MAY, THE MONTH OF MERRY-MAKING..

May is almost here and everyone who is involved one way or another in preparation for the state wide month-long Harvest Festival celebration in Sabah, is in a frenzy making all the necessary arrangements.

This year,  the State Level Kaamatan Festival will be launched in Kuala Penyu, a district situated in the west coast of Sabah,  on the 1st May 2012 and will be celebrated throughout the State in the month of May.  The highlight of the celebration will be the Unduk Ngadau competition of which the grand finale will be at the Hongkod Koisaan KDCA Penampang on the 30th and 31st May 2012. This annual celebration would usually attract thousands of people from all walks of life, both local and foreign tourists who come especially for this celebration.

THE KAAMATAN FESTIVAL AND WHY UNDUK NGADAU

The Kaamatan Festival

The Kaamatan Festival is an annual cultural observation of the Kadasandusun people who were predominantly farmers and involved in the cultivation of padi, to celebrate a bountiful harvest. It is held in the month of May the beginning of the Kadazandusun calendar year. The festival was previously known by several names such as The Harvest Festival which when translated to Bahasa Malaysia means Pesta Menuai and some may say Tadau Kaamatan or Harvest Day.

The idea of celebrating the district and state level Kaamatan Festival was mooted by the late Orang Kaya Kaya (OKK) Sodomon, a Keningau Native Chief in 1956. However in response to the request of the Society of Kadazans, pursued by letters from various native ethnic groups throughout the state, the first Sabah statewide Kaamatan Festival was proclaimed and held for two days from June 30^th to July 1^st1960 at the padang of the old St. Michael’s School Penampang.

The first level Kaamatan Festival was a significant step towards the integration of the various native ethnic population of Sabah and paved the way in changing the Society of Kadazans to Kadazan Cultural Association (KCA). The State Level Kaamatan Festival has since been officially recognized and supported by the Sabah State Government with active participation of the KCA now known as KDCA.

For many years, the dates and venues kept changing and roving from district to district in response to district request. In 1986 the KDCA resolved that the date be fixed on May 30^th and 31^stand the Kaamatan Festival Month of May be launched on May 1^st. This was designed to align the Kaamatan Festival to cultural tourism promotion. Upon the completion of the Hongkod Koisaan or the Kadazan Cultural Centre, the KDCA Central Committee once again resolved that the annual State Level Kaamatan Festival is held at the Hongkod Koisaan. Year 2001 saw another milestone in the recognition of the Kaamatan Festival when the Federal Government made it among the 6 festivals given a national emphasis along with the Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, Chinese New Year, Christmas Day, Deepavali and Gawai Dayak.

The Kaamatan Festival is sub-divided into five major meaning and purposes:-

1.   Homecoming of the Bambaazon – Kasaakazan do Bambaazon

The Kadazandusun believes that apart from being capable of nourishing life in food form, the Bambaazon or spirit of the rice embedded within the grains of the ripe padi ears, is also capable of germinating into a new plants to yield more grains when replanted. A home-coming is therefore necessary to allow the Bambaazon to dwell in the harvested paddy grains kept in a central storage container called Tangkob.

Tangkob

Photo courtesy of www.MySabah.Com

2. Restoration Ceremony - Magavau

      The word Magavau or Maga’au means to recover what one has lost. During the Kaamatan Festival, Magavau refers to the detailed task of the Priestress or Bobohizanto search and salvage as well as to bring home the lost, stolen or strayed Bambaazon. The Kadazandusun people have high regard for rice and parents have to ensure that no grain of rice should be left wastefully on a dinner plate of their children or the rice may cry. Therefore padi grains that may have been accidentally dropped or spilled during the harvesting process will be retrieved and brought home by the Bobohizan.

Pix courtesy of www.kauluanexpress.com. Thanks Stevie

The Magavau ceremony is performed by a team of Bobohizans preceded by a male bearing a sword called the ilang or gazang. They will form a rhythmic movement with their hands holding the shoulder of the person in front or mogikaakambai. Every time a lost Bambaazon is retrieved the leader will let out a triumphant cry or mamangkis.The process will go on until the 7 Bambaazonare retrieved and brought home to the Tangkob.

3. The Feeding of the Bambaazon - Papaakan do Bambaazon   

While the Magavau is in session, other groups are busy preparing the food offerings for the Bambaazon.The components may vary from place to place. However, the popular inclusions are special fermented rice called Tondut, 7 bamboo cups suki of first class rice wine hiing, eggs, salt and feathers of a specially slaughtered chicken.

4.    The Merry Making Feast –Moginakan

After feeding the Bambaazon, an open to all merry making feast is being held. Prior to the use of public amenities such as community centres, the venue for this is the spacious sitting hall hintuun of a local leader of the community. Those present were traditionally served with chicken porridge, eggs and meat as it is believed that green vegetable connote disrespect to the guests of Bambaazon. Only the best tapai or rice wine is to be served to maintain the qualitative spirit and wellbeing of Bambaazon. 

5.   The Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan – Tohid di Huminodun

In every Kaamatan Festival, the Unduk Ngadau Contest assumes the highlight of the day’s occasion. To the Kadazandusuns, it is the culmination of all the activities undertaken as a symbolic response to Kinoingan’s ever-bounding love for his people.

Unduk Ngadau owes its origin from the part of the Kadazandusun genesis story which pertains to the sacrifice of Huminodun or Ponompuan, Kinoingan’s only daughter. Therefore the Unduk Ngadau Tunduk do Tadau which means “Zenith of the Sun” crowned in the ‘afternoon’completed the meaning of the Kaamatan Festival as the Unduk Ngadau is indeed the Tunduk which can then grow and be the new shoot or Tohid of Huminodun.

Photo courtesy of David Aramaitie

It is therefore to this day, the Kadazandusun people have included the Unduk Ngadau Pageant as a grand part of their Kaamatan(Harvest) Festivals. It is a manifestation to the deep sense of respect and admiration that the Kadazandusun people have for the legendary Huminodun. It is a sacred title ascribed to Huminodun, to her absolute obedience to Kinoingan and love for mankind, so much so as to be a willing sacrifice for the sake of the father’s creation.

 18 year old, Miss Bo Tiza, Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan 2011

Pic courtesy of kauluanexpress.com

In essence therefore, the “Unduk Ngadau” is an enduring event of selecting from among the Kadazandusun beauties and the maiden who has the honour of being selected should bear semblance to Huminodun and will represent all that is virtuous in the revered Huminodun.

While there are disagreements from various quarters regarding the origin of the Unduk Ngadau as a Queen Contest, let no one doubt that within the world views of the Kadazandusuns, Unduk Ngadau is evolved from Huminodun the Sacrificed Daughter of Kinoingan shall always be the soul of the Kaamatan Festival.

Flowing from the life, meaning and purpose of Huminodun, the Kadazandusuns for generations to come, have their permanent foundation of a loving and caring individual, family and society. For Huminodun’s message, soft and gentle, shall remain joyfully true and filled with love and compassion and is unlikely to change for generations to come.

“To understand Huminodun as Soul of Unduk Ngadau thus is to understand the Kaamatan Festival. Huminodun’s love and pure intentions, now idolized and beatified in Unduk Ngadau, is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. So too, Unduk Ngadau will always be – the Soul of Kaamatan, enduring where and when all else perish, like Love endures. For Huminodun in Unduk Ngadau is Love, and let no man or woman disgrace it.” Diwato 2007

Sources: compiled and adapted from various Kaamatan Cultural Association Publications

NEED TO QUIT PROCRASTINATING ALREADY

KOTOBIAN TADAU TAGAZO DO KAAMATAN 2011

'It is with great pleasure that trust has yet again fell on my shoulders to oversee the birth of this year’s Sodop Unduk Ngadau Handbook and this, I have Puan Jornah Mozhim ,the Chairperson of the State Level Unduk Ngadau Organizing Committee 2010/11 to thank for.  I have been procrastinating as always, sidelined by other matters, which is the worst enemy of deadlines. So, I am thankful to all my ....."


This is the excerpt of my notes in the Sodop Unduk Ngadau (SUN) Handbook 2011 'Gala Nite Charity Dinner 2011". So procrastination was the word and is still the word for this year.. aiyaa.. yes, procrastination is about the worst enemy of deadlines and I am fighting it, but oh for mental block. Wise men say that you should not postpone until tomorrow the things you can do today. But somehow, procrastination is such a powerful negative source to reckon with. But why?  No, I am not about to analyze it. There's no time.

If not for that 2 weeks trip to New Zealand this month-end, I would have plenty of time as I only need to send this about 60-page book to the printer only in mid May. Yes, after proof-reading and editing of course and to be released just in time on 29th May 2012.  Such being the case, I of course should start earlier and complete a draft before my trip, of which, sadly I have barely done so.
 

But I am not complaining 'cos I have done this before, haven't I? This is my 5th year doing this and I basically know what I need to do and am not panicking…yet. I just need to think what articles to write, to pore over the thousand and one photographs and choose the appropriate ones. Just need to interview a couple of personalities and viola.. I am done..I hope.

So I am taking a deep breath .... everything will be Ookay... *exhale*.

So I gotta run.. cheers!  

The books are sold to diners and the public during the SUN Gala Nite Charity Dinner held every 29th May.   Back copies are sold at half price until stock lasts.


The contents are basically the activites undertaken by the Reigning Queen during the year, such as the Charity Visits, the places of interest that she has visited, the history behind the Legend of Huminodun, What is Unduk Ngadau, articles on a couple of traditonal costume of the Kadazan, Unduk Ngadau of Yesteryears, the Subsidiary Titles, behind the scenes, preparations,  farewell message and lots more..

..OF FLOWERS AND A VILLAGE..

Visited Kiram's Village once upon a weekend, a quaint mountain resort in Kundasang,  lovely, romantic fairy-tale like chalets and with a view to die for. Nicely landscaped though a little unkempt, some of the flowers looked a little old and were wilting.

This was my second visit and I remember that first time, most of the flowers were at their prime, blooming, fresh and crisp. This time round though, they didn't look like what I remembered.. probably due to the rain.. yes, it was raining when we arrived, which was a shame really.  With a temperature of around 14'C to 18'C, flowers seem to thrive very well.  Managed to shoot some the morning after, the ground still very wet, and oh still so cold.  Determined to practice my macro shot, did some.. skills still very much lacking. Please do not tell me about the Rule of Thirds, supposedly a compositional rule on photography. Naaah.. I will shoot according to my whims and fancy..

Oops.. pic above, I made adjustment to the colours and

 I think I might have got a little carried away..

 Regret, I am unable to name the flowers...

A Blessed Easter to all.. The Lord is Risen, Alleluia, Alleluia!!

..OF MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS, GORGEOUS, SMELLY WEEKEND...

..April 1st, was my niece's birthday and her mum (my sister) wanted to surprise her by inviting us, her sibling's families to celebrate that occasion with them at the Kiram's Village, a lovely mountain resort situated in Kundasang, an almost 2 hours drive from Kota Kinabalu.

The plan was we'd travel on March 31st, to stay overnight and that all of us were supposed to arrive first and my niece and her friends would arrive later in the late afternoon. We imagined that when she and her friends arrived, she would be so surprise and would burst into tears at seeing so many of us celebrating her birthday!! hahaha..

We did arrive first and later when my niece and her friends arrived,  what we envisaged would happen never did.  She was smiling sheepishly and hugged everyone. What!,..no tears of suprise!???  We asked her, why? why? why.. are you not suprised!!!??  

Apparently, her mother (my sister) was not good at planning surprises hahaha...sorry sis.  She inadvertantly let a looot of cats out of the bag during planning time..hahaha.  But we had a lot of fun, enjoying the cold mountain air, spectacular sceneries, of course of the majestic Mount Kinabalu and beautiful but smelly cows!  No, this is not an April Fool's joke hahaha..

My lovely niece, the birthday girl in red scarf, her sister in blue blouse and friends..visiting Desa Cattle.. (siuated a distance away from where we stayed).

 ..a view of the mountain from where we stayed.. Gosh, the nights here are cold!

 .. ahh.. majestic Mount Kinabalu. Seen below are vegetable farms. The vegetables are exported to nearby countries as well as for local consumption. The vegetables thrive very well in this cool mountain climate.

..visited the Desa Cattle Farm.. and we had a smell, I mean a swell time...

Yellow Daffodils?.. to diffuse the smell...hehehe

My lovely daughter, Amanda (left) and friend. No, they were not part of our group.
Met them on the way. They were there for a video shoot for their album, their maiden single...but that is another story..

..OF RANDOM SHOTS, BEETLES AND PRETTY GIRLS..

Was trigger happy on a lazy late Sunday morning. Armed with my small Canon G12 Powershot (my laziness said that the Canon DSLR was too heavy to lug around), headed  for the city to have some fun. Heard that there's some sort of goings-on in Padang Merdeka.  And there was..shot some... but only according to my whims and fancy..

..just couldn't help capturing your pure innocence...

..Othoe, a popular local celebrity DJ own this beetle..

..couldn't resist the shadow of her smile..

nor the glint in her eyes..

..ohh.. to be young and beautiful again..

..the budding Flame of the Forest that shaded my day..

  

.. the once green and lush is slowly dying?.. No, that's my creazytivity in me working overtime..

Cheers and have a lovely week ahead folks!

..BUT I GUESS IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER ANYMORE....

The All Ladies Trip to Miri, Sarawak (March 16 - 18, 2012). 

 Many thanks to MASwings http://www.maswings.com.my/ for sponsoring the flight.

The Chaperons!

 The State Level Unduk Ngadau Organising Committee..

Reigning Crowned Unduk Ngadau 2011, 

the beautiful Miss Bo Tiza Disimon

 
 View from the 20th floor of Imperial Hotel Miri, thru it's glass window

 Zoomed it from the hotel's stained glass window
Canon EF-S 18-200mm lens

from one Grand Old Lady to another...

.. lo and behold, the old has become child again...for inside every adult there's still a child that lingers..

Canada Hill is a limestone ridge overlooking Miri City and offering excellent views of Miri and its surrounding. Situated on top of Canada Hill, the Grand Old Lady is the first oil well in Malaysia. It represents the petroleum history of Miri which is almost a century old. This oil well is no longer production and it has been declared a protected historical site by the Sarawak Government. There is an observatory platform where visitors can have an excellent view of Miri City. Next to this oil well is the newly completed Petroleum Science Museum.

Miraculously, the oil well was spared from the bombings and other attacks of World War II.

Source: http://www.miriresortcity.com/grandoldlady

above:  View of Miri town from Canada Hill

at a handicraft shop in Miri.
*Inside every adult there's still a child that lingers*

  “For in every adult there dwells the child that was, and in every child there lies the adult that will be.”
― John Connolly

Homeward Bound - beyond the clouds, Kota Kinabalu... You seemed so far away though it was just an hour's flight away. It must be the clouds - evoking bittersweet memories..missing you. Wonder if you missed me.
Did I overstay my welcome? Time to move forward, though I guess it doesn't really matter anymore...         Goodbye...... Miri.

The flight was sponsored by MASwings, being one of the prizes won by Miss Bo Tiza during the State Harvest Festival Pageant. Not only her flight was sponsored,  she was entitled to bring a bunch of Chaperons!!

MY GRUMBLINGS ANSWERED?

Hi, I am back, but first, was a little upset, no very upset upon receiving text from my friend yesterday saying that Air Asia X has suspended flights to Christchurch, New Zealand effective 1 June 2012.

Our group of 9 has been planning for the 2 weeks trip to the land of Kiwi for ages, all our itineraries have been prepared and now will not take place after all?  Disappointed and angry and text messages, emails, FB messages kept flying amongst us on what to do next.  Some opted for the refund, some proposed other destinations.  I was saying, no I do not want a refund, I do not want another destination!  A couple of my friends agreed.

Our scheduled flight is in September 2012 and the impatient kid in me was always  grumbling that September seems such a looong way to go.  But then at least there was something to look forward to and time to save more $$. We were supposed to travel cheap, stay at backpackers, rent a car and drive around to some places on the South Island before flying to Auckland and explore some places on the North Island.    So what now?

After a lengthy discussion, we, three of us  thought,  perhaps we could go earlier, say April and come back early May?  Any later than that would be impossible as we would be busy with the preparations of the State Level Harvest Festival celebrations. 

My friend Teri, bless her, camped at the Air Asia office today and tried requesting for such flights.  As of now, our flight to Christchurch on 27th April is confirmed but still pending confirmation for the return flight.   Now keeping my fingers and toes crossed.!!

It would be autumn there and pictures taken by friends who have been there before is enough to convince me that NZ 's colours during those times couldn't be more beautiful.  

No, I won't say my grumblings have been answered until we complete the trip.  

  
(Excerpt of Air Asia X Press Release taken from News & Events )
 

AIRASIA X TO SUSPEND SERVICES TO CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND

The realignment of its network leads long-haul, low-cost carrier to focus on core markets

KUALA LUMPUR, 12 March 2012 – AirAsia X, the long-haul, low fare affiliate of AirAsia, today announced the suspension of its services to Christchurch, New Zealand as part of the realignment of its network to focus on its core markets. 

The current four times weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Christchurch will be suspended with the last flight on 30 May, 2012 (from Kuala Lumpur) and 31 May, 2012 (from Christchurch).

AirAsia X will offer guests who hold bookings after these dates an option of a full refund, a reroute to another AirAsia X destination (e.g. Australia to Kuala Lumpur or Kuala Lumpur to North Asia), or a rebook of a return flight prior to 31 May, 2012. All changes will be made at no additional cost to mitigate the inconvenience caused as a result of the withdrawal. All affected guests will receive an e-mail stating the available options.

The suspension of Christchurch, New Zealand is a move made subsequent to the airline’s suspension of its European and Indian routes early this year to improve operating cost efficiencies and concentrate capacity in AirAsia X core markets of Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Iran.