TRAVEL MEMORIES TO 'MIDDLE EARTH' ..Part 1

It would be almost a year now since my visit to the 'Middle Earth'. Gosh, time does zoom at an alarming speed doesn't it?  I have not really shared my experiences of my travel there apart from some of the pictures taken.

Though almost a year has gone, some incidents are still so fresh as if they happened only yesterday. The  memories of my almost 3 weeks visit to this beautiful country shall always be something most cherished. So before they get stolen by the mist of time, perhaps it might be a good idea to just pen down some.  Ok, be prepared to yawn.. haha..

We were supposed to travel in a group of around 10 but due to circumstances, the rest couldn't make it and so only 4 of us proceeded. 3 of us ladies and a gentleman, the thorn among us, much to his dismay. Well, him with us was actually a blessing as afterwards he became our porter, photographer, sometimes driver, bodyguard etc etc.. haha.. poor guy.

We traveled from KK late in the evening of 26th April 2012 and supposed to arrive KL LCCT International Airport around 9pm. Due to weather conditions, to our horror, the plane couldn't land!  We felt the plane tried several times to land but had to abort it and so hovered around mid air for a while.  And I was thinking...die lah this time...hahaha... and of course everybody prayed and I guessed even those not religious suddenly knew what prayers were all about!



The plane later proceeded to the nearest airport and landed in Subang but we were not allowed to  disembark.  We waited and the almost 200 passengers were couped inside the plane for almost an hour! 

Not sure but I think I was looking down at the Great Barrier Reef Aust.

Our prayers must have been answered for we later heard the pilot telling us that the flight would be proceeding to KL LCCT in a bit. A sigh of relief pervaded through the air when the plane finally landed safely!  The 4 of us spent the night at the airport as it didn't make sense to stay in a hotel as our flight was due the following morning. We boarded the Air Asia plane all ready and excited for the 13-hour flight bound for Christchurch.



                      our first motel..

Christchurch.. taken the following morning during our walkabout..

We arrived Christchurch late at night, took a mini bus to our motel.. felt the sharp cold autum air on my face and made me feel I was really abroad!! As our arrival was at an ungodly hour, the motel we booked wasn't manned but they had left instructions through email that keys would be under the doormat.. it was there.  We were delighted with the self-contained motel complete with kitchenette and utensils,  smallish but was nice and cosy.  We even managed to cook maggie mee brought from home!  

After the long journey,  we could not do without a hot shower even though it was freaking cold. I think it was only about 8'C, but to us, it was like being in a freezer! For the rest of my stay there, the gloves, socks, thermal undergarments were my constant companion....Jakun kan... haha.....  With the heater on and the electric blanket, we actually had a most restful night.. .

..to be continued.... but first, let's laugh ... hehehe

THE CALL OF A STRANGE BIRD..

Our mama passed away on the day that we were supposed to go clear the land. I can't even describe the shock and trauma it did to me and my family, my siblings and to all who loved her on her sudden passing. 

That morning, she woke up early in anticipation of the day ahead. She must have been excited, as we found out later, she was preparing lunch to be packed for the day.  But little did we know, God had other plans for her... the Angels took her that early morn. She had been attacked by an acute asthma.   

In the kitchen, we later found boiled yam, rice, vegetable, fish...all packed nicely.  Sometimes, one can't help but question God.  But I take comfort God didn't let her suffer, took her away from the pains of the world. The Angels  came like a thief. We know that one day that day of coming home to the Lord will come, but that only God knows when.  

This reminds me of my cousin saying on his 60++ birthday when we wished him happy birthday through watsapp and his response was,   "If age were to be measured in the length of a string, what's left over for me is very short indeed. But I heard that life in Heaven is a lot better.. so actually I look forward to that. If I be there earlier, I would throw roses on your paths to remind you all, that there is indeed a better place.. should that be so, I would indeed be a senior citizen there receiving you guys."    Hehehe... haishhh..morbid.  

And my other cousin responded  "Life is a journey of adventures  - some exciting and some not so, when the auld lang syne is sang at last, you would have lived, loved and laughed well. In the end it's the agape love that matters..For now, let's all live well, love deep and laugh often. Rejoice in the light of dawn, and pray for surcease from pain and sorrow at dusk..."   Wow, that's deep and  I was like  "Ohh..oh.. blessed are ye of good faith." 

But back to my mama.. After she passed on, we could not even mention the land without tearing up. Henceforth, we never did go to the land and we carried on with our respective life just holding on to her memory.  On the back of my mind, our mama was constantly whispering, hey you all.. go and do something about the land.  All that she had planted or cleared must have turned  into a ghostly thick jungle. 

We did, after nine long years!  When we decided to do something about it, we had no idea where the boundaries began and ended.  The thick foliage was daunting and there wasn't any resemblance of it's previous state.  

We managed to have it cleared after a lot of challenges. To think that about 5 months ago, it was still a jungle.  We did think of hiring a surveyor to re-do the boundaries but it was too costly. So we decided to try do it ourselves.  We were in luck as my brother had some knowledge and experience about jungles, being educated in Agriculture related.  

 The Google map of the land

 Taking a breather and studying the map and bitten by mosquitoes same time..

the siblings... another 2 not in picture

.. through swampy areas..bitten by leeches..

So in October last year, we went randomly into the jungle.. armed with the Garmin instrument that detect stones on boundaries. We 6 of us - my 2 brothers and 4 of us girls went into the thick jungle and came through hills and swampy areas. There was an area the jungle so thick and swampy, trees so big full of hanging vines, it was so dark inside  -  we called that patch the lost world!!  Bitten by leeches, mosquitoes, we also worried about snakes and poisonous plants, wild animals and bees.. That was frightening but our excitement  over came all those obstacles! 

                 the cleared land

my favourite tree wasn't spared..  sob sob

We were saying, our mama and papa must be looking down at us from up there and smiling proudly... hahaha.   As of now, we have planted several fruit trees.. durians, rambutans, lemon, avacado, sour soup, mango, jackfruit and lots more. The guys are currently making a small house or a hut for us to take refuge on. 

..my sista and the lemon tree..

 the road where we parked our vehicle is quite a distance..

 so the powerful 4WD helps..

            ..the youngsters helping in the planting of fruits..

This has become our Sunday activities.  Our kids from the eldest to the youngest revel in this once a week activity. It not only help us till the land but have made the bonds of our families stronger. 

..dukung langsat planted by Yours Truly..

It was one of those Sundays while we were trying to pluck some of the cempedak that grew in the land that we heard this strange bird.  It was unlike any bird that just sang their meaningless tune. It must have been our imagination, but this particular bird kept repeating  - singing or saying something so clearly, our hairs stood on end!  My brother tried to 'talk' to the bird playfully against our protest!  We later remember that whenever my brother repeated what it sounded like, it stopped like as if it was listening and in 'conversation'.  My sisters and I admonished my brother for being 'naughty' fearing that it was some sort of bad spirit!!  haha

Guess who is in white...see the long knife or parang.... don't play play..hahaha

            the cempedak tree..

That night our mama appeared in my sister in law's dream. (She wasn't with us at the land that time and she didn't know about our encounter with the bird the previous day).  Our mama supposedly said that she was very happy that we did something about the land and she said that she was always with us during those visits but in a form of a bird! 

Google pic

Strange and unbelievable!! Then we recalled the strange encounter with the bird!  Really uncanny and difficult to believe. It was probably a coincidence but we like to believe that it was real, that our mama was really with us but as a bird!. 

..squirrels are the culprit I think..




..we may be in the wilds, but the handphone is never away..

The following week, we all went to the particular tree in the hope of encountering that phenomenon again...but the bird never came. We never saw or hear of it again. Oh,  there were several other birds, but none of that strange little bird.

Mama rest in peace, don't worry about us. We are doing ok.

my nine-year old nephew trying to plant some seeds...

THE SOLUOI STORY ..

“....this gathering not only gives us the opportunity to come together in unity to honour and remember our forefathers and in particular our great great grandmother Madam Soluoi (great great great to some) for her enterprising spirit, hard work and tenacity, but also aims to create awareness amongst the Soluoi Clan especially the younger generations, of the heritage that she left behind - the family that had spread and multiplied! It is also a time to celebrate the present, and prepare for the future, a time for reconnecting with relatives for the purpose of fellowship, and the strengthening of ties that bind us one to another. May this gathering strengthen the bond of relationships as we face the future, but always keep with us our ties of the past!

Sincere thanks to all those who have been involved one way or another, and to the members of the organising committee for their commitment and hard work towards making this function a success. Tonight is the culmination of a lot of work, a lot of sweat, some tears perhaps…and to one and all, thank you for your attendance and your support. May this gathering be the first of many many more gatherings in the future........”

(Excerpt of my speech as the Organising Chairperson during the 1st Soluoi Clan Reunion Dinner held on  the 31st July 2010 .

It has been almost 3 years now since we celebrated the Soluoi Clan Reunion with a grand dinner. Time does fly fast and our plan to hold the Reunion at least once in 2 years apparently didn't go through.  The days went to months then went into years. Everyone was to busy doing their own thing. It is a blessing that a few of my cousins and my siblings are enthusiastic about this Reunion and has been pestering for the next Reunion.

We actually almost had one last year.  What we planned was to have a a gathering on a smaller scale like a Family Day at the beach perhaps, games and lots of eating. 16th September 2012 was set but we had to defer it when a beloved cousin passed away late August after a battle of leukemia.  Rest in Peace dear cousin.  You are now in a better place, where there is pain no more. Part of us miss you so much but God loves you more.

Our 1st Reunion in 2010 was attended by almost 300 members of of Soluoi Clan. With a bevy of activities – dances and performances, singing and not forgetting the lucky draws, kiddies fashion show competition with a title ‘Prince and Princess Soluoi’ and also the chosen Mr Valiant Soluoi and Miss Elegant Soluoi of the Night - it was a night to remember! The coming together of relatives some of whom I’ve never met before and those of whom I haven’t met for more than 20 years. And then there were those that came home from abroad. We really had fun that night and some even wished that it could be organized yearly.  I wish it is that easy though as we have to take into considerations lots of things - finance, logistics etc etc...

Anyway, we had our meeting last weekend to discuss and deliberate on the next Reunion and also to elect a new Organising Committee. I would have preferred to sit back and give my support and also offer advice from behind the curtains so to speak and also give the younger generations the opportunity to do it their way.  With unanimous decision from the meeting, my plea to have my post given to another was not accepted and  once again, the task to Chair the Reunion once again fell on my shoulders. The other members ie Vice Chair and Treasurer was also retained respectively with the exception of the Secretary. My cousin who did a good job was not able to continue with the post due to work commitment.  The task therefore was given to my lovely niece of whom we know is no less capable. 

But who was Soluoi? When the few of us mooted the idea of the 1st Reunion more than 3 years ago, we weren’t sure of which and where to start the generations from. Several suggestions were put up. Should we use the name Sombuling who was our maternal great great grandfather or his wife Soluoi? We wanted to use Sombuling but nobody knew much about him except that he was from around the Penampang area. We played it safe and opted to use Soluoi instead.

The story goes on to say that Soluoi came from Kibambangan (the google result showed a place on the hillside between Penampang and Tambunan) with a host of others for a Tamu day (Market Day) at Kolombuong (now Inanam) on one fine day in the late 1800s.  The journey in those days from Kibambangan to Kolombuong took about about 5 to 6 days on foot through hills and vales.  These people would travel in groups each carrying their land produce to sell to the market or a barter trade with the sea people. 

They would have make-shift hut in between their journey where they would rest for the night and continue the journey at dawn the following day. Soluoi was believed to be a young girl of 15 or 16 at that time. She had cried all the way to Inanam, it was said, due to her fear of those jungle leeches that lined up her jungle path. So traumatised was she that she resolved never to return home and pass through that detestable path again. Instead she implored to her parents to let her stay at the make-shift hut at Kg Sobog, Bambangan and with single-minded determination opened up a piece of land therein until she got betrothed to one, a very hardworking young man, Sombuling Gontolob. (Sources: My cousin Datuk SKK’s introduction in his Family Tree Directory).

..the land must have looked something like this in those days..

Sombuling and Soluoi were blessed with two daughters, Jouhim and Losunggim, the latter of whom died in her adolescence. Jouhim (my maternal grandmother) bore 10 children, 5 of whom died in their infancy. The other 5 consisted of a son, the eldest and 4 girls, my mother being the youngest. Four of these siblings have since passed away. My aunt the eldest daughter of Jouhim, is still living on the land first opened up by Soluoi.

It is interesting to note that the generations has spread to many parts of the world! With these planned Reunion, we hope to once again gather together and that this gathering strengthen the bond of relationships of the Soluoi Clan. As of now, I am pleased that some from abroad has agreed to be back to Sabah especially for the Reunion planned tentatively in August 2013.

31 July 2010, a bouquet of flowers for my aunt (mother of Datuk SKK), the Grand Matriach of the Soluoi Clan.  She still lives in the land, first opened up by Soluoi. 

The land is now a shadow of what it used to be. Now surrounded by development, the charm of the place has somewhat faded with the passing of time. The cool fresh waterfall that we used to play around when we were kids has now been reduced to a trickle.  The paddy fields that Soluoi and Sombuling used to till,  now a concrete jungle..

 Oh well, nothing lasts forever..

but

other things may change us, but we start and end with Family.... 

OF CUTE LITTLE THING, PROMISES AND IMAGES OF KOTA KINABALU...

I did this cute little thing called Charm Bracelet (at least that's what I think it is haha..) in between watching some TV programmes. Believe me it is cuter in real life than it is in this picture. That's what happens when the lazy bum that I am, feel that my taking my heavy SLR camera  from the bag was too much of a hassle.  Anyway, the camera from my mobile is a useful tool for situations like this. But serve me right..the result is appalling to say the least. Oh well...

I was told that I am expected to be able to name the materials used in this CLT (cute little thing), but haha.. I do not have the slightest idea what they are, save for the Cabochon Pink Rose and Antique Silver Charm Butterfly. 

My promise to a friend to feature a landmark of Kota Kinabalu, the oldest hotel here - the Jesselton Hotel finally fullfilled..phew.. my apologies again for the delay. Again my apologies for the appalling images.. (appalling seems to be my fav word nowadays ..lol).

And so, luckily I found this (pic below) on the Net..their advert page I think...  

I understand that many famous  people have visited The Jesselton Hotel including the British aristocrat Lady Edwina Mountbatten during her reception that was held by the 20th Governor Turnbull; and boxer Mohammad Ali in which he fought Joe Bugner in Kuala Lumpur on the 30th June 1975 and won on unanimous decision and came through Jesselton on the way to Manila.      (ok, I copied these info from this link).  :)

As seen from the sidewalk.

Pic above, picture of an old coin pasted on the walls of one of the shops at Gaya Street.  This was one of the coins used in the olden days .. 2 1/2 cents.. I wonder how much it is worth now.  Interesting..

Sunday Gaya Street Fair.. they sell almost everything ... need a parang?

A cafe at the Australia Place,  behind Gaya Street, featuring the olden days of KK when it used to be called Jesselton.  

The unique menu







and food is not bad too.

Picture above taken from the archive of my photographs taken more than a year ago.

Seen here is the Marina Court Resort Condominium, a service apartment, shown here, the part that has the best view - overlooking the alluring South China Sea.. see below, until some developers decided to develop the front area - see left of picture above. The houseowners fought tooth and nail to have the development plans revoked - they lost...    life has no guarantee. 

Pic above -the alluringly beautiful South China Sea. 

Those islands are popular tourists attraction

Pic below courtesy of their website 

Marina Court Resort Condominium Service Apartment.. those in red and white..

Ferry Terminal - speed boats to the islands

 the Gayana  Island Resort..

 Gorgeous but a tad pricey for my pockets ..hehe

May go there for lunch or dinner and look see, look see only

Pics above and below, courtesy of my cousin, SMK.. taken yesterday...thanks cuz.

CNY Decor at Suria Sabah Shopping Mall taken last night. We were there for dinner

at the FullHouse Cafe.

Below, the entrance..

the inside of the restaurant....shop while you eat.. 

Gorgeous!!

 

....... and last but not least,  guess who?

Thanks for dropping by. Cheers!!