As I see It

          During my stay at the Long House, one afternoon Lembak (One of the relative)  invited me to visit her farm,which She visits seasonaly. It was a hill which was surrounded by, fruit trees such as  Cempedak,  Jack fruit , Breadfruit, Rambutan and Banana trees. She even had planted few types of  turmeric. Her daughter and her grandchild taught me how to find edible shoots, stems, flowers and leaves.            They plucked few edible stems and shoots and asked me to try, those taste sweet and sour. On our way back to the long house they showed to me the other long house residents farms, some grow their crops intensively and some just as past time!! i said seasonally because, Those trees bear fruits according t season, only cempedak and rambutan bear fruit through out the year. She said around March Those trees full of fruits and they just eat as they like daily. One of the...

     During my stay at the Long house what I observed, was the prohibited behavior or acts which are something rare to my knowledge. I was told that outsiders especially men are not allowed to enter their house and even if they are given an opportunity to enter their house, the men are not allowed to use the toilets in the house, they must  go to the jungle or other parts of the area either to defecate or to urinate.      One of the relatives of the long house told me that, when the rice they cooked  is burnt, that particular family need to pay certain amount of money to the Long house"s most senior man as punishment .This is to remind them that they wont  repeat it. when rice is burnt while cooking, to the Ibans it  is a bad sign.    I was quite sad to look at those kids and babies who do not have any toys or even play corner. I suggested to them , to get a swing, or slide and a sea saw for the little ones in the living r...

  I was surprised to see so many people gathered at the Long  house leader's living room. The whole community of the long house waited eagerly to receiver the new guest. Everyone was with their sweetest smile , smiled at me.      Once I entered the living room , I shaked hand with everyone and wish every one "Apa khabar" and they all answered ," baik"!! I called the little ones and gave them some wafers. They were overjoyed and smiled . The adults were not left out , they got their share. I was exausted due to my long and tiring journey.       The leader, who was my foster father invited me for dinner. There I  joined the family members. "Nasi Iban" locally grown rice served with additional dish known as "sup terjun" a tasteless vegetable sup, fried Chicken and soy sauce fried  monkey.         The Rice and chicken tasted delicious but the soup and fried monkey taste "unbearable". T...

      I reached the jetty of  Sibu at 12.00pm and the 12.Oclock boat  had left. So I waited for two hours for the last speed boat  of the day to take me to Kapit. Along  the  journey there were too many stops and few interior towns. The Water was to high level and it was yellowish or milk Tea colour. The boat was going against the current of Rejang River.     The language which I never heard in my life was spoken by the locals and they were singing songs along the journey.it was was very long and tiring journey. the boat left journey at 2pm and reached Kapit at 6.20pm.  it was a four hours plus  journey.My foster family was waiting for me from Morning till late evening to receive me!!    From the jetty to the long house it was almost 30 KM. The road which lead to the long house was more like a road which is suitable only for horse ridding or for the cattles. The car was shaking and i felt as though i was...

     Since young I am  an explorer by nature. The curiosity in me made me to think and to look for new experiences always, especially related to environment, culture, and the lifestyle of People of various ethnic.  During Uni study  years , I had the opportunity to mingle and live with the Global youngsters from different Continents  and those who  are from different culture.       Three years of  Uni study had given me  life long experiences and exposure about various People and their Culture. I met People from different parts of the world, who most of them are Muslims but Their Culture vary from Other Muslims. The Uni exposure and Environment help me to gain Knowledge which was totally different from my early normal life.     Apart from this experience, I had an opportunity to explore a rural Place in Borneo Island which is part of Malaysia. Once Playfully my brother told me t...

        I started  teaching at the age of twenty. My first school was a Rural School which can be best described as an isolated school which did not have the basic facilities such as electricity, proper toilet and bathroom.        It was built somewhere in the nineteen fifties and  was a very small building which is less than 500 square meter length and width. It was located on a small hill beside one of the old highways in my state. It can be best described as the hidden part which has been dominated by the Estate Indians and The Village Malays. This small town is an agricultural area and until today the  beauty of its nature  still preserved  and  not influenced by the modern life style.            The isolation of this school  from  the out side world  never stoped it from  getting any aid or help. The plus point ab...

       Lake Toba, Brastagi, Sumasir and Paraphat, these are the  Places that   would enchant anyone who would   visit Northern Sumatera. Medan is a very heaty town with concrete buildings and with the highest rate of population.     The climate at these places is Mountain cool, so it’s best throughout the year. For the first time I saw avocado trees with fruits near the shore of  lakeToba. Which looked like an ocean?          The trip with my teenage nephew whose name is Vin and my nieces Dine and Dharshinee with their mum, gave a pleasant moment to my heart and soul. Our trips were on 2 different days. Due to the very tiring and long journey. Our first trip was to Paraphat and Lake Toba, and the second trip was to Brastagi.      Brastagi reminded me of the western countries due to the cool climate and the farms with the farmers who dressed more like westerners in their w...

                April 14 th is a special day for every Hindu and Sikh, because it’s the day where  Tamil New year is celebrated by the Hindus and Waisaki is celebrated by the Sikhs.     For the first time, I was away from home on this special day in   2006.It's because , I believe  that opportunity knocks on our door only once and if I missed it, I' m sure I won't get another chance. I was very happy to be selected for the Tioman expedition which has been my long time dream to explore the Island.           The package was fully sponsored by the University’s students  Association (BEDSA).Twenty  of us were selected for that expedition, 10 girls and 10 guys accompanied by 2 commandos who were our Instructors. It was a five days package.      On 14 th April we were in Tioman Island. Tioman is an isolated Island which has...