tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48591843426373601862024-03-14T22:01:24.499+08:00Project WHEE! Project WHEE!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03819802902578814900noreply@blogger.comBlogger221125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-78057541152591131342018-09-03T22:35:00.002+08:002018-09-03T22:55:55.870+08:00The story of how my pants got dirty #Bonding <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“WHEE-we got your back!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Long story short. We had tonnes of puns in our batch.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The trip started off just like any other social programs I attended - awkward “ice-breaking” games - many of them. I was worried, because I was skipping classes to participate in this trip, thankfully which turned out to be an extraordinary journey for me. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Flying on a small twin-engine </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turboprop" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">turboprop</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_length" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">short-haul</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> regional airliner - Maswings, for the first time, I was amazed. The expanse of beautiful scenery outside and the seats inside in the layer of a window felt so thin, and I vowed to be wide awake for the whole hour to relish the nature, the subtle hue of greenery propped up elegantly in the silhouette of the mountains - up and down and up again (pardon my extensive description, it was too breathtaking!).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beutiful view!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I landed on Bario, I was, for once more, doomed. No wifi, no carrier service. It was a complete rural area that I did not expect. However, my anxious heart was then again warmed by a cup of Milo served in the airport. It was a rainy day. As my batchmates and I sat together, holding our hot drinks, surrounding a fluffy dog and patting it continuously, I found to be very reassured with these people. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Credits to Clovey. The rice was superb!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I thought it was going to be all good and smooth, I was not so right until the day we went hiking. No clear trails, spiky roots, bloodsucking leeches, some flaming plants, quicksands and a venomous snake (which I did not even recognize until our guide alerted us). It was a tough path, even worse, it rained heavily that day. To be honest, it was really (really) challenging, not because I was not akin to climbing (I climbed table mountain before, and I climbed along waterfall before too) and I was well equipped, but the randomness in the path we took, the velocity of the climb and the weather that took the experience to another level - to a level that we had to take care each other and bond with each other. In brief, in that climb, I dropped in the mud three times (at least), three leech spots, and ten spikes still stuck on my palm. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The moment as I was falling into the paddy field. John was holding me. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My pants and shoes after pulling out; there was a lot of cleaning to do. * cries *</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That closes my prior experience and how we bonded together in the first few days. More to come! </span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-91131082512329183482018-07-16T17:25:00.000+08:002018-07-16T17:25:17.150+08:00Into The Jungle! <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Like any other day, we started our morning with breakfast, and then we were off to our </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">respective Tepuq or Sinah’s paddy field to start work. On my third</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 7.199999999999998pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: super; white-space: pre;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">day, I was fortunate enough to </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">be able to do a kind of different activity with Tepuq Bulan, which was to collect </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> leaves. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Definitely a chance for me to go into the jungle and have that excitement of being surrounded by </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">trees!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Tepuq on the way to her kebun. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br />The jungle (or eventually, Tepuq’s farm) was located to the east of Arur Layun which took around </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">20 minutes of walking. Walking in Bario was never boring as my eyes were continuously fed with </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">beautiful paddy fields, majestic mountain ranges, and bountiful green trees, and each of my steps </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">had that love-hate relationship with the muddy road.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As we neared Tepuq’s farm area, the pathway became muddier, the sound of cicadas played as </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the background song for the jungle, and the smell of earth permeated the air due to the rain the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">night before. We then crossed Pa’ Merariu (Merariu river) to get to the site of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> leaves. Every </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">time I passed by the rivers in Bario, I was so happy that there were still rivers that are alive. Back </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">in my </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">kampung</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">, the river flow is almost inexistent due to improper usage of land that caused the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">river to be filled with sediment. The sediment later caused the river to become smaller to the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">point that it didn’t look like a ‘true’ river with water gushing along. My friend once told me a </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">story about his friend who showed him a river somewhere in West Malaysia. He was surprised </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">upon seeing the condition of the river and said, “That’s not a river! That’s a </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">longkang</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">!”</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Not long after the successful river crossing, we reached the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> leaves’ site together with our </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">coordinator, Glo, who at some point along the way expressed her discontentment of not wearing </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">an appropriate outfit for this trip because she hadn’t expected the jungle to be that thick </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(Sorry Glo!). All of the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> trees had been cultivated by Tepuq’s mother a long time ago. I had </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">never expected the trees to be taller than me. Well, that was a first time for me! Tepuq quickly </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">put her things down and started to chop the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> leaves. For every </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> leaf that she cut down, I </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">had to slice the excess stalk, choose the healthy-looking </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> leaves, and put it in one place. Of </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">course, Tepuq’s work was much neater than mine. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holding up Isip leaves that we harvested.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br />Throughout the collecting of </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> leaves, I asked </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tepuq</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> for an example of the local </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">kuih</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> here. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(Shout out to my mom who ‘encouraged’ me to ask such questions whenever I visit any </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">kampung</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tepuq</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> answered, “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Senape. Kamu pernah rasa</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">? (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Senape</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">. Have you tried?)”. I nodded. I realized that </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">many, in fact all, of local Sarawak foods (even Sabah) don’t include any coconut milk or spices, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">which makes these </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">kuih</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> much healthier and which also, in my opinion, leads to longevity in life. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">However, I must say that I do miss the spices in food after a while. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="411" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/2Rz37uUwO-xqgNsGOJXFEUeD3kqfdM5GJWXa8PSbl2EHs0WyUJhUqPtdIs-eChDzgSuW6ieKx69kPd2fgWCNAtks2z7j_5_XW3esCQn500q3BCX7mVujsKp9yZnQTBHDSwE3fDWQWDlvQePG2g" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="578" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting the stalk of 'daun Isip'.</td></tr>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br />The work doesn’t end at collecting </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> leaves. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tepuq</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> then brings </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">lanau</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> shoots to be cultivated </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">in the area surrounding the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> leaves. I like the way </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tepuq</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> has organized her farm. ‘Normal’ </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">farms usually have neat rows of vegetables, but </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tepuq</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">’s style is that she lets her vegetables grow </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">around the existing plants, and she will mark the place that she cultivated using fallen branches </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">so that she will recognize it in her future visits. I think this has been part of the tradition or local </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">knowledge passed down to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tepuq</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> from her ancestors, and this way of cultivating plants ensures </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the sustainability of land use, foods, and livelihood of the locals as a whole as opposed to a </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">monoculture as in oil palm plantations. Besides </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">lanau</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tepuq</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> also has yam and cassava in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">her farm. She owns three to four durian trees which sadly didn’t bear many fruit this time around. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">There were also mango trees which just smelled so nice that it reminded me of some Thai foods </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tarap</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> fruit, a species of fruit similar to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">cempedak</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">nangka</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">, also known as </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Kiran</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> in Kelabit. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We slowly marched out once </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tepuq</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> was done with her work and ready to go for lunch! Going </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">with </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Tepuq</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> to collect </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Isip</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> leaves was a valuable and precious experience, and I don’t think I could </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">ever get this chance back in my </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">kampong</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">. It was also an insightful moment for me as much of local </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">knowledge has become more ‘unknown’ that people have taken it for granted. Looking forward to </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">doing this the next time! </span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-35ea7ecd-b384-9c3b-7887-3925def62d85"><br /></span>Project WHEE!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03819802902578814900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-5870218741791253862018-07-16T16:06:00.000+08:002018-07-16T16:06:08.466+08:00Many Paddy<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Time with my Sina was probably one of the defining moments of my time in Bario. I had been a little apprehensive at first. "What if she doesn't like me?". This was quickly put to rest when I met her for the first time. I was in the middle of deciding if I should shake her hand or wave when she just went in and gave me a big motherly hug. It was then I knew that things would be okay. With her came along a family which worked for her and their son Alan, who had become something of an 'anak buah' of hers, staying with her over the weekends etcetera. Before long she had named me Bungan, and I had become another of her many "anak buah"s. </span><div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7VktPyb_ekJ2yAKSn33BNKLUua6Yd9_0L8QAdTfdFkZ6pqpi-9Fvd5wlYFVFj4asZ05QBXKfArA4OufsYkpMPNSkaxfQJwqjJEGNKTVuUGob125uY8jTJ1rVyBIxxcNqlFgBmqDGTMc/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7VktPyb_ekJ2yAKSn33BNKLUua6Yd9_0L8QAdTfdFkZ6pqpi-9Fvd5wlYFVFj4asZ05QBXKfArA4OufsYkpMPNSkaxfQJwqjJEGNKTVuUGob125uY8jTJ1rVyBIxxcNqlFgBmqDGTMc/s1600/3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocking the farmer look.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">On my second day in the paddy field, I made the fatal mistake of trying to motivate Alan to out down his phone by telling him I would race him at planting the paddy. Staring me dead in the eyes, he grudgingly put down his phone, stood up lazily and... let's just say he wiped th floor with me. If I had been any less dignified, I would have fallen backward, sprawled in the mud, panting, in view of my utter defeat. However, because I am the "older sister" here I settled for just panting and laughing. Though I am proud to say that by the last day I could sort of keep up with him on a cold day (he hated the cold. Picture below to prove a point). All the while, Sina watching us from the shed near the fields... probably also having a good laugh... she laughs a lot. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0unHEOLDpETySCXVSoZYHE7-PiFnmgjyXLid2_uR3Ex2mYnopbul9Gw2e3fE6iCgH325WuiHkJHB-DxYdzB_m1LH0I-JZRG9anXmxTmwzGjJLHSNbye02XbVnmYO8XVoVFZXNiutTh0/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0unHEOLDpETySCXVSoZYHE7-PiFnmgjyXLid2_uR3Ex2mYnopbul9Gw2e3fE6iCgH325WuiHkJHB-DxYdzB_m1LH0I-JZRG9anXmxTmwzGjJLHSNbye02XbVnmYO8XVoVFZXNiutTh0/s1600/2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cake with many layers. He said it was really cold.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I think the liveliness of it all gave my Sina great joy. She was always smiling at the chatter and commotion that went on. She would tell me where the water came from, what she did, the kinds of paddy she grew, how the different kinds of paddy differed in their characteristics, her husbanf and children who she missed, and telling me how I had improved from my first day at the paddy field which I hope she is still not chuckling about to the other Tepuq's and WHEE kids past and present. Apparently she had found it so amusing she had hailed Tepuq Supang whose fields were next to hers and recounted the story to her amidst fits of laughter. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">She would also talk about God's work and the ministry she strove to do for the Lord. That passion she had for people, gospel, Bario, and everything around was evident in every word, and every movement she made. If I were to describe one particular moment with her which I would cherish the most, it would be the day we spent about 3 hours cleaning the fields. It was quieter than the other says what with Alan and the rest of his family having gone home for the week. It was just two of us in the paddy field. So she played some music as we worked. It was fun planting the paddy and rocket launching weeds to the sides of the paddy field in time to the music played. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh5d9Xl4aOk2gUr7YyH5vYRIRJ9ojZ6eJvSV-paKNb3xGXRGrRzbZRlOnq_P8kgW_kuOBS03qTf3IQu3s8hwK7nPa4zLmNsTsihY68LySDclsaKca6mM8lazEldEDyWj9mWmTfhaHqF8/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="212" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh5d9Xl4aOk2gUr7YyH5vYRIRJ9ojZ6eJvSV-paKNb3xGXRGrRzbZRlOnq_P8kgW_kuOBS03qTf3IQu3s8hwK7nPa4zLmNsTsihY68LySDclsaKca6mM8lazEldEDyWj9mWmTfhaHqF8/s1600/1.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WHEE planting many paddy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Being the youngest among all the farmers who took part in this project, it struck me how much she talked about the paddy fields going to waste, and how she was trying to the best of her capacity to keep the many paddy fields around her alive. It was obvious that the paddy fields which were either so long unused that the grounds no longer sucked your feet in, and those that were a breeding ground for weeds and rats deeply saddened her. Paddy fields were not meant to go unused. Too many stories, friendships, families, and dreams have been built on those sawah's. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">To sum things up, if anyone would ask me how I would remember her from our short time together, it would be how relaxed and motherly she is, and how passionate she is for people and for the things she loves -- her Many Paddy Fields. This is because it was her passion for it that made me realise exactly how important the growing of rice is for Bario. It is not only as a source of income, but a way of life; more than money, it is happiness; more than idealistically fighting for preservation of tradition, but the right to be proud of their identity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Clovey Lye</span></div>
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Rhonwyn.Hagedornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04985250459285209831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-71152191757103751112018-07-16T15:34:00.000+08:002018-07-16T15:37:05.156+08:00Redefining the Meaning of Farewell<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img height="348" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/n_Aqm3BGNtlj2MCOdxVMU1tXWz0741spsisElNu6MP_2Dvd2D9buuMShMdvIsmpLMZ4fF7q1KrbvgiMktC56gIOyv-Smsi9QYtoSkA9lrn8GHlB61atVniEl04fgzW-7I0mPIKEnPpFLFTA1iA" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">View of Bario town from Bukit Korea</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I have always had this question or thought dwelling in my head throughout my life: What’s the point of making </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">new connections or establishing new friendships in the first place if farewells are inevitable? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I have always tried to keep in touch with people whom I have crossed path with—people who have impacted </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">me deeply and whose spot can never be filled by another person. Every time the moment comes to bid </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">goodbye to a family member or a group of friends that I grew close to, my heart aches silently. We can argue </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">that now, with technology, we can always keep in touch easily, but things are never going to be the same once </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">separated by distance and priorities changes. Even by keeping in touch, the feeling of emptiness and longing </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">will always be there. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">During my stay in Bario, I somehow managed to put together the pieces to answer this question that I’ve </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">always had in my mind. Farewell is indeed inevitable in every relationship, but it is just momentary sadness. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Crying silently when someone leaves doesn't mean you don't want that person in your life, because you know </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">that person is going to continue in a direction different from yours. Separation from each others lives is not </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">going to stop me from embracing the moment and relationship and being thankful and grateful that we crossed </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">paths. What matters most is the moment spent together and the presence of loved ones that should be </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">embraced wholeheartedly.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><img height="468" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ifd_-wwPvnZC6-5Rt8mIzqNg_HGrfEL5yBRQHcK5hbKK8eV9HGRWw4YPvCvIecLx2uElwDDO1S6CjfNOMfWik8PJ1D_h2wtnVwHu9Y_zf-yVOH98m8fWg0upYquNWl4lYpkQa8G4Hs1aXr6ShA" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="624" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;">My batchmates on our way back from Kampung Arur Dalan</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When my flight took off from Bario, many tears were shed, and I believe it is because of the bond formed </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">through love over the 10 days. There was a feeling of sadness while leaving the place, but it was overcome </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">by the greater joy of getting to know these amazing, genuine, and loving people that I met through this journey. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">My heart was filled with gratitude from memories created, lessons learnt, and the connections I had formed </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">throughout the 10 days. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Bario has reframed my perspectives on gratitude and contentment. The simple act of giving thanks before our </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">food reminded me to always be grateful and contented and also to be appreciative of what we have - food, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">health, family and friends, and most importantly, our lives. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It made me realize that the key to happiness isn’t about chasing material wealth; it is in having great </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">r</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre;">elationships with people you care about through spending quality time together, which is something difficult to </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; white-space: pre;">attain in a busy world, especially in the corporate world.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Words can hardly express how I feel exactly; the rest are to be experienced personally. I am so glad that I went </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">as a volunteer instead of as a tourist as I have gained so much more than I had expected. Bario has left a mark </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">on me and will always have a special place in my heart. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Aw Mei Yin </span></div>
Project WHEE!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03819802902578814900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-15160403810666393002018-06-14T12:21:00.001+08:002018-06-14T12:21:48.303+08:00A Letter to Mak & Abah: From Bario with Love<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is an imaginary letter to my parents about Bario. They have never been to interior Sarawak before including the highlands, and hopefully through this imaginary letter, I can dream that they will be interested to visit Bario someday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Dear Mak & Abah,</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hope both of you are doing great! I’m perfectly fine and enjoying the remaining days here in Bario.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> I have lot to share with the two of you, and while I’m free now, I’d better write to you before I </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">forget the things that I want to say.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">If Mak & Abah are wondering how big the Bario airport is, it isn’t. It is cute, and it is just perfect </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">for Bario. And the plane? Just as cute as the airport. It is called Twin Otter, and only 18 people can </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">fit into it at one time. Oh, and don’t be surprised that almost all the people in the airport know </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">each other. If they feel like chatting, there are two cafés running in the airport where they can sit </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">down, have a drink, and catch up. One is in the airport itself, and the other is situated in front of </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the airport, and both served yummy Maggi Mee curry. Yes, you read it right. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The owner of the homestay picked up us at the airport, or else we would have had to walk. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Joking. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">However, walking is a pretty normal mode of ‘transportation’ here in Bario unless you want to </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">save time and have the means to. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="415" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pv4UaxaIcSBe471O2ppCMIACXiGA_owRxJ6ObNHNCdJ85icczYd34pg1YG9CwPZXtYz0lafMRqa_nZhLYzxVStv5ZvHWEHeomriD93nXp0Fm-IZRgaTpMWE-0h5mNClad8bN5AvPGtRubVUSKw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624" /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">As we were on our way, we saw a stretch of paddy fields. This is one of my favorite views in Bario. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Somehow, when I saw the paddy, it felt ‘down-to-earth’ and heartwarming. It reminded me of your</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">memories that you have told me about, Mak, when you were young and you went into the paddy </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">fields back in the time when paddy fields still existed in </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">kampung</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">. I’m here to experience what you</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> have experienced, and it was an unforgettable moment! </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I mentioned just now that the paddy fields were one of my favorite views in Bario. Another one is </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the Tama Abu Range that serves as the backdrop of Bario. It is huge and looks majestic. However, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">trust me when I say that it is going to take more than 10 hours to reach the top although locals </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">would suggest it will take around few hours. But let just stick to 10 hours, and I can already </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">imagine how exhausting it can be. I think I need to hit the gym first to get myself prepared before </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">reaching that level of hiking. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Bario Asal Longhouse is the place at which we stayed. It is long indeed, hence the name! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Along the longhouse, you can see hearths or ‘tetel’, and each of them represents one family. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="496" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/bWj6FCDgEmKcgMNfFXjOleZqtFZPAOMXdUxTcAU4_OAdKn2UmszBD7zs8nZ3C-HR9yRzrNjuGz-GYVppfcX1KtAITrpVqL6Q4ovsmMbEJFPFPWwmTYdGV2Xa5gu07HMItzGyAe6CDpmkvwz4ng" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="366" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Hearth or ‘tetel’.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Our homestay is inside the longhouse, and it is called Sinah Rang Lemulun’s homestay. They </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">provide all three meals, and the chicken wings are the best! I wish Mak and Abah can taste it right </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">now!</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="415" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/4-mbDt6SYw3IAQ1hDH1KnkaMPaXw2YZAMFR7jSZ2NKqLJY-0B03LmSUdFesnEZeVF3nwOjOUYl4InADNaR9Y4L36JpizO-lNmL6wVIUkRnxBk8HTOjeA4h3_o789cFRAm8-aljDFROxbYa-fhg" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="624" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The other side of the Bario Asal Longhouse, also known as the Tawa’.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">This is the other side of the longhouse. It consists of no </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">tetel,</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> but on the wall, you can see pictures </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">of each family and their relatives. How awesome is that? I think it is a good way to remind them </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">about their kinship. They not only know their own nuclear family but also their extended family! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">This is also an area where they hold special occasions or </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Irau</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> they call it. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">In Bario, there are a few ‘special’ products that many of those who visited would buy and bring </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">home, namely </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Adan</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> rice (more commonly known as Bario rice), pineapples and its jam, and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">natural salt. With </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Adan</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> rice, we can cook it and eat it as usual, but here in Bario, they often make it</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> into </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Nuba Laya</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> or mashed rice. The rice is cooked with plenty of water, almost as if we were </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">cooking porridge, but it’s not quite like porridge. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The sweetness of pineapples here can’t be compared to the pineapples that we usually buy in a </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">supermarket. They also make the pineapples into jam which was frequently served to us during </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">breakfast. This jam can be homemade or processed in the small factory that the </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">kampung</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> owns. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Salt in Bario is acquired naturally through spring water that is harvested through a well. It takes </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">hours to boil the salt water until the water evaporates, and the salt crystalizes and hardens. They </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">will package it into bamboo stems and allow it to sit by the fire until the water completely dried </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">out and the salt takes the form of the bamboo stem. Then, they remove it from the bamboo, wrap </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">it with leaves, and it is ready to be sold! It sounds easy peasy, but it requires a lot of time, and the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">process of heating has to be repeated many times. However, that is what makes the salt in Bario </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">so special: the cost of time and the labor that is involved. Bario salt also has a higher iodine </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">content than regular sea salt! </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Don’t worry, I will buy a bit of everything so that you can taste it all! </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I wish I could tell you every single detail of the experience that I am having here in Bario and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">about Bario itself, but let me save it for when I’m back at home! A little mystery and surprise never </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">hurt! </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "cambria"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
Project WHEE!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03819802902578814900noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-80173154723817479462018-04-11T14:10:00.000+08:002018-04-11T14:17:30.200+08:00The Good Times <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">When I bought my flight ticket to Bario, I was both scared and excited. I was about to go to this </span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">beautiful place, but I was also about to spend ten days with hardly any internet and live in a </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">completely different environment that I’ve never been exposed to (city boy represent). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I was freaking out a bit on the inside, but I somehow knew that this adventure was a work of faith </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(also because I’m four years late). </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We landed in Bario, and the first thing we did was to hop on the back of Uncle Julian’s Hilux. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">On 3% phone battery, I recorded a short clip of us welcoming the Bario air and scent, which I love and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">have come to miss so much since. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="601" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hzCTB6-XlBlyc7OLdWB-gnEKfGeOlAtIKOWMWwx6MKkE1hnxWprdxXx3S3C_MKteo1y_PEXXlr5ayde0d7m4TLl0FF0t2RSerGRKYlHvyP4ipwWYI36BSX-1h5VZRUfugO0RX7IEPvhuIvmbnw" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="601" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOOK AT THAT VIEW.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Bario, from the moment I landed, felt calm, clean, and homely. Whether I was on the back of </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Uncle’s four-wheel drive (or a kind stranger’s one) going everywhere, or walking to and from the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">internet centre back to our fantastic homestay, it felt so good to be surrounded by tall hills, paddy </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">fields, and fresh clear air. This place, right off the bat, is magical in its own unique way with all that </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">it has. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What I truly love about Bario and all the Kelabits I’ve come to know, through actual conversations and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">even</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> through passing-by, was that each one of them was the nicest people I’ve ever known. Several </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">tepuqs </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">(elders in Kelabit) wo</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">uld wave to me on my way to the paddy fields (where I was assigned to </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">work with the sweetest human ever, Tepuq Ribed), and everywhere I went, everyone I saw, had a </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">smile on their face, and I dare say everyone whom I met shook my hand. I loved everything about this </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">experience, and I am grateful to have been assigned to my Tepuq who, thankfully, was patient in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">t</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">eaching me how to harvest and dry paddy. I won’t forget our tea break talks where I’ve come to </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">conclude that my Tepuq loves fizzy orange drinks. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="451" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/JOvAf2B2gLCrJcCzm8JehpAOWjOFxfZWFzcOd3_40sFuGPE31LKkZT8_rEBumQOi8Ejr9xVAePDTykBnKB2UNkhc_h_lhoSjPJJ5SnEYByFv96FWNxF25JOfcwatwNm86py-_4qd0t67DeH00A" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="601" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gloria took this great candid shot of Tepuq Ribed and I at her paddy hut.</td></tr>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Going into this, I have to admit I was nervous of how I would work and live with the other WHEE </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">participants. We’re all so different, but truly, it was those differences that made us connect and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">resonate with each other. I will forever remember our hikes(all three of them) and how we’d sink in </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">mud literally all the time, and our deep talks that were both inside and outside, during the afternoons </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and night. I will remember us gathering for every meal, food piled up on Alex’s plate and the time I </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">cried leaving this place, in the tiny plane, looking out at the open space. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="379" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/pIYut85FcwnwIuWpdxpAHVPJzmEf_PyFLnPCQd_AsCJQcUoKIyhblHjVrb9pDW2QX868dxOwO_32PKpz45kN0W0_XidvAP6g53qiV6ReJ3l5Iw5heE6SIhWTqJqthmTFk_KQ4jtdJ4cDskoyJQ" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="595" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Rhon, legit sinking in mud. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I would do this adventure all over again, because god knows how thankful I am of this experience.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm smiling on the outside but dying on the inside after our morning hike. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Bario was filled with good times and I hope it isn’t long before I go back there and revisit them. It was </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">truly unforgettable and the best start to my year that I’ve ever had growing up. </span></div>
<br />Project WHEE!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03819802902578814900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-45458495219180803502018-04-06T18:16:00.000+08:002018-04-07T01:34:22.503+08:00On The Horizon <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bursts of light at the end of the horizon surrounded by lush paddy fields on my last day in Bario.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It was our first day in Bario and I was already blown away by the beauty of the Kelabit highlands. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">All around me was lush green paddy fields, mountains, and optimum temperatures of perhaps 20+ degrees. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I loved the moment I spent alone, looking at the view that was absolutely breathtaking, just staring into the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">horizon and sky – it gave me so much peace and helped me think through life from a very different perspective </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and penned out my thoughts. I savoured the wonderful feeling of waking up every morning to such beautiful </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">sights, especially on my walks through the villages of Arur Dalan and Arun Layun. There was something so </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">mysterious about this land when mist shrouded the mountains with birds chirping and “bangau” (stork) flying </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">over the paddy fields. Not forgetting the hike up to Bukit Korea, Prayer Mountain and even wading through the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">mud at Pa Umor, those sceneries reminded me why I fell in love at first sight with this place seven years ago </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">by just looking at a photo of the highlands that I didn't even know then.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">By: Mei Yin Aw</span></div>
Project WHEE!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03819802902578814900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-33152347477041840612018-03-22T13:26:00.001+08:002020-02-03T10:41:28.145+08:00Being Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recently started to really enjoy being out in nature. When I was studying in Adelaide and Tasmania, I had a lot of opportunities to hike and see a lot of nature and wildlife around the area, so Bario sounded really appealing to me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Except ... I grew up a city kid and don't really get along with bugs, cold showers and mud too well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Before going to Bario, I knew that I hyperventilate REALLY BADLY when I get into freezing water. Try jumping from the jetty or having an early morning shower at a camp site, both during winter. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I think a lot of people can also relate to not being able to go to bed until you've made sure that the cockroach you saw between your cupboards is either out of your room or no longer moving. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I don’t actually have it as bad as some people do, I think, but I still had to mentally prepare myself for it all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I remember listening to Rhon talking about eating kelatang (a worm delicacy in Bario), and I thought to </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">myself</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;">if I had the chance, I would like to push myself to do it, which kind of set the tone for the rest of my trip.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The cold showers slowly chipped away at me; some days it was really cold! I was breathing really heavily and </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">loud, and there’s even a video to prove it!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/tF3BoQd3CGn2jmAiLlToFj4vJC-jqbFALie2g1jGtf3LWL4_pkfyavMraMkqINCWgd8kEY7Svrf5F0Ux6LXQoYhUDsPEV2Ra92pXp5R26yYDYk7ATjIX_dfNyYuQnTgO-YLyM7-XQf2O2LENMA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/tF3BoQd3CGn2jmAiLlToFj4vJC-jqbFALie2g1jGtf3LWL4_pkfyavMraMkqINCWgd8kEY7Svrf5F0Ux6LXQoYhUDsPEV2Ra92pXp5R26yYDYk7ATjIX_dfNyYuQnTgO-YLyM7-XQf2O2LENMA" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="270" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Slippin' and uh' slidin' with everyone. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Everything else that I thought I would struggle with, I actually enjoyed a fair bit. I think the novelty of it all </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and expecting it did make a big difference in terms of just preparing myself mentally to try and enjoy </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">whatever it might be, since it would all be a first for me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I remember laughing at myself constantly when I was slipping and sliding in the mud during hikes. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The constant feeling of falling but not actually falling combined with my newfound “dance moves” was a </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">funny thought to me. I remember thinking to myself that it was cool to actually see what the bloodsuckers </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">in Bario looked like! I was pretty curious when we were told about them and actually seeing them did feed </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">my curiosity and made the bites more bearable.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="400" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/K3xjP990XraTIIVWnEhLK4Yq3rODaLuACjnCpjplt31zHDCKpGMpip6qk6VMHRjl2HSRu_XwzaUTt0M9Ms8FH70vUshxaFy06DWH5ACf0rjhm1tvMfI2lPQTZWkea1PMqEKLX6QgcKlBLhOt6w" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="223" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A bloodsucker. Also, the WHEE founder isn't </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">just punny but she also has a strong </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">photobomb game.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="346" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/tZJtzy1yh3-XwhSX62OAWimQbx1L3_VT0sVh5qAYp4sEmhW94YcDxH2v9LoY-pvmK188o2J_O6sqRlPC1l-1ZdyNfZrGakiE419XRotpsuSBOO94vk4MJ07p3GLKsEw3jEOfcVXRjRM8UMdy_A" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="195" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Part of a well-balanced diet.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I also stomached a juicy sago worm (ulat sago) during our hike. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Creepy crawlies really aren’t my thing, so I surprised myself that I ate it. Thanks Rhon.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">There were also little/big things I didn’t think I’d come across.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><img height="404" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/s3pKnert9vQp6JWOT6nEIITkKUY25XxbHl8jBjqBJo2P_3gtkHBMaFRSet_IBkEcgY-KDuaIbyEOejJfr-wPo6tkDAd1YD_N4sBTwUGTmaoG1YN2urZfAWxEyX2AA9ezq-3-cLVCeDfG0Ff1cA" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="227" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The little hike through the forest on the way to work, walking over some of the streams with make-shift </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">bridges out of tree trunks, playing sape, and playing bass for one of the church services were just some </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">the little things of the trip that I hadn’t really expected or thought of, but I had heaps of fun doing them. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">You also do get pretty good at setting aside your own ideas and views after some time and just sink your </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">teeth into it (also quite literally).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Trying monkey meat was a little confronting at first, but I thought I would set aside my own ideas about it </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and gave it a go. Sometimes, eating by the paddy fields meant cleaning the dishes with stored rainwater, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">and inevitably, there would be bits of leaves, mud, and bugs in your drink or food. You just pick out what </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">you can, set aside what you think you shouldn’t consume, and have your meal with your Sinah.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img height="348" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/bawaoG14czYlv7QTiwYc0nbqn8HY0Gm9ISibM5mRyccrNYEdzq_5wXp6gyLzeTx5ys5IfRP6hwPudxi_T6jbwqXLmeZXjawhoVOvUGBMX8tMFJtfaeTZ8UKaSOzX9K7Gw3rgdrZK6FP9nej5Zg" style="border: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="196" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do have a picture of the monkey jaw,<br />but I don't think that sort of thing is for<br />everyone, so here's a goofy picture of<br />us at the airport instead!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I think taking it all in is an experience and not framing it as bad or good really made it that much more enjoyable and easier to just smile and laugh about it. After all, it was a first and definitely worth a try. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Towards the end, I realized the hot water in one of the bathrooms was </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">working again, so I wouldn't sound like I was having a fit in the shower. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I still had a last cold shower on the day I left Bario though. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My blogpots are really just scraping the surface of it all, and I wish I </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">could capture it all in the form of words and pictures, but I don't think</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I could. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think it is normal to think to yourself, 'Why am I paying all this money </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to volunteer? I'm already putting in the effort and time'. (besides the </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">tight budgets that some social enterprises/NGOs are running on which</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">makes it difficult to afford a lot of these things for volunteers, but I </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">disgress), and it did cross my mind. Then I realised I get so much more</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">out of it for myself, and it isn't so much as me giving my effort and time</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">to collect research data as it is an exchange for anyone who comes </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">along with WHEE to learn a little more about Bario themselves. </span></span></div>
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Project WHEE!http://www.blogger.com/profile/03819802902578814900noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-24446906457795519712018-01-14T18:20:00.000+08:002018-01-14T18:20:33.156+08:00Describe Wind: Ngarang Everywhere 4.0Sitting on the porch one lazy afternoon, waiting for my turn to shower, I <strike>begged</strike> Rhon to teach me how to play the sape. So she showed me the correct way to hold it, where to place your fingers, and broke it down into three parts. After letting me struggle along a little, Rhon decided to show me how it was played. It was at that moment that movement caught the corner of my eye. Tepuq had walked in quietly and started moving her hands in the wavelike patterns oh so common to the ngarang. As it played out, I couldn't decide which one I admired more -- the sound of the sape, the spontaneity of the whole situation, or how graceful Tepuq looked as she danced in time to the plucking of the sape.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-20471225511820659012018-01-14T03:00:00.000+08:002018-01-14T03:01:05.775+08:00Describe Wind: To and From Arur Dalan <br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every morning, a couple of us would make our journey towards Arur Dalan. The winds and cold air accompanied by mist like a scarf around the neck of the mountains set the tone for the day while the suns rays and buffalo poo told tale of a less lazy afternoon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we made our way to the field the sounds of car engines, the beat beat beat sounds of motorcyclists passing by, and the sucking noise our shoes make against the muddy ground filled my waking thought as we walk down the uneven path. Soon, we reach our destinations and begin to make our way to the respective fields we are assigned to... the clouds, hanging over us in it's pretty way, cold sawah soil and water clinging around our legs... the air is filled with chatter, laughter, and friendly banter. </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The fields in its vastness calls us to enter. Exhaustion, sweat, and dirt mean little in a place where contentment and serendipity tip the scales. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">As we return back through the fields lined with corn, slippery roads, unruly weeds, and daun isip, you cannot help but marvel at that feeling it gives you as you slow yourself down enough to hear it's call. The lack of bustle lays claim over the imagination.</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-45973818373001306202018-01-02T15:04:00.000+08:002018-01-02T15:06:23.354+08:00Difficulties I Faced<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi! To all those who are reading this blog post, congratulations, because when I attended this trip, I did not read any of the blog posts - and I regretted (or not really), however, to be honest, it is always good to set the expectation right, and be readied for any challenges ahead in this trip by looking into what others had experienced. I will talk about the challenges I faced in the working days (or the data collection days) and how I changed myself in the process.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The beginning of my working days was… not productive enough.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There were several challenges I faced. One of the significant challenges was the language barrier. I am not a fluent speaker of Bahasa Melayu, nor did the locals speak the conventional Bahasa Melayu we learnt in class. However, when there is a will, there is a way, I used my elusive body language, Google translator, plus the help from my batchmates - I found the experience of data collecting more intellectual than rigid, like a happy conversation. I thought I need to be “professional” - precise and sharp to delve into the deepest core of questions I set beforehand, but eventually as I worked with my tepuq, I forgot all of that nonsense. I just wanted to know more about them - what they eat, what they face, and what are their stories ... and that became my most look-forward-to thing while I collected data. Frankly, I am a logic freak. I like to digitalise, analyse, interject and conclude in a design-thinking manner, but the nature of Bario embraced me to a different way to a manner I found myself not thinking they way I was used to thinking but instead started to behold how things were like this by nature.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To assist my deficiency in Malay proficiency, I translated everything in the booklet beforehand.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Da..daa! (I brought my data collection booklet into the muddy field). My intention was to write whenever I heard something interesting in the field... but I found that it wasn't a good idea. </td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another challenge I faced was... who cares. The key is to relish every moment so that challenges are never difficulties but an experience to make you grow as a person, especially when you are in Bario, a place where there is no peer pressure, where nature embraces you, where you are not distracted by social media, where you feel and you connect. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So to those who are afraid that you might not be able to communicate well in Bahasa Melayu, it is time to let your body speak for you; in fact, my tepuq and I had grown to an affinity in which we looked at each other… be silent for two seconds, and then we laugh, as if we got each other’s thoughts (no joke!).</span></span></div>
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Enjoy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-25660617794065010242017-12-28T01:05:00.001+08:002017-12-28T01:09:54.540+08:00One among the many, Bario was memorableThere were many people in Bario that had made this volunteering trip a memorable one, and Tepuq Do Ayu is definitely one of them!<br />
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She made me realize the little things in life.<br />
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Every morning from 8am to 12pm, two of my friends and I will walk through muddy roads to arrive to another village called Kampung Arur Dalan to spend a few hours helping our tepuqs with their paddy fields - removing seedlings from the nursery itself and planting them in a bigger sawah (aka paddy field).<br />
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<i>Tjia Ern, I and Clovey from left to right</i></div>
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Upon my first day with Tepuq Do Ayu, I was already excited and in the move to communicate with her since the WHEE participants' main purpose was to collect data from our tepuqs by asking questions in an informal way.<br />
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I realized that every time I communicated with her, she never failed to look me in the eyes and replied me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y-bLgwK4uEI3zOcRE34CBO0yyIn50HpLymn2ALSK4y6FrBga8aYWJnBkQVLDOgEoUJg1mdjsYXSe8S8u35SRLZBKIiGQ0eikc1BSVvESTq-uTUmmoxec6w5_ygBHNxNpDWjrfV0gGzo/s1600/IMG20170811101210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Y-bLgwK4uEI3zOcRE34CBO0yyIn50HpLymn2ALSK4y6FrBga8aYWJnBkQVLDOgEoUJg1mdjsYXSe8S8u35SRLZBKIiGQ0eikc1BSVvESTq-uTUmmoxec6w5_ygBHNxNpDWjrfV0gGzo/s320/IMG20170811101210.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdJOyUpiHyecNnWDtpz6Ezmwt_5ox5ZdRuVRUZ0pOVl9Q87VCBrc8J7ogekGKdKxXiMkGq8HzGGEX5bjbCHLuYtXT-C763Q4tTTaGNFgN07dU9OrOxiAHnr4XY5kNAeNWBVL-FvQSPiQ/s1600/IMG20170811101215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdJOyUpiHyecNnWDtpz6Ezmwt_5ox5ZdRuVRUZ0pOVl9Q87VCBrc8J7ogekGKdKxXiMkGq8HzGGEX5bjbCHLuYtXT-C763Q4tTTaGNFgN07dU9OrOxiAHnr4XY5kNAeNWBVL-FvQSPiQ/s320/IMG20170811101215.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<i>( Left: Tepuq was planting rice, Right: * started speaking and she looked up and smiled to the camera*)</i><br />
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Fast forward a few days on when my planting skills were getting a little bit more handy, I realized how painful it was to bend up after bending down for long minutes.<br />
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Here's tepuq Do Ayu and I-<br />
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After the first day of paddy planting, I was drenched in mud and she washed me up telling me to clean the corners of my pants that were not cleaned before even cleaning herself up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT6H9NGsxXWi2ljnVHtIvYN1exUtg8Swmc7_ndrKFt3qCXug_f8vmFRrAz7FpS3-57BBAY_S-JACDeEO4Y8imx9cqqEczmt94xUs1WetEYy0kTzTn7zBLgDrlPHGCzXhCta1u9ly7dd0/s1600/DSC_0671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT6H9NGsxXWi2ljnVHtIvYN1exUtg8Swmc7_ndrKFt3qCXug_f8vmFRrAz7FpS3-57BBAY_S-JACDeEO4Y8imx9cqqEczmt94xUs1WetEYy0kTzTn7zBLgDrlPHGCzXhCta1u9ly7dd0/s320/DSC_0671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, with wet pants and water dripping, I walked into her house not knowing what to do with the mess I could potentially be making, and without me requesting, Tepuq Do Ayu passed me a sarong to wear.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6o9J5wTHgAtnVThQdSl_0wmy2XdfZlR2Hjoh9KjZAnX_EbyztPLrj_o5CzEU0MP49xRZrV_UbONXqPxsQ1lnxZz4A8RbFkGzTBDw3Iyw4aTEskVy3Q6d5k4vEw1X1J0HV3xKf2-dD_M/s1600/DSC_0673.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6o9J5wTHgAtnVThQdSl_0wmy2XdfZlR2Hjoh9KjZAnX_EbyztPLrj_o5CzEU0MP49xRZrV_UbONXqPxsQ1lnxZz4A8RbFkGzTBDw3Iyw4aTEskVy3Q6d5k4vEw1X1J0HV3xKf2-dD_M/s320/DSC_0673.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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That really made me feel a whole lot more comfortable moving around the longhouse and sitting on the chair next to the famous 'window' in her house with the hot coffee she had made for both Rhon and I!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PgbbW8If4WdKz8cukdmoquZWFYTVoCn12gplcnX7qV6cNz21xY8OCFnM3xQ45jAG9aL_i42i7ooX71xbztmFMv4iNC0_pCdKfIeasCTlEeSJs4ulGsKIe5c0eal4DpLeL9zk5tANH7w/s1600/DSC_0675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PgbbW8If4WdKz8cukdmoquZWFYTVoCn12gplcnX7qV6cNz21xY8OCFnM3xQ45jAG9aL_i42i7ooX71xbztmFMv4iNC0_pCdKfIeasCTlEeSJs4ulGsKIe5c0eal4DpLeL9zk5tANH7w/s320/DSC_0675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Rhon took this photo while sitting on a stool</i></div>
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The upcoming days were unexpected, all I knew was that we were going to have a performance over the weekend and only the following Monday, I will continue data collection again with Tepuq Do Ayu.</div>
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Our few hours together on the first day were sweet - we managed to finish everything before the rain started pouring, and her capacity to love was already showing.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusxu6JkwQkvBryPiTlaf77CfnIPKSVMamaiHHqEZVxbErQd2sV6OQ1jWX9nSGGh72Jgtg0n3-Jw7R1KxmUZRMu-Jv7VV9t6NLpkrVyqGu8WxV-hYiZ0PCgrfPNq1DZa2KSTk7NJpu1gs/s1600/IMG20170813105311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhusxu6JkwQkvBryPiTlaf77CfnIPKSVMamaiHHqEZVxbErQd2sV6OQ1jWX9nSGGh72Jgtg0n3-Jw7R1KxmUZRMu-Jv7VV9t6NLpkrVyqGu8WxV-hYiZ0PCgrfPNq1DZa2KSTk7NJpu1gs/s320/IMG20170813105311.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<i>Here's a photo of Tepuq Do Ayu and I after church!</i></div>
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My friend - Tjia Ern was actually the one that spotted the tepuqs from Kampung Arur Dalan leaving Sunday church and we rushed through the doors and onto the road to stop both of our tepuqs - hugging them and asking them how are they were going home.</div>
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By then, I have learned some simple Kelabit sayings such as " You look pretty ", so I said that to Tepuq Do Ayu which she replied with a smile, "Why didn't you sit with me in church just now?" (translated into English) , and that was tepuq's way of showing her love to me.</div>
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Day 2 was slightly different.</div>
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I got to rest in tepuq's farm after a few hours of rice planting and was generously served with coffee, biscuits and pineapple by Tepuq Do Ayu.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispQ78oDBFnSydkr8BzjMTc-PZyGf31X5weo5NeQLjwBRtpHESDLlnMGXts5RuSm7MCjA-vfCiRnqas0c1UvFf8GNreKkaQliIJOYKhaJyShQD1qUGZd_0KVaK_5DBvHlcRE_ZTQWyfD0/s1600/DSC_0231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispQ78oDBFnSydkr8BzjMTc-PZyGf31X5weo5NeQLjwBRtpHESDLlnMGXts5RuSm7MCjA-vfCiRnqas0c1UvFf8GNreKkaQliIJOYKhaJyShQD1qUGZd_0KVaK_5DBvHlcRE_ZTQWyfD0/s320/DSC_0231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Within those moments, she also began telling me about her stories of how this shelter was built by her husband and how the doors behind us was to avoid dogs from entering etc.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDmZVbOfmPh9mzlpigYotjCMgUJV-QMz-oIz6VAyGY4kopbT9JwwUA7PWCdFMh7s-qPoUdv2tjy7xrysuQfapWVJQ1UybLo3pIvSPR3djxwNhdSOMb9XlAkwi8DEBj6CCMzQWAd1zauY/s1600/IMG20170816123450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDmZVbOfmPh9mzlpigYotjCMgUJV-QMz-oIz6VAyGY4kopbT9JwwUA7PWCdFMh7s-qPoUdv2tjy7xrysuQfapWVJQ1UybLo3pIvSPR3djxwNhdSOMb9XlAkwi8DEBj6CCMzQWAd1zauY/s320/IMG20170816123450.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<i>This is tepuq laki ( how Tepuq Do Ayu calls her husband) and he helped bring our bucket of seedlings around from one end to another that day</i></div>
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Tepuq Do Ayu and Tepuq Laki have a special relationship that somehow made me smiled through their conversations that I could not understand.</div>
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All I knew was Tepuq Laki enjoys walking and Tepuq Do Ayu always laughed and smiled whenever I mentioned Tepuq Laki is walking 'again', haha :)</div>
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There was once when we were washing up, Tepuq Do Ayu actually shrugged me to a corner just so she could spray water at her husband to tease him.</div>
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The outcome was laughter and a little bit of Kelabit words that eventually represented seriousness.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNbykVbXeTEddLt2uzt9IH9_6cR5KegSF6WyOE10SSRb_lpNtRXNY0kY7tYwHLQMaOYXU9UJ3DwIV_DDHBlN3NWQrft7uCER4VyZVZjGk38YW9UG0ueE3zaxkDwnd1G36Jx-LYV-neOQ/s1600/IMG20170814120856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNbykVbXeTEddLt2uzt9IH9_6cR5KegSF6WyOE10SSRb_lpNtRXNY0kY7tYwHLQMaOYXU9UJ3DwIV_DDHBlN3NWQrft7uCER4VyZVZjGk38YW9UG0ueE3zaxkDwnd1G36Jx-LYV-neOQ/s320/IMG20170814120856.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At Tepuq Do Ayu's place, she never failed to ask her family to eat first before she starts eating too!</div>
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Everyday, ever since day 2 of working with Tepuq Do Ayu, she served me with home cooked food and always, with Nuba Laya - mashed rice wrapped in an Isip leaf.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWe0wk6DwPpZSihodP7PODlx9wg6psxmyqW0H0mgcclF3cNHAiczWAqYq-pEr6R7Sk7rkTup3KQjXlxV10sLan6u-4twgPE_ejtqjYSRY8y_mCAxTRcVVRefHvnB2ObO2zDnKp2xYO8Q/s1600/IMG20170814120910_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMWe0wk6DwPpZSihodP7PODlx9wg6psxmyqW0H0mgcclF3cNHAiczWAqYq-pEr6R7Sk7rkTup3KQjXlxV10sLan6u-4twgPE_ejtqjYSRY8y_mCAxTRcVVRefHvnB2ObO2zDnKp2xYO8Q/s320/IMG20170814120910_1.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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The last day in the paddy field with Tepuq Do Ayu was special.</div>
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We were both very focused with our work and occasionally, she looked to me to see if I was planting my rice correctly and of course, to check my well-being.</div>
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She also brought me back to her house for a rest and served me more food -</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W_BmiTiBFTMvKqE3mmSLhxfEEIZhSUmBJYRsNaPhmai20wRBusJBXLTPtGEdnE3ra5E729yKp6a-77S_xEhit4ok4tkyQFyf9FyYFn2XlkKMhnKzBGWDuB_fSqZkwnWMX-b5RtYrSPA/s1600/IMG20170815130900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W_BmiTiBFTMvKqE3mmSLhxfEEIZhSUmBJYRsNaPhmai20wRBusJBXLTPtGEdnE3ra5E729yKp6a-77S_xEhit4ok4tkyQFyf9FyYFn2XlkKMhnKzBGWDuB_fSqZkwnWMX-b5RtYrSPA/s320/IMG20170815130900.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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That day, we finally finished her plot of sawa!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oXAjSSF7oGbp8xkmpv6F0o7QUUZymzdk0hiSEZ28q_vsUOSp8RdTX9WwcqIiM6XspOikXISonq9KS1ho29ls8GJTNVh8NyRt1vR9r1irvqt6d7GbdkQKiDh9g9ICcLdT9kEDCUTfSgg/s1600/IMG20170816122652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oXAjSSF7oGbp8xkmpv6F0o7QUUZymzdk0hiSEZ28q_vsUOSp8RdTX9WwcqIiM6XspOikXISonq9KS1ho29ls8GJTNVh8NyRt1vR9r1irvqt6d7GbdkQKiDh9g9ICcLdT9kEDCUTfSgg/s320/IMG20170816122652.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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She also performed with her traditional 'toy' she used to play when she was younger! Tepuq Do Ayu is really talented when it comes to arts and music, and that was really cute to witness. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAX-GC_EIpWsxwZpEiIz_sAaAOIWYvFI2dJUa2cG4OFfBJYVLQy4wyCHM4odQmNzUpvbYmRdpG1RNgXlGtVIdM6htTIWTBZenRln3MmqV8RvvvXsiVeYQlcEXeT7LIJTHYeQYtN7_eeA/s1600/Screenshot_2017-08-16-17-52-09-26.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWAX-GC_EIpWsxwZpEiIz_sAaAOIWYvFI2dJUa2cG4OFfBJYVLQy4wyCHM4odQmNzUpvbYmRdpG1RNgXlGtVIdM6htTIWTBZenRln3MmqV8RvvvXsiVeYQlcEXeT7LIJTHYeQYtN7_eeA/s320/Screenshot_2017-08-16-17-52-09-26.png" width="180" /></a></div>
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<i>(Tepuq and I were having this conversation about sports she used to play when she was younger - and she mentioned volleyball and this instrument!)</i></div>
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The last day was when I get to spend more time with Tepuq Do Ayu when we went around her pineapple farm to hunt for pineapples!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnF1A7NRzgQFH07hB-525z7eEKqi7Kt0K7AnHmBhojE1g-7G0dbbuShSj3y5OmczPjK9bgruGjSIbDuKRQC4yDq5kAEoKrFAD9DUCaYIzITfhRteBswm8fq5rIOOcME4Sdr6M7oqX7M8/s1600/IMG20170817104958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnF1A7NRzgQFH07hB-525z7eEKqi7Kt0K7AnHmBhojE1g-7G0dbbuShSj3y5OmczPjK9bgruGjSIbDuKRQC4yDq5kAEoKrFAD9DUCaYIzITfhRteBswm8fq5rIOOcME4Sdr6M7oqX7M8/s320/IMG20170817104958.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwTUuuQKpLK1dxmoPnryKI1jjv6KIDpeQrT-6QiMQn4VhipXXxz1CtFGm6WGVHWRaJZenEOCa4w0H-ho7aQdyJ3Epf2nwzGSHPDjV8WYFSz_SpeXngUfOSFfpbGVsn7S2a0d6981k_5A/s1600/IMG20170817120251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwTUuuQKpLK1dxmoPnryKI1jjv6KIDpeQrT-6QiMQn4VhipXXxz1CtFGm6WGVHWRaJZenEOCa4w0H-ho7aQdyJ3Epf2nwzGSHPDjV8WYFSz_SpeXngUfOSFfpbGVsn7S2a0d6981k_5A/s320/IMG20170817120251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It was also that night where unexpected events happened such as tears and a performance together in front of everyone in the longhouse!</div>
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That was one day before we were to leave Bario. And I remembered Tepuq Do Ayu silently shrugging my shoulder while I stood next to her saying, "Senyum" , which means "Smile" while we took a group photo together!</div>
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Tepuq Do Ayu really taught me to love silently, without boast. Her little actions and her way of being had taught me a lot through these nine days in Bario, where I continued thinking of her even though it was my free day. Thank you Tepuq Do Ayu.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-10123537459027202292017-12-13T17:23:00.003+08:002017-12-13T17:26:32.668+08:00Describe Wind: Tepuq Do' Ribed<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Almost immediately after I went up the stairs leading to the longhouse, I was introduced to </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tepuq Ngalinuh Karuh</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">do' ribed (which means the beautiful Tepuq Ngalinuh Karuh).</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> She, in all of her grandmotherly charm, commanded us to come to her. So like little kitties, we did so slowly, unsure of what to expect. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Bila datang?”, </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Berapa lama?” </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">*A throaty chuckle and something in Kelabit that to this day I still cannot piece together. *</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I left thinking, that wasn’t so bad. Soon it became an almost daily routine. Everyday she would call me or another WHEE member over, and coddle us as though we were one of her own grandchildren.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">When she was not doing so, it became a past time for me to watch how much a part of the community she was even in her old age. She was still loved by the rest of the long house, serenaded to by Uncle Julian, picking vegetables with the rest of the women in view of cultural night, and being part of fire side talk. I think that definitely makes life worth living.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The aforementioned interactions, and a dozen hand gestures and “</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">pu ayam</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”s (affectionate term grandparents call their grandchildren) later, I realised I could not love her any less than I loved my own grandmother. In her gentle, almost subtle way, she laid claim to my heart in ways no other elder could and tore it apart the day I left, silently telling me to come back again with tears in her eyes. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope to be able to still hear her sing as Uncle Julian plays the guitar for ger the next time I come back. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tepuq Ngalinuh Karuh - Photo by Rhonwyn</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-74070928455320166252017-10-05T18:49:00.000+08:002017-10-05T18:49:00.650+08:00Unforgettable memories in Bario – Valley of the Winds<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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Earlier this year, I heard about WHEE's Bario: Growing Food, Sustaining Culture project which aimed to explore the agricultural systems in Bario. It was my first time signing up for a volunteering project on highland agriculture and cultural exploration. After submitting a written application and undergoing an online interview in June, my application was accepted. Seven volunteers comprising of six Malaysians and one Singaporean were selected for the trip.<br />
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During the trip itself, we were joined by Emmanuel, a university student who was doing an internship in Bario, and some tourists from Austria, Italy, and German, who lived in the same homestay as us. The laughter, jokes, and adventures made the trip wonderful and memorable. The leech-filled jungle hikes, muddy frisbee matches, paddy planting, talk series, cultural performances and games are unforgettable memories.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group photo - The August batch of WHEE's Bario: Growing Food, Sustaining Culture project, WHEE alumni, tourists and local villagers playing a game of frisbee in the paddy field</td></tr>
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Bario is also known as Valley of the Winds. It is located in the Kelabit Highlands, where the minority indigenous group has been living in for centuries. The Adan rice grown in this region is famous for its smaller grain size, sweetness, and tenderness when bitten, thus earning it the name “Bario Rice”. Besides that, a unique variety of pineapple can also be found here. It is sweet, juicy, tender, and does not leave an 'itchy' aftertaste. Furthermore, the salt harvested from salt spring is not only good for food preservation but is also beneficial to one's health. All of these are traits unique to this region and may not be seen in other places.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tepuq Ribed (second from left, holding the heart-shaped balloon) was my assigned farmer throughout the project</td></tr>
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In this project, I was assigned to a farmer, Tepuq Ribed, to collect agricultural data related to paddy planting while helping her in the fields. Tepuq Ribed is a member of possibly the last generation of Kelabits to practise traditional paddy farming. The ageing farming community and younger generation are not keen on continuing this labour-intensive practice, and this has resulted in many paddy fields being abandoned. It is saddening to see older members of the community, especially the women, having to work alone in the fields every day. Nevertheless, Tepuq Ribed and some other farmers practise 'gotong-royong', where they work together in each other's fields. They were excited and happy when we, the younger generation, helped out in the planting. There were also a few tourists who joined us in the field, which brought out laughter and fun. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some tourists from Kuala Lumpur, Austria and Italy had joined us to learn and experience the Kelabit culture and traditional paddy farming practices</td></tr>
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The traditional paddy planting process involves germinating the seedling in the nursery and then transplanting them into the paddy fields. The farmers bend forward to transplant the seedlings and retreat slowly, as if respecting nature, letting it take its course instead of fighting against it. Such care culminates in the strength of the paddy, where it would bend with the breeze but never uproot. This is akin to the Kelabits keeping the core values of their culture and ancestral knowledge intact while adapting to the tide of development. That is the reason why the one-cycle-per-year practice for the planting of Bario rice remains. It allows more time for the paddy to mature and develop sufficient resistance against unfavourable growing conditions and pest problems naturally, thus giving it its unique fragrance and sweetness.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Special delicacy - Pattaya Friend Rice with locally grown pineapple, apple, and passion fruit</td></tr>
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I was exposed to the Kelabit culture through interacting with older villagers, learning the Kelabit language, dishes, and cultural practices. There is no formal codification of the Kelabit history and language and everything is passed down verbally, where stories are told from the earlier generation to the next. </div>
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As the location of Bario is isolated from towns and cities, the Kelabits' lifestyle and diet are shaped by whatever is available to them through farming, hunting, and foraging. With the help of some external organisations, farming has been expanded to different vegetables, mushrooms, and even kelulut bees (stingless bees). Recently, Bario is experiencing rapid changes and development, such as the introduction of 24-hour electricity supply via solar power and micro hydro, Internet access, better road and infrastructure, and the development of the ecotourism and agrotourism industries. All these are done in hopes of attracting the younger generation of Kelabits who have moved out to the cities to return to Bario.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The chilly weather, beautiful scenery, friendly community, and slow-paced lifestyle in Bario have made this experience unforgettable. I hope to return to Bario during the harvest season and contribute to the farming community. </span></div>
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Author: Yap Tzuen Kiat @ Michael @ Giat (Kelabit name)<br />
Bario: Growing Food, Sustaining Culture, August 2017</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-46114068917396861302017-09-18T05:59:00.000+08:002017-09-18T05:59:18.348+08:00The warm embrace<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was on my way to resume life in Asia as I had just
completed my studies up in Scotland. In my journey to find food, I found Bario,
one much closer to home, Singapore. The jetlag that followed me through my
travels into Bario quickly vanished as I was welcomed by the Twin Otter plane, with
a sight I could never imagine… I could see the pilots! Also, the scenery through
the window panel of dense forestry and countless hills, were beyond my wildest
dream.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Boarding Twin Otter plane (15 seater)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_pje3i55SB0-iI7alAvaaSN45iIzyV_lPOAtLBZqvRi6iB-RzTbn2BFDuhrwoNkg0K8mYmyWwBl-pLFAVJcOWhC5DBKNmD1I6YIsEb7ihOjgmt-4mNVGHUbkZHdbQdcTdmRElW7BwMn7/s1600/otter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="709" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_pje3i55SB0-iI7alAvaaSN45iIzyV_lPOAtLBZqvRi6iB-RzTbn2BFDuhrwoNkg0K8mYmyWwBl-pLFAVJcOWhC5DBKNmD1I6YIsEb7ihOjgmt-4mNVGHUbkZHdbQdcTdmRElW7BwMn7/s320/otter.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The vast land of Borneo under our feet :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ut86unNkWS68PrBEYBVlWmM51GCXjXa1snE4QDGKfmys5TCYww_pRFTQrS9rH7TSbxxYtIbTwlze0UAjFaTcyz6na2bXKvM7DIQLC5SWgHWWPRiZYEMcB1JueQwysRdaduqxPCeN9iE4/s1600/borneo+landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="755" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Ut86unNkWS68PrBEYBVlWmM51GCXjXa1snE4QDGKfmys5TCYww_pRFTQrS9rH7TSbxxYtIbTwlze0UAjFaTcyz6na2bXKvM7DIQLC5SWgHWWPRiZYEMcB1JueQwysRdaduqxPCeN9iE4/s320/borneo+landscape.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">During my time in Bario, I was tasked with carrying out data-collection of the cultivation of Bario rice under a collaborative project between WHEE and SEACON. It was a privilege to
come close to the land and to work with a community. In a village that
relies heavily on its rice income, where wet paddies filled the scenery far
and beyond, it was indeed a refreshing sight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There were some experiences that had made my stay special and I would like to mention some.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hanging out with
Malaysians, having a life time of fun</span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">There are no borders in friendships and it is simple: have
fun and enjoy the ride together. The laughters that filled the long house, the
occasions when we braved through the storm especially during our first day when we trekked the Tree of Life trail and enjoying our little break times at the café for
some brain freeze. They were indeed special moments which forged a special bond
and friendship throughout the trip and beyond. Although we may differ in
background and ethnicity, everyone was genuine and supportive of one another.
This made me ponder on the kind of society I hope to live in, one that
enriches, invokes passion, supports, and embraces differences. I hope that this
would steer towards elevating the community to be a better kind and a safe place to
dream. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Frisbee session in
the sawah, rice paddy field, thoroughly refreshing!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpeA5d9hemKr1le6K23NAbBFlE454PoB0oPFCEXlzX0BKrspYpYeA30Fk60iXNA7n3R_AtXOBgzbXE_B7yW3UwsRW8feNYje3iLeLSs6t_J1jiI_z_7AVM4pHQbMvaGqsSNEzeSSWuM3O/s1600/DSC_0082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpeA5d9hemKr1le6K23NAbBFlE454PoB0oPFCEXlzX0BKrspYpYeA30Fk60iXNA7n3R_AtXOBgzbXE_B7yW3UwsRW8feNYje3iLeLSs6t_J1jiI_z_7AVM4pHQbMvaGqsSNEzeSSWuM3O/s320/DSC_0082.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">ABC (Bario Ice
Kacang)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSzgpoirrrFrzFOm2pVf_TveiX0cRY1jZHKImHc8F1DjxAvoaOKS-gf-bposzTGQA2bfOfzJO5gOc4SaOn9pJtFAlKKhUxZhyf9zhC0KMa-YOCde-jVDPVG6nxCt-pEUMHltf9n_OazS5/s1600/abc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="672" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSzgpoirrrFrzFOm2pVf_TveiX0cRY1jZHKImHc8F1DjxAvoaOKS-gf-bposzTGQA2bfOfzJO5gOc4SaOn9pJtFAlKKhUxZhyf9zhC0KMa-YOCde-jVDPVG6nxCt-pEUMHltf9n_OazS5/s320/abc.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Time with Kelabit
culture and attachment with Tepuq</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was assigned to Tepuq Bulan and Daud during my working days. My first
encounter with them was filled with worry, that my little knowledge of Bahasa
Melayu would restrict my communication. However, the worry dispelled after knowing
that the language barrier wasn’t an issue and we broke into long conversations through
the first night. They are great people and hearing their story on why they chose to retire in Bario because of their love for the land, amazed me. Furthermore, many other strong and resilient locals whom I met throughout the
project, have special experiences with the land and still play active
roles in caring and growing Bario.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">On our final day, we celebrated the occasion with Cultural Night where the
villagers were invited to a meal and while enjoying performances. As we did the Kelabit dance, we spurred one another with words of
encouragement. The tepuqs' hands were always warm for an embrace and showered
us with their love and care. Their warm receival of us, even though we are
not related by any ties or relation, was precious. My heart felt so full that
day I could hardly contain it all. It brings me back to a lesson from
nature, that the land has always provided us with natural resources, yet it
seems to be still in abundance afterwards. I was raised in a society which taught me to defend and accumulate things for a certain future. In that context, it is hard to see giving as a demonstration of strength. The amount of
appreciation and effort that comes with giving become so apparent that they would
last for eternity with a smile each day. This is a great empowerment for us and the
community.</span></div>
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</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Wefie with Tepuq Bulan in the paddy field!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9UgBvMS_yEW5N929rhlD7kN7_YnrwsJ7ozIc-HFnVU8HtGkDKQUmz4mG2B3l3h7VFTp7zaww2xXw26GAuQsB7wGhupAVX7mpcD9GCf-V5JIO321HChbkFlxAKCAy7IJtSl6jC1utoHkS/s1600/depok+bulan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="733" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix9UgBvMS_yEW5N929rhlD7kN7_YnrwsJ7ozIc-HFnVU8HtGkDKQUmz4mG2B3l3h7VFTp7zaww2xXw26GAuQsB7wGhupAVX7mpcD9GCf-V5JIO321HChbkFlxAKCAy7IJtSl6jC1utoHkS/s320/depok+bulan.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Cultural night in the
long house</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvayT4b9rZfYLdUE85XuxgQpqPKNg2ktvSgT0doMMnNbkX7M94ntx4TXLN7yRIWj02FDC9NA703lNoM1CzO2k4Yn0jOo5xZ-WQSz4qVDSPmmHPt4hvTDUQFR9uFZxIzl9d19g8DN0-3L1/s1600/longhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZvayT4b9rZfYLdUE85XuxgQpqPKNg2ktvSgT0doMMnNbkX7M94ntx4TXLN7yRIWj02FDC9NA703lNoM1CzO2k4Yn0jOo5xZ-WQSz4qVDSPmmHPt4hvTDUQFR9uFZxIzl9d19g8DN0-3L1/s320/longhouse.jpg" width="239" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center" style="margin: 0px 0px 11px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In closure, I would say that my WHEE experience ignited within me a new hope, that there is something to love and strive for. A better
community through warm embrace and sincerity. Also, the preservation of cultural heritage (in this context, Kelabit) is important for us to remember valuable lessons from the past,
to be wiser in our choices for the present and the future. Thank you Project WHEE for such a
extra-ordinary experience in Malaysia, a country with vibrant diversity of many
ethnics. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Signing off,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 0px 11px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">John Ng</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Bario, Sarawak, Malaysia3.7349572 115.47927843.6715777000000003 115.3985974 3.7983367 115.5599594tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-2157556224402091572017-09-18T05:30:00.000+08:002017-09-18T05:30:07.108+08:00Kau tau betapa ku sayang tepumu?<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Walking behind my tepuq as we made our way slowly but surely towards the fields, through treacherous muddy buffalo trails with piles of poop and steep jungle tracks; all I could do was to try not to slip each time I took a step forward. It was undeniable that the locals here were super humans, taking these trails daily to the rice fields that provided for them year after year. However my heart sank each time I watched my 80 year old tepuq made that trip, and it sank a little more each time I walked away. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-f621aa0b-13cb-f060-fa69-e2d8b3a756e9" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I never expected to bond with her as much as we did over the short five days that we had together. Our relationship started off like any new working partners, foreign and a little awkward. Neither of us were big talkers, that made day one in the fields silent with a tinge of apprehensiveness. I remember thinking “Data collection is going to be a bigger challenge than I thought, or any sort of communication even!” </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our entire relationship was placed on fast-forward, including the warming up to each other. Tepuq was not a person of many words, but what she lacked in words she made up a hundred foe in her actions. She brought way too much food to the fields, ensuring that I was never hungry, even giving me snacks to take back with me even though she knew that I was going straight to lunch right after. She brought boiled eggs each day, and something told me that she doesn’t usually boil eggs because the first time she brought them mine was half boiled and exploded all over me. She was embarrassed and apologizing for her cooking saying ‘Tepuq tidak pandai masak ini’, but I just smiled and slurped the whatever egg I could salvage from the bits of shell I had. The egg boiling improved over time as each day the egg was a little more solid, and on my final day the egg was perfectly hard boiled! She kept giving and giving and all I could do was accept it with a grateful heart. She would stop me from working every so often only to say ‘minum!’ which meant ‘drink’. She would make little comments about how I was not covered up enough from the scorching sun that proved to be a lot closer to us than usual for we were in the highlands. She kept saying ‘nanti balik ibu bapa tanya kenapa tanam padi jadi hitam?’, worrying that my parents would wonder why I was burnt from my work in the fields. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGoUwJYj2DwBSTOH55T3NZjTkJMgR2LPn4_5quNI6Ej2Nc5icmzkXx-9aenbk7cObpGSn1-U9Vhm7_sjbiai-k8nmQfq0BXDXCEsNPIl7zV2xp0fc5syC2nwkhhH0kV9UFOQBlIDeeYQ/s1600/IMG_4864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGoUwJYj2DwBSTOH55T3NZjTkJMgR2LPn4_5quNI6Ej2Nc5icmzkXx-9aenbk7cObpGSn1-U9Vhm7_sjbiai-k8nmQfq0BXDXCEsNPIl7zV2xp0fc5syC2nwkhhH0kV9UFOQBlIDeeYQ/s320/IMG_4864.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM05aetmBUNTerCMYC0vdWyOgVgNr913gA2lLDNQzZtwog9z8sv1se7fvyBFR7aA2V1QxY0JTJ3wMianETGKxi_EuEQKn0kFXK-3IIjJeI9k10fKZ3Fc1CArONP_Pmq5Cc9dFpzovjY8I/s1600/DSC_0679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM05aetmBUNTerCMYC0vdWyOgVgNr913gA2lLDNQzZtwog9z8sv1se7fvyBFR7aA2V1QxY0JTJ3wMianETGKxi_EuEQKn0kFXK-3IIjJeI9k10fKZ3Fc1CArONP_Pmq5Cc9dFpzovjY8I/s320/DSC_0679.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She would often comment on how I wasn’t allowed to spend more time with her, a mere 5 hours a day in comparison to the 8 hours she had with participants of the previous batches. After explaining to her the first time that we were on a completely different program and schedule, I came to realize that she was saying it out of affection more than actual questioning. This added to my weighted heart as I made my slow, slippery hike back to the village each day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2Dj-Rv6KbViMlsz9fxo55bepsecNTGwv4v5GQ9op0gG89llBiNmPXjrLtD2tGxbHjazuWTVIBUqK9-XGYlb2tROpOPlB7qC0DA7r940f9eTw2Wl2IhHsDqKZWhWx1P91cdoiyytdrlk/s1600/IMG_4668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2Dj-Rv6KbViMlsz9fxo55bepsecNTGwv4v5GQ9op0gG89llBiNmPXjrLtD2tGxbHjazuWTVIBUqK9-XGYlb2tROpOPlB7qC0DA7r940f9eTw2Wl2IhHsDqKZWhWx1P91cdoiyytdrlk/s320/IMG_4668.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">She mentioned to me that she had told her husband who was working in Miri how she acquired a new ‘grandchild’ a.k.a me, who was following her around in the rice fields helping her with the planting. This was such a random thing to tell me but it warmed my heart through and through, for it was recognition of sorts from my stoic tepuq. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZnJ0Puc9T92iS4-4BkkMYjFyBtei5siZsmO5QqhMitPETM161M0uqyZ9M-oPV0f_zZhlFQMBe-py9c8KCFc7EQYxWnTHtuLvzlvWkNpen2g4kILmkIBjBl9t00OtozqFeOFrk_lQntA/s1600/IMG_4662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZnJ0Puc9T92iS4-4BkkMYjFyBtei5siZsmO5QqhMitPETM161M0uqyZ9M-oPV0f_zZhlFQMBe-py9c8KCFc7EQYxWnTHtuLvzlvWkNpen2g4kILmkIBjBl9t00OtozqFeOFrk_lQntA/s320/IMG_4662.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was strange and interesting to see everyone grow more protective of their tepuqs, and it became almost competitive in a subtle game of what I like to call “my tepuq is better than yours”. It was sweet to observe the different dynamics between the each ‘tepuq’ and their ‘cucu’. You’re not just accepted into the community there, but you gain a new family. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Bvx8a1pwD-_PHcl2v0ka7bnQ0Rm1sVtCtaPvu8qkQQfA9okBg8OHZF2FwcGGmipG7b5y2Y3PeurtetFTFNYL7Pp0T8adEJCy82IiMiw7W9cKWB_9lAySIBpx03vKu0Xb9H82jQ-PjU8/s1600/IMG_4830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Bvx8a1pwD-_PHcl2v0ka7bnQ0Rm1sVtCtaPvu8qkQQfA9okBg8OHZF2FwcGGmipG7b5y2Y3PeurtetFTFNYL7Pp0T8adEJCy82IiMiw7W9cKWB_9lAySIBpx03vKu0Xb9H82jQ-PjU8/s320/IMG_4830.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bario surprised me with lots of tears, pineapple and rice. Saying goodbye to my tepuq was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do, as I did not expect to develop an emotional attachment to that degree. My heart breaks a little every time I think of my tepuq all alone in the fields, working slowly each day in silence. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47RQzWiF_he0fAtymm_WTOCpzeSJukXNbQNbJFSu_ZrO5CS78v_ZgHR1bljIxonFzwNMwEiAwWHS_CA45RZ617lAGVbkECMraaDJNNuCoAY9kYQHQ1C2G4073eVPPpIAG5sjSfHh_ZwU/s1600/IMG_4784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: normal;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj47RQzWiF_he0fAtymm_WTOCpzeSJukXNbQNbJFSu_ZrO5CS78v_ZgHR1bljIxonFzwNMwEiAwWHS_CA45RZ617lAGVbkECMraaDJNNuCoAY9kYQHQ1C2G4073eVPPpIAG5sjSfHh_ZwU/s320/IMG_4784.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you Bario for Tepuq Supang, and thank you Tepuq, for sharing your Bario with me. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1Hz61pV8qozNshKt7Ql-OEjxCX1oGVL3Zm5LLJx59TRn7ubGkwusDf2zAcUO876sLqDlGOR-T7HQechyll_ikhOesJ25SrpE81sTgAPhyphenhyphenkjIhwEuRlZdwPDgxXXmh510lz-vlc86OxI/s1600/IMG_4942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1Hz61pV8qozNshKt7Ql-OEjxCX1oGVL3Zm5LLJx59TRn7ubGkwusDf2zAcUO876sLqDlGOR-T7HQechyll_ikhOesJ25SrpE81sTgAPhyphenhyphenkjIhwEuRlZdwPDgxXXmh510lz-vlc86OxI/s320/IMG_4942.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">With love, Sigang</span></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-87586904582698480742017-09-18T05:26:00.000+08:002017-09-18T05:31:52.507+08:00The Ultimate Kampung Workout<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever thought, “I would love to join WHEE as a batch member, but I’m going to lose all my gains and my workout routine will never see the light of day while I’m there!” Well worry no further for there is a solution for you! Yes you! That 5 times a week gym rat who admires himself/herself in the mirror whilst lifting free weights, and gives him/herself an imaginary pat on the back for benching that 120! I’m talking to you!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Introducing the ultimate kampung workout….*drumroll*</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">THE SAWAH CIRCUIT</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Run agility drills and full body HIIT workouts right in your neighbourhood sawah! The knee high mud adds resistance like you wouldn’t believe, and the sticky slippery mud forces core and quad engagement just to stand up straight without falling over. It is the perfect strength and conditioning program!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YzRbSWtmplzWPvmORm_GEtXgIeSJ-_xbgbP6pcCg06f7jt792sYZSFCrEX5Huu5jlZDO5dMaZGes28qb5RTAjbnu7yA293CS0bTCOw0CsCN4UjLi9mNR_TRjVepwGzH8OtDdO6gTxzY/s1600/DSC_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YzRbSWtmplzWPvmORm_GEtXgIeSJ-_xbgbP6pcCg06f7jt792sYZSFCrEX5Huu5jlZDO5dMaZGes28qb5RTAjbnu7yA293CS0bTCOw0CsCN4UjLi9mNR_TRjVepwGzH8OtDdO6gTxzY/s320/DSC_0110.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN1m6rbRghkry29wgGBI7-O7TReYfdNZ9vgqA1ItsznlaxrdvfGbcgnNH6iwud8UxIN8BqG01z_jDHJvow_WWGPN-qgOrG8MHkR8mV-E1xfyoH0lYD8kwrAIHJgbO72uS7koK4I5piPQ/s1600/IMG-20170819-WA0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPN1m6rbRghkry29wgGBI7-O7TReYfdNZ9vgqA1ItsznlaxrdvfGbcgnNH6iwud8UxIN8BqG01z_jDHJvow_WWGPN-qgOrG8MHkR8mV-E1xfyoH0lYD8kwrAIHJgbO72uS7koK4I5piPQ/s320/IMG-20170819-WA0005.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are a few suggested workout programs that are perfect for the sawah:</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawah frisbee</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawah sprints</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawah squats</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawah squat jumps</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawah rugby</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawah wrestling</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sawah captain ball</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are a few suggested recovery workouts/light cardio:</span></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Climb Prayer mountain (full body workout, and if you want a real challenge, climb it bare footed)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTzgzsGUoiZZDrbzX1gA6m2-Q_u9GLkdOh0dBs99jJ4xHM_JQKBI-BqDsK8OvjV_-lzYMkqZSOuqShNfuFIGQFoDyixG5G-8bUaO76R2t_PpxisC4ifa8-NG6zMzL2suAkqkXbxiDVXw/s1600/IMG_4788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjTzgzsGUoiZZDrbzX1gA6m2-Q_u9GLkdOh0dBs99jJ4xHM_JQKBI-BqDsK8OvjV_-lzYMkqZSOuqShNfuFIGQFoDyixG5G-8bUaO76R2t_PpxisC4ifa8-NG6zMzL2suAkqkXbxiDVXw/s320/IMG_4788.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Go jungle trekking with Uncle Julian (quads engagement with slight upper body)</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrOs3Aor414TQViJ5yXWPWq6tfywVs354v_SJ3_gQd1m-twqBCz1YWROaFiUW5kD2RBVbUDpO1yuFKhQ8j0G8mjuKceB8WCHtIKi6c9iZa_lsioRd-Y43hs-OMvomt66md7QI0-otpqY/s1600/IMG_4374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDrOs3Aor414TQViJ5yXWPWq6tfywVs354v_SJ3_gQd1m-twqBCz1YWROaFiUW5kD2RBVbUDpO1yuFKhQ8j0G8mjuKceB8WCHtIKi6c9iZa_lsioRd-Y43hs-OMvomt66md7QI0-otpqY/s320/IMG_4374.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Plant rice with your tepuqs (excellent for strengthening the lower back and quad)</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl611LgNDcA42u21O1IJlelAl31Od3YdSGBxtJ1s7y5025xJrdDK3oNjIJ14ZaX_1upJCW9P08UoyME5NjaWFvgmzYFUb_HpViysDg2qPmvC2mARLFD0KmyPBysa-PVr_Mhjc2lM4sqE/s1600/IMG_4769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVl611LgNDcA42u21O1IJlelAl31Od3YdSGBxtJ1s7y5025xJrdDK3oNjIJ14ZaX_1upJCW9P08UoyME5NjaWFvgmzYFUb_HpViysDg2qPmvC2mARLFD0KmyPBysa-PVr_Mhjc2lM4sqE/s320/IMG_4769.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discover buffalo trails and try not to slip (excellent balance and core training)</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUAkSY4Qsz7hCyfuT7_EYyCytX9G45Z8UIia9mIo_2WZiZ1KOTYXa1TPPJGBrLaCIt4bVDiTikK-cT9g0mjKEETZhOUj89CdMD0XwBwCHdWpgcWyLTAC5MsVfX3MF2L23QQMg-gi9dXI/s1600/IMG_4854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXUAkSY4Qsz7hCyfuT7_EYyCytX9G45Z8UIia9mIo_2WZiZ1KOTYXa1TPPJGBrLaCIt4bVDiTikK-cT9g0mjKEETZhOUj89CdMD0XwBwCHdWpgcWyLTAC5MsVfX3MF2L23QQMg-gi9dXI/s320/IMG_4854.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Playing ‘the floor is lava’ at the salt lick (agility training)</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoFCBWwTwSknSfMjDPOdKflCEXIuh5mi4S6AqdJ8HQDjXSlT23V_XYBIwwA4OfaqNqE5WhsckVu3cb0OpEYrZxcXi4sY6TC9gkFz6_B9BX3_nk12kI-I5A-MRJw8ClUbLG6-7udN2ebs/s1600/DSC_0729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoFCBWwTwSknSfMjDPOdKflCEXIuh5mi4S6AqdJ8HQDjXSlT23V_XYBIwwA4OfaqNqE5WhsckVu3cb0OpEYrZxcXi4sY6TC9gkFz6_B9BX3_nk12kI-I5A-MRJw8ClUbLG6-7udN2ebs/s320/DSC_0729.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pick pineapples (Bicep workout)</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3VuGChV1oQ_8IAbYByXX-MgzhXCBE5MjFeKMC3VS-vABRVZcU2SEOBxLw0GBHWjfcDajbguDZ7xyJVeDU-kYGbaR5AHQpAynRrSETlihoyIqFuOPY2pqvwu2QTVuBqFE0oxkB3Uc_PM/s1600/IMG_4326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3VuGChV1oQ_8IAbYByXX-MgzhXCBE5MjFeKMC3VS-vABRVZcU2SEOBxLw0GBHWjfcDajbguDZ7xyJVeDU-kYGbaR5AHQpAynRrSETlihoyIqFuOPY2pqvwu2QTVuBqFE0oxkB3Uc_PM/s320/IMG_4326.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chase/terrorize ducks and chickens (The more arm flapping you do, the more you engage your rotator cuffs and your scapula)</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-kFVfJRYXeiMcOU_peusUbWc_M94RllQg7Jkx7SHBFrmJtgcW89xB7qT-9uIERFV2hoy2_x1rupvS1pSCBQcf0EopdKFRwJvp3KV-Yrv9FJ5O7Yxnnoh4don4hOmmIX_-FjLlNsbIvc/s1600/DSC_0471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-kFVfJRYXeiMcOU_peusUbWc_M94RllQg7Jkx7SHBFrmJtgcW89xB7qT-9uIERFV2hoy2_x1rupvS1pSCBQcf0EopdKFRwJvp3KV-Yrv9FJ5O7Yxnnoh4don4hOmmIX_-FjLlNsbIvc/s320/DSC_0471.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ngarang (fantastic core and lower body workout)</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHMkta5JV-_o36714gg8oB_UsrdpqHbfXyZLYB8tjyKhBgmHsZuJEegWCXiDIhLVomfSOYu9hKffclZW3B1DqdchpgR0hvXLFCFfqoJju2OmSUIQy7fAn5fJgvea0PpeUZkx3z_ZvMMw/s1600/IMG_4935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHMkta5JV-_o36714gg8oB_UsrdpqHbfXyZLYB8tjyKhBgmHsZuJEegWCXiDIhLVomfSOYu9hKffclZW3B1DqdchpgR0hvXLFCFfqoJju2OmSUIQy7fAn5fJgvea0PpeUZkx3z_ZvMMw/s320/IMG_4935.JPG" width="320" /></a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Giving your tepus massages (works your extensors and flexors)</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhFnr68yLZjL69gzh8kilD9a-hm8seGxWghZBIxxK9TblqGDRwerS1eU_xatJPXaf7ukxbPjHsdVCRWzMe-fEmGkujyfBfck0aMQBN5FVH-0YvSr_1ZlEy_4cdb0jt7JAWHhPV0BZe-U/s1600/IMG_4829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhFnr68yLZjL69gzh8kilD9a-hm8seGxWghZBIxxK9TblqGDRwerS1eU_xatJPXaf7ukxbPjHsdVCRWzMe-fEmGkujyfBfck0aMQBN5FVH-0YvSr_1ZlEy_4cdb0jt7JAWHhPV0BZe-U/s320/IMG_4829.JPG" width="240" /></a></span><br />
<br /></div>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li dir="ltr" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Carrying pineapples and rice (basically free weights, literally and figuratively) </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yat6VIeaoNavP7M0G9kH0Ey0rM1IFlCeRuNs6dXZLXzLRSB3GCogkmtXvqTaHbUTaWk5rLtpidbkY9F6bStFe00OPshRproiGJLCPheH8yV6SXMnPl_DV7qIBzG1FS83PkC5E-qGXnQ/s1600/IMG_4879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yat6VIeaoNavP7M0G9kH0Ey0rM1IFlCeRuNs6dXZLXzLRSB3GCogkmtXvqTaHbUTaWk5rLtpidbkY9F6bStFe00OPshRproiGJLCPheH8yV6SXMnPl_DV7qIBzG1FS83PkC5E-qGXnQ/s320/IMG_4879.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The possibilities are endless! And if you are feeling brave? Challenge Uncle Julian to a wrestling match in the sawah. </span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Ask any fitness expert and they will tell you that stretching is THE MOST important part of every workout. Well while you're stretching out those sore muscles, it is the perfect time to tend</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> leech and bloodsucker bites! Talk about multi-tasking!</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another secret to good fitness and to </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;">being happy and content with life is SLEEP! </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you try out any combination of workouts presented above, we guarantee you will sleep soundly. Exhibit A:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2Z76fhDuFh3H9WqpEtj4sGuaYsK7Vy6sTURUhjUYMDQWey9CuFB27KIXIIMAiRxnpX9uZs72DGKaCp4iNec54Oq416j0JMYKV5bKrmcdQ1oEmhttOWBDbzsjJ4O4vGukNaFnPU2KrfQ/s1600/DSC_0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2Z76fhDuFh3H9WqpEtj4sGuaYsK7Vy6sTURUhjUYMDQWey9CuFB27KIXIIMAiRxnpX9uZs72DGKaCp4iNec54Oq416j0JMYKV5bKrmcdQ1oEmhttOWBDbzsjJ4O4vGukNaFnPU2KrfQ/s320/DSC_0370.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvit0y5ihQoAru09hSlgsoeoPxpjyPRCofy0fUCAT-RW3moxSjmjlQsN_UKOgdm7xSBYs7ZYJJTMZqhCp_fNJ97FHAhDcU9FH-SRZp441Qi8NwfTz8l5fGyjyImQ0kE7x_SXoiNM7Q_Y/s1600/IMG_4631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 14.6667px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvit0y5ihQoAru09hSlgsoeoPxpjyPRCofy0fUCAT-RW3moxSjmjlQsN_UKOgdm7xSBYs7ZYJJTMZqhCp_fNJ97FHAhDcU9FH-SRZp441Qi8NwfTz8l5fGyjyImQ0kE7x_SXoiNM7Q_Y/s320/IMG_4631.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">HAPPY WORKING OUT!</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-49129331067720957762017-05-09T07:35:00.001+08:002017-05-09T07:35:11.038+08:00Bario, a different type of ‘kampung’<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-SG"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What comes to your mind when the word ‘kampung’ (village) is mentioned? For me, my impression of a ‘kampung’ was based on my
grandma’s house in Batu Pahat, Johor. There are water and electricity supplies, telecommunication
and adequate road access. With the inevitable urbanization, shophouses, McDonald's, and 7-11 are set up nearby. What I understood from the word ‘kampung’ was a
place with fewer cars, lower Internet speed, and lots of trees.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My time in Bario was really an eye-opener. It was my first time witnessing the abundance of the Borneo rainforests. I could see the
transition in development through the topography. There are more shophouses and buildings
erected in Miri. As the plane slowly approached inland, the terrain
changed from flat land to mountains, and along with it the settlements and buildings decreased. I also witnessed the green lung in Borneo and the vast areas of rainforests was
seriously no joke. </span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-SG" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTroKjD21N_j_X-C7Rsbzb6KcQzfQL6hSx6jOOj5F522Jt2zz_UwqFrqSiCAGyOBduQmBP1rTZbew66wGCVkcSRcFaHR0fFDSw8gKZ2cBVkrY_hvXXHNaW1sc-ALKvRD82EEJbE_2FNeX/s1600/AIMG_2852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJTroKjD21N_j_X-C7Rsbzb6KcQzfQL6hSx6jOOj5F522Jt2zz_UwqFrqSiCAGyOBduQmBP1rTZbew66wGCVkcSRcFaHR0fFDSw8gKZ2cBVkrY_hvXXHNaW1sc-ALKvRD82EEJbE_2FNeX/s320/AIMG_2852.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-SG">The view from the MASwings plane on the way to Bario<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;">Upon arriving in Bario,
there was no highway, no tarred roads or road lines. There were just cemented road,
and some of the roads were mud road approximately 3 meters wide. Although it appeared as if there was no strict enforcement of road regulations, all the road users, pedestrians and motorists alike, paid attention to each other and used the roads in a harmonious manner. </span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></span>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDCkWqGKqH29Fp3fpNoSkayUrqiKXrEDv-CehnZL1dtE7vhiXb58jLSzfvLIt4D06vWw5VdxlGYw4BwEQPaZ12Zc5NgdRSt2iQisqg3tQpK1v1lSt00STjVojga0TBz1SywWvVJPnJf3s/s1600/AIMG_2661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDCkWqGKqH29Fp3fpNoSkayUrqiKXrEDv-CehnZL1dtE7vhiXb58jLSzfvLIt4D06vWw5VdxlGYw4BwEQPaZ12Zc5NgdRSt2iQisqg3tQpK1v1lSt00STjVojga0TBz1SywWvVJPnJf3s/s320/AIMG_2661.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-SG">One of the cement roads in Bario</span></i></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although the designs of each unit of the longhouse varied and do not follow a standard design, nevertheless the residents live in an orderly manner. They
rely on each other if anything happens. I could also see the trust among the community members, something uncommon today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;">Not
to forget, there is a practice among the Bario community which is to wave at each other. I was
assigned with Tepuq Lun Anid and her paddy field was walking distance from our
homestay, I always walked to the paddy field with her in the mornings and back to our homestay alone during lunch break. Even during the times when I walked alone, the locals would always wave at me. Although they could have been greeting me out of courtesy or tradition, I enjoyed the feeling. It felt inclusive and I felt as though I was treated as another local from Bario. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8U0k4JmLaLVjLS2h_HKbd0cvEqz0gu0PsepHSmQxi0oYuEextK3M_jDmliG1TgDkF3wXcOrWnLntV_4hbWWOX1ThE4VaIZywBzZC63zr8qms0EncoSq9zBA65C75V-Pz9diGPn5cF8bF/s1600/AUntitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI8U0k4JmLaLVjLS2h_HKbd0cvEqz0gu0PsepHSmQxi0oYuEextK3M_jDmliG1TgDkF3wXcOrWnLntV_4hbWWOX1ThE4VaIZywBzZC63zr8qms0EncoSq9zBA65C75V-Pz9diGPn5cF8bF/s320/AUntitled.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-SG">Daily walks with Tepuq to her paddy field<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;">As I was tasked with collecting data and information on the paddy farming systems in Bario during my time in the Bario: Growing Food, Sustaining Culture project, I had to work with Tepuq in the paddy fields. I spent five days in the paddy field helping her to harvest the ripen paddy grains while carrying out my task. Working in the paddy field requires a lot of bending. However, every time when I looked up, I kept getting surprised by the landscape and scenery. The vast blue skies and clouds surrounding the mountains were like a gift from heaven. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfpV5YXZRnyCsjqwhmWmIxE2inRMLq-zZueDzR6iik7ZL-3jxF6Ih_DZDh6jBausrNXE7qgoYA6wbmtNma4cG_5lg8TtUkH3F-EFPgpeKQKwoge1zQXtl0Og5gbBbmftkjLA4jeckKkYE/s1600/AIMG_2703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfpV5YXZRnyCsjqwhmWmIxE2inRMLq-zZueDzR6iik7ZL-3jxF6Ih_DZDh6jBausrNXE7qgoYA6wbmtNma4cG_5lg8TtUkH3F-EFPgpeKQKwoge1zQXtl0Og5gbBbmftkjLA4jeckKkYE/s320/AIMG_2703.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-SG">Tepuq Lun Anid’s paddy field, with her little
hut!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span></span></span></span><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A different type of ‘kampung’ has been added to my knowledge after spending time in Bario. Bario is
unique; it shares some similarities with other villages yet the Kelabits preserve and maintain their culture in a good condition. One lesson to myself is to always minimalise my impact to a community. Regardless of being a tourist or a volunteer in a community, I believe we should preserve the authenticity of a community's culture. </span></span><span lang="EN-SG"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-34036039035427529052017-04-17T17:03:00.001+08:002017-04-17T17:05:10.943+08:00Bario and Me<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Should I go? Maybe I should stay home.” </span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One night before our Bario trip, I was battling with a very difficult decision - to go or not to go. I had gotten a bad throat infection (tonsillitis) three days before the trip and my condition was getting worse. I called Rhon (our mama boss) to get her advice - she encouraged me to go and gave assurance that there is a clinic available in Bario if I needed more medical attention and most importantly, the 10-day experience would be unforgettable. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So I went, and yes, Bario, was amazing.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 10 days, I met so many new people, forged great friendships with my batchmates and the Tepuqs (respected elders), learnt about the Kelabit culture, understood the problems associated with traditional paddy farming and ultimately, experienced the village life in Bario which has changed my perspective towards life. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are too many things to say and write about Bario. For this post, I’ll cover my five favorite memories and takeaways: </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Mountains, Clouds, Land, Breeze - Nature’s Wonder </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Bario evening scenary_.jpg" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/5E5bZUzu2YGcr2OCMch4gCTNtjrd8g-6pnp4wuJ6zBrvMbbO0dGCDTBIhH5iAF15B5z5S5qpsg7yACvI8Xf47MUmOoX4QIyAS4r8640zTAr0muPwljiLGHzRNg7SVdI4AAm2Cp3M" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="569" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The evening sky on our first day in Bario</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was our first day in Bario and I was already blown away by the beauty of this place. Because I was not in my best condition, I had to opt out on many farming activities that my batchmates were doing and rest at the homestay. In other words, for a few days, I was spending my mornings and afternoons staring at the sky. Yup, just staring and staring and staring... Until someone shouts, “Jien Yue, we’re back!”. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BUT HEY, the view was absolutely breathtaking. I loved the alone time spent looking at God’s wonder - it gave me so much peace, helped me think about life from different perspectives. How nice it would be if I could wake up every morning to such a beautiful sight! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. A Heart of Gratitude </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Living in the city, many times we take things for granted. Many of us do not even know where our food is produced or how difficult it is to grow them; we just eat. Sometimes we even complain that the food we have doesn't taste good and stop eating them. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What surprised me in Bario was how everyone in the village was grateful for the food placed on the table. I remember when we arrived, Tepuq Sinah Rang (our homestay host) had all of us hold hands to say grace, giving thanks to God for the food. A few days in, she taught us to sing the song - “Aku Mengucapkan Syukur” (in English it means “I Give Thanks”) it was really catchy and all of us sang it happily before most of our meals. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="Blowing fire (1 of 1).jpg" height="393" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/15Zn676Zhh6ZJ4O0jmusNg6KcHt7Bh4UMZSts3IzEaTZSszgGpfir_K397iJh-1ZkDcI3BwefRxt9SmKCSW9CBq5wdbPVlQOesTJGaPV36ovROnWjLPXCwfjlco8Ylwxg6665p1z" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="261" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tepuq Sinah Rang roasting wild boar for dinner</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 9pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The simple act of giving thanks before our food reminded me to always be appreciative and grateful of what we have - our food, our health, our family, our friends, our homes and our lives. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Fully Engaging in the Present </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was no internet connection where we stayed; hence, my batchmates and I had to live without Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and WhatsApp for 10 days (difficult for a millennial). The beauty of disconnecting from technology was the bond formed while connecting with one another, face-to-face. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">During our free time, all of us would sit down for hours talking, jamming, singing songs, exchanging experiences and lessons learnt on the field. It was amazing how much we have grown to be closer and comfortable with each other through the time spent together. We have also bonded immensely with the Tepuqs by working alongside them in their respective paddy fields and listening to their interesting life stories during meal times. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="301" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DJcVSLNdQe8OdrXGviGEVeO0LCvCqH7QaTefseYy9ZeGH5LIYkLQ6eLxcqkl_dItLofrh9DcyFdcPBTayhMrnmF40omzHK4B3AuT0pzhfo4z2ONnmzRgAnB8pz6PUE9oCCuoSnRu" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="403" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having breakfast with Tepuqs on our second last day in Bario (Photo credits: Project WHEE)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There was so much happiness when we were fully engaged in conversations and jokes without distractions from technology. It dawned upon me that the key to happiness isn’t in wealth or material things; it is in having great relationships with people you care about through spending quality time together. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Always Better to Give than to Receive </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In the business world, nothing comes free. When we give, we are taught to expect something in return. I came from a finance background and the concept of having good “return on investment” is a key requirement for any decisions - often times, helping someone comes with an ulterior motive. In Bario, people are so genuine with one another and there isn’t anything like this. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was amazed by how the villagers helped one another in so many ways. For example, when someone in the long house catches a wild boar, the owner would share the meat so everyone gets a piece of the catch. When farming, they would help one another with planting or harvesting so the pace of getting things done is faster. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="362" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/oUFw7HGF-3edL_InFFqYNBJ3Cghz9ebb3giUShCsLdOuOmxLHavIxeEibhM8PgwuTT1JaR6bdKF59k23xoMlqXUU2ZuK2GKZbCroEXk26g1E65Hppan_PfS74QP05rRtcDYw8efL" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="240" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Receiving souvenirs from Tepuq Bulan Radu on cultural night (Photo credits: Project WHEE)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On our final night, we had a time of appreciation where us volunteers presented small tokens from KL to our respective Tepuqs. Instead, it was the Tepuqs who were blessing us generously with the fruits of their hard labour. We went home with bags of rice, salt, pineapples, pineapple jams, and a beautiful piece of Kelabit necklace known as “Kaboq”. They gave without reservations and Tepuq Bulan Radu told me she found great joy in doing so. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Love and be Loved </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I remember during the introductory meet-and-greet session on our first night, Tepuq Sinah Rang gave a welcome speech saying how grateful she was to have nine of us from KL visiting and helping them with farming activities. She said, we aren’t just volunteers; we are like grandchildren sent from Heaven. Instantly, the Bario Asal (the long house we stayed in) community took us in like family and showered us with so much love and care. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="353" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/9WcX9SCBOnz36p6mmwQvzzePMoGImhjm5SFoNqMCCO4tAhlMAGeVQBIf8j8ozuL7SRyks4dsbOoZB-_U10d9biuFwZTtTpMHV_LqjlyO4gb3_zJxFeEgV_4GRPXPQSgHrga2Mz82" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="262" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With Tepuq Sinah Rang in her traditional Kelabit head gear </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When Daniel, our Project Coordinator, told the Tepuqs I wasn’t in my best shape, instantly, Tepuq Bulan Radu took me to the clinic for a checkup - she made sure I had proper medical attention and was always hydrated. Tepuq Sinah Rang cooked porridge for me so my throat could heal faster and Tepuq Ratu made lemon water for me to make me feel better. They cared for me like their very own child and I was truly touched by their love. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="322" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/YqGxDgk51QiAI4nQCvN0CNsP4KycwfV36hY1n8wHtv2D8KPYPAte9IxPpCtfy0jXz1qlbWwCPWQa9y2qVSRv_yGADHwYf7swP_HKdd5Pa-4GbcXthqYkNnHDGTZcEkLClBJBwNVO" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="484" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 9pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A picture with the Tepuqs on cultural night (Photo credits: Project WHEE)</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we were leaving Bario, many tears were shed and I believe it is because of the bond formed through love over 10 days. There was a feeling of sadness leaving the place but a greater joy of getting to know these amazing, genuine and loving Tepuqs. When I hugged them goodbye, I know one day I’ll be back to visit again.
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Words could only express so much, the rest are left to be experienced personally. If you are thinking whether you should sign up for the upcoming project, do it! Trust me, you will gain so much more than you expect. Bario has left a mark on me and will always have a place in my heart.</span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-60882006714723557472017-04-04T19:18:00.000+08:002017-12-13T16:40:37.781+08:00Fundraising your way to a WHEE project<div style="text-align: justify;">
When embarking on a trip, whether for holiday, a volunteering program, or for studies, one thing that must be considered is the cost. The terms 'expensive' and 'cheap' are relative and vary according to one's financial status. However, from what I have observed as a WHEE coordinator, I notice that parents are more inclined to have their kids fund the programmes they sign up for themselves to encourage them to be more responsible monetarily. This is apparent even if the parents can afford to just fork out the money.</div>
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Fundraising, the voluntary method of gathering financial contributions, has been a common method for many WHEE participants to fund their costs in the WHEE projects. WHEE highly encourages this methodology as it is an opportunity for the participants to inform their peers about the cause and community they wish to serve in.<br />
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Furthermore, things have been made easier for participants of the Bario: Growing Food, Sustaining Culture project, as our partnering organization, 1Malaysia for Youth (1M4U) has partially waived the cost for the 10-day project, bringing it down to RM 800. Fundraising may sound daunting at first, but it is achievable so long as you have a strong desire and are willing to put in the effort needed to achieve your goal. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLBT_nPkVNuB869K-70sN-SHkXJ0VaZTAbPOjXYidjeFmqgxoSaj19eyl17uylKlioReTnXPKCYkoS4n8ZJcLd-uIKi0GSseCY2b8aUXYMWbqoJsumqOCOKi7wG6Ija21mNeCfvudzPE/s1600/GROWING+FOOD+WAIVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLBT_nPkVNuB869K-70sN-SHkXJ0VaZTAbPOjXYidjeFmqgxoSaj19eyl17uylKlioReTnXPKCYkoS4n8ZJcLd-uIKi0GSseCY2b8aUXYMWbqoJsumqOCOKi7wG6Ija21mNeCfvudzPE/s400/GROWING+FOOD+WAIVER.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bario: Growing Food, Sustaining Culture project is partially waived by 1M4U </td></tr>
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If you can afford to pay for a WHEE project through your personal funds, that's great! However, if you are more likely to attempt fundraising, here is a compilation of some fundraising tips from the previous WHEE participants who successfully fundraised for their WHEE projects.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Organise a sale</span></b></div>
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You cannot go wrong with a classic sale. If you have a decent amount of friends living nearby and neighbours who you can call on, there is a high chance they will buy something affordable from you to contribute to your cause. If you can bake or cook, whip up something in the kitchen. If you are artistic and good at handicrafts, make something. There have been WHEE participants who made dream catchers, bookmarks, pineapple tarts, and other baked goods for sale. Besides selling them to gather the funds, your funders will also view these items as a token of your sincerity in the cause you are involved in. Hence, they are more likely to contribute to you as compared to if you were to just ask for donations. </div>
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A good example is Shannon Tan, a WHEEan from Batch 7 (August 2015). While studying in the UK, she hosted a house dinner party for her friends to fundraise. Upon returning home to Kuching , Sarawak during her summer break, she continued her fundraising efforts by organising a bake sale, selling a variety of baked goods such as pineapple tarts, prune cake, apple pie, banana muffin, and chilled cheesecake. </div>
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Have a read about her fundraising initiative <a href="http://theprojectwhee.blogspot.my/2016/07/not-about-money.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-oNzHbTRR_sEsRYdnsoR-Wg1WJjtNEP-K36xWdhaYNv9RS9O8zmISbZ4WSIpQkn6mvTBr79toOv41BW96z9RSuLg3KbqrzD5ZJQQw6DcS6ULcjapVXjEABZM49kmjom3KP89r_-XtxA/s1600/12022519_971691099540678_2913332337284923484_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-oNzHbTRR_sEsRYdnsoR-Wg1WJjtNEP-K36xWdhaYNv9RS9O8zmISbZ4WSIpQkn6mvTBr79toOv41BW96z9RSuLg3KbqrzD5ZJQQw6DcS6ULcjapVXjEABZM49kmjom3KP89r_-XtxA/s400/12022519_971691099540678_2913332337284923484_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shannon Tan made productive efforts with her bake sale to fund her journey to Bario</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Turn a skill into a service</span></b></div>
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If you have a skill or hobby that you are good at, find a way to turn it into a service. One WHEE alumnus, Parthiban Perisamy, picked up his massaging skills from his late grandmother. Upon acceptance into Batch 5 (January 2015), he decided to put his skills to work by doing freelance ayurvedic massages to fund his costs for the project. He still continues this service until today and does freelance massages in between his studies.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfF-QsCNDoRUukE7J506RANNDxW84MWHwvW3xoMhMp690GRapNIebLu_WHlov0eCwB7hbTGaPVD02fxTt4SLtvSiQXPxk32dUTqZJDNePzM9kkGbMY6yXUn5TFt5nKZ3NJKVBzfXsP1M/s1600/10991107_864069773636145_4020883656222468545_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfF-QsCNDoRUukE7J506RANNDxW84MWHwvW3xoMhMp690GRapNIebLu_WHlov0eCwB7hbTGaPVD02fxTt4SLtvSiQXPxk32dUTqZJDNePzM9kkGbMY6yXUn5TFt5nKZ3NJKVBzfXsP1M/s400/10991107_864069773636145_4020883656222468545_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parthiban got a much deserved massage from the Bario ladies after (literally) massaging his way there</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Work together with your batch members</span></b></div>
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If you sign up early enough, you can collaborate with the rest of your batch members to fundraise together. Examples include the Batch 1 (May 2014) participants who busked around their college for a week, Batch 5 (January 2015) participants who organised car washes in the neighbourhood of Taman Tun for three days, and also Batch 6 (May 2015) participants who sold snacks and drinks at a food fair together. Working together does mean that you have to share the pie of funds raised. Nevertheless, it remains a great way to kickstart things and build up your momentum to fundraise. It is also an effective way to get to know your batch members who you will be working with closely in Bario.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWXhbrrcNA9NgIIoIMIfIcFG4-NRmaIxUmCapRvZUy4MEV2C28FKVE71kw2ljXMV5W_SvoHZAG7IV3R7gS-0i1kTB2jV0OoQVVY0OU-Y5T9L8LtB-czWJNnLGWUzAUr73sxFJIyWa9lY/s1600/10006084_818332714876518_4306217503014548901_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWXhbrrcNA9NgIIoIMIfIcFG4-NRmaIxUmCapRvZUy4MEV2C28FKVE71kw2ljXMV5W_SvoHZAG7IV3R7gS-0i1kTB2jV0OoQVVY0OU-Y5T9L8LtB-czWJNnLGWUzAUr73sxFJIyWa9lY/s320/10006084_818332714876518_4306217503014548901_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batch 5 participants taking part in the car wash fundraiser</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Use online crowd funding platforms</span></b></div>
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For those who have friends and relatives who live around the world, an online crowd funding platform is a good way to engage them to donate to your cause. There are various online platforms available which allow you to set up an individual fundraising account. You can also share your stories and videos explaining the cause that you are involved in on your individual profiles on these platforms.</div>
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Please be aware that all online crowd funding platforms will take a percentage of your funds raised for their operational costs, so do your research on the terms and conditions of each platform before deciding which platform to use.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">5. Seek funds from relevant organizations</span></b></div>
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Participants who are associated with certain companies, NGOs, societies or scholarships can seek funding from these organisations. This effort is especially successful when WHEE's vision and project goals are in line with the organisations' social missions or objectives. This incentivises the organisation to fund the individual for the cause he is involved with.<br />
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One example is Choo Khai Kern, a General Electrics (GE) scholar who was funded by GE to participate in the January batch of the Bario: Growing Food, Sustaining Culture project. As volunteerism is a vibrant part of GE's culture, it was a win-win situation for all parties involved as Khai Kern was able to participate in the project while representing GE and the mission of both organisations were achieved. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4akUNdfyhz4_Xzde2NtfybIFOwpJkdv_HM5_UWo1giU8xd77EsgncQDQukfamwwL8PUod97mVPpUACXRDJImVJ_Hj8KpkXIv2cqwlD-15Z00c6wNGXfdDpJmdrlT3d5EJvleBFhOZxvI/s1600/DSC_0710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4akUNdfyhz4_Xzde2NtfybIFOwpJkdv_HM5_UWo1giU8xd77EsgncQDQukfamwwL8PUod97mVPpUACXRDJImVJ_Hj8KpkXIv2cqwlD-15Z00c6wNGXfdDpJmdrlT3d5EJvleBFhOZxvI/s400/DSC_0710.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choo Khai Kern represented General Electrics as a volunteer for the Bario: Growing Food, Sustaining Culture project</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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There are other fundraising methods used by other WHEEans to fund their way to Bario. Feel free to contact the team if you have any questions or wish to explore other fundraising ideas. WHEE also provides an official covering letter to accepted WHEE participants to certify their fundraising initiatives.<br />
<br />
With the right amount of hard work fueled by enthusiasm, your fundraising initiative can be a success and your target is not an impossible feat. Do not let fundraising stop you from applying for this eye-opening experience. </div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-17460041068740404282017-03-07T09:14:00.003+08:002017-03-09T13:03:28.161+08:00Understanding Through Dialogue<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The primary purpose of dialogue is to learn, that is, to
change and grow in the perception and understanding of reality, and then to act
accordingly." </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: right;">
– The first of the ten commandments of dialogue by Prof. Leonard
Swidler.</blockquote>
</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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These words are especially important for an initiative such as
WHEE, where the core of achieving our social mission is through community
understanding by means of people-to-people engagement. For this reason, we
decided that it was appropriate and timely to launch a ‘Talk Series’ as a part of the
side activities in the 'Bario: Growing Food, Sustaining Culture' project last
January.</div>
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Many of WHEE's projects often entail the formation of close relationships between the participants and the local beneficiaries whilst working together. This also leads to the raising of many questions, opinions and revelations, often discussed internally. As
a coordinator (and non-Kelabit), I am careful with the words I use
when answering questions about the Kelabit community on behalf of them. This constantly keeps me on my toes and encourages me to learn, fact check and be up to
date with community developments and issues.<br />
<br />
However, there are some questions which I feel are better left to be discussed together with the locals themselves, as that enhances the credibility and clarity of the answers received by the participants. A few examples of the questions which fall into this category include, 'What will happen when this generation of Kelabits leaves?', 'Why were certain practices given up when the Kelabits embraced Christianity? Is that a good or bad thing?' This is also one of the main rationales behind the birth of the Talk Series.</div>
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The Talk Series is an
opportunity for the Bario community and WHEE participants to dialogue and
exchange knowledge on various topics centered around the factors that have made
Bario special as an agricultural, tourism and cultural heritage destination. In January, this series consisted of three separate panel discussions in the Bario Asal village. Each panel featured two speakers and each was given 15 minutes each to share. This was followed by a Q&A session with the participants. The speakers were community
members experienced and knowledgeable in their respective areas, and all were briefed
with the discussion points prior to their sessions. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The session report is as follows:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Session 1: </span>Topic: The History of farming in Bario</span></b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Speakers: Tepuq Ratu Aran, Tepuq Gerawat Nulun<o:p></o:p></div>
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Date: Sunday, 15th Jan<o:p></o:p></div>
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Time: 4.20pm - 5.30pm<o:p></o:p></div>
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Discussion points:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Gerawat Nulun<o:p></o:p></div>
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-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Origins of Adan
rice<o:p></o:p></div>
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-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How Bario rice
became a brand of its own<o:p></o:p></div>
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-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rice farming cycle
(nursery, planting, harvesting, clearing, storage etc)<o:p></o:p></div>
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-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Issues faced by
farmers<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Tepuq Ratu Aran<o:p></o:p></div>
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-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Progression of the farming culture within Bario<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Gender roles within farm
activities<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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- Generational perspectives on
continuing farming practices <o:p></o:p></div>
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- Traditional vs mechanized
farming practices <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-jL43YCNXh3nugaiTZZE-_ppJ4K1iuCMmQewDaSqGXkQwBJIboLUTZw17RSHIghx0qPYSqneWt0xwtKRATKPK9SWjlWWnRgD45D-T3KSQ8PY88D72mdraER6jQVin9BwsGOpz5fhq8k/s1600/16487789_1322666621109789_1107259868707757701_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-jL43YCNXh3nugaiTZZE-_ppJ4K1iuCMmQewDaSqGXkQwBJIboLUTZw17RSHIghx0qPYSqneWt0xwtKRATKPK9SWjlWWnRgD45D-T3KSQ8PY88D72mdraER6jQVin9BwsGOpz5fhq8k/s400/16487789_1322666621109789_1107259868707757701_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tepuq Ratu Aran (left) and Tepuq Gerawat Nulun (right)</td></tr>
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Tepuq Gerawat and Tepuq Ratu Aran, a huband
and wife duo, are experienced farmers who returned to Bario after many years in
the city to maintain their farms. They chose to practise traditional farming as they still have the willpower, physical strength and passion to farm in this
manner.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Their informative session was deemed ‘eye-opening’ for the participants as it
provided context to the current challenges faced by
local farmers, the general farming processes and the differences between
traditional and mechanized farming in Bario. It was a good verbal introduction
to rice farming as this session took place a day before the participants step
foot into the paddy fields. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fnfmu4Iuzr7ae1fedk-QjVZ0_BaCIbwL2Onvk-08YHonoye-M6YXOQst4UKhEbEhEV9aQpqjroGqQOUdAj7Yt34hyphenhyphensAqyGOHfK1ePFAbTv0yKA0xCbVOhSYIumE3ZW2Mty3X_yls4dg/s1600/DSC_0463.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fnfmu4Iuzr7ae1fedk-QjVZ0_BaCIbwL2Onvk-08YHonoye-M6YXOQst4UKhEbEhEV9aQpqjroGqQOUdAj7Yt34hyphenhyphensAqyGOHfK1ePFAbTv0yKA0xCbVOhSYIumE3ZW2Mty3X_yls4dg/s400/DSC_0463.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Session 2: </span>Youth in Rural Areas</span></b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Speakers: Charismata Nawar, Paul Anis <o:p></o:p></div>
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Date: Tuesday, 17th Jan<o:p></o:p></div>
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Time: 3.30pm - 4.30pm<o:p></o:p></div>
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Discussion points:<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Life as a young permanent resident in Bario</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Job availabilities/Business opportunities <o:p></o:p></div>
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- Cultural preservation<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Tackling depopulation in rural areas<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Developments in Bario</div>
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- Cultural preservation within Malaysian races<o:p></o:p></div>
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- National Education system<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">-</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Individual academic progressions/opportunities <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">-</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Vernacular and government schooling <o:p></o:p></div>
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- Schooling systems that promote cultural preservation <o:p></o:p></div>
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- Differences between urban and rural lifestyles <o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQ8sjmBRcQTVU6VMVQDBZ-ulsEpA1goiVqwajoVHIY7I22W7319r6fACcbjbEZIgjvfLMYniG7p_U0QnO8VX0ikFfptmNa3EPKHb6epAFFep2h1xFsGaDI69YI1cmr05e39knnyqlZPs/s1600/16487020_1322667914442993_6827990604288060405_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQ8sjmBRcQTVU6VMVQDBZ-ulsEpA1goiVqwajoVHIY7I22W7319r6fACcbjbEZIgjvfLMYniG7p_U0QnO8VX0ikFfptmNa3EPKHb6epAFFep2h1xFsGaDI69YI1cmr05e39knnyqlZPs/s400/16487020_1322667914442993_6827990604288060405_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul (left) and Chris (right) with myself moderating the session</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">This
session was a two-way dialogue between the speakers and the participants on the points stated above. </span></div>
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<br />
Chris and Paul, both permanent residents working in Bario mainly discussed how similar rural and urban youths are in terms of aspirations and hobbies. The only difference setting the two groups apart are the social, environmental and cultural settings which dictate the type of jobs and activities available to each of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The conversation also shifted to the subject of education, on how our education settings could be the baseline of how we view and value our own culture, gain exposure to other races and provide opportunities for success. </span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">A</span>s the format of the 'Bario: Growing Food, Sustaining Culture' project does not
involve much interaction with youth, this session was a great way to expose the participants to the local younger generation's perspective on cultural preservation, rural vs urban youth aspirations, as well as
rural development.<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqDwDsS6vRLJESFKT7cNUc36KVLhnRSluXrtTqXrW6NrI_A3NHplAD5FxBKcyCoMKePr3sQUDNNzfeDzSOfiv4nMyRIFWWgpOSj54T0_h3SXRwzP8GlRwaJL1svpycQn45xebRvNs3Cw/s1600/IMG_3286.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqDwDsS6vRLJESFKT7cNUc36KVLhnRSluXrtTqXrW6NrI_A3NHplAD5FxBKcyCoMKePr3sQUDNNzfeDzSOfiv4nMyRIFWWgpOSj54T0_h3SXRwzP8GlRwaJL1svpycQn45xebRvNs3Cw/s400/IMG_3286.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Session 3: </span>Exploring History, Culture and Religion</span></b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Speakers: Dato’ Robert Lian, Tepuq Panai Lawa<o:p></o:p></div>
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Date: Tuesday, 17th Jan<o:p></o:p></div>
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Time: 8.45pm - 10.30pm<o:p></o:p></div>
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Discussion points:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dato’ Robert Lian<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Kelabit way of living before Christianity<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Belief systems<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Adat Kelabit (Kelabit Customs)<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Major Confrontations <o:p></o:p></div>
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- Introduction of Christianity to Bario <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Tepuq Panai Lawa<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Changes in cultural practices as a result of the change in
religious beliefs <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">-</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Practices which remained and practices which were
given up<o:p></o:p></div>
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- Importance of cultural preservation <o:p></o:p></div>
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- Current efforts by the community to preserve their culture
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-JP4r32ShLao6ggmcJT9YTlPazojkuBkWgEOWLxFnvsUC6gMwSmLy5Qxo-_2axD3ZIk6DusFEv9qWgdQQKMKzv2pi5JbMKyoVyyCoSdHKVNXqF7WJm3pqu0h1VMunCoyI91IAUhE0dM/s1600/16587082_1322666054443179_8539445307104035090_o.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-JP4r32ShLao6ggmcJT9YTlPazojkuBkWgEOWLxFnvsUC6gMwSmLy5Qxo-_2axD3ZIk6DusFEv9qWgdQQKMKzv2pi5JbMKyoVyyCoSdHKVNXqF7WJm3pqu0h1VMunCoyI91IAUhE0dM/s400/16587082_1322666054443179_8539445307104035090_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dato’ Robert, a former Director of Immigration of the state
of Sarawak<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and a historian, gave a timeline of the historical events that Kelabit community went
through, shared about the major events that facilitated societal changes, and explained the past and present community practices in detail. As for Tepuq Panai who is a former teacher, shared about the specific
cultural changes as the Kelabits moved from animism to Christianity and how a balance is struck between preserving traditional practices and adapting to
modernization.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This discussion helped the participants understand the progression of the Kelabit society within Bario and gave them a
historical context to the major changes in the cultural and lifestyle practices, notably on how religion has become a major part in the community's culture. The
Q&A session focused mainly on the changes in
specific practices and whether they were continued or given up for religious or modernization reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3YExOdO-5JU4yNLv3QJxvD3An5BCHq8J3gb4r6YjGfWWlyLKNPO4L3HWsRr05Namsk0DnRgn0mWwlY-2NW6ULpZrZvJGR54nIz6UrqPGtDbeFquxhkH_GylCvx-r6HFbOkFh3ZUgttI/s1600/16487530_1322666887776429_7769844391627861945_o.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3YExOdO-5JU4yNLv3QJxvD3An5BCHq8J3gb4r6YjGfWWlyLKNPO4L3HWsRr05Namsk0DnRgn0mWwlY-2NW6ULpZrZvJGR54nIz6UrqPGtDbeFquxhkH_GylCvx-r6HFbOkFh3ZUgttI/s400/16487530_1322666887776429_7769844391627861945_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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Overall, the Talk Series was an effective method to gather
facts and opinions about Bario from the locals themselves. Bringing it back to the ultimate project goal, WHEE certainly learnt that exploring the preservation of traditional farming does not only entail the familiarisation of oneself with agricultural knowledge, but also with history, culture and the spirituality of the community, all of which must be understood and respected before a embarking on a journey towards sustainable change.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-58069776466707245122017-03-03T11:36:00.002+08:002017-06-26T11:27:55.314+08:00Skies of BarioGrowing up in a city like Kuala Lumpur and pursuing my higher education at Sydney, I've always been in a fast-paced environment. Everything and everyday passed by so quickly that I do not even have the time to stop and think. It was like I am constantly on auto pilot mode.<br />
<br />
Hence, I made the decision to participate in WHEE's Bario: Growing Food, Sustaining Culture volunteering program in Bario for 10 days. I wanted a change and to experience the lifestyles of the Kelabits and to understand their ways of living. Furthermore, this would be my first time flying to Sarawak.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p3mQhZKAXmadXOiArxBiW9WXqlR-8J1LEFEHuSy4pJIR4r365tNsys-g0rakLDTs89qbeByImwBLkODyRqBktYrKFz2vRmgZmW0YINbYi6zEwk5rc_O5VQzBiSCJV0wix54p9s-8RrM/s1600/Tepuq+Do+ayu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p3mQhZKAXmadXOiArxBiW9WXqlR-8J1LEFEHuSy4pJIR4r365tNsys-g0rakLDTs89qbeByImwBLkODyRqBktYrKFz2vRmgZmW0YINbYi6zEwk5rc_O5VQzBiSCJV0wix54p9s-8RrM/s320/Tepuq+Do+ayu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tepuq Do Ayu (Photo credit: WHEE) </span></i><br />
<br />
Participants were paired with a farmer, or as we fondly address them, Tepuq (a Kelabit term to address the elders). Mine was <b>Tepuq Do Ayu.</b> I had to walk a good 15 minutes to her home in Arur Dalan Village. I was fully prepared with my boots, hat, sunblock and gloves. I still remembered how she laughed at me when I wore 2 layers of socks while she was barefoot in the paddy field, what a joke.<br />
<br />
The first day was tiring and intense for me. We started at 8am under the scorching hot sun and I remembered being really restless and anxious about the time, all I could think of was ' Am I done yet?'. But since both of us did not have a watch, the only 'watch' we had was the sun. I found myself searching for the 12pm sun very often.<br />
<br />
As the days went by, I tried to understand my Tepuq's lifestyle. I noticed how carefree and contented she was with her life. She was always ready to harvest rice despite rain or shine, she is a hardworking farmer indeed. I started to stop my thoughts and immerse myself with the current situation. I slowly realised how quiet and peaceful the environment was. I did not even notice that her paddy field was only surrounded by mountains, what a beautiful sight it was. Slowly I learned to appreciate the silence with her, it made me feel very calm and the only distraction for us was the noise of her chickens/dogs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANEhsblxEO0Gpjoqwd56DmV5kS_xQZqwVK2HxKGifC99OBM5pq6vKXuCakK1HNiIyojGLNpTT8YEM7hxhhUtHNcX4RtOVPDY2QgneLIyAIwocC57iJtzIirAUwPZmqPakv3IeTRFsJyU/s1600/IMG_1620.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANEhsblxEO0Gpjoqwd56DmV5kS_xQZqwVK2HxKGifC99OBM5pq6vKXuCakK1HNiIyojGLNpTT8YEM7hxhhUtHNcX4RtOVPDY2QgneLIyAIwocC57iJtzIirAUwPZmqPakv3IeTRFsJyU/s320/IMG_1620.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I still looked up very often, but this time not to search for the 12pm sun; it was to admire the skies of Bario. It was something about the skies there that made me feel tranquil. Maybe it was the clouds, or maybe it was God overlooking the village from above. During break time, I would look up to Prayer Mountain from the paddy fields and I would pray a small prayer for my Tepuq as well. That 15 minutes walk to her village was a morning joy for me too.<br />
<br />
On the last day, I gave a new pair of socks to my Tepuq, her face beamed with joy. I never once thought that a simple pair of socks made someone feel so special and happy. In return, she gave me<i> 2 large pineapples, a bag of Bario rice, pineapple jam and a beautiful necklace handmade by her.</i> I was speechless, she treated me like her daughter and she will always have a special place in my heart.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlDhpigYBtnOClcb07TkZcvQ_-mhAdEaIXRvtN1EPzHL6RkS4HRq5faXWze_QZ80rxON-bljrkbADWhnbBx13f05zbfAYwUgXxggkR6V03oDAwTokprvq0UlAnz28cvq0No0Aq3Lbbog/s1600/tepuq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlDhpigYBtnOClcb07TkZcvQ_-mhAdEaIXRvtN1EPzHL6RkS4HRq5faXWze_QZ80rxON-bljrkbADWhnbBx13f05zbfAYwUgXxggkR6V03oDAwTokprvq0UlAnz28cvq0No0Aq3Lbbog/s320/tepuq.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Giving my Tepuq new pair of socks (Photo credit: WHEE) </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
I thank WHEE for this opportunity, I feel very lucky to be able to experience this journey with Tepuq Do Ayu. Despite coming back to the hustle and bustle city life, I've learn to appreciate the little things and the people around me. I've learn to stop and admire the skies more often as it brings back good memories that I've once had at this place. Till next time, Bario.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-27115359335956704382017-02-28T00:59:00.000+08:002017-02-28T01:01:50.123+08:00My Rural Trail<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG">My rural trail started
from Kampong Speu (Cambodia), and through to Dulan (Taiwan), Jerantut (Pahang), and
Bario (Sarawak) up until now. This trail may have been by chance or could have also been actually scripted. Geographically, these places are far from each
other. Yet, as I travel and gain new experiences, I keep noticing some similar relationships among these places. This is very interesting and I am always amazed with every trip I embark upon.</span><span lang="EN-SG"> </span><span lang="EN-SG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG">Bario,
being another rural area in my trail, was a unique experience. This unique
feeling can only be experienced when you participate and interact with the
locals mentally and physically. </span><span lang="EN-SG">One of my friends
asked me, ‘Is there any difference between Bario and other rural areas?’ </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG">Yes,
they are different. However, certain aspects of their lifestyles are similar. For instance,
agriculture is extremely important for the residents in all these rural areas to sustain their lives.</span><span lang="EN-SG"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;">Out of the four rural areas I have visited, Dulan
and Bario are well known for their indigenous cultures. Interestingly, the Amis in Dulan and
Kelabits in Bario share some of similarities. For example, their traditional
attires are similar. Both </span><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;">wear plain black
shirts decorated</span><span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"> with colourful beads and necklaces. Regardless of whether both ethnicities are actually related or this similarity may just be coincidental, this is still an interesting brand new discovery for me.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbyOmR3mP-6YbKQHpzjGa_lKTkYojnrR-ySGMw8G_9aUWMp7FBX6w1bBo9UEf385FPzMfir2oqIzS2k9RD1MjQZkd4tFMBivRNqq9wBHy2wKc4H8K1J15nNfyIGTBdwJCvFA0-zs8JEcA/s1600/AIMG_2833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYbyOmR3mP-6YbKQHpzjGa_lKTkYojnrR-ySGMw8G_9aUWMp7FBX6w1bBo9UEf385FPzMfir2oqIzS2k9RD1MjQZkd4tFMBivRNqq9wBHy2wKc4H8K1J15nNfyIGTBdwJCvFA0-zs8JEcA/s320/AIMG_2833.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-SG">Tepuqs in the traditional Kelabit attire during
Cultural Night in Bario Asal</span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG">Another characteristic the people in these rural areas share</span><span lang="EN-SG"> is their simplicity and peacefulness. This is a significant reason
why I love Bario so much. The locals were friendly to us; it was nice to be always greeted by the local Kelabits.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-SG"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My
assigned farmer, Tepuq Lun Anid lives next door to our homestay (Tepuq Sinah
Rang’s Homestay). This was a benefit for me as I could spend more time with her family, something I really enjoyed. They accepted me
like one of their family members and this feeling of inclusiveness in their
family was priceless. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tepuq always introduced me as her ‘cucu’
(grandchild) to others and addressed me with my Kelabit name, Supang, when we met people on the way to her
paddy field in the morning. There was also one Sunday morning before attending church
service, Tepuq passed a Kelabit necklace to me and asked me to wear it to the
church. When I saw everyone of their family had one on their neck, I felt
really touched and grateful.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY1mXIUVpymQuihD9JCGeKhL7j0XFc1awb7MjVt2C0m6b7pJwcsvIfQPITKydaZq1BCACC-uqoeZK7EQnRXPE6nWU_LzwiatpDWI4UYyGRE6vF2tzuUsHKZnOTKGzceXr_Trckmvoquet/s1600/AIMG_2806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKY1mXIUVpymQuihD9JCGeKhL7j0XFc1awb7MjVt2C0m6b7pJwcsvIfQPITKydaZq1BCACC-uqoeZK7EQnRXPE6nWU_LzwiatpDWI4UYyGRE6vF2tzuUsHKZnOTKGzceXr_Trckmvoquet/s320/AIMG_2806.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-SG">Tepuq Lun Anid’s family and I<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: inherit;">Interacting with the locals
and especially with Tepuq reminded me of my times in Jerantut when my
group mate and I were in a focus group discussion and interview session with the
locals. That experience actually improved my language and communication skills, and this was a great advantage for me when I was conducting my data collection task under the Growing Food, Sustaining Culture project in Bario. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-SG" style="font-family: inherit;">Somebody once said, 'For every step you take, some traces will remain,' Reflecting upon my accumulated experiences, I realise the truth of that statement, seeing how every trip and
experience counts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Undoubtedly, I will continue with my rural trail as much as I can.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-82373887454580191242017-02-23T17:15:00.001+08:002017-02-24T12:53:42.942+08:00Rice: A Whole New Meaning <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today, I heard on the radio, “If you would like to travel in Malaysia, there are
only two major questions that you need to ask: Where to go? What to eat?” This
shows how important food is to us as Malaysians, because to us, FOOD IS LOVE.
FOOD IS LIFE. FOOD IS ALL YOU NEED. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Going to Bario under
Project WHEE and as a General Electric (GE) volunteer was an eye opening
experience. To begin with, there was a unique taste to Bario food. As a student
who used to study in a boarding school, Kari Nanas (pineapple curry) was a dish that I used to enjoy and ate all the time in KL. To many of us, rice is just rice, no
matter where we go, no matter how we cook it. It is still rice. Now that I am
back from Bario, I am here to say that it is not the same. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrg4TbKIYTrBPrRg6Z2xqFhrNQTKTyUJPIn9b-SdBdMhNka5lv3TrunbdMt1cB7biHpdy1dpxXm7DQh5ShuR25C9OaUQvf8FCU4Th6mjP0G4f3fV4348y2jSexddiUWWoP6YEY4rD2YyUM/s1600/ge_monogram_primary_blue_RGB.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrg4TbKIYTrBPrRg6Z2xqFhrNQTKTyUJPIn9b-SdBdMhNka5lv3TrunbdMt1cB7biHpdy1dpxXm7DQh5ShuR25C9OaUQvf8FCU4Th6mjP0G4f3fV4348y2jSexddiUWWoP6YEY4rD2YyUM/s200/ge_monogram_primary_blue_RGB.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">General Electric, my sponsor for the trip, without whom all these would not be possible</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Every meal that we had in Bario, we were intrigued and amazed by the
different tastes of food. Food in Bario has this unique taste to it, it is
truly something that I can never find in KL. Each meal came as a surprise, and
each meal was tasty in its own way. The cooking style there is very different, where they use local </span>flavoring<span style="font-family: inherit;"> and local produce. Besides, they produce and
consume a lot of pineapples here. Back home, I usually do not eat pineapples
due to certain past unpleasant experiences. However, as the local pineapples
were served, I took a bite, and I fell in love. Every subsequent meal after
that could not and would not be complete without pineapple. Pineapple in any
form, be it sliced, made into jam, or even curry. Besides, the pineapple curry here was way sweeter and nicer than the one I used to have in KL. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMmXJJj6575pV7A4k5fhfF_OrIA8wBaw54m51VTgMFIfm36kVkprKiG4o1av4BBeI7yQA-IQWPOt4EbaKzf8v71t9nLkBmXOA1mqdEGZG7MCWC4EeVxw_v6QiRvxrQZrPvcvRa2Ofv7RQ/s1600/2017_0117_120717_001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMmXJJj6575pV7A4k5fhfF_OrIA8wBaw54m51VTgMFIfm36kVkprKiG4o1av4BBeI7yQA-IQWPOt4EbaKzf8v71t9nLkBmXOA1mqdEGZG7MCWC4EeVxw_v6QiRvxrQZrPvcvRa2Ofv7RQ/s320/2017_0117_120717_001.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first meal in the field: Nuba Tu'ah, Chicken curry, Crushed Daun Keladi and Buah Kabar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ab_X_hnhyphenhyphen81NtdrgaqWGKdkT_cCRK02AKIOFR8fH2gIafu_kJnC4oAU7qkj2tjn0_zvHWLKTy9TC3B_k_eWpnIgFGUKoi2ElQVuNDCzC4cJph6RZxlRo5JTWL8vHwfEdkplGrj9PykXO/s1600/IMG_20170114_135708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ab_X_hnhyphenhyphen81NtdrgaqWGKdkT_cCRK02AKIOFR8fH2gIafu_kJnC4oAU7qkj2tjn0_zvHWLKTy9TC3B_k_eWpnIgFGUKoi2ElQVuNDCzC4cJph6RZxlRo5JTWL8vHwfEdkplGrj9PykXO/s320/IMG_20170114_135708.jpg" width="179" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first meal in Tepuq Sina Rang's homestay: nuba' laya', wild boar, imported chicken, buah kabar and midin!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Food is amazing, but
have you ever wondered how much goes into the process of getting food on our table? Along with the thrust of
our batch that is “Growing food, sustaining culture” we managed to explore what
really happens in the background, and why we should treasure food even more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="page-break-after: avoid;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Throughout the project, I
was paired with Tepuq Supang, who stayed in Arur Dalan village. She is very friendly and was very nice to me. She guided me through the process of harvesting rice,
and allowed me to join her in doing it. The best part of my experience, is that
she allowed me to try the full process of harvesting, from cutting the paddy with
the Eyo (sickle), to threshing, winnowing, drying, as well as carrying the grains from the paddy field to her house. The experience was tiring, but totally worth it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Throughout the day
while we were in the farm, she would work quietly, without complaint and
without much rest. She was really caring too, as she always asked if I
had enough water out in the field, or if I was tired, knowing that we “city
kids” do not usually do such intense work. Similar to the experience of <a href="http://theprojectwhee.blogspot.my/2016/05/tepuq-supang-and-i.html">Kylie</a> with Tepuq Supang in the previous batch, I think I told her once about how much
I liked the pineapples from her farm, and the pineapples kept coming in. While
resting, she would quietly walk over to her pineapple farm behind the shack,
and come back with pineapples for me to eat.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EI1hXwCl3f5K2PNmNSjUjxrvCbZbNVO-JCXR6yhw6RGS0uNzNWtqwQUW1hQgqJ33CZjK_eCPVb8zjnAqVtRlMMl_LX-__b_DlNyb1qRyavWslBvx8nM6QLp-b0nvCYX_E2KkwntFoxDc/s1600/IMG_20170118_101859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5EI1hXwCl3f5K2PNmNSjUjxrvCbZbNVO-JCXR6yhw6RGS0uNzNWtqwQUW1hQgqJ33CZjK_eCPVb8zjnAqVtRlMMl_LX-__b_DlNyb1qRyavWslBvx8nM6QLp-b0nvCYX_E2KkwntFoxDc/s320/IMG_20170118_101859.jpg" width="179" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me and Tepuq Supang, a true Survivor (pun intended!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoCaption">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Truth be told, farming
is not simple, and it is something that really requires passion,
long hours under the sun, real perseverance, and it is really tiring. Tepuq
has a huge farm, and she used to work on it on her own, just like a true survivor. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As we worked on the farm and while I collected
data for our research on traditional vs mechanised farming, she would tell me
stories of her passion for farming, and the activities her family used to do in the paddy field. Thankfully, her son, Bobby and his wife Celia also joined in on harvesting, and they have also inherited the passion for farming. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3urOyboZG-mwZdk4y6cvZubs7gE6q_mNQ-4p9I-anXmeXaJc3WmO9Jkq4EFaJvS-7bFw6uyVNeoqVFMS4U9CANqsdQEx_ztSw-dchqUycI6q7KCVXnTJ2X3bQ_kNexWvVcbXnybuxHXd/s1600/IMG-20170124-WA0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy3urOyboZG-mwZdk4y6cvZubs7gE6q_mNQ-4p9I-anXmeXaJc3WmO9Jkq4EFaJvS-7bFw6uyVNeoqVFMS4U9CANqsdQEx_ztSw-dchqUycI6q7KCVXnTJ2X3bQ_kNexWvVcbXnybuxHXd/s320/IMG-20170124-WA0022.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Bobby working in the field</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So now one may ask... what has this experience taught you? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is what the experience taught me: when your mama tells you to finish your rice so that your future girlfriend does not have pimples,
it is not really about that. It is because some Tepuq (or farmer) out there has spent hours in the paddy
fields to ensure that we get to enjoy rice. Every grain of it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xT_7iJRfQE0VPCrHKLLB9trXzIMhu3x7VByhCInQQBxZFcSyN4FLGoflArOosqwrH_PnVC8x4KI3yOTvdRD_Vtn9OfcT3cEiyMgUxTvIdO_GpMCbXx-yHQjkPUmv7cH-5cJjHe71xJnN/s1600/IMG_20170119_125445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_xT_7iJRfQE0VPCrHKLLB9trXzIMhu3x7VByhCInQQBxZFcSyN4FLGoflArOosqwrH_PnVC8x4KI3yOTvdRD_Vtn9OfcT3cEiyMgUxTvIdO_GpMCbXx-yHQjkPUmv7cH-5cJjHe71xJnN/s320/IMG_20170119_125445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The sweat, pain, and
passion put into producing food is something that I never </span>realized until<span style="font-family: inherit;"> now, I
will cherish and enjoy my rice, knowing how much has been put into that small
plate of rice. Through this project, I found the new meaning to rice, and why achieving the UN Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG) of food security is so important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Will I go back to plant or harvest paddy? Sure. Why wouldn't I?</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4859184342637360186.post-68152026459699861152017-02-23T00:45:00.000+08:002017-06-26T11:21:40.005+08:00The Bario Experience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QxVWfUnwajkun_Iyq52B0arpRW3xbJp0wwVtTlv-Vt0t3q4irbSB0tZrbxs1sPrA2nXvk9m1S4AFRilZ77B806fjV-fthHHjarBEOoVUXn1-W4PNRboHZG3kTCZCujWqkIb-xewN9Oi7/s1600/16195581_10154344117096647_1245593289028181540_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QxVWfUnwajkun_Iyq52B0arpRW3xbJp0wwVtTlv-Vt0t3q4irbSB0tZrbxs1sPrA2nXvk9m1S4AFRilZ77B806fjV-fthHHjarBEOoVUXn1-W4PNRboHZG3kTCZCujWqkIb-xewN9Oi7/s320/16195581_10154344117096647_1245593289028181540_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My batch mates; the people I spent my everyday with. </div>
<br />
There are so many things that can be said about the Bario experience. But one of the things I'm immensely grateful for would be to have gone to Bario under/with Project WHEE.<br />
<br />
While we were in Bario, we came across a couple of tourists who were there for a couple of days, and it was obvious that the only people the tourists interacted with were the people in their homestays and their guides. No doubt the villagers were immensely welcoming and friendly, but it simply wasn't the same being a tourist in Bario and being there with Project WHEE. Through Project WHEE, I was able to experience so much more of Bario, as opposed to only being able to experience it as a place. I got to experience its community, its people, and to truly understand what their daily life is like. To me, Bario is so much more than just a place.<br />
<br />
I honestly believe that Bario wouldn't have been as amazing if it weren't for the activities we had. The talk series were really eye-opening and allowed me to broaden my understanding and get a glimpse into the issues faced by the Kelabits. It made me realize how little I truly know about the world, and how real the problems faced by traditional farmers were. The farming, trekking and hiking allowed me to challenge my own capabilities, and I learned more about myself as well. Activities such as beauty sessions and cultural night really brought the team together, and it was lovely seeing all the Tepuqs enjoying themselves. If it weren't for these activities, I don't think I would've been able to form the relationships I did or have such a deep appreciation for the Kelabit culture.<br />
<br />
However, aside from forming close relationships with the Tepuqs and the people of Bario, I also formed close relationships with my batch mates. Experiencing Bario isn't something that can be put into words, and I'm grateful to have shared this life-changing experience with my batch mates; its comforting- to have people who understand. It was the simple things such as brushing our teeth together, saying prayers before meals, and having all our meals together that made me so fond of my batch mates. Who else would I compare insect bites with?<br />
<br />
One of the things I found to be really surprising though - was how much I enjoyed not having any internet connection. Before going to Bario I braced myself for the frustration I'd endure with having little to no internet connection. Initially, it was pretty strange not having any internet connection. I'd reach for my phone out of sheer habit before realizing, there was nothing to check. However, as the days passed, I found it to be oddly peaceful and comforting. There was simply no need to check in with the world because for that ten days, Bario and its inhabitants were my world.<br />
<br />
Not having any internet caused us to interact more with the people around us, and made us more proactive in looking for things to do. During our rest time, my batch mates and I would bond over things we wouldn't usually practice in the city, like jamming and just spending undiluted quality time together. It was refreshing, and it taught me the importance of giving my full attention to the people and things around me.<br />
<br />
The Bario experience was a lovely one, and it simply wouldn't have been the same without Project WHEE and my fellow batch mates.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1