March 24, 2010

The Late Tun Temenggong Jugah in photo with King Mau (Thao Tribe)

Part of the Sun Moon Lake Tour was the compulsory visit to Mau's House.

What surprised me was one of the photos which graced the hall of Mau's House : Tun Temenggong Jugah from Sarawa k with King Mau in a photo together.  This photo was probably taken in the 1960's judging from the bush jacket he was wearing. At that time he was also the Minister for Sarawak Affairs an enviable position from world view and especially World Indigenous Peoples' platform. Another photo was that of Tun Mahathir. There were photos of other world leaders and  prominent men and women too.

Photo of Tun Jugah with King Mau (Mau Sin Siao) of the Thao Tribe of Taiwan...they recognised each other as "brothers".







I understand that what we got was one of the compulsory tour destinations a Taiwan Tour of the Sun Moon Lake area: the visit to the Mau's House in the Aboriginal Cultural Village of Taiwan.

In Mau's House you see a presentation/infomercial of two important products of this area : Royal Jelly and Deer Foetus Capsules. The former is for the eternal beauty of ladies and the latter for the eternal health for men. Both will set you back at least RM1000.00 Be warned.






Miri ladies in King Mau's house... This will not be on the Hall of Fame upstairs.....LOL.

Wooden figurines in King Mau's house.Fairly similar to those crafted in Sarawak.

Near the Sun Moon Lake is a Taiwan Aboriginal Cultural Village for tourists to spend time. And a special destination is this Mau's House.(Thao)


Local oven for sweet potatoes. There are many shops along here selling many different products. The traders are Plains people or Chinese descent people and Aboriginal Tribal People (or Original Natives)

Millet for wine making. Rice wine made by the Aboriginal Groups are sweet and strong. Very good quality with different labels. They can be as expensive as RM70. Very simply brewed ones are at RM6.00


A local Church in this cultural village. The doors are always open.





A popular souvenir...seed which looks like jaring.

This is the Taiwan jaring...a giant one....


How Mao Sin-siao became King Mao - The New Leader of the Thao Tribe
Mao Sin-siao was a member of the Guard Regiment during the Japanese occupational era.  In 1949, while visiting the Sun Moon Lake, President Chiang Kai-shek took a boat to Dehua Village to enjoy the Thao tribe's dancing and singing. In order to welcome the president, Mao Sin-siao led his tribes people to the wharf to sing and dance. Because Chiang was not well informed about the Thao tribe he called Mau Sin-siao "King Mao" and the name got stuck.
Thao tribe's dancing and singing
President Chiang Kai-shek greatly appreciated the singing and dancing of the Thao tribe. Consequently, he arranged for King Mau to head a dance group to pay respects to the soldiers in the frontline of Jhouhan. Their performances were highly appreciated.

Later on, Mao Sin-siao organized the Sun Moon Lake Aboriginal Singing and Dancing Group. Then, in 1955, he established Mau's Garden which became a commercialised tourism product : you can take pictures with a "princess", and buy handicrafts. Subsequently the Peony Garden, the Shueishe Hall, the Chieftain's Great Garden, and the Aboriginal Culture Hall were also established.  From then on, the fame of King Mau spread further. Tourists would often assume that King Mao was the chief (“Toumu”) of the tribe. However, the Thao tribe in Dehua Village does not have the titles of “Chief” or “King”. Their leaders are known as “Skatafatu” and “Sinawanan”.

Owing to his good relationship with the government officials, King Mao became the new leader of the Thao tribe. Throughout his entire life, he strove enthusiastically for the welfare of his tribespeople.

In the Heart of Taiwan we learned a great deal : the tour guide told us many stories and many legends of this area. We learned a lot of moral lessons from him.

It is good that different people have so much respect for each other and for each other's origin. It is sad that some people cannot even treat their neighbours and fellow travellers with a decent smile or a decent nod of recognition.

We also learned that even if we have money in our pockets we could not buy up everything as if there was no tomorrow. You do meet some nasty sourvenir shop owners who are choosy about their customers. We learn never to look if we have no intention of buying. You can get bad remarks (which you can understand in Hokkien which they think you don't understand) and that spoils the day. You can bargain in some shops but not in every shop. Buy what you like and don't buy with enthusiasm. Before you buy give that special look that you "have the money but you won't part with it" ...and always look carefully because not all products are good in quality.

Also you may have some people in your tour group who will snap up all the products before you can take out your wallet. They have what we call " fast money". But never mind that. Keep your money for your old age and coffee for friends when you are home in Miri. I know how frustrating it is not to be able to get that last packet of Taiwan sweets when the rich aunty took the last 20 packets for her relatives.

Do have a list of what you wish to buy or you will have excess luggage. Air Asia may promise every one can fly but not every item can fly....

And to some of my friends there will always be more Taiwan trips in the future. Be comforted.

I must stand firm and take only photos and bring home good memories and leave my foot prints in Taiwan. Even though I wanted to bring home every living plant I could lay my hands on I must remember I should not create an invasion of plant diseases in my own country....On Guide's honour I promise to keep my luggage at 15 kg for always.

We have plenty to learn.

21 comments:

fufu said...

i was there walking around the lake with my friends couple of hours back in 2005...cant wait to visit back airasia now flies directly to taipei :)

Jay said...

such a wonderful journey. Really admire the braveness and intelligency of the late Tun Jugah.

Ensurai said...

Fufu
It is good to visit Tawian now especially with Air Asia. May be follow a special trail : the Aboriginal People's trail. They have special engineering skills (boat and bridge building) skills) and of course music.
Cheers

Ensurai said...

Ah Ngao....
Yes...he was a rare Chieftain...while the time and period allowed him to shine and be his own person...and he did think for himself and his people to a certain extent.

And he was illiterate too...That gave him greater stature!

Anonymous said...

i heard about tan sri temenggong jugah before.. =] wonderful journey..

Ensurai said...

I thought it was unusual to come face to face with a photo of the Paramount Chief of the Ibans with the King of the Thao tribe!! I suppose it was a celebrated meeting. What did they talk about?

Jason said...

He is a Tun Jugah now (Tun Jugah Complex in Kuching). Always a great man for Sarawak.

Ensurai said...

Thanks Jason....I am far behind in all these titles...apologies to his family and dear ones...I even thought of just referring him as the First and most famous Paramount Chief of the Ibans which he really and truly was.

Mumble jumble said...

I can't help thinking about King Julian from Madagascar. King of the Lemurs. Especially when you mentioned that King Mao gathered his people to sing and dance for Chiang Kai Shek.
I wonder if he was eccentric like the cartoon character hehe. Who knows... the idea was based on King Mao! I like to move it, move it.

I noticed Tun Jugah and King Mao were holding hands in the picture. King Mao must have been a very warmhearted dude. I also see something that looks like a terendak in the background of the picture.

Do you think Tun Jugah's visit must have something to do with a study on the similarities of the tribes with Sarawak natives? Pretty sure he went there with a reason. Perhaps an anthropologist brought him over.

Ensurai said...

Not sure about his trip...which could most probably be sponsored by some timber tycoons....The anthropological studies were made later in the 90's if I were not mistaken...Most recently another PhD student came to Sibu....

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

It's very honourable of you to sstand fast and not smuggle plants into Sarawak. My sis Margaret will be very pleased with you.

There was a samoan docu tracing a Samoan to Taiwan, and found so much alike.

When my BIL Kallang (Kelabit) came to NZ, I took him to visit a marae of my friend Ngarimu. Ngarimu's grand dad was a chief. Kallang was given a very special welcome and tour of the place. We joked that they are long lost cousins.

Ensurai said...

Hahahaha Ann...I am one "who like to pinch a stalk or steal a seed"....but then when I think of the big world picture...I have to stop my thieving heart.....

It would be nice to stand tall with a long lost "cousin" with the same blood line...I am waiting to find a Tiong somewhere in Alaska!

Superman said...

So nice to found photo of Tun Jugah over there in Taiwan. I like his hair. Hehe. The signature hair style.

Ensurai said...

Superman

You would have the same feelings of surprise and happiness too when seeing the familiar face of Apai there and you tell the lady...yes...that's some one from Sarawak....and she then gives you a good smile and tells you about him too...he is a sort of legend there too...the guy with that special hair..and a Minister...

The Aboriginal Peoples there are very united and very knowledgeable about world affairs and politics in their special way. They promote their music and want a strong VOICE . Recognition is coming to them through music (e.g. Ah Mei and Show Lo)

Ensurai said...

You would be happy too to come across a photo of a person you recognise when you are travelling in a far away place...and then when your learn more about the photo and its significance you are more amazed!!

These coincidences in life make travelling very worthwhile.

Yes many people said that the Beatles followed his hairstyle...LOL>

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

CY,

Please look for the whereabouts Joseph Sibat is. Apparently he is very closely related to Temengong Jugah.

He joined us in form 4, stayed til form 5. He has not involved homself with class reunions, and I wonder where he is.

Ensurai said...

Ann

Wure I will try to find out from some people from Kapit. I have a good friend called Alfred Sibat who was in my late brother's class. Any relations?

Nickelson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Nickelson said...

As well went he get to China or Taiwan or Beiching?

Nickelson said...

Well went he get to Taiwan there is a flood isnt it?

Nickelson said...

in Bangkok?

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