningful lyrics and perhaps easy to sing or memorize, making it so popular among the wedding singer. And, the wedding singer wasn’t even Chinese…Wonder if it is the only Chinese song they can sing? *smile*

Yup, this song is also sung at my wedding although it’s not in our requested song list ya. Hmmm…we listed some other Chinese song but instead we got this one. But, never mind la since it’s a beautiful song also. * smile * Now every time we heard this song, hubby and I always tease each other…”Nah, lagu kau!” LOL . Since then, we always compete whose first to point it out. Before long, it has become our personal game pulak….lol

Another compulsory song is Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton. I bet it’s popular for the same obvious reason, easy to sing. If the wedding singer does not sing it, then surely one of the guests will belt out this song. It’s also a signal that the floor is opened for couples to do the slow dance. * wink-wink*

There is one more ‘must have’, the Poco-Poco Dance. It’s a traditional dance originates from the Minahasa people of Manado, Sulawesi. Whenever the song for this dance is up, you can expect a crowded dance floor. The juniors, the veterans and children all scrambled to their feet, to get a space on the dance floor and proudly show-off their skills. Poco-Poco is a type of line dance with easy-to-follow steps. No wonder it's such a hit among the crowd.

But when it’s time for the Sumazau dance, only a few people whose willing to participate. Most of the time, the veteran. The teenagers even kena paksa pun, still refuse. Reason being; don’t know how to do the Sumazau. Common, what’s wrong with these people?? I don’t think that the Sumazau is that difficult, is it? Surely, nothing some practice can’t fix. Tiring, yes, but nobody’s going to scold you if you wanted to stop earlier than the other.

If we can spend some time learning the Poco-Poco, why not put some effort into learning Sumazau. It’s our own cultural dance we’re talking here. If our young generation refuses to learn, sooner we’ll be loosing a part of our heritage, our culture. It’s bad enough that most of us cannot speak our own Kadazan language. Sad but it’s a fact though. Then again, it’s never too late to learn.

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