IBANART - Finding Signature

Most artists have a signature painting style and don’t even know it. The key is to uncover it and use it to bring in sales and notoriety for the artist.

A signature painting style makes an artist stand out from the crowd. This can bring the artist more sells, a following and maybe even fame.


For example, when someone says “Picasso” most people think of brightly colored cubist paintings of the human form. This was Picasso’s style. It was consistent throughout most of his painting career, so collectors and art enthusiasts can identify his style easily. When a person thinks of a Picasso painting, they know what the painting will be like without even looking at it. So was, Van Gogh for his messy stokes, and the living realist legend Iman Maleki for his smooth and calm stokes that creates a painting which portray serenity.

Uncovering the unique qualities of a painter’s abilities can lead to what marketer’s call “branding.” Branding is creating a product that people can easily identify.

Essentially, if an artist can figure out what makes their artwork special and consciously implements it into every piece they do, people will be able to identify the artist’s painting without looking at the signature. Collectors will clamor for more paintings because they know they will be getting a consistent type of artwork from the artist.

So far, I haven't have mine.

I love realism. Portrait of Borneo is my main subject of painting, with a guidence from my senior in realm Mr Chieng, this is the 1st try of combining Realism and Abstract. So I guess, its was the beginning of the journey to find my signature. :)

IBANART Project

I'm working out my art from light to dark. I'm trying to do it vice versa this time.. and it turn out to be not so satisfactory.

Tinchin Tusah Ati

Tu meh tinchin ke dikumbai orang "Tinchin Tusah Ati" ka digaga Ayak Dunging, Genius Iban ari Debak, menoa pegai alih Saratok. Tu gamal ia sebedau dipejantilka. Enti udah di adu ka nya baru nyengenda gamal ia baka tincin. Pama diri ga pengelama ka benjantil ka ia. Nyangka nya kebuah aki tu ngagga ka nama tincin tu bakanya engka nyau ''tusah ati'' urang berunding ka baka ni ka ngadu ka tincin tu, enti telepas anyam/jai, nadai orang nemu ngadu enti enda ayak Dunging empu. :)

Kada enda tuchum tuchum bala sida ayak enggau ibu meda gambar tu, mulai ke pingingat ya wai? :)

Aku meri terima kasih besar ngagai Umang Atak ke udah bekunsi ke gambar tinchin tu enggau bala ba ruai kitai www.facebook.com/ibansarawak

Nyabur

Mayuh endar penyaru ba orang ke biak enti duku Ilang tauka Nyabur disebut.

Antara bida ke besai tau dibanding ka kitai entara ilang enggau nyabur, ilang mata ia juring sereta pandak agi. Nyabur mata ia chundur, sema ke jako baka mata pedang samurai jipun, ia panjai sereta ribat agi ditangkin.

Ditu aku deka nusoi enggau ngelansa pasal duku Nyabur dulu. Duku Nyabur bisi dua
bansa, siti dikumbai Nyabur Pesaka lalu siti Nyabur dikena ngayau. Nyadi
duku Nyabur pesaka tu digaga lalu diyas enggau naka pemanah. Iya semina
ditangkin lebuh mindah nemuai ngabang enggau maya bisi pengerami ke bukai. Kelimpah ari nya iya endang disimpan, dikait ba tiang tengah bilik, ba dinding tempuan dalam bilik semak pintu enggau ba dinding semak pintu bilik dapur beserimbai enggau
terabai, nyadi ke penabat enti bisi munsuh temu datai nyerang, iya senang sereta
jampat dijapai.

Duku Nyabur dikena ngayau, gamal iya rumpas sereta nadai diyas. Laban enti iya diyas, iya ribat dibai. Kelimpah dikena ngayau iya mega ditangkin mindah kiba-kanan, nurun mansai, kumai, ngembuah, mandi enggau semua pengawa ditanah. Tang iya UKAI dikena gawa, semina dikena nyendia nyaga diri enti munsuh nyerang.

Arapka saritu bala kitai ke agi biak enda kelalu balat lelang ati limpang penemu ngumbai duku pesaka nya dikena ngayau. Duku Nyabur ba gambar ditu nya duku pesaka, ulu iya digaga ari urat kayu langir lalu dikawit ngena seraput upih aping. Utai dikumbai butuh kunding nya udah patah laban besi betegar.

Pia mega ngepan ke dikena orang nurun ngayau laban sekeda cherita ke ditulis orang selamatu ngepan dikena ngayau nyau baka ngepan kena nurun ngabang. Nganti udah bisi kenang ari aya Rintai Edmond ke dudi ari ila, pengudah ia nusoi ke bida ngepan bansa kitai nurun ngayau sereta nurun ngabang, aku deka ngelakar ia ba kertas, ngambi ke terang agi dipeda bala pembaca.

Penudi sekali, aku meri besai terima kasih ngagai aya Rintai Edmond laban enti nadai tegal penemu ka dikunsi ke ia, nadai gak utai ke ditusoi sereta disara kitai baka ke kali tu.

My Childhood's Longhouse Experience

Like me, some of you may have grown up in the era of wooden longhouses, built from the ground up by our forefathers.

Normally these type of houses are built far from the city, surrounded by fruit trees, chickens and lots of green which make up a natural playground.

As an Iban kid who born in 1980s, I used to play in this kind of environment. I loved playing with grass, stones, puddles, mud, building wooden bridges, dams and canals. It's a wonder why I didn't grow up an engineer.

Maybe because I hated maths... :)



With the greenish environment which makeup a natural playground, the experience to live and grown up in the era of the wooden longhouse is something worth to share with you, especially with the youngsters today.

Unlike you, when I was a kid, I woke up every morning quater to 7 or maybe by 7 would be the latest. Or else I'll feel sorry to myself, regreat why would I spend a my time in bed when the beauty of nature await me to be explore. I woke up this early for a reason. Its not like because of Ben 10 will start at 7. Or maybe because of the coco crunch await me on my kitchen table. Or maybe because I need to go for the art class tuition by 8. That's not it! The reason I wake up every morening is something that different from those of the reason you wake up early. Not by force, but by intention.

You can't resists to wake up early when little bird singing right outside of your window, when little insects sang a jungle song, when the morning breeze blew colder than your aircond... when you thinking of to start a day with a smile. :)

The riverbank near by is an official meeting place for a every kids every morning and evening. The crystal clear water call me by name, though its cold as ice, it can't stop me and the kids to flip floop dunk ourself into the water. We swim, we play, who can't we teach. Basically, the world is ours. This kind of environment brought us together and the bond were tight.

Its good to be friend with human rather than computer.

There is no Fish and Chips, but we have fresh BBQ fish, which is far more delicious and healthy than the so-called wastern food. Though we don't have a cheese burger at that time, we have something that almost similiar. I can still remember how delicios is the "Roti Sebayan" or some of us called it "Roti Penat" or "Roti Tababr", when I dunk them into my hot coffee. - Kopi Cap Ah Moi.

At night, we don't watch Power Rangers like you do. Since there is no electricity, what more to say TV? So the main source of news and entertainment for old folks is the radio. But for us, the kids, we don't really give a damn about the entertainment, we don't care about the news or what happened in the world those day.

All we know, the world is ours, so what we do is, play and play and play.
In the day time, we explore the nature. At night, we play hide and seek.

Apart all that, like me, I believe kids at my time do enjoy the "Randau Ruai". Its something like a story telling section where we'll faced our grandparents and the old folks sit at "Ruai" and listen to their "Ensera" or story in English. The stories were interesting, its cover up all the topic from the fantasy and the myth to the history of our origin and the languages. See, we don't need a tuition class to learn all that. Furthermore, I don't need a MP3 to sing me a song to sleep at night.

Like what I'd mention in the beginning of my story, I play stones, puddles, mud, and those of the things which may be dirty to you. We don't buy toys but make toys. We don't play XBox's Street Fighter, but we do sometimes watch the cockfighting. We don't need a monthly payment for martial art class as the old folks will teach us "Kuntau" for free. Dance classes, "Ngajat" for free. Music classes, all for free!

In line with the modernization and development. The longhouse you know today is not a longhouse that we known yesterday and it may change again tomorrow. Though most of my young times spent in the city, but the life to live and grown up in the longhouse environment is something that can't never be forget. Thanks to my parents for those wonderful experience and memories.


Eventhough the wooden longhouses now transformed to concrete, the jungle surrounding now change to a flowers in the pot, the river now is a drains, and the chicken in the cage, there are the thing that remain the same.

The bond amongs us..
and I hope, forever, it will stay that way.

Sarawak Truly Malaysia

I grew up watching Petronas Hari Merdeka advertisements portraying little Ah Chong, little Ali and little Raju playing happily together as children, and 30 years later as old men these three multi-racial friends would still be able to sit together having coffee at the same table.

As a school student, I noticed that the National Textbooks would always portray multi-ethnicity in their contents, having characters like Siti, Kumari and Mei Ling harmoniously interacting and co-existing with one another.

I grew up having that image of Malaysia in my head and my heart, and living in Sarawak does not make it difficult to believe that this is indeed what Malaysia truly is.

It is not a strange scene for the multi-racial (we have different ethnic groups in Sarawak) and multi-religion people (Muslims, Christians of different denominations, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Pagans etc) in Sarawak to sit together having coffee and mee goreng at the same table all the time. Some even don't care whether the stall is owned by Ah Chong or whoever, as here we praticed something simple that we call, respect each other.

Uniquely Sarawak is a good name to refer to the Sarawak Truly Malaysia. I remembered during the time of my secondary school, my friend with a name "bin" always sit together with me in a chinese stall after class, he's not muslim though his name look exactly like ons, for Sarawakian, its perfectly normal, "Bin/Binti" could be Melanau. And the others with a chinese/iban name could be muslim. Dispite all that, we still be able to sit and eat in the same table in the same stall.

What does this portray? Mix marriage is absolutely normal here. Why? Because of the hormonies and tolerate that keep us together ever since before Malaysia became Malaysia, until now.

In the early 1990's, I set foot for the first time on the land of what people called school, where the teacher teach you to become a good boys and good girls. My first friend greet me "Ni Hao Ma?", I'm blur for a while and reply him "Sorry I don't get you, I couldn't speak chinese" And he say "Huh? You're not chinese a? Cos you look so chinese. Due to the language barrier, for quite some times of the 1st year in chinese primary school, we speak Malay. That's story number one, the summary of that is, hard to tell what race does one sarawakian belong too, without knowning his name, and even if you know the name, hard for you to tell the religion.

In 2006, I further my study at one of the local university, where in this circumstances, I mix with lots of Semenanjung students. Throughout the years, I was being asked a lot of questions by my fellow Malay Semenanjung friends, among others:

"Is it true that Sarawak still live in the jungles?"
"Do you live on trees?"
"Do people in Sarawak wear 'cawat' all the time?"
"So how was your first time on an airplane?"

And as for Ah Meng, Balakrishnan and Ahmad having coffee together at the same table, it was almost non-existent that at that time I thought I was in another country other than Malaysia. The Malaysia that I thought I knew.

Malays would never set foot on a Chinese restaurant. Once I was having a meal with some friends in one Chinese stall by the roadside. A Malay man who happened to pass by spat on the ground near our table. I thought about the beautiful Petronas advertisement, and felt betrayed.

In the university itself, Malays would mingle among the Malays, If there were Chinese, among themselves, the Indians likewise. Always unsure which 'group' we should 'belong to', Sarawakians (Muslims and non-Muslims) would always opt to mingle among ourselves, and of course with our fellow Sabahans (Muslims and non-Muslims).

I could still remember the time when the University decided to implement its 'integration' policy, in which they decided that allocations of hostel rooms for students should not be based on races and religions anymore. A hostel room should be shared by students of different races and religions, to promote unity.

Recently, the fairytales of Malaysia Unity being challenge again. After the sad story of the usage of word "Allah" by Christian, followed by the the incedent of brother and brother aguing between UMNO and MCA. Sarawak effected too with the internal problem of SUPP. Then the issue of Kulai headmistress with her "Go back to your own country" controversy remark. So was, the Namewee poped up again with his silly video. - And there are numbers of you hate me I hate you because we're not the same cases rumours flopping around news media and the internet.

What have happened? Where's 1 Malaysia? Or make it simple, where's the love of our own country?

Thought back, how lucky I am born Sarawakian. Even PM Datuk Seri Najib himself said, the real 1 Malaysia can be seen in Sarawak. In fact, I think, the word 1 Malaysia came from Sarawak.

Even before 'Merdeka', Sarawakian, Muslims and non-Muslims have always been able to live together harmoniously and peacefully, despite our differences. 1 Malaysia isn't a new thing at all for us. Its even more "SATU" before, back to early 60s - 70s era.

Most of our Muslim brothers and sisters in Sarawak have no problems sitting together having coffee with their non-Muslim friends (Bumiputeras and Chinese) at the same table not because they 'tolerate' us.

It is because we embrace each other.

For examplw, our Muslim brothers and sisters in Sarawak are aware of the existence of the word 'Allah' in Indonesian-translated Bibles of their Christian friends for many many years, but they never accuse us of having secret agenda. They never get confused or get accidentally converted to Christianity. Is it because they 'tolerate' us?

No. It is because they embrace us.

Occasionally after work or during the weekends, we'd like to have meals together with our Muslim brothers and sisters. Sometimes we would have roti canai at Ammah Curry. The next day it would be the Japanese at Sushi King. If we want to have nice enjoy relax chit-chat night with coffee and satey and a entertainment from ESPN, we'll go to Siang-siang/Warung 2000, where the Chinese Stall and Malay nextto each other, I ordered a kolo mee from chinese stall, they'll send it to the Malay's Table.

Is it because we 'tolerate' each other?

Yes, when my friend insists on having ais kacang while I am craving for roti canai, of course we need to be tolerant with one another in coming up with the best solution.

But more than that, we also embrace each other.

Pengaya kitai Iban

Nama tanggung pengawa sastera tauka main asal ngena jaku kitai Iban dalam pengidup kitai kemaya haritu? Nemu kita? Ni penyampau iya? Mayuh; bisi ga positif enggau lalu bisi mega negatif.

Kitai mesti nemu iya nya sastera kitai bansa bejaku nyengkaum dalam semua pengawa: senentang lelaki enggau indu, anembiak enggau orang tuai, kitai bumai enggau pemesai, orang ke kereja enggau sekeda kompeni, kaya enggau miskin, penyayau enggau pemenchi, jadi enggau sarak, perang enggau bebaik, bepechah enggau beserakup, enggau mayuh agi.

Kitai mega nemu sastera mai mayuh macham mesej. Taja pia, sastera nya meh pengidup ke enda ulih diseliah, nama agi dibuai.

Sastetra kitai Iban? Kitai antara etnik di dunya tu ke mayuh macham adat enggau main asal. Kitai Iban kaya sastera. Sastera nya siti asil pengelandik kitai bansa ngena leka jaku ke nyadika pekara ke deka dipadahka. Sastera nya siti pekara pasal adat enggau main asal, ulah, runding sereta penemu enggau pendiau kitai.

Taja pia, gaya sastera ulih berubah nitihka jalai rebak enggau jeman pendiau mensia. Tang meh pengerembai sastera dikuasa mayuh macham pekara, baka pengerembai sosio-ekonomi, sosiopolitik enggau pemaju bansa kitai di dunya tu.

Sastera enggau leka main asal kitai Iban tumbuh maya sigi udah bisi tusun dalam jaku Iban, iya nya jaku asal bansa ke pemadu besai sereta ngerembai di Sarawak. Jaku Iban tu sama nyumbuk serentak enggau pendiau Dayak Iban di Indonesia. Jaku kitai Iban udah bisi di dunya tu kenyau ari urung 2500 ngagai 5000 taun dulu kelia.

Nitihka penemu Professor Derek Freeman, sastera kitai Iban kaya agi ari sastera Greek (Yunani) maya jeman Homer. Jaku Freeman tu udah nyadi bukti ke nyata maya mayuh macham gaya sastera bejaku Iban ditemu ari turun menurun dataika seharitu. Bisika kitai nguji nengkebang sastera dalam pengidup kitai seharitu?

Kita nemu, sastera Iban udar beurat ari mayuh macham penemu baka puisi – dalam main asal Iban baka jaku begeliga, jaku ansah, biau, pantun, sanggai, dungai, jawing sereta mayuh main benyawa baka pengap, renung, sugi, timang jalung, pelian enggau ensera, baka reti mitos, legenda, cherita ngerindang ati, ngasuh ketawa enggau ensera pasal jelu ke dikena ambika lalau enggau ajar pendiau kitai di dunya tu. Agi kelia, sastera kitai Iban nyadi ka pengidup ke bepanggalka adat. Ke nyadika penti pemali sebedau ngereja sekeda pengawa.

Kitai Iban kelalu kaya enggau main asal benyawa. Tu sebaka enggau lagu puisi ke udah didinga kitai ba radio tauka maya hari gawai datai. Tauka dilaguka sida tuai maya bisi pengerami. Bala pemacha tentu kala ninga main asal benyawa baka renung, timang jalung, pelian, sabak, jawang, ganu, sugi, pengap, dungai, pantun, sanggai, jara enggau ramban sereta main benyawa bukai mega.

Lalu mayuh macham agi penemu enggau main asal rayat kitai Iban ke makin ditinggalka. Sida tu nyengkaum penemu baka tusut, sampi, biau, jaku ansah, jaku tuai, jaku muka kujuk enggau begeliga. Lalu kitai mega bisi entelah ke endang chukup manah didinga kena ngelalai reti utai besilup.

Kita nemu, maya Raja Brooke merintah menua Sarawak, sastera kitai Iban udah ditulis sereta dipansik enggau chukup penalam. Sastera kitai udah ngerembai ke menua tasik lalu bulih puji ke chukup tinggi.

Sida ke udah ngaga pansik tu iya nya, A.W. Stonton, W. Howell, J. Derek Freeman – penulis Anya Kedap kala begulai enggau Freeman di Pulau Pinang dalam taun 1975 – Carol Rubenstein, Baughman, Erik Jensen enggau mayuh agi. Lalu mayuh bup tulis sida tu tau dipeda ba Mijum Sarawak.

Mega,sekeda bup sembiyang Kristian ditemu nulis sastera kitai Iban, baka Jalai Pengidup 1, Penyanggup Lama enggau Jalai Pengidup II. Siku orang putih AW Stonton mega udah ngaga jerita pandak Ensera Manang Gagak.

Jaku kitai Iban ngerembai mimit udah menua kitai merdeka. Pengerembai sastera kitai Iban ulih dibagi dua: ari taun 1963-1977, ke disebut rambau Biro Sastera Borneo lalu ari taun 1977 sampaika seharitu, disebut rambau Dewan Bahasa enggau Pustaka.

Maya tu meh jaku Iban bisi dipelajarka dalam sekeda sekula ke mayuh anembiak kitai Iban. Jaku Iban deka nyadi pelansar ngambika anembiak bansa kitai ngelala jaku Iban sereta adat main asal kitai Iban.

“Utai ke nyadika penyerekang, bisika anembiak kemaya haritu nemu reti sastera aki ini kitai? Ni pemayuh anembiak kitai bansa ke nemu pesaka peturun aki-ini kitai ke besangkut paut enggau sastera kitai Iban?” kenu ku siku professor ari Unimas ke enggai nama iya disebut ditu lebuh bejuraika pekara tu enggau siku ari penulis.

Mega, bisika bansa kitai Iban di dunya Sarawak agi kiruh enggau sekeda sastera kitai bansa? Dini kitai nyimpan sastera kitai Iban dalam pengidup kitai seharitu?

Pengidup kitai balat bendar bekaul enggau adat kitai. Ukai enda diasai, sastera kitai pengidup kitai. Taja pia, semina kitai enggai kiruh lalu enggai beduli ketegal kitai enda ngaku diri kitai bansa ke tulin laban ke dikungkung adat basa kitai. Kitai ngasaika diri nyelai ngembuan bemacham chara deka bejalaika sekeda adat. Kitai ngasaika diri ditanchang lalu malu ngembuan sastera ke nyelai ari bansa bukai. Kitai enggai ngaku.

Salah sapa? Engka salah bansa kitai empu? Salah aki-ini sereta apai indai kitai empun laban ke mutuska diri ari pengidup peturun bansa kitai. Angka salah rayat ke enda seati udah bisi ngembuan agama? Angka salah bansa kitai laban ke udah bepolitik lalu enda ngelala pendai penatai diri empu? Salah sapa ke bendar?

Sapa ke ulih ngetanka sastera kitai ke lain sereta nyelai tu. Sapa ke deka ngetanka sastera kitai ke chukup tebilang tu. Sastera kitai deka punas enti enda terus dikemeranka.

Lalu pia mega bansa kitai ke tulin mega tau nyadi punas enda temu tunga dudi ila enti nembiak rebak baru diatu majak ngejang diri ari penemu asal bansa diri. Tanya kitai empu sekalika temegah ati ngembuan main asal ke jauh kaya ari mayuh bansa bukai di dunya tu.

Kawin, adat ngau pengarap.

Umur aku udah manggai 24 taun, pengelama aku ke udah mereti pasal pengawa kawin melaki bini, penyuah aku udah enggau orang rami serta meda orang kawin, ka sekali aja aku udah meda kitai bansa kawin ngena serta nitih ke adat kitai iban ke bendar. Maia kawin anak indu Datuk Seri Celestine Ujang ngau anak lelaki Datuk Sulang.

Kawin ngena adat kitai iban ko aku tu, ukai bangkut-bangkut semina ke ngena ngepan iban, tang nitih semua tusun adat kawin kitai bansa ari pun sampai ke ujung, bepun ari ngambi indu, betimbal penemu, bebiau, berisan serta mayuh agi pengawa ke bukai.

Nama kebuah kitai iban ke diatu kelalu melakang ke adat asal? Engka laban tuntut pengarap kitai mesti kawin ba gereja? Ketegal bisi sekeda adat kitai iban tu betentang ngau pengarap kitai? Tauka sigi kitai bansa enggai ngereja pengawa tu nitih ke adat serta cara kitai bansa ke bendar?

Mayuh orang saru entang adat enggau pengarap. Ari nya aku deka bekunsi ke mimit penemu aku entang 2 pengawa ti enda sama tu. Ngambi ke banding, miring nya pengarap iban, alai kitai kristian enda tau ngereja ia laban pengawa nya betentang enggau jalai pengarap kitai.

Bebiau tauka sampi tu tau nyadi kedua-dua, iya nya adat, iya nya pengarap gak. Iya nya adat enti kitai bebiau tauka besampi enda ngena piring, enti ngena piting, nya pengarap. Nyadi utai tu sigi tau dikereja, tang ngena jalai kitai ke kristian.

Pulai ngagai pengawa ke melah pinang nitih ke jalai iban tu tadi, nya enda salah.

Semua tu enti dipeda dua tiga kali, ke bendar ia enda lebih ari alasan kitai bansa ka nyeliah ke adat diri. Enti ketegal pengarap kitai ti nuntut kawin ba gereja, nama kebuah maia ke dinner kawin ba hotel, kitai bansa enggai enda berasuk ke kot, ke neck tie, gown semua indah? Lebih-lebih agi, jaku ke dikena maia pengerami nya tadi nyau jaku bansa bukai.

Ngambi ke cunto, berapa iku orang bansa ribai ke bisi enggau pengawa kawin kitai bansa alai kitai enggai enda ngena jaku ribai? Nama kebuah enggai enda ngena jaku melayu? Kawin melayu, nadai meh sida ngira bansa bukai ke enggau, jaku melayu meh sida. Kawin bansa cina, jaku cina gak sida, bala sekeda ke enda nemu reti te betelengap meh dia, orang ketawa, ketawa gak sida, orang betempik jari, nitih gak.

Nama kebuah enda kitai bansa? Laban tu meh salah sigi cara kitai ngangkat ke jaku serta adat bansa kitai iban.

Kitai iban ke diatu udah Kristian, tuntut pengarap mesti dititih. Tang kitai enda tau muai serta melakang ke adat ti dipeturun ke aki ini kitai kelia. Kawin ba gereja, berami ngena cara iban. Utai ke enda tau dalam pengarap tau dikelaung, baka miring semua indah, enda perlu utai nya. Tang pengawa baka ngambi indu, betimbal penemu, betusut, berisan, bebiau nya enda salah, seagi-agi utai nya enda ngelanggar tuntut pengarap kitai.

Enda pan kitai ulih nitih ke adat ari pun ngagai ujung, tang enda salah enti kitai nyelit ke pengawa ke sekeda dalam pengerami (ba hotel), ngambi ke adat kitai ditemu orang, ngambi ke adat kitai enda lenyau sereta puntan.

Enti enda kitai bansa, sapa agi ka ngangkat ke bansa kitai?

Guna Benggal

Bisi Katak seribu ka bepekit engkejuk meraka lubang, tang mayuh bala orang ke meda sida bepekit madah ka sida enda ulih, laban pemesai lubang nya sejengkal. Nadai siku ari seribu katak nya tadi ulih teperaka ke lubang ke besai ia nya semina sejengkal taja pan ngelama tu, kejuk katak kira sedepa.

Bisi siko ketam ka bejalai ke mua, orang madah enda ulih tang ia majak ke diri aja. Kelengah ke nguji, dia ketam tu tadi ukai semina bejalai tang tau mega belanda mansang ke mua. Dipansik orang kebuah ia, laban orang rawan ati laban ke ditemu, ketam enda kala bejalai lurus, tang nyerimbing bejalai ke tisi. Dipansik-pansik, nemu nya tadi, ketam tu tadi kebendar ia Benggal (enda ulih ninga).

Ari dua iti jerita pandak ke dirintai ka aku ba atas tu tadi, besai endar utai ke kadikunsi ke aku enggau bala menyadi.

Kitai bela nemu, orang ke kurang agi pendiau nadai pedih ari orang ke benggal. Sida ke buta mata mayuh ke nemu macha. Sida ke iso ngambi ke banding enti sida ia enda benggal, sida ia nemu reti utai, taja pan enda tepantai ke jako ari mulut, pencil tau dikena nulis utai ke ka dikejako ke sida. Tang enti benggal, semua utai deka tusah, nemu pan bejako nyau enda meh laban enda nemu nyebut, ketegal ke enda kala ninga, nya alai selalu ia, orang ke benggal ka kurang agi bala sida ke kurang pendiau ke bukai.

Tang, Benggal tu kadang ia bisi guna. Ngambi ke banding jerita pandak ke dirintai ke aku ba atas.

Ba jerita ke-tebubah nya tadi, katak ke tau engkejuk panjai sedepa tau enda teperaka ke lubang ke mesai ia sejangkal. Nama kebuah? Laban sida ninga jako orang...

Ba jerita kedua, ketam ke sigi ditemu kitai bejalai nyerimbing tau nemu bejalai lurus. Nama kebuah? Laban ia enda ninga jako orang...

Nya alai, kadang-kadang, benggal enti ngena maya ke patut bisi pemanah ia. Ngambi ke banding...

- Menggal ke diri enti orang bejai kitai, kitai tau nyeliah ke diri ari ke belaya.

- Menggal ke diri enti orang ngasut kitai, kitai tau nyeliah ke diri ari pemenci.

- Menggal ke diri enti orang mai ngereja pengawa jai, kitai tau nyeliah ke diri ari dosa, ari api neraka.

Perunding ke dia meh... :)

Udat Pesok bisi guna ia

Kelia menya ba sukut siti kampung di menua china din, bisi siko ini tuai diau kediri nengali rumah ke jauh ari penatai jalai sereta ai. Ketegal ke jauh ati penatai ari, dia ini tuai tu tadi ninting ari ninting bulan besauk ke ai kena bebasu kena mandi ari sungai ke umbas ia penyauh ari rumah ia.

Tiap ari, ini tuai tu nyauk ai ngena 2 igi udat ke disengkang ia enggau sebatang kayu nyadi penimbal dikena ia ngema. (Udat tu tong kayu ke dikena orang kelia nyauk sereta nyimpan ari ke diganti ke baldi kitai saritu, ke selalu disandik orang dua betimbal). Siti udat tudah sigi manah nadai bumbus, tang sigi nya tadi bisi pesok, nya alai setiap kali datai ba rumah, sigi udat tu tadi meruan penuh, sigi agi kira separuh.

Laban ngasai ke diri enda entu bejasa sereta beguna ke ini tuai ke seruran ampa mai ai pulai, dia udat ke pesok tu tadi lalu bejako madah ke diri nadai guna agi laban ke selalu beduan tudah ini tuai tu tadi alai ke ai ke dibai ia niting ari enda kala cukup.

Dia ini tuai tu tadi lalu madah "Nemu aku nuan pesok, tang aku sigi enggai muai nuan, laban aku beguna ke nuan". Peda nuan sepemanjai jalai ke dititi aku, sepiak muak ke nuan, rumput sereta bungai ia tumbuh manah laban ke selalu disiram nuan ninting ari".

Ari jerita pandak tu tadi menyadi, kitai mensia enda tau bejai ke pengurang diri ke diberi petara (dalam pengidup). Setiap ke lebih nya sigi bisi kurang, setiap ke kurang nya tadi bisi mega pengelebih ia.

Kitai enda tau manding ke diri enggau orang bukai laban tuah nasib kitai mensia enda sama. Orang ke ba rumah panjai ngambi ke banding, ni ulih manding diri enggau sida ke megai pengawa besai dalam perintah, tang sigi utai ke mesti ditemu kitai, kitai bisi ungkup kitai empu dalam dunya.

Nama reti Pemansang diri? Pemansang diri ukai reti ia kitai saritu nyadi kuli udah nya penudi ila lalu nyadi tokey. Pemansang diri tu reti ia ngambi ke banding, enti taun tu tadi aku beumai bulih segantang padi, taun tu aku bulih dua. Nya baru Pemansang (success).

Success (Pemansang) : Bepekit ngelaban diri.

Iban Lost Identity

Some of Iban nowaday trying so hard to not to be one, at least from the outside. But deep inside, no matter how hard you hide, the fact of that you're Iban can never be change. It's like the photo uploaded above, ripped of the skin, there are "Bungai Terung" inside.

In conjunction with the development in the world today, Iban has lost their identity.

Name:
The original name of Iban like Laja, Sumang, Tindit, Menjang, Unga etc can hardly being found these day in every name list of the new students registered in primary school.

Language:
Speak to any young generation of Iban today, you'll found out among 10 words they speaks, maybe half of it if not all was, Bahasa Melayu or Bahasa Melayu Sarawak.

Attire:
Among 10 selected Iban men, half of them if not all know not how to use traditional "Sirat" or lioncloth in a correct way.

Traditional attire of Iban these day has dimped into "Rojak", where you may found small part of every ethnics attire mixed into one and they called it by then, so-called Iban's attire. But for those who knew, its not. Look at the recent Miss Fair and Lovely attire, non of them were original.

Music:
How many Iban knows that their traditional music was "Tabuh"? Instruments, some even thought it was Sape and some don't even know what is "engkerunung".

Culture:
Pick 10 random Iban men, see how many of them has "Bungai Terung" on their shoulder? Don't be surprise if you found dragon.

Conclusion:
If things like this keep on growing and never change, one day, its not impossible if you found:

An Iban with name like Fernando Torres who can't speak Iban, add-up songkok for traditional attire, playing electric guitar for "ngajat", and a Yakuza tattoed full Body.

It is not IMPOSSIBLE.

Tattoo and me

Somewhere at the end of last year (2009), one of my friend ask me "You love art so much, why don't you try tattoo, explore a new form of art, and earn some for extra income?".

I had never realised that, the tattoo is a form of art until he said so. In fact, I love tattoo, but never thought of to create one. Until that day, when he comes to me and ask me a question why, until he willingly to borrow me one and only of his tattoo machine to give it a try, and until one of my friend who willingly sacrifice the beauty of his clean body as an experimence for me to do my 1st tattoo. How lucky am I to have a friends like them.

I love realistic art, especially portrait. And I thought of I will concentrate on portrait as well for my tattoo journey. However, when my client asking me to do a tribal tattoo for them, I will do it too. Frankly speaking, its bored but what to do, I can't resists money. And for their satisfation and worth to pay tattoo, I will do the best I can eventhough its bored to do tribal compare to the design like japanese tattoo, dragon, tiger, portrait, flower etc, which is more challanging and require you to play tone and colour.

Almost 6 month I'd involved in the world of tattoo, after close to hundred client who has my artwork in their body, after one and another famous celebs portrait tattoo I done for those who fan. Last night, finaly, a dad come to me, and ask me, to do a portrait tattoo of his new born baby.

This is a result

feel sorry as I didn't ask for the original copy from him so that you may compare the outcomes of the tattoo and the photo.

But, what is this if compare to the sample tattoo below done by Tom Tyrell?



Or compare to tattoo by Joshua Carlton



These people dedicated their life for art. The old folks like them has an experienceof doing tattoo for more than 30 or 40 years. With those years of experience, this is the result.

I'll grow, I'll improve my skills and would not give up on this, as I found, tattoo is a new form of art and they are so interesting, I'll keep on exploring the wonderworld of art, as I've moved from paper to skin. What's next? Who knows?

Gawai diatu enggau kelia

Peremisi Hari Gawai Dayak diungkupka ngagai bala asal Dayak di menua Sarawak; baka bansa Iban, Bidayuh, enggau mayuh sub-ethnics ari Orang Ulu - Kayan, Kenyah, Kelabit, Murut, enggau mayuh agi ti enda ulih ditiuka ba ditu. Sejarah Hari Gawai Dayak ulih dipansik pulai ngagai taun 1957 kelia. Pengerami Hari Gawai Dayak dipejadika (gazetted) nyadi sebengkah ari Hari besai ba menua Sarawak kena 25 September, 1964. Beduduk ari nya, Hari Gawai Dayak ti keterubah diintu kena 1 Jun, 1965. Pengudah ari nya, iya lalu diintu tiap taun sampaika hari tu.

Reti leka jaku Gawai sama enggau pengerami. Nya meh kabuah enti orang bisi rami disebut kitai begawai - Gawai lelabi (orang melah pinang), Gawai Antu (Ngeregang baka ke diatu) Etc. Maya ngintu Hari Gawai mayuh bendar pengawa diaduka beserimbai enggau pengerami nya. Sigi batang pengawa iya nya meri besai terima kasih ngagai Tuhan tauka Petara laban udah bulih asil ari kereja bumai betaun.

Simpulka jaku pandak, pengerami nya tadi dikena meri terima kasih ngagai semengat padi. Pia mega, pengerami tu dikena minta awakka dalam taun baru ti deka datai sama bulih padi sama pemayuh tauka lebih agi ari taun ti udah. Semua perengka dikena bumai nempalai nyengkaum batu panggul sereta enggau keresa kena kereja berat lalu disengkilung ngena pua kumbu dalam pandung ranyai. Tuju pengawa nya awakka semua perengka ti dikena bekereja nya tadi tau enda mai pulaika penusah tauka bebadi. Chara ngintu nya tadi nitihka pengarap. Sida ti udah megai pengarap Kristian ngintu ngena chara sembiang. Sida ti agi pengarap adat asal ngintu ngena chara miring.


Maya Hari Gawai, mayuh mega pengawa bukai diaduka orang. Bisi mega orang sabung jadi nyerumba Hari Gawai. Kelimpah ari nya, mayuh mega main enggau adat asal dibantaika kena ngerami malam baka bebiau, betabuh, bepantun, ngajat, sereta main gagai enggau uti ti bukai. Pengerami belabuh kena lemai hari 31 Mei alai semua raban diri sebilik sama makai begempuru (family union).


Ba sekeda menua, pengawa tu dikumbai orang ‘besapi tuai.’ Raban ti pengabis biak dalam ruang bilik berengkah nyapi raban ti pengabis tuai lalu beturut datai ba iya ti pengabis biak nya empu. Tuju pengawa tu awakka tau gayu-guru baka iya ti tuai dalam ruang bilik nya. Tengah malam nya mega bisi ngirup ai pengayu. Udah nya ditangkanka mayuh main enggau adat asal kena ngerami malam datai ka hari tawas.





Chara ngintu Hari Gawai engka bisi lain mimit nitihka ai enggau bagi menua sebengkah enggau sebengkah. Ba alai genturung orang mayuh agi diau, bisi mega orang ngaduka pekit kumang enggau keling. Maya Hari Gawai mega orang sigi nerima penatai temuai ari pupu raban bansa ti datai ngabang. Mayuh bansa pemakai asal enggau iya ti baru (modern) dibantaika temuai. Tuak tauka ai pengayu enda tau tinggal laban kena ngamin ke adat, sida ke enda ngirup enggai enda meh nyulik mimit. Kelimpah ari nya, pengawa ke nembiak baka pekit ngajat, pekit ngasuh orang ketawa enggau pengawa ke becabut ke tiket bertuah pan selalu seiring enggau pengerami Gawai.





Bepun ari pengawa ke ngambi, ngelalu tauka niki ke pengabang, Pengawa Nebang Ranyai/Bungai selalu ia nyadi penutup pengerami Hari Gawai keterubah (1 Jun) lalu ditutup ninting taun ngena pengawa Ngiling Bidai, nanda ka tempoh begawai udah nyau, lalu berpun ari nya, pengawa ke nugal sereta betambak tau berengkah diperunding ke baru.



















Mayuh utai udah berubah, pia mega pengawa Gawai diatu enggau kelia. Ngambi ke banding, nebang Ranyai tau ka Bungai enti kelia enda tau sebarang, orang ke peturun raja berani, orang be udahbisi dengah tauka sida ke kering agi bulubaru tau ngereja pengawa tu. Tang diatu, barang orang tau ngetas buah Ranyai/Bungai, ya ke nebang diatu nya orang bisi, orang ke besai pangkat, ngambi ke banding sida ke megai orang, bala orang kereja perintah ke napi pengawa besai enggau bala sida YB. Kebuah pia, dini alai kitai ngiga orang ke udah bedengah kemaia ari tu? Kebuah bukai, ari pengawa ngetas/nebang Ranyai tauka Bungai tu salah sigi cara rumah panjai ngumpul duit (Fund) laban setiap siko ke ngetas buah Ranyai, sida diminta ngajat lalu udah ke ngetas sida lalu meri pemeri.

Kemaia hari tu mayuh bala anembiak udah bejalai sebelah nengeri ketegal kereja kena ngidupka ruang bilik diri empu. Ketegal kereja ti jauh di menua urang, sekeda ari bala kitai enda ulih mulaika diri enti maya Hari Gawai Dayak. Belanja deka mulaika diri ke menua asal tau mai ungkus beratus. Enti mayuh bala anak, belanja mulaika diri sebilik tentu tau mai ungkus beribu. Mayuh mega orang udah pindah diau mendam ba nengeri ketegal ngiga peluang dikena ngidupka diri ti lebih manah agi.

Dalam kandang 30 taun ti udah lalu, migration ari menua pesisir ngagai nengeri pan nyau makin nambah. Enti kitai mandingka enggau sida bansa Cina, tau dikira nyau deka abis menua ba dunya tu alai bala sida iya migrate ngiga peluang pengidup baru ba menua bukai. Nya alai ba mayuh menua, kitai bisi meda endur ti disebut orang China Town. Ba nengeri Johor mayuh bendar bala ari Sarawak udah bekereja sereta diau mendam ba genturung Bandaraya Johor Bahru dalam 30 taun ti udah lalu. Beduduk ari nya engka nadai salah enti perintah setuju meri nama endur nya dikumbai Sarawak Town tauka Iban Town. Nitihka banci ari perintah, enda kurang ari 40,000 (need to be verified) bala Iban bisi ditemu bekereja tauka diau mendam ba endur nya. Sekeda ari sida iya bekereja di Singapore tang berundang ari Johor Bahru tiap hari.

Chara ngintu Hari Gawai Dayak ba nengeri diatu pan nyau udah bisi jauh lain mimit ari ba rumah panjai. Kabuah pia laban pengidup diau di nengeri udah kena pangka gelumbang dunya nadai sempadan (globalization). Beduduk ari nya, adat asal mayuh pupu bansa nyau udah bechampur (assimilation). Ulih tauka enda adat asal lama baka pantun, ajat, timang, kuntau, sereta mayuh ti bukai dipeturunka datai ba tubuh sida anembiak rebak baru ila? Pekara tu ti balat bendar mai pengirau ati ba sida ti nyadi tuai raban bansa diatu.

Kati ku gaya Hari Gawai diintu anembiak rebak baru ila dalam timpuh 20-50 taun ari diatu - kati agi bisi sama ba senentang chara sida iya ngintu enggau beratika reti leka jaku Gawai ketegal balat bai ubah arus pemansang? Aram mih kitai sama ninjau pekara tu beserimbai enggau musin Gawai tu.

Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak 2010 - Arapka semua kitai gayu-guru, gerai-nyamai, chelap-lindap, lalu mujur dalam semua pengawa.

Biau Benak Sri Aman

Enti pasar Kuching enda ibuh dibanding,
laban chukup terang pandang jelas lampu kuning,
Enti sema hari lemai padam nyang panas manding,
dia kitai sama rindu sereta ransing,
mai diri sebilik ngerindang ati,
ngagai tebing ai Kuching,
ngiga penyamai pun pengelantang.


Enti menua miri enda ibuh ditusi,
endang tampak terbilang lanji-lanji,
alai temuai datai serata nengeri,
ninting bulan lebuh peremisi,
meda pengerami pengerinchah menua.


Menua Sri Aman sigi melan-melan,
alai benak mangka tiap ari ninting bulan,
keba tiap taun datai bulan chukup uan,
diatur Pesta Benak alun lelengai,
kena nyambut temuai datai ari rintis ai ngelan,
betabi jari bejabat tangan,
nanda ke basa kitai Iban,
nyambut bala temuai datai.


Lebuh maya pengawa bakanya,
lalu tepantai main Iban,
pekit keling pekit kumang,
bemain ka engkerunung betebah ka tawak,
bebukat ke silat penchak kuntau
pekit ngajat pekit bebiau asal Iban
kena merantingka suling dabung geman
kena ngetanka adat Iban
ngambi enda puntan lalu lelang.

Dikarang: Allen Charlie

Agi idup agi ngelaban

“Urang semina nemu aku udah mujur ngaga mintol lampu. Tang urang enda nemu udah 20000 kali aku puntan begiga ke chara bakani ka ngasuh mintul nya nyala.” Thomas Edison – urang keterubah ngaga mintol lampu.

“Aku ukai genius. Tang aku puh ngereja pengawa aku. Aku enda nemu berenti nguji. Nya asil ke dipeda kita diatu.” Albert Enstein. urang ke ngaga teori relativiti.

Dua iku urang ke pandai nya, enda mujur enggau mudah. Seduai enda badu-badu nguji sampai mujur.

Kitai bangsa Iban baka nya mega. Kitai digaga Petara enggau tubuh murus enggau untak ke sama pemerat enggau bansa bukai.

Lebuh enda mujur kitai ukai puntan, tang puntan nya empu siti singkang pejalai kitai nuju pemujur. Anang badu nguji. Tersungkur kitai angkat baru. Anang takut salah. Ari salah udah ngajar kitai utai ke betul.

Agi idup agi ngelaban.. jaku tu anang ke semina disebut ke aja. Kitai iban mesti bepegai ba prinsip idup tu, nya baru kitai ulih maju.

Astronaut in Sibu

With the level of activity that is close to zero on this blog, you'd probably think that I've been pretty much like Nobita - sleep - doing nothing.

On the contrary, I've been extremely busy with work. I've been so busy that I don't even have time to wipe my butt. I miss blogging extremely and I hope to be able to do it consistently over a longer stretch of time. And I did, I've stole my time to online purposely for this post. This is something cool as I got excited news to share with you all.

- An Astronaut is in Sibu! Yesterday!



So here is the story about yesterday...

This morning, I met the Astronaut! Somewhere around Farley when I was about to have my breakfast.

It was so surprising me, because the newspaper didn't say that the Astronaut is coming to Sibu!

That answered the question why some of the road in Sibu has been blocked because they want to secure the road as the Malaysian Hero is here in Sibu. Somemore, with the lightspeed of the astronaut rocket, blocked the road would be the safest way to keep Sibuans out of danger.

But this time, the astronaut is not alone.

He'd being accompanied by some of his gangs whose I thought would be the next 3rd, 4th or maybe 5th Malaysian Astronaut. They wore the same uniform, looked smart as always...

To reconfirm, I zoom in.......


Oh my......
Confirmed! Got the Rocket!

The astronaut also sell the Angkasawan newspaper. I can't read But I saw the picture got the PM, some of the government's top officers, and the Malaysia flag as well.

Very patriotic, must be something like, to educate and encourage the Malaysian to be the next candidate for the Malaysian Moon advanture. To make Malaysia Proud!

At the corner, I heard two vaterans talked to each other, as I'm so not busybody type of person, I could only catched few words. They said, actually, the Rocket has been exist since 1960s! So I've learned something new today!

People keep on coming. I bet they want to see and shake hand and take picture with the Astronaut! As I'm not really a big fan of him, I steps aside for those, who came for him.

On my way to Wisma Sanyan, a 15 minutes journey took me about 30 minutes to reach the destiny as most of the major roads were closed.

I think, the Astronaut will go to Sanyan later.



But... some people said, Prime Minister will be at Sanyan tonight! So, its not the Astronaut, but PM himself!

So I asked myself. What is happening? Sibu now on TV. Its like the whole world eyes on Sibu now. First Astronaut, and now PM. At the same place at the same time but different spot.

What are they plan to do? Are they going to turn Sibu to Utah huh??

Who knows....

IBAN HISTORY IN BRIEF

The Ibans are a branch of the Dayak peoples of Borneo.In Malaysia,most Ibans are located in Sarawak,a small portion in Sabah and some in west Malaysia. They were formerly known during the colonial period by the British as Sea Dayaks. Ibans were renowned for practising headhunting and tribal/territorial expansion. A long time ago, being a very strong and successful warring tribe, the Ibans were a very feared tribe in Borneo. They speak the Iban language.

Today, the days of headhunting and piracy are long gone and in has come the modern era of globalization and technology for the Ibans. The Iban population is concentrated in Sarawak, Brunei, and in the West Kalimantan region of Indonesia. They live in longhouses called rumah panjai. Most of the Iban longhouses are equipped with modern facilities such as electricity and water supply and other facilities such as (tar sealed) roads, telephone lines and the internet. Younger Ibans are mostly found in urban areas and visit their hometowns during the holidays. The Ibans today are becoming increasingly urbanised while (surprisingly) retaining most of their traditional heritage and culture.

The origin of the name Iban is a mystery, although many theories exist. During the British colonial era, the Ibans were called Sea Dayaks. Some believe that the word Iban was an ancient original Iban word for people or man. The modern-day Iban word for people or man is mensia, a slightly modified Malay loan word of the same meaning (manusia).

The Ibans were the original inhabitants of Borneo Island. Like the other Dayak tribes, they were originally farmers, hunters, and gatherers. Not much is known about Iban people before the arrival of the Western expeditions to Asia. Nothing was ever recorded by any voyagers about them.

The Ibans were unfortunately branded for being pioneers of headhunting. Headhunting among the Ibans is believed to have started when the lands occupied by the Ibans became over-populated. In those days, before the arrival of western civilization, intruding on lands belonging to other tribes resulted in death. Confrontation was the only way of survival.

In those days, the way of war was the only way that any Dayak tribe could achieve prosperity and fortune. Dayak warfare was brutal and bloody, to the point of ethnic cleansing. Many extinct tribes, such as the Seru and Bliun, are believed to have been assimilated or wiped out by the Ibans. Tribes like the Bukitan, who were the original inhabitants of Saribas, are believed to have been assimilated or forced northwards as far as Bintulu by the Ibans. The Ukits were also believed to have been nearly wiped out by the Ibans.

The Ibans started moving to areas in what is today’s Sarawak around the 15th century. After an initial phase of colonising and settling the river valleys, displacing or absorbing the local tribes, a phase of internecine warfare began. Local leaders were forced to resist the tax collectors of the sultans of Brunei. At the same time, Malay influence was felt, and Iban leaders began to be known by Malay titles such as Datu (Datuk), Nakhoda and Orang Kaya.

In later years, the Iban encountered the Bajau and Illanun, coming in galleys from the Philippines. These were seafaring tribes who came plundering throughout Borneo. However, the Ibans feared no tribe, and fought the Bajaus and Illanuns. One famous Iban legendary figure known as Lebor Menoa from Entanak, near modern-day Betong, fought and successfully defeated the Bajaus and Illanuns. It is likely that the Ibans learned seafaring skills from the Bajau and the Illanun, using these skills to plunder other tribes living in coastal areas, such as the Melanaus and the Selakos. This is evident with the existence of the seldom-used Iban boat with sail, called the bandung. This may also be one of the reasons James Brooke, who arrived in Sarawak around 1838, called the Ibans Sea Dayaks. For more than a century, the Ibans were known as Sea Dayaks to Westerners.

Religion, Culture and Festival

The Ibans were traditionally animist, although the majority are now Christian, some of them Muslim and many continue to observe both Christian and traditional ceremonies, particularly during marriages or festivals.

Significant festivals include the rice harvesting festival Gawai Dayak, the main festival for the Ibans.Other festivals include the bird festival Gawai Burong and the spirit festival Gawai Antu. The Gawai Dayak festival is celebrated every year on the 1st of June, at the end of the harvest season, to worship the Lord Sempulang Gana. On this day, the Ibans get together to celebrate, often visiting each other. The Iban traditional dance, the ngajat, is performed accompanied by the taboh and gendang, the Ibans’ traditional music. Pua Kumbu, the Iban traditional cloth, is used to decorate houses. Tuak, which is originally made of rice, is a wine used to serve guests. Nowadays, there are various kinds of tuak, made with rice alternatives such as sugar cane, ginger and corn.

The Gawai Burong (the bird festival) is held in honour of the War God, Singalang Burong. The name Singalang Burong literally means “Singalang the Bird”. This festival is initiated by a notable individual from time to time and hosted by individual longhouses. The Gawai Burong originally honoured warriors, but during more peaceful times evolved into a healing ceremony. The recitation of pantun (traditional chants by poets) is a particularly important aspect of the festival.

For the majority of Ibans who are Christians, some Chrisitian festivals such as Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and other Christian festivals are also celebrated. Most Ibans are devout Christians and follow the Christian faith strictly.

Despite the difference in faiths, Ibans of different faiths do help each other during Gawais and Christmas. Differences in faith is never a problem in the Iban community. The Ibans believe in helping and having fun together. This is ironic for a tribe who once waged war with others due to differences.

Musical & Dancing Heritage

Iban music is percussion-oriented. The Iban have a musical heritage consisting of various types of agung ensembles – percussion ensembles composed of large hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed gongs which act as drones without any accompanying melodic instrument. The typical Iban agung ensemble will include a set of engkerumungs (small agungs arranged together side by side and played like a xylophone), a tawak (the so-called ‘bass’), a bendai (which acts as a snare) and also a set of ketebung (a single sided drum/percussion).

The Iban as well as the Kayan also play an instrument resembling the flute called ‘Sape’. The Sape is the official musical instrument for the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is played similarly to the way rock guitarists play guitar solos, albeit a little slower, but not as slow as blues. One example of Iban traditional music is the taboh.

The Ibans perform a unique dance called the ngajat. It serves many purposes depending on the occasion. During Gawais, it is used to entertain the people who in the olden days enjoy graceful ngajats as a form of entertainment. Iban men and women have different styles of ngajat. The ngajat involves a lot of precise body-turning movements. The ngajat for men is more aggressive and depicts a man going to war, or a bird flying (as a respect to the Iban god of war, Singalang Burong). The women’s form of ngajat consists of soft, graceful movements with very precise body turns. Each ngajat is accompanied by the taboh or the body.

Branches Of Iban Peoples

Although Ibans generally speak a dialect which is mutually intelligible, they can be divided into different branches which are named after the geographical areas where they reside.

Majority of Ibans who live around the Lundu and Samarahan region are called Sebuyaus.
Ibans who settled in areas in Serian district (places like Kampung Lebor, Kampung Tanah Mawang & others) are called Remuns. They may be the earliest Iban group to migrate to Sarawak.
Ibans who originated from Sri Aman area are called Balaus.
Ibans who come from Betong, Saratok & parts of Sarikei are called Saribas.
The Lubok Antu Ibans are classed by anthropologist as Ulu Ai Ibans.
Ibans from Undup are called Undup Ibans. Their dialect is somewhat a cross between the Ulu Ai dialect & the Balau dialect.
Ibans living in areas from Sarikei to Miri are called Rajang Ibans. They are the majority group of the Iban people. They can be found along the Rajang River, Sibu, Kapit, Belaga, Kanowit, Song, Sarikei, Bintangor, Bintulu and Miri. Their dialect is somewhat similar to the Ulu Ai dialect.

In Kalimantan (Indonesian part of Borneo), Iban people are even more diverse. The Kantu, Air Tabun, Semberuang, Sebaru’ , Bugau, Mualang & along with many other groups are classed as “Ibanic people” by anthropologist. They can be related to the Iban either by the dialect they speak or their custom, ritual & their way of life.

It has happened

It has happened,
in every corner of the earth,
where the few eat bread,
and the rest eat sand.

It has happened,
where the few clothed velvet,
sleep in palaces,
the rest go naked,
squeezed into shacks.

It has happened,
the hidden hand appear,
spilling the blood of the poor,
to cling on to power.

It has happened,
when the kings turned bad,
the citizen goes mad,
the world, sad.

Good Friday: Old history ends with the cross

Today is Good Friday, to rememberance of the day where Jesus died for your sins and my sins.

Good Friday is the mirror held up by Jesus so that we can see ourselves in all our stark reality, and then it turns us to that cross and to his eyes and we hear these words, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." That'sus! And so we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. We see in that cross a love so amazing so divine that it loves us even when we turn away from it, or spurn it, or crucify it. There is no faith in Jesus without understanding that on the cross we see into the heart of God and find it filled with mercy for the sinner whoever he or she may be.

Christ died He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to the soldiers, and His mother to John. But to His disciples, who had left all to follow Him, He left not silver or gold, but something far better - His PEACE!

Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the resurrection.

Utai ke dipilih nuan saritu, nentu ke pejalai nuan ila.

Endang sigi gaya ripih pengawa bala kitai ninting taun, baka ke beumai, udah nunu, lalu betambak/nugal, padi mansau kitai ngetau. Pia mega enggau pengawa bala sida ke sekula, baka bala kitai kelia maia ke agi sekula suba mega, udah pemutus peresa SPM tauka STPM pansut, sigi bekedebus meh bala keulu-keili begiga ke jalai kena ngemansang ke langkah diri.

Jalai sigi semampai bisi ba depan mata kitai, utai ke ditanya, jalai ni ka dititih kitai; utai ke dikeirau, betul ke enda jalai nya?

Minggu ke udah aku bisi betemu enggau aya aku Cikgu Menjang, dia kami duai lalu ngirup. Udah ke bekenang ke pemutus peresa bala kaban belayan sereta nanya ke pemutus peresa menyadi aku dia ia lalu madah ke bisi sida ari rumah panjai alih Melugu bisi datai ngagai opis ia sereta betanya ke bakani ke gaya ka mutar ke anak ia ti alang-alang pemutus peresa, ka dikumbai enda manah, manah gak nya; dikumbai jai, enda gak.

Nitih sereta beteladan ke pemutus peresa anembiak tu tadi, kira ke ulih tauka "layak" ia tu masuk ngagai Politeknik, ambis nadai tau nguji ko kitai. Tang alit ati, orang ke datai ka ninga ke penemu tu tadi nyau nemu agi gak mantai ke penemu diri.

"MASTERSKILL" manah ko ia. Senang ngiga pengawa enti masuk belajar nyadi misi ba dia. Duit ulih gak minjau dia (PTPTN). Nya alai, lalu puntan dia meh laban orang ke ngempu anak udah madah ke ni jalai ke ngena.

Nyadi aku saritu ka bekunsi enggau bala ke bukai entang pemesai reti "Utai ke dipilih kitai saritu, nentu ke pekalai kitai ila".

Dunya kemaia tu nadai sigi utai ke garenti. Dua tiga degree dikemisi bedau tentu nuan tau bulih pengawa enti utai ke diambi nuan maia ke belajar ba Universiti nya tadi ukai kursus ke "specific" tauka kursus ke dipinta market pengawa baka ke saritu. Baka ke diatu, 2 kursus pelajar ke sigi garenti kerja udah ke abis belajar nya tadi kursus dalam bidang "Perubatan" enggau "Perguruan".

Garenti tu enda mesti, garenti tu "Bersyarat".

Laban umpan "Guarenteed Job" tu, bala sekeda lepa lalu tama dalam bubu.

Ngambi ke banding, enti nuan ka nyadi misi. Ngambi ari jalai ke ngena. Abis SPM, minya Staff Nurse tauka Jururawar Masyarakat ba Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia.

Nama kebuah pia? Nama kebuah enda ari Kolej swasta ke bisi meri kursus "Nursing"? Enda manah pia?

Kebuah ia laban.

1. KKM bisi "recruit" misi ke badu lalu kereja terus enggau perintah. Kuota misi ari KKM graduat ninting taun chukup mayuh, kira ke chukup kena ngisi pengurang ba sepital.

2. Enti agi bisi ke kosong, sida ia dulu merening IPTA (UiTM, Unimas etc) ke bisi meri kursus "Nursing". Kebuah ia, IPTA sigi didulu ke urang ari IPTS.

3. Enti agi bisi laluh ke kusong, baru orang merening nuan. Tang, sebedau nuan diambi orang bekereja, dia nuan mesti interview dulu, enda baka orang ke bukai laban baka ke udah dipeda, ba sepital, sida misi ke sama "practice", sida misi ke belajar ba KKM jauh manah ari misi ke belajar ba IPTS-IPTS.

Bah, dini alai nuan ka kereja? Ba Hospital Swasta? Kuching Specialist (KPJ co Group) bisi recruit misi sida empu. Normah bisi recruit misi sida empu. Nama penyadi? Duit udah mayuh kena belajar. Utang pan mayuh melit punggung enti nuan ngambi PTPTN.

Berunding dua tiga kali sebedau mutus ke diri ka nitih jalai ke sigi ni. Enti enda gak ulih terunding kediri, tanya bala ke udah dulu ngerembang menua, tanya sida ke nemu, tanya bala cikgu, tanya sapa-sapa ke ka ditanya nuan. Ari nya tadi nuan manding ke utai ke dipadah siko-siko. Udah nya baru nuan ngaga pemutus diri.

The day I kiseed your cheek

When I was small, and Christmas trees were tall,
we used to love one another used to play.
Don't ask me why, but time has passed us by,
someone else moved out to far away.

The apple tree that grew for you and me,
I watched the apples falling one by one.
And as I recall the moment of them all,
the day I kissed your cheek and you were mine.

Now we are tall, and Christmas trees are small,
and you don't ask the time of day.
But you and I, our love will never die,
two become one in the First of May.

Penatai Penti Pemali

Nunda ku cherita tuai, di Pulau Borneo tu menya semina dua iko melaki bini aja, iya nya burung Pung Kampung seduai bini iya ke tau ngajih semua kayu buah bebungai lalu bebuah.

Kadir Umbat dalam bup iya Pong Kapong ( BLB, 1974 ) bisi mega ngenang pasal kebuah burung nya nemu asal meri mandi. Kebuah pia, laban bisi penanggul terubah seduai meri mandi annak seduai iya empu. Nyadi lebuh baru meri anak seduai mandi ba batang ai, lebuh baru nyungga anak, kaki anak mit nya sepiak lalu ditagup ikan juak. Kaki iya lalu putus. Ari nya tadi kaki anak burung nya mina tinggal sepiak aja. Nyau kelama, tapa kaki nya tumbuh baru ,tang meh pandak mimit.

Udah bekau penusah kaki anak seduai ke kena tagup ikan juak, Pung Kapung enggau bini iya lalu mai anak seduai rari ngagai Pulau Sumatera. Nya alai bala ke tinggal ba Pulau Borneo tussah amat ati ditinggal sida laban nadai orang tau ngajih ka kayu buah ngasuh iya bebingai lalu bebuah. Nyau kelama udah sida ke rari ngagai Pulau Sumatera, semua utai idup di Pulau Sumatera pedia amat laban kayu tak nadai bebuah. Laban nadai orang bukai kelimpah ari Pung Kampung enggau bini iya ke tau ngajih ka kayu buah berbuah, nya alai semua sida setuju ka seduai melaki bini nya diambi pulai ari Pulau Sumatera. Taja pia, sida dulu betalat sapa ke patut diasuh ngambi seduai pulai ngagai Pulau Borneo.

Ikan ai tabar lalu nyaut madah sida enda ulih meraka tasik. Ular pan nyaut madah sida nadai kaki lalu enda tersemerai ka ai tasik. Menarat enggau Bandau madah sida enda makai buah, lalu nadai kebuah sida patut diasuh ngambi.

“ Kami endang enda makai buah, lalu nadai kebuah kami begunaka Pung Kampung. Gaga meh enti kita mati, laban kami lalu makai but kita,” ku seduai. Ninga jako seduai munyi nya,bala mauh diak pedis magang ati ngagai Menarat seduai Bandau sereta lalu nyumpah seduai iya.

“ Kita menarat enda tau niki kayu, enti bansa kita bisi niki kayu, kita labuh,” pia ku jaku sumpah orang mayuh. Sumpah nya agi bisa sampai ke saritu. Bala jelu bukai nyaut madah sida enda ulih meraka tasik. Bansa burung pan nyaut ga madah sida amat tau terebai tang tasik patut diperaka nya kelalu besai lalu nadai alai sida inggap.

Udahnya baru bansa indu utai nyaut. Ku Kesulai, “ Kami duai Bebari tu meh dulu nguji ngambi pulai Pung Kampung enggau bini iya. Udah nguji nya baru nemu ulih enggau enda.” Bala ke gempuru dia sama setuju. Kesulai enggau Bebari lalu mupuk terebai. Nyau beberapa hari seduai pan datai ba tebing tasik. Nasit bisi runding, lebuh meda papung batang,seduai lalu inggap dia. Majak rarat meh papung batangnya, siang malam petang. Nyau beminggu, datai meh papung batang nya ba tebing Pulau Sumatera.

Mayuh dah alai seduai betanya, nya baru seduai betemu enggau Kusing ke madah alai Pung Kapung diau, iya nya puchuk ragai tebelian. Seduai lalu terebai ngiga ngagai endur nya lalu mujur tetemu ka Pung Kapung. Tang burung nya madah sida enggai agi pulai ngagai Pulau Borneo taja pan anak seduai ka timpang kaki nya nyau amat bujang. Taja pia Pung Kapung madah bini iya bisi ninggal tiga igi telu ba punggu kayu temesu ba tucung Bukit Kinabalu.

“ Kita tau ngasuh burung Tuk Tarau meram telu nya.” Ku bini Pung Kapung.

Ningga nya seduai lalu beguai angkat pulai. Datai ba Pulau Borneo, lalu madah berita nya. Seninjik endar telu tiga igi nya bedau manah nadai dikacau utai. Nyadi nganti Tuk Tarau ke meram telu, bansa mensia lalu diasuh matak aum sereta ngempuru semua utai enseput baru laban deka nitah raja bansa sebengkah-sebengkah.

Laban menua nya nadai jelu singa, nya alai bala jelu nitah Aji Bulan nyadi raj tang bepun ari iya ke mai beban perau lalu ujung-ujung ambi iya nyadi kerituk pending, nya alai iya lalu tebuai jadi temuai. Jelu bukai lalu manchak iya enggau kentut sida. Nya alai Aji Bulan balat bau tengung. Sida milih burung Pipi Awung jadi Raja burung lalu ngangau iya enggau nama Burung Raja. Bulu iya burik. Orang lalu milih burung Kunchit seduai Kempat Tiang jadi semata-mata semua burung. Seduai selalu mintih sebarang sapa ke ngelanggar adat, nyengkaum Menaul ke selalu minta diri makai malam.

Manuk pan bisi ga minta diri nyadi Raja, laban gamal sida sigat,sereta landik mengkukuk. Tang ku bala mayuh, “ Kita manuk enda tau nyadi Raja,laban kita enda ulih ngidupka diri empu, enti enda ditupi anak mensia. Ninga bantah nya, manuk lalu terebai ngerencah semua puchuk pala orang mayuh lalu pegari tai manchak tudah Munsang.

Orang mayuh lalu nyumpah manuk,”Enti bala anak mensia renga, pedis pala tauka jai mimpi salah hari, biau kita enggau manuk ngambika iya tabar laar.”

Nyadi Munsang tu ensepi udah dipanchak Manuk enggau tai, lalu bejaku madah sida Munsang enda tau meda manuk, laban sida lalu deka nangkap sereta diempa matak. Bala ular lalu milih Tedung jadi Raja Ular. Enda mukaii-mukai laban ke gali garing-garing semak kaki anak mensia, iku iya lalu kena indik mensia. Dia deh iya lalu mantuk tumbit nembiak nya. Meda bakanya mensia lalu nyumpah Tedung.

Ku iya, “ Sejeman dunya tu ila, kita Tedung enda tau meda anak mensia, laban enti kita bisi meda, tujuh hari udah bekau nya, kita enda tulihka pemakai.”

Nya munyi sumpah anak mensia enggau Ular Tedung, lalu nyentuk ka seharitu, semadi iya suntuk, nya baru bisi dipeda kitai. Semah dititah nyadi Raja Ikan. Udah Semah kena pilih, bala anak mensia lalu nanya penemu bala mayuh, “ Kati ku Ikan Juak ke nangkap kaki anak Pung Kapung, bisi penyalah utai bakanya?”

Semua bala ke dia bela madah pengawa Ikan Juak nya salah. Sida lalu nyumpah Ikan Juak, “ Nya alai ari diatu nyentuk ke sejeman kita nguan dunya tu, bala suku juru kita enda tau makai buah, kita mati.” Sumpah nya nyerangkung ikan Adung mega laban nya sida sekaban, mina enda sama kengkang. Sampai ka seharitu dua bansa ikan nya mmali makai buah. Ninga munyi nyak, Ikan Juak bisi gak nyaut mimit. Sida ngaku sallah sereta lalu meri jaku ajar mimit pasal jalai meri anak mandi. Ikan Juak nya madah sekeda adat enggau jalai terubah meri anak mandi ba batang ai tauka ba sungai.

Ka tanda anak mit nya lelaki, piring enda tau enda engkah ba kelingkang,lalu sayap manuk mesti ditali enggau ubung mirah sereta tanchang ba gansai lalu entak ba tisi tebing ai awakka bala ikan nemu nya anak lelaki. Ari nya, bala sida ikan lalu tau nyumpah ngambika anak mit nya udah tuai ila tau serang, tau pandang, tau kayau, tau pulau.

Kena nandaka anak mit nya anak indu, Ikan Juak nya ngajar ngasuh naka mensia ngena leletan alai Nanchang ka kelingkang enggau bulu sayap manuk. Sida lalu tau nyumpah amak mit nyangambika iya tau nakar, tau gaar, tau ngebat tau ngikat.

Anak mensia lalu diajar Ikan Juak ngasuh sida nyampi lebuh meri anak mit mandi, ngangau bala Raja Genali, Raja Lelabi, Raja Ikan, Raja Gemian, Raja Semah, Raja Tapah. Tu batang leka sampi meri anak mandi tang tau nambah enggau sampi berpinta sereta ngerintai bala tuai, bala petara aki, petara ini. Tembu besampi, nya baru muai piring siti ngagai ai, ambi ka tasih ai reti iya.

Lepas nya baru tau nabur ke beras kuning enggau letup ngicaka aji jadi tabar laar. Orang ke nyampi tadi lalu mantap ai enggau duku, ngambika ai nya enda bias.

“ Udah nya baru tau munuh manuk tauka babi ari ulu indu ke nyungga anak mit nya meri mandi. Darah nya tau nyadi ka terabai anak mit, ngasuh iya taan tubuh, panjai umur, gayu guru sereta jauh pejalai enti iya lelaki,” ku iya.

Ikan Juak pan ngajar ngasuh lebuh anak nya diturun ari rumah, indu ke mai iya nya mesti belalau ka pua kumbu, awakka iya tegap kaki, tegap jari. Lebuh pulai ari ai, asuh duduk dulu ba setawak, ngambika iya teguh baka tembaga. Udah tembu nya, seduai mindai tauka sebarang sapa ke mai anak mit nya tau dibiau enggau manuk lalu tau ditatap enggau ai penyelap ngichaka iya chelap embap gerai nyamai, nadai apa, nadai nama.

Ku Ikan Juak, enti semua nya udah dititihka magang, sida tetap enda saru ka anak mit nya, lalu enda betangkapka kaki iya sengapa.

Aum pan nyau abis. Nyadi telu tuga igi ke diperam Tuk Turau nya pan nyau mechah magang. Orang gaga magang laban bisi peturun Pung Kapung ke tau ngajih kayu buah ngasuh bebuah. Tang taja pia, sida tiga nya pandak kaki sepiak magang. Kebuah pia, laban lebuh indai sida betelu, apai seduai indai sama bisi megai kaki naka seduai ke timpang udah bekau kena tegam Ikan Juak. Kaki burung nya agi mengkang pandak sepiak nyentuk ka sari tu.

Ari nya meh kebuah bala kitai Iban nemu bepanti pemali sebarang utai gaga, sebarang utai pegai lebuh maya bini ngandung. Nyadi penti pemali nya agi mengkang dikingat kitai bansa sereta ditith sampai ka seharitu.

Cream of the cream is NOT a cream

We’ve been told that the cream of the cream is the best of all; the cream of the cream is the best among the best. But, as I grow older, I noticed that its not always like the way it is. So, this is my personal views on the new meaning of “The cream of the cream”, In the context of the world today.

1. The cream of the cream is the cream of the cream.
2. The cream of the cream is just a cream.
3. The cream of the cream is Not a cream.

Why cream? Previously, we Malaysian live in a very unhealthy ways of eating habit. We want everything to be sweet and creamy. The creamer its goes, the better it taste. So that’s why we prefer “Teh Tarik” compare to Chinese Tea. So, the “Teh Tarik” is the cream of the all tea.

But in the context of healthy lifestyle, the cream of the cream is not as good as its taste because it was the kind donor of all disease. So that’s why the government has put on a lot of initiative to overcome this problem.
And the initiative proposed works perfectly as the people now understand that the sweet and creamy thingy brings a whole of permanents badness compare to the temporary satisfaction. The people now consume less sugar than ever, and the milk now comes with “Unfull Cream” milk.

Unfortunately, the good and healthy lifestyle of say “NO to creamy” effect the whole Malaysian in a good and a bad ways. The good ways is that, we consume less sugar and it contributes to minimizing the conquer of diabetics on Malaysian.

While the bad way is that, when the concept itself being misunderstood by some people. And that’s why I came with my three points of view toward the meaning of “The cream of the cream”.

- The cream of the cream is the cream of the cream explained by the 2009 Local University Medical Degree graduates. Where in 2004 (1st and the last trial), the minimum requirement of entering Medical studies is 4 Flat, which means perfect, for both Matriculation and STPM students.

- The cream of the cream is just a cream is when the government lowering down the minimum requirement of Medical Degree intake to 3.3 in the years after that. Where, the 4 Flat students have no different with the 3.3 students as they both may enter the same courses, provided they’re lucky enough.

The cream of the cream is NOT a cream is explained by the recent news of University intake, where:

The cream (3.3 student) being offered a Medical Degree.
And,

The cream of the cream (4 Flat student) being rejected of the same course and being offered a course of Fine Art.

So now, how can we say it based on the merit alone?