Shanti & Sathis' Engagement

It was my first time attending an engagement. It's an engagement held in aHindu temple where everything was done symbolically. I entered the temple receiving some blessings from Shanti's sister and sweets from her mother.
It was quite a long ceremony and yet can be interesting as well on how it was done. You may be lucky to be invited by one of your close friends to come over and watch. I enjoyed the whole event now only because of the symbolism but also the colours around it. For my eyes, plenty of potential photographs to be taken.


Shanti was one of the few people I knew since I started working in the company. We were from the same batch during that year and been close not only as neighbours but also as a good friend in and out of work. Being a person who's dedicated to her work, no doubt she'd be dedicated towards her family as well. Sathis, a senior to us had been eyeing for her for years ever since she was a trainee. It took a lot of courage and a few encouragements(and hints) for him to approach to her during the first year.

It was rather funny to observe from far and how the process was going on. All in all, I was happy for them that they found each other.





Congatulations to you both! I'll be looking forward for your wedding early next year. :)

A death that shocked the world

I was driving to work early in the morning at before 6am in order to leave early from work by 4.30pm. Right before passing the usual toll at KESAS highway, the news from the radio announced Michael Jackson's death due to heart attack. I immediately smsed to a few of my family and friends about it.

A few flashbacks came when I was much younger enjoyed most of his music. The family and I would watch the Grammies just to watch MJ taking his trophies and giving off his speeches. Funny that we were happy as well for his winnings that time. Perhaps after the controversies and growing out of the interest of MJ, I have not much interest in his updates and personal life. Although, I do not know him in person... I can only say his songs were remarkable. Such a gifted person and such a loss to all of us.

Lansaran

Remember when you're kid that you'd always wanted to jump on the bed or owned a trampolin if you can afford it? If you're a Murut, probably you'll be one of those lucky children who'd get the chance of jumping on it all day long. This trampolin like floor which is built in a house-like hall is generally called as "lansaran". The word lansaran itself can be called as a a type of dance where at the same time a group or a person(depending how the competition is held) will jump - called as "maningkawot" to get the kinkilat (prize).
During the Kaamatan festival at Hongkod Koisan, your dream of jumping on a giant trampolin (appx 81 square feed in size) will come true. It'll take a lot of stamina and cooperation between a big group of friends to get yourself jumped up towards the roof.

Tadau Kaamatan

Tadau Kaamatan is to celebrate thanksgiving to the Bambarayon/Bambahazon(paddy spirit) as to show how grateful and respect to Kinoingan(God) for a very good harvest.
In tradition, it's celebrated during the first full moon after the paddy was harvested and it's celebrated within the village or county.
Now, this may be just a memory or a performance for tourists since more KDM(Kadazandusun and cultureMurut) have converted to Christianity & Islam that it's not really encouraged to participate this kind of ceremony.

It's a pity that there's not much documentation or documentary related to our dying culture and tradition in Sabah. I hope one day, I may have the courage to pack up my camera and a notebook to venture out in Sabah to do this.

I miss home...

I just met my cousin at Equatorial Hotel, Bangi last night as she was on her business trip and stayed for the night. It was a really nice feeling to be with one of my close relative eventhough I only met them once a year since I started working.

Constantly, I've been thinking about the merry making on the Bosi Hill, the peacefulness back in Tuaran and the constant laughs I had when I walked around the town observing the people around.

I even missed the Mee Tuaran which was sold next to the town library and the meals cooked by my mum for dinner.

The nearby beach where I went with my dad would try to fish(with no avail) and collect some clams to eat with belacan.

There are a lot of reasons to stay back at home but at the same time, there are several reasons as well that I have to come back to KL. 1 week had passed after my return and I really felt the long duration of time. It seems to be ticking rather slow apparently.

Pulau Kapas, Terengganu

It's a one day trip to Pulau Kapas with Chris and Carol where it took us 15 minutes by speedboat from Marang. Pulau Kapas which means Cotton Island was attributed from it's white(and soft) sandy beaches in this island. Probably, in the past that island really lived up to its name until more and more people keeps coming in for the holidays. Like most virgin islands, it'll always be clean and beautiful for us.

Once it's being promoted, people from most parts of the world would come over to see this enchanting island. My only fear is was that will it ever be the same again when I come back? Most probably not, as you know how most Malaysians have a lack sense of maintainence.
As long as the money keeps coming in, it's fine. Let 'nature' do the rest.

Everything in Pulau Kapas was simply beautiful and peaceful. We were lucky that there not many people around because it's not the holiday season. I wish we could stay longer but Carol and I had to return to KL on the next day. Although it's a few hours trip walking around the island, it was well worth it.

Partly, it reminded me of my childhood years when my parents used to bring me and my brother to the beach to play. I really missed those moments as I looked passed the sea and waves crashing agains the sand. For every family, it's well worth the trip for everyone, especially children. :)

Kenyir Lake, Terengganu

Since young I was advised not to get close to any waters possible. I could still remember when I wanted to take diving license with my friends years back until he said, "Man is not meant to born and breath in water, and so it's dangerous for them to get close to it". The conversation ended as I know it's a losing game to pursue my intention in diving.

So, Kenyir also involved with a lot of water. There's nothing much to be afraid off because it's just a dam built in separate places to hold up large amounts of water which turned it into a very big lake. Much bigger than Singapore, I presume.

My personal advise to anyone who wants to go boating, fishing etc... don't use the hotel's services.

Take the time to walk down and out from the resort and get the best deal from the local boatmen in order to travel around the lake. It's best to travel either early in the morning or evening for photography.

We managed to go to one of the island that had a waterfall(I couldn't recall the name). Climbing up and looking down below definitely looked dangerous. Being someone who was terrified with heights, I had to gather up my courage and crawled up to the side of the waterfall with my friends. If not because of friends, I would had just sit under a tree and just watch. Being up there, it was not so hard after all.

Another note to take, bring your own meals. The meals provided by the hotel was very expensive - 1 fried rice would cost you RM23 per plate. We managed to eat with the staff with less than RM4 perplate. The food was not satisfying enough and we ended up eating again(1 cup of Maggie) in the hotel together. It was one of my best moments with the gang. :)

Batu Buruk, Terengganu

I never thought that I would enjoy the beaches since I myself lived not far away from it before I started working. I really took things for granted as I used to study next to the beach during my pre-university for a year. Most of the time, I only focused on the negative side of life and didn't realise the 'therapy' was just down the road.

We could easily walked there in half an hour but because of the drizzle at 6.00 in the morning, we decided to drive instead.

The reason we went out so early was to catch the sunrise since it was rare to see it around the city. One can imagine its beauty when the rays of sunshine touched the tip of the sea's horizon.

It was amazing to see the sun rose up little by little with the changes of its hues.
It looked as if layers of chiffon unfolded itself into a scene of daylight.
Waking up in the morning was really worth it.

One will never expect things comes to life from darkness until you're here to witness the boundary between the end of the night and the beginning of the day.

It was a time as well when the fishermen would go out to the sea with their wives and kids accompanying them. They were friendly enough to talk to us and if you're lucky enough, you can join them to fish out into the sea. Unless you're not worried about being sea sick.