Rembulan mengambang,
muzik dalam mengerbang.
Selembut fitrah,
sekeras lumrah,
Moga snowy dapat atasi,
retetan ranjau di sisi,
dan menjadi pensyarah universiti.
© Tintin
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Specially for Snowy....
During weekend, Tintin wrote something for his faithful companion, Snowy
Pinta datang silih berganti,
nescaya aku tetap kotai,
agar terlestari hasrat puteri,
sempat untuk ahad ini.
Di pundak patik disulami,
jaminan epsilon didasari.
© Tintin
It shows the quality assurance of Epsilon!!!
Pinta datang silih berganti,
nescaya aku tetap kotai,
agar terlestari hasrat puteri,
sempat untuk ahad ini.
Di pundak patik disulami,
jaminan epsilon didasari.
© Tintin
It shows the quality assurance of Epsilon!!!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Making Bak Zhang
A day before the Duan Wu Jie (端午节), Snowy had learned how to make "Bak Zhang" from her beloved auntie. Phew! It was fun making the dumpling. Snowy was introduced to two different types of dumpling by her auntie; the traditional China Bak Zhang, the Hockkien used to called it "Tyng Sua Zhang", and the "Nyonya Zhang". Each type of dumpling has its own speciality and unique in taste!
The ingredients of the making the Traditional China Bak Zhang, locally known as "Tyng Sua Zhang" is shown below:-
First the bamboo leaves, imported from the mainland China. The bamboo leaves is socked in boiling water overnight.
The glutinous rice, soaked overnight then drained
Ha, here comes the most important ingredients, the filling comprises of belly pork (removecskin), garlic, dried prawns and dried mushroom fried with dark soya source adding with a little bit of Chinese five spice powder.
Adding the "Lau Teck Kee" brand dark soya source.
stir fry...
adding the Chinese Five Spice powder.
adding some mineral salt.
Ha... this is how it looks like, brownish in color after adding in the seasoning.
Now here comes the wrapping process. First, take two bamboo leaves, make them overlap slightly and fold into a conical shape (as shown in the picture above). Put the rice (roughly about 1 table spoon) into the funnel base. Then, add 2 pieces of pork, mushroom, chessnuts, garlics and dried prawns. Cover with some more rice.
Arranging the ingredients nicely....
After that, fold the leaves over the rice to form a triangular prism.
Tying the "Bak Zhang" with raffia string after wrapping.
Now the bundles of dumplings is dropped into the large pot for boling.
Boiling.... Boiling over medium slow fire.....
Here comes the cooked dumplings.
This is how its look like... Yummy....:)
Instead of the bamboo leaves, the "Nyonya Zhang" is wrapped with the Pandan leaves.
Then, the pandan leaves is cut, approximately 1 meter in length.
As the pandan leaves is tough in nature, the leaves is soaked in the boiled water. This will help to soften the leaves, its enable to leaves to be folded.
As you can see the glutinous rice used in Nyoya Dumpling is white in color, the rice is just fried planly on the frying pan adding a little bid of seasoning.
The ingredients used in the Nyonya Dumpling is slidely different compared to the traditional China Dumpling. The belly pork (remove skin) is fried with the winter melon (chopped into small pieces). It's sweet in taste. Of course, the dumpling must have chessnut inside!!!
Here comes the end product!!! Yummy.....
The ingredients of the making the Traditional China Bak Zhang, locally known as "Tyng Sua Zhang" is shown below:-
First the bamboo leaves, imported from the mainland China. The bamboo leaves is socked in boiling water overnight. 
The glutinous rice, soaked overnight then drained
Ha, here comes the most important ingredients, the filling comprises of belly pork (removecskin), garlic, dried prawns and dried mushroom fried with dark soya source adding with a little bit of Chinese five spice powder.This is how the glutinous rice is fried.
Adding the "Lau Teck Kee" brand dark soya source.
stir fry...
adding the Chinese Five Spice powder.
adding some mineral salt.
Ha... this is how it looks like, brownish in color after adding in the seasoning.
Now here comes the wrapping process. First, take two bamboo leaves, make them overlap slightly and fold into a conical shape (as shown in the picture above). Put the rice (roughly about 1 table spoon) into the funnel base. Then, add 2 pieces of pork, mushroom, chessnuts, garlics and dried prawns. Cover with some more rice.
Arranging the ingredients nicely.... 
After that, fold the leaves over the rice to form a triangular prism.
Tying the "Bak Zhang" with raffia string after wrapping.
Now the bundles of dumplings is dropped into the large pot for boling. It takes around half an hour to boil over medium slow fire.
Boiling.... Boiling over medium slow fire.....
Here comes the cooked dumplings.
This is how its look like... Yummy....:)Now, here comes the "Nyonya Zhang"
Instead of the bamboo leaves, the "Nyonya Zhang" is wrapped with the Pandan leaves.
Then, the pandan leaves is cut, approximately 1 meter in length.
As the pandan leaves is tough in nature, the leaves is soaked in the boiled water. This will help to soften the leaves, its enable to leaves to be folded.
As you can see the glutinous rice used in Nyoya Dumpling is white in color, the rice is just fried planly on the frying pan adding a little bid of seasoning.
The ingredients used in the Nyonya Dumpling is slidely different compared to the traditional China Dumpling. The belly pork (remove skin) is fried with the winter melon (chopped into small pieces). It's sweet in taste. Of course, the dumpling must have chessnut inside!!!
Here comes the end product!!! Yummy.....- To my fellow friends in oversea, the virtual "Bak Zhang" is specially dedicated to all of you. I am sure you miss them soooo much!!! *Sorry to make you guys homesick*
- Tintin is the first one who get to taste the dumpling. Yummy, Tintin loves the Nyonya dumpling, lovely indeed!
- Joe had the dumplings as his Duan Wu Jie's breakfast. If you miss them, the virtual "Bak Zhang" blog is dedicated to you! If you miss them, feel hungry, just visit this blog... click it and eat it and chew it... yummy....:)
- Kuku, Thanks for the cooking lesson, I really enjoy the day, it was fantastic!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Happy Father's Day
A DAD...
A Dad is a person who is loving and kind,
and often he knows what you have in your mind
He's someone who listens, suggest, and defends,
a dad can be one of your very best friends!
He's proud of your triumphs,
but when things goes wrong,
a dad can be patient and helpful and strong.
In all that you do,
a dad's love plays a part.
There's always a place for him deep in your heart,
And each year that passes, you're even more glad,
more grateful and proud just to call him your dad!
Thank you, Dad...
for listening and caring,
for giving and sharing,
but, especially for just being you!
Happy 18th Birthday to Brother Winston
Brother, A very Happy Birthday to you!
May God continue to bless you and keep you,
May He cause His face to shine upon you and give you peace.
~Sis
May God continue to bless you and keep you,
May He cause His face to shine upon you and give you peace.
~Sis
Friday, June 15, 2007
Living with Tiptoes
Had you ever think of it, how much time had you spent in your lifetime by just waiting? Waiting for people? Waiting for public transport such as taxi, transits, train, bus and etc..? Waiting for new opportunity to swing by?
I used to enjoy my trip to airport. Either picking someone up from airport, shop for a bar of chocolate or having a cup of tea at the middle of the night with my close friend at the terminal building. I always find that, airport is a serene place with full of serendipity. I wish that I could just get an air ticket, and board into a flight to another destination at that moment. Enjoying the sight-seeing, and the aerial view from the sky.
Recently, i spend a fair amount of time in airports, either picking up of dropping off someone. I have grown accustomed to seeing several different kinds of "waiters" - people who are waiting to pick up someone who is arriving on a flight. First, there are always a couple of "Drivers." You can recognize them easily because they are holding up a sign with a person's name on it (Mr. XXX or En. XXX ). They've been sent to airport by their employer to pick up someone they don't know. It's just a job to them. Pick up Mr. Smith and his luggage and take him wherever he wants to go." Get a call, make a sign, deliver a person. Job done..... :) They are attentive, but usually look bored while they're waiting.
Then they are the "Associates." They are at the airport to pick up people they know but whose arrival is not an emotional event. Perhaps the person waiting at the airport is a business associate, or perhaps it's a wife picking up a husband who travels several times a month. These people wait by reading magazines, newspaper or novels, hanging out in the gift shop or choc shop, walking around the concourse, or chatting with other "Associate" waiters. They amble over the gate at just the right time to greet their party. They Some of them may just lazy to get down from their car, staying inside the car, listening to radio. They are not bored, but they do yawn a lot. For them, waiting is a routine thing.
Finally, there are the "Eagers." They are the people who have perfected the art of waiting eagerly. It it's a young woman pacing back and forth with an anxious, almost teary-eyed look, I know it's a fiancee or a newlywed waiting on her knight in airborne armor to return from their first separation. If it's an older couple standing at the head of the line, right in front of the arrival gat, I know it's grand parents waiting to smother a new grandbaby with kisses, or parents waiting for a college students or serviceman to come home after a way-too-long absence.
But the most fun "Eagers" to watch are the little kids. If they're there to pick up their daddy, they're racing back and forth along the huge glass windows; thery're jumping up and down, they're embarrassing their mother with their shrieks. "There's his place, Mom! Is that daddy's plane?" If they break free from their mom, they're foraging through the forest of adult legs to get to the front of the crowd to be the first one to see Daddy. Whatever they are doing, they are doing it on their tiptoes. Have you ever seen little kids run around on their tiptoes when they're excited? They look like baby ballerinas. Even when they've got a clear view, they're standing on their toes. It's what kids do. They eagerly anticipate what they desire.
Waiting had becoming a piece of art in life. Are we doing well in developing the art of "eager anticipation" - leaning to live life on our tiptoes. Especially do we we need this skills when things are not going well, when life is hard. After all, no matter in which stages we are, it is always an assignment given by GOD to us - waiting to be delivered tom the wounded world in which we live. Those who learn to wait eagerly are the once for whom suffering produces anticipation instead of apathy or anger. Everyone has to wait, but we are given the choice as to how we wait.
We are not just wait; we are to wait eagerly. We are not just to look, we are to look forward to. We are not to wait passively; we are to wait actively. And most of all, we are not to wait sitting down, we are to wait on out tiptoes.
Well.... I guess waiting had became a part of our life. The question is, What kind of waiters are you? How are you waiting as waiters? As a "Driver," and "Associate," or an "Eager"?
I always admire my dog for her persistency of waiting? Waiting patiently will hope...and sadness. She is always asking Why are you leaving me alone? Where are you going? When will you be back? How long does it takes? I can see her face, her facial expression mingling with all sorts of question. Hoping that the master does not leave her alone. But... she had no choice. She always waited eagerly with hope and love, hoping that her master will be back one day.
If you are sitting down while reading this, stand up for a moment. Now rise up on your tiptoes. Feel good?
I used to enjoy my trip to airport. Either picking someone up from airport, shop for a bar of chocolate or having a cup of tea at the middle of the night with my close friend at the terminal building. I always find that, airport is a serene place with full of serendipity. I wish that I could just get an air ticket, and board into a flight to another destination at that moment. Enjoying the sight-seeing, and the aerial view from the sky.
Recently, i spend a fair amount of time in airports, either picking up of dropping off someone. I have grown accustomed to seeing several different kinds of "waiters" - people who are waiting to pick up someone who is arriving on a flight. First, there are always a couple of "Drivers." You can recognize them easily because they are holding up a sign with a person's name on it (Mr. XXX or En. XXX ). They've been sent to airport by their employer to pick up someone they don't know. It's just a job to them. Pick up Mr. Smith and his luggage and take him wherever he wants to go." Get a call, make a sign, deliver a person. Job done..... :) They are attentive, but usually look bored while they're waiting.
Then they are the "Associates." They are at the airport to pick up people they know but whose arrival is not an emotional event. Perhaps the person waiting at the airport is a business associate, or perhaps it's a wife picking up a husband who travels several times a month. These people wait by reading magazines, newspaper or novels, hanging out in the gift shop or choc shop, walking around the concourse, or chatting with other "Associate" waiters. They amble over the gate at just the right time to greet their party. They Some of them may just lazy to get down from their car, staying inside the car, listening to radio. They are not bored, but they do yawn a lot. For them, waiting is a routine thing.
Finally, there are the "Eagers." They are the people who have perfected the art of waiting eagerly. It it's a young woman pacing back and forth with an anxious, almost teary-eyed look, I know it's a fiancee or a newlywed waiting on her knight in airborne armor to return from their first separation. If it's an older couple standing at the head of the line, right in front of the arrival gat, I know it's grand parents waiting to smother a new grandbaby with kisses, or parents waiting for a college students or serviceman to come home after a way-too-long absence.
But the most fun "Eagers" to watch are the little kids. If they're there to pick up their daddy, they're racing back and forth along the huge glass windows; thery're jumping up and down, they're embarrassing their mother with their shrieks. "There's his place, Mom! Is that daddy's plane?" If they break free from their mom, they're foraging through the forest of adult legs to get to the front of the crowd to be the first one to see Daddy. Whatever they are doing, they are doing it on their tiptoes. Have you ever seen little kids run around on their tiptoes when they're excited? They look like baby ballerinas. Even when they've got a clear view, they're standing on their toes. It's what kids do. They eagerly anticipate what they desire.
Waiting had becoming a piece of art in life. Are we doing well in developing the art of "eager anticipation" - leaning to live life on our tiptoes. Especially do we we need this skills when things are not going well, when life is hard. After all, no matter in which stages we are, it is always an assignment given by GOD to us - waiting to be delivered tom the wounded world in which we live. Those who learn to wait eagerly are the once for whom suffering produces anticipation instead of apathy or anger. Everyone has to wait, but we are given the choice as to how we wait.
We are not just wait; we are to wait eagerly. We are not just to look, we are to look forward to. We are not to wait passively; we are to wait actively. And most of all, we are not to wait sitting down, we are to wait on out tiptoes.
Well.... I guess waiting had became a part of our life. The question is, What kind of waiters are you? How are you waiting as waiters? As a "Driver," and "Associate," or an "Eager"?
I always admire my dog for her persistency of waiting? Waiting patiently will hope...and sadness. She is always asking Why are you leaving me alone? Where are you going? When will you be back? How long does it takes? I can see her face, her facial expression mingling with all sorts of question. Hoping that the master does not leave her alone. But... she had no choice. She always waited eagerly with hope and love, hoping that her master will be back one day.
If you are sitting down while reading this, stand up for a moment. Now rise up on your tiptoes. Feel good?
Monday, June 11, 2007
For The Beauty Of The Earth by John Rutter
For the beauty of the earth
For the beauty of the skies
For the lovewhich from our birth
Over and around us lies
Over and around us lies
Lord of all to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise
For the beauty of the hour
Of the day and of the night
Hill and vale
And tree and flower
Sun and moon and stars of light
Lord of all to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise
For the joy of human love
Brother, sister, parent, child
Friends on earth
And friends above
For a gentle
Thoughts and mild
For a gentle
Thoughts and mild
Lord of all to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise
For each perfect gift of thine
To our race so freely given
Graces human and divine
Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n
Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n
Lord of all to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn, our joyful hymn of praise
This our joyful hymn of praise
For the beauty of the skies
For the lovewhich from our birth
Over and around us lies
Over and around us lies
Lord of all to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise
For the beauty of the hour
Of the day and of the night
Hill and vale
And tree and flower
Sun and moon and stars of light
Lord of all to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise
For the joy of human love
Brother, sister, parent, child
Friends on earth
And friends above
For a gentle
Thoughts and mild
For a gentle
Thoughts and mild
Lord of all to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn of praise
For each perfect gift of thine
To our race so freely given
Graces human and divine
Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n
Flow'rs of earth and buds of heav'n
Lord of all to thee we raise
This our joyful hymn, our joyful hymn of praise
This our joyful hymn of praise
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
A Musical Poem....
The maestro raises his wand.
Flute flowing,
Strings serenading,
Trumpet towering,
French horn flirting.
Handel halelujah-ing,
Strauss Smiling,
Bach bellowing.
© Tintin :D
Flute flowing,
Strings serenading,
Trumpet towering,
French horn flirting.
Handel halelujah-ing,
Strauss Smiling,
Bach bellowing.
© Tintin :D
Saturday, June 02, 2007
A Poem Dedicated to the Kelabit people in Bario Highland
Pagi nan cerlang,
kupasan awan terbilang,
suria membahang,
burung berkecipan.
Kehijauan terbentang,
saujana mata memandang,
budaya Kelabit terlestari,
edaran kala terabadi.
Twin otter mendarat,
riuh sepusat,
twin otter berlepas,
sepi berderas.
Inilah Bario,
indah seantero,
manik pusaka,
mutiara terjaga.
©Tintin
kupasan awan terbilang,
suria membahang,
burung berkecipan.
Kehijauan terbentang,
saujana mata memandang,
budaya Kelabit terlestari,
edaran kala terabadi.
Twin otter mendarat,
riuh sepusat,
twin otter berlepas,
sepi berderas.
Inilah Bario,
indah seantero,
manik pusaka,
mutiara terjaga.
©Tintin
Gawai Sajak - Written by Tintin
Gayu guru gerai nyamai
percaturan hidup manusia nan permai
sarawak indah, bumi pertiwi
miskin budaya nescaya tidak
pelbagai perayaan saban purnama
diraikan bersama muda dan tua
Gayu guru gerai nyamai
madah pahlawan ikutan srikandi
ayam pansoh beserta tuak
makan, bergembira Gawai ternama
Lantang Senang Nguan Menua
© tintin
percaturan hidup manusia nan permai
sarawak indah, bumi pertiwi
miskin budaya nescaya tidak
pelbagai perayaan saban purnama
diraikan bersama muda dan tua
Gayu guru gerai nyamai
madah pahlawan ikutan srikandi
ayam pansoh beserta tuak
makan, bergembira Gawai ternama
Lantang Senang Nguan Menua
© tintin
Selamat Hari Gawai, Gayu-Guru, Gerai-Nyamai
Selamat Hari Gawai, "gayu-guru, gerai-nyamai". What does it means? It actually means long life, health and prosperity in Iban language
Snowy, Captain Haddock and Howie begins our Gawai visiting in Kampung Kuap (10th mile), at Dahlia’s place. Warming up… makai…. We had manok pansoh (bamboo chicken, beef rendang, mix vege, satay, curry and etc…. The bamboo chicken we tasted at Dahlia’s place is really yummy, it reminds me about the one we tested during the RTM Television shooting for the Christmas program in December 2006. Dahlia, the superstar, demonstrating how she celebrated Christmas with her family, how the bamboo chicken is cooked and of course….. We will never forget the joyous sounds of the St. James Quop choir, the harmony produced by this a capella choir is really fantastic!!!
After Dahlia place, we proceed to Rowena’s place at 13th mile... Ermm… I found the similarity between the two of them, they speaks the same dialect which is the Bidayuh Biatah. The curry cooked by Rowena is really delicious, yummy…!! We found something interesting in Rowena’s place. The branded China Beer, KINGWAY, manufactured by the Shenzhen Kingway Brewery Co. Ltd. It shows on the front part of the can, the KINGWAY brand slogan “With The Best Malt And Germany Technology”.
Ermm… after observing the physical outlook of the beer can, we found that the size of the can is a little taller. Then, we look at the net weight, its 355ml. Compared with the normal coca-cola canned drink, it’s only 350ml. Then we take a look of the ingredients in both languages. It’s good; I can say all the major ingredients of beer are translated into English which the source language is Chinese. Unfortunately, the translator miss out something in the translation. It says here in mandarin 過度飲酒，有害健康 which means “excessive drinking are harmful to health” , BUT….. This particular phrase is not translated into English. I was wondering why… perhaps the Europeans are better drinker? Or... It does not applicable to the Westerners??? I guess they are targeting the “Mat Salleh”, the “Ang Mo Lang” as their consumer.
We are curious, how does it taste like? After drinking, I can say the alcohol level is really low! It is a very mild beer if I were to compare with Calsberg, Heneiken and Tiger. It tastes like Shandy…..
After Rowena’s house, then we proceed to Clane’s house at Kampung Mambong, Penrisson (which is along Jalan Borneo Highland). After Clane, we proceed to Daina’s house at Jalan Stephen Yong. That’s where we meet Mr. Fabian Sigar, Ms. Annie and family. After the four houses, we went to Serian to meet Tintin in Grace Michael’s place.
Here’s the map given by Grace to her boss, Tintin.
On the way back, I received a SMS from Tintin, it says :
“Good Flight? Ha… Ha… Rather turbulent… I will make a petrol stop at the next airport ya.”
We stopped by LCCT terminal in Serian. Snowy, Howie and Captain Haddock had a short rest, to stretch our legs after sitting in the car for 90mins.
After visited five houses, I just don’t believe that we had traveled around 3 different places, China, London and the Borneo Island. Cool ler…. What makes me said that? Drinking three different alcoholic beverages from three different continents, the Kingway Beer, the CHINA brand beer at Rowena’s place, WHISKY which represents LONDON at Diana’s place and ‘TUAK’, the rice wine, made by Grace’s mum. The ‘tuak’ we tasted at Grace’s place is a bit sour because it is made by the fermented rice, yeast and sugar. There are different types of ‘tuak’, the ‘tuak’ made from rice, sugar cane or ginger. The ‘tuak’ made from sugar cane usually taste sweet.
The journey from Kuching to Grace’s house can be divided into four different segment; Kuching – Serian, Serian town – SMK Tebakang, SMK Tebakang – Kampung Tekad and Kampung Tekad – Grace’s house. We see sunshine when we begin our journey, tar road, and bumpy road. While we are on our way back, it rains and the road is muddy, passing through hills, up and down, and… we see moonlight. This can be described as the river of life, going through different segment of our life journey.
What is the moral of the lesson of the day? What did we learned today?
I learn about perseverance, courage and determination. Life is all about making decisions, either we choose to move on or give up. We also learned about not to leave our friend behind (Tintin, Snowy is always with you, protecting you no matter where you go). We learned about setting our goals and target, we must aim higher, go for it. “Success is yours, embrace the challenge”. Last but not least, as a leader, when we are giving instruction to our team member, it has to be CLEAR and ACCURATE!!! Sometimes we may tend to prejudge our team members, we assume they know it already. Whenever we are in doubt, do not hesitate to seek for assistance.
I believe Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock and Howie had a wonderful Gawai Celebration in Year 2007. What an adventurous day!
Snowy, Captain Haddock and Howie begins our Gawai visiting in Kampung Kuap (10th mile), at Dahlia’s place. Warming up… makai…. We had manok pansoh (bamboo chicken, beef rendang, mix vege, satay, curry and etc…. The bamboo chicken we tasted at Dahlia’s place is really yummy, it reminds me about the one we tested during the RTM Television shooting for the Christmas program in December 2006. Dahlia, the superstar, demonstrating how she celebrated Christmas with her family, how the bamboo chicken is cooked and of course….. We will never forget the joyous sounds of the St. James Quop choir, the harmony produced by this a capella choir is really fantastic!!!
After Dahlia place, we proceed to Rowena’s place at 13th mile... Ermm… I found the similarity between the two of them, they speaks the same dialect which is the Bidayuh Biatah. The curry cooked by Rowena is really delicious, yummy…!! We found something interesting in Rowena’s place. The branded China Beer, KINGWAY, manufactured by the Shenzhen Kingway Brewery Co. Ltd. It shows on the front part of the can, the KINGWAY brand slogan “With The Best Malt And Germany Technology”.
Ermm… after observing the physical outlook of the beer can, we found that the size of the can is a little taller. Then, we look at the net weight, its 355ml. Compared with the normal coca-cola canned drink, it’s only 350ml. Then we take a look of the ingredients in both languages. It’s good; I can say all the major ingredients of beer are translated into English which the source language is Chinese. Unfortunately, the translator miss out something in the translation. It says here in mandarin 過度飲酒，有害健康 which means “excessive drinking are harmful to health” , BUT….. This particular phrase is not translated into English. I was wondering why… perhaps the Europeans are better drinker? Or... It does not applicable to the Westerners??? I guess they are targeting the “Mat Salleh”, the “Ang Mo Lang” as their consumer.
We are curious, how does it taste like? After drinking, I can say the alcohol level is really low! It is a very mild beer if I were to compare with Calsberg, Heneiken and Tiger. It tastes like Shandy…..
After Rowena’s house, then we proceed to Clane’s house at Kampung Mambong, Penrisson (which is along Jalan Borneo Highland). After Clane, we proceed to Daina’s house at Jalan Stephen Yong. That’s where we meet Mr. Fabian Sigar, Ms. Annie and family. After the four houses, we went to Serian to meet Tintin in Grace Michael’s place.
Here’s the map given by Grace to her boss, Tintin.
By looking at the map, we totally have no idea, where exactly the place is. What I can recall is Serian Town, the road to Tebakang/Tebedu, that’s all. With our little knowledge of the roads in Serian, we started our journey. Good start, we manage to reach Serian town in 30mins then we take the exit at the roundabout to Tebakang/Tebedu.
We miss our first turning to Kampung Mongkos road. Well.. nevermind… we discover something new. Kampung Pinchin, that’s the Kampung that Donna Jarukan mentioned about the cottage industry which produced the local Bidayuh rattan handicraft. We found two YB’s house, YB Datuk Richard Riot Anak Jaem and Datuk Michael Manyin. That’s what we discovered about Kampung Pinchin. Turning back…. Back ,,, and turn in SMK Tebakang.
We drive… drive….drive… Looking for Kampung Terbat on our right hand side as shown in the map. We had passed by many villages, with different names…. can’t remember all of them well. But along the Serian - Mongkos mainroad, I had come across some familiar villages name which Sie Ai went before to carry out her Master’s Research. Among them, there are Kampung Payau-Achau, situated fourteen and a half miles away from the Serian town Center, Kampung Bidak Plaman and Kampung Mongkos. After driving for about 30mins, we were wondering…… are we taking the correct route? How long will it takes to the junction. So…Snowy decided to stop by the road side asking for directions. Thank GOD, we are on the right track, on the way to Grace’s house. Along the journey, we passed by the Mayang Tea Plantation, a new discovery for us!!!
After 15 mins, we reach the function, turn right to Kampung Terbat. A bumpy journey begins here…. After a while, we feel like we are in the middle of NO WAY, feel like we are taking the Amazing Race heading towards the ONE MILLION DOLLAR PRIZE!!! Going up and down the hills, turning left and right…. Kkeeee….. Where we are? How long does it takes to Grace’s place, Kampung Mapu Tragu? Was dreaming, hope I have a Four-Wheel drive vehicle for this Amazing Race journey. It looks like we are playing TREASURE HUNT!!!! But….. too bad…. we didn’t found any wild boar :( .
This is how the road look like.
After 25 mins drive, we reach a junction….. should we take the left route or.. the right route…. We took the right route… eer… looks weired, no houses at all, after 10mins drive we saw a few house, where is Grace’s house? So, we decided to ask for directions again. Thank GOD that we meet the right person, we were told that we should take the left route while at the junction. Reverse back… to the junction. We were accompanied by the couple on the motorbike, leading us towards Grace’s house.
Finally… after 2 and the half hours drive from Kuching, we finally reach the destination, Kampung Mapu Tragu. There are roughly about 80 houses, with the reconstructed house (previously was longhouse) with cement walls to prevent fire outbreak. The facilities available in Kampung Mapu Tragu are electricity, public phone and clean water from the mountain. To me, Kampung Mapu Tragu is a friendly village, beautiful girls around, clean water from the mountain, fresh air and a fresh environment. I believe there’s a cool mountain waterfall somewhere around. Grace, is there any waterfall? If so, you must show it to me where it is, we will make a trip up again someday!!!
We had curry, manok pansoh cooked with rice, mix vege and etc… We were so glad to see Tintin there. Tintin, thanks for your patience, waiting for us to arrive, it is such an adventurous journey. We enjoyed the scenery along the road very much! Grace, Thanks for the Pansoh, it is very delicious, this is the first time I tasted the Manok Pansoh cook with rice. Thanks for the Pulut too… It is really yummy!!! Your mum is such a great cook! Thanks for the wonderful dinner!
Here are some views taken from Grace's house window.
On the way back, I received a SMS from Tintin, it says :
“Good Flight? Ha… Ha… Rather turbulent… I will make a petrol stop at the next airport ya.”
We stopped by LCCT terminal in Serian. Snowy, Howie and Captain Haddock had a short rest, to stretch our legs after sitting in the car for 90mins.
After visited five houses, I just don’t believe that we had traveled around 3 different places, China, London and the Borneo Island. Cool ler…. What makes me said that? Drinking three different alcoholic beverages from three different continents, the Kingway Beer, the CHINA brand beer at Rowena’s place, WHISKY which represents LONDON at Diana’s place and ‘TUAK’, the rice wine, made by Grace’s mum. The ‘tuak’ we tasted at Grace’s place is a bit sour because it is made by the fermented rice, yeast and sugar. There are different types of ‘tuak’, the ‘tuak’ made from rice, sugar cane or ginger. The ‘tuak’ made from sugar cane usually taste sweet.
The journey from Kuching to Grace’s house can be divided into four different segment; Kuching – Serian, Serian town – SMK Tebakang, SMK Tebakang – Kampung Tekad and Kampung Tekad – Grace’s house. We see sunshine when we begin our journey, tar road, and bumpy road. While we are on our way back, it rains and the road is muddy, passing through hills, up and down, and… we see moonlight. This can be described as the river of life, going through different segment of our life journey.
What is the moral of the lesson of the day? What did we learned today?
I learn about perseverance, courage and determination. Life is all about making decisions, either we choose to move on or give up. We also learned about not to leave our friend behind (Tintin, Snowy is always with you, protecting you no matter where you go). We learned about setting our goals and target, we must aim higher, go for it. “Success is yours, embrace the challenge”. Last but not least, as a leader, when we are giving instruction to our team member, it has to be CLEAR and ACCURATE!!! Sometimes we may tend to prejudge our team members, we assume they know it already. Whenever we are in doubt, do not hesitate to seek for assistance.
I believe Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock and Howie had a wonderful Gawai Celebration in Year 2007. What an adventurous day!
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