A Different Perspective of Life

During my last week in Bario, I was paired with Tepuq Do Ayu with Jia Qi. Working with Tepuq Do Ayu was quite a different experience. This was mainly because nearly her whole family is involved with the paddy work and planting of trees, fruits and vegetables.

Tepuq Do Ayu's pineapple, tapioca and daun isip plantation just behind her house

In Bario, when you complete Form 3 (usually by the age of 15), you have to leave Bario to study in other towns because the school in Bario only teaches up to Form 3. Which is also why in Bario you do not see that many young people. But with Tepuq Do Ayu, her daughter, Sinah (means aunty in Kelabit) Catherine, her son-in-law, Tama (means uncle in Kelabit) Sirin Peran and grandson, Nigel, are all there with her.

The really interesting thing is that Tama Sirin and his family decided to return to Bario after staying in Miri because they did not like how everything was money-oriented in the city. In Bario, you work for what you want; you either plant or hunt or fish what you want, unlike being limited by money in the city.

Tama Sirin and his family are really forward thinking in my opinion. He tried to plant different kinds of fruits to see if they will grow well with the weather and soil in Bario. He also planted Agatis and Meranti trees so that in the future, his son can use the wood to build his own house or anything else necessary.

Agatis Tree

The hut built by Tepuq Do Ayu's son-in-law, wet kitchen included

Here’s a typical work day with Tepuq Do Ayu:

We meet her at around 8.30am in the morning and walk to her hut situated by her paddy fields.

 

The shortcut to her hut

We then sat down, drank some coffee/tea while snacking on her delicious pineapple jam or some fried fritters. We just enjoyed the view and chatted about things.

Loving that pineapple jam!

Snacks before work, yes please!

Jia Qi, Siow Werm, our testing tourist, Tepuq Do Ayu & family; you won't be able to enjoy this anywhere else

By 10am we would have started work, either clearing the fields or planting paddy.

We planted the paddy (middle) and cleared the field (right)

By 12pm or 1pm, the last airplane into Bario would have passed by and it’s also the signal for lunch! We sat at the hut and had really good lunches. An hour or so later, it was back to the paddy fields.

A typical lunch by Tepuq Do Ayu & her family

Tepuq Do Ayu, Jia Qi & I taking a break

Then by 4pm or so, we returned home while Tepuq Do and her family would continue working.

It may be hard work clearing the fields and planting paddy, but with such great company and without the hustle and bustle of the city and lots of fresh air I found it to be really enjoyable. Plus, it’s always cool to see Tepuq Do Ayu at work. She would crush insects then tell you that you can fry them. She also told stories about how tasty snakes are and many more. So cool!

Tepuq Do Ayu can just pick a plant from the side and tell you that it is edible.
This is buah kapuk. It is cotton candy like but not so sweet.

I really learned so much from them. How having family and friends around you makes you feel so warm and makes the hard work easier to bear. How you don’t need to have fancy gadgets and expensive things to be satisfied with life. How important it is to just sit back and relax every now and then.

Thank you for everything Tepuq Do Ayu, I really miss you.

Hliang (Innu)