Heading to Japanese Fighting Field....

I heard people footsteps walking at the Ruai and I can feel that my head is still “heavy” due to Ai Tuak (Rice Wine)….. Suddenly I heard a lady “Bepantun” then I told myself I should wake up and joint them. Yup, they are really surprise when saw I can wake up so early that morning. I enjoy their company until I feel sleepy and continue my sleep.

After having breakfast, we all get ready to proceed with our trip to our next destination. We have ready two longboats for our trip to upriver. 4 in one boat is just nice because it is easy for us to pull the boat at shallow area. The water level during our trip is low tide. It is nothing new for me when travelling using the longboat to this type of area. I get used to it.

After we travel for more than one hour we stop and preparing for lunch at the karangan area. We do bring our food ration. Having lunch at karangan area is totally different when you have your food at home. Even with simple food you will enjoy it.

Our journey continued with our visit to Rirong and Sepayang Waterfall. The geographical landscape of this area is very nice and I don’t feel tired even thought we have travel for more than few hours. Enjoying the fresh waterfall and surrounded by the beauty of flora, make our trip more enjoyable.

It is almost 4 pm and it is a time for us to set up the camp at Sepayang area. While another group members is looking for food. Setting up a camp is not that hard because we easily can get all the material from nearby jungle. The weather is not really spotting that evening and I really salute our local guide, they did their job well. Fish is our main menu that evening, cooked in bamboo and deep fried. Its really nice menu I ever had during stay in the jungle.

A night stay in the jungle is very interesting but heavy downpour spoilt our evening. We still manage to a rest for few hours before we wake up early morning for breakfast. Its “mee maggi” time, we love it coz everyone is hungry too…. We are very lucky that morning when we saw a couple of Hornbill and other birds. Really lucky day for us.

Our journey will not be complete if we not reach our final destination, The Japanese Fighting Field located next to Nanga Beguang, only half an hour from our camp. According to the elderly folks from Rh Stephen Jawa, this area was “built” during Japanese occupation time in Sarawak. They have flattened the whole area as their camp site with the help of Iban from Sg Selibut. Their intention is not materialize because they were killed by the local Iban due to some misunderstanding. The whole unit (12 people) of Japanese army was killed by the Iban warrior who is willing to die to protect their own place. In one of our picture we notice that there are smoke in between myself and Napolean. No one knows what it is but we believe this area is still guarded by “someone”…….

A good place with friendly people make our trip memorable trip that make us to plan to come back in the near future…..we will be back!!!

Journey to Ng Selibut, Song

“That is very good idea because none of tourism organization has explore our area” said Napolean @ Nap to me when I told him that we have a plan to organize tourism discovery trip to Song area. I asked his opinion which area we should target during this trip since he is from this area. He said no need to think too long about the area, just go to Ng Selibut (opposite Song Bazaar) area and he prepared to get his contact to assist us during the trip.

He saved my time to think which area we should visit during the trip. Few days later he came out with the details and after we discussed further both of us agreed to fixe the date.

Our journey comprised of tourism officials and representative from the local travel agent in Sibu. After everyone gathered at Sibu Wharf Terminal, we checked from the counter which expressboat will stop at Song jetty. Luckily there is one expressboat which depart Sibu at 10 am and expected to arrive Song jetty at 12 pm. The expressboat is not full that day and easy for us to move around inside the expressboat. Seat next to me is Deckson, our staff from Visitors Information Centre Kuching.

Upon arrival at Song Bazaar, we were welcome by Nap’s relatives and we stop for a while at Song market. This is my second visit to Song Bazaar and I am aware that the famous drink at Song Market is “Ai Ijok”. Ai Ijok is locally produced from the wild palm namely as Ijok by the local Iban. Not many places have this kind of wild palm. Ai Ijok have moderate taste and cost you 50 cents per plastic mug. It is similar to Tuak (rice wine) and there no artificial ingredient. How to drink it, all depend with you whether you want to drink it straight or you go slowly. You should try it when you have chance to visit Song market. After few glasses, I can feel the “kick” from Ai Ijok.

From Song market we proceed to do our last shopping at the shop nearby. The longboat is ready and everyone is advised to seat properly before our boat cruises across the Rejang river and enter to Song river. Our destination is Rh Stephen Jawa, Ng Selibut. It takes us roughly 15 Minute from Song Bazaar. After we arrive at the jetty, we embark from the boat and proceed straight to the longhouse. When we enter the longhouse, I can feel that i am at my "own" home. Just like you have not going back to your own village for quite sometime.

At the longhouse after keeping our beg and other stuff inside his room, Nap straight bring us to meet one of his aunty which on the previous night her family members just complete one rare occasion. This occasion namely “Meri Nabau Makai” (Serve food to the dragon). It really surprise me because i never see this kind of occasion in my life. According to Nap's aunties, it all started from her dream and she is among few of longhouse folks that still keeping an old practise when come to believe in their dreams. When she narratting her story to us, she really express her feeling and put trust on all this thing. To me, as a new generation from the city, i really appreciate with what i heard and saw during this visit.

In the evening, Tr Stephen Jawa invited us for dinner at his bilik, few block from Nap’s bilik. The menu is very interesting, smoke wildbore and jungle vegetable. We enjoy our dinner that night.

Around 8 pm, all longhouse folks gathered at “RUAI” TR for the next program. After the so call “official” program, the next program continue with “bebiau” (blessing ceremony), ”ngajat” (local dance) and “betaboh” (traditional music). It is not complete if no rice wine, I can notice almost every bilik carry one bottle of rice wine…that’s mean it is free flow of rice wine and local whisky. We really enjoy the whole program but need to complete the night with dreams and ready for next day program….

Happy New Year 2011

Its Rabbit year....year of luck and prosperous. Jan 10, 2011, its first time i drop few notes to update my blog. Its quite sometime I did not share with my blog readers on what happened lately. There lots of things I want to share with you but time is limited for me to do so. Just wait, for sure I will share with you some of the information either from my own expereince or thru other sources.

2010 is a great year in my career and I am happy with what I did. Of course not all my goals achieve but at least I have tried. Travel to people place is my duty and hobby, I met new people who become my friends and they guide me on what I suppose to do in their area. Looking forward for better result in 2011......