December 9, 2010

Good Morning from the Heart of Borneo

Today I begin telling you about my Dayak Cultural Adventure December 2010.Dec 4th to Dec 10th are the significant dates of my adventure with a group of enegetic and enthusiastic Iban Dayaks from Sarawak to the Heart of Borneo. There are 72 on the list with several officials.

Arrangements have been made for our security throughout the adventure as we have Polisi (police) forerunners leading the convoy from Lubok Antu after the flag off at 2 p.m. on 4th Dec.

These two photos are at the Badau checkpoint - Security checks are smooth. And I started to get comfortable with people in uniforms!!



10 comments:

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

What is this new Malaysia Day public hols on 16th Sept? So they finally recognised this day?

Anonymous said...

Been to Nanga Badau before. Crossed the border at lubok Antu and then passed thro oil palm plantation and I proceed on to Benua Amrtinus, lanjak, and to Putussibau. The whole journey takes 3 days. The went upriver (Kapuas river-mightier than the Rejang) to the kalimantan-Sarawak border

Anonymous said...

Also there is an Iban longhouse at Putussibau. One of the Iban we met wore songkok though he was not a muslim. People around that areasare also Embaloh (orang ulu related) and some Kanyu (Iban related).

Anonymous said...

Putussibau is the last stop which u can reach by road (dirt road).

Anonymous said...

Something just didn't match here.... the uniform is an army uniform but the car is clearly a police car.... and they are from different departments. Probably it is a joint operation.

Ensurai said...

Dear Ann
Yes finally THEY have recognised Sept 16th. as Malaysia Day and 31st August as Malaya Independence Day. Wonder what will happen next year...Sarawak Independence Day? Just kidding.

Ensurai said...

Dear Anonymous1
Yes that's right. Via LA....and it was a rough journey because NOV was a wet month.

Ensurai said...

Dear Anonymous 2
The Dayaks who convert to Islam wear songkok. Some who don't convert also have the habit of wearing the songkok with beads which happens to be the ceremonial wear today. Many of our team members bought these kinds of beaded songkok for future wear in Sarawak. At Tematu Longhouse there is one Muslim Dayak family. Later at SgUtik the Orang Besar who came was a Muslim but he carried out his official duties with grace and dignity. Very tolerant . The leading priest said Grace in the Roman Catholic way.

Ensurai said...

Dear Anonymous 3
From Putussibau we went on towards Pontianak...it was a good expedition.

Ensurai said...

Dear Don
At the border point we had many men in uniform. from both sides. Army cars were there...and so was the police..There were some other kinds of uniformed men leading us to Kantor Nanga Badau...where we had a late lunch given by the Head man there. They wore beautiful beaded songkok and beaded jackets to show that they are Dayaks.

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