23/5/11 THE 'FIESTA'...

In the mid sixties, as I was a young boy, my dad took me up the Sadong River visiting his Iban friends. Travelling in a 'big' bellian sampan, either by the old British made Engine or most of the times rowing as we reached the Btg Kiri, small, winding, sometimes shallow and need to meddle in between lots of fallen trees. We landed at now known as Rh. Ajong at Ulu Simunjan. That was how later the Ajong families and anak biak becoming our good friends until I left for Peninsular Malaysia in 1973. The journey took us almost two days. And today, it would take us the most only three hours from my home at Pendam.

(2) After my graduation in 1984, I was invited by my kampung chinese friends to have 'fiesta' at Rh Bunsi at now Engsengei Iban. After dinner, on a school of motor bikes about 10 of us went to the place. There, the 'fiesta' just started to roll. Traditional dance 'Gendang' being played, and that take everybody to the floor. I, though my grandfather and aunty love this gendang so much, and used to have many at our homes, yet I don't really have the appetite to it, but was pulled to the floor.

(3) Later we have the Iban warrior dance, ngajat, I was also pulled to the floor to have a try. All these tradition later expand to smaller groups of young men and ladies. They have the portable radio-casset players, sounding to the deft of the ears, rocking either in blues, rock and dangdut. They move from room to room, they danced, they sang along, and surely stream of traditional liqour, the tuak pouring into everyone throats. I was tessed for don't dare to have a cup in a go. The 'fiest' flow to the dawn.

(4) Since, all of my friends had fallen flat due to drunk, mabuk, I made myself to just slept at the foyer, ruai, the common corridor. In those days, the coconut farms, bushes and forest surrounding the longhouse and the breeze across the flow of the Sadong River made the night felt real cold and nice to just sail as far as one could, asleep. It happened to me, without realising, among those who slept with me dawn-long was some longhouse pets, the dogs. I only realised that when I woke up in quiet a late morning as I felt my face was licked wet.

(5) Today, and for the next whole month of June, all our Dayak friends will be celebrating the Harvesting Festival, the Gawai. It will be a long holidays of celebration. And surely I believe, the Malays and others will take this opportunities to tie their knots. To all, I would love to say, Selamat Gawai, Gayu Guru, Gerai Nyamai, Lantang Senang: Happy Fiesta, May You be Bless with Happinest and Prosperity. To all the new couples, may you guys sail safely into wherever you want to lead.

Matang Jaya, Kuching, Sarawak
29 May, 2011