The journey to Pontianak, land of the Equator
Date: 2nd October, 2008.
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It was 8.30 AM (M'sian Time), I didn't care to change my time on my wristwatch. In Indonesia it was 7.30 AM. When I arrived at the hotel cafe with my “other half” , there were Redline, Paul Shanon, Pemanca, KK and many others having their breakfast and were chit-chatting. They were eating fried rice, sate, and chicken cooked in Indonesian style. I didn't bother to sample those food, and as usual, I tried the congee and a few slices of bread with omelets. The girl at the counter greeted me, “Selamat siang, pak!”, and it made me wondered if I had ever married her mother that she called me pak!.
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Sharing a light moment together. Wonder what they were talking about that made Wonderboyz and Jihem laughed loudly. |
Nancy gestured to the camera. Others looked on. |
William busy poising for the camera while Menga Mikui was busy discussing with others. |
Dr. John Brian having a discussion with Paul Shanon, Alim and Ms Augustina, an NGO person in KalBar. |
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Ms Augustina listening attentively to Alim. |
What ever Bar_guarding passed to Ms Augustina, only he knows. |
PTT Corporation Sdn Bhd, Managing Director Mr Paul Shanon also had a serious discussion with Ms Augustina. |
What was Redline thinking? |
There, we mingled some more getting to know each other much closer. When time was up, we dispersed according to our assignments. I browsed through the program again just to make sure that I didn't miss any part of it. Further, I got Alim's clarification on the program, saying that we would make our move from the hotel at 11.00 AM (M'sian Time). For some, they could go for the city tour, whereas for us, we had our first meeting with our local co-host, Pak Clarry Sada and Pak Surya Suka at the hotel cafe. The discussion was on our agenda for the day before we had dialog with the Dewan Adat Dayak Kalimantan Barat.
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Here, we exchanged our name cards. I was a bit curious as to the name card of Pak Surya. The word "ASKES" caught my eyes. I bluntly asked him. What did it mean? Indonesia likes to use acronyms. Pak Surya said that it meant “Asuransi Kesehatan” in short ASKES. Now I knew. |
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Pak Clarry Sada, lecturer at Universitas Tanjung Pura. |
Pak F. Surya Suka, SH. M.Si. |
We do have our (un)official photographer with us. Without their camera no story is complete.
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Redline aka Mr William Nyigor with his CANON 550EX. |
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Kutieng aka Mr Baring Atoi with his CANON 500EX.. |
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Bar_guarding aka Raban Anggu also with his CANON |
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In action. |
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In action. |
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In action |
We also do have our not so expert official photographer with us. But they do know how to take pictures with their camera
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Get better pictures this way. |
What I know when taking pictures the person should be in front not the other way round. |
You will never know, who were the other cameramen around. |
With handphone, snap anywhere and anytime. |
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Boniface show us how his handphone can be very useful with camera. Can MMS also. |
I'm not a cameramen but I think when snapping pictures you should be seeing the object not other way. Wonder what he snaps! |
Indonesian are not the only fellow can take pictures by not looking at the object. Ms Jawai Aluk also can take pictures by looking else way. |
She still learning how to take pictures till the hotel cafe she still looking at the camera. |
The Betang or Botang (word in Jagoi-Bratak language from Bau)
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The Betang |
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Kittie |
Jihem & Augustina |
Paul Shanon |
Bar_guarding Augustina |
Nancy & Mum |
JABBERs poising infront of the Betang.
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MBSY aka Joseph Jindy & Kaddy. |
Kittie aka Julie Jono & Peggy. |
Cikgu Wes ak Mirid |
It was almost 11.00 AM, and we car-pooled to Dewan Adat Dayak Kalimantan Barat (also known Betang). Betang in Kenayan, botang as in Bibau. It meant long, long log. When we arrived at the Dewan Adat, we went straight to the place where they sold handicrafts. I bought myself kopiah (beaded songkok with Dayak motive).
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A lot of handicrafts were sold here. It ranges from as low as RP10,000 to RP750,000 (RM3.00 to RM280.00). |
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A few of us bought ourself a kopiah. Redline, Wonderboyz aka Dr Dominic Dado, Jurin and Swisserikin with the new head-gear. |
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Kittie and Nancy with the Kalimantan head gear. |
Our bidayuh ladies with their costume. |
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One thing for sure is that the Indonesian Dayak really know how to appreciate their ladies. Even the dolls feature ladies with big boobs. |
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Lunch time, we headed to Rumah Adat Dayak Kalimantan Barat (also called Betang), at the heart of the Pontianak City. While waiting for lunch to be served, many of us spent hundreds of thousands, if not millions of rupiahs, on crafts made of beads. Redline, MBSY, Wonderboyz, Bar_guarding, and some others looked like real Dayak warriors when they put on those accessories they had just bought.
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Wes, Ani, and Kittie just watched as Ms Peggy showed the Poco-Poco steps. She bought the CDs. |
Here, Peggy help Redline put on the beads bracelet he bought. He put all on! Show-off. |
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Some paying, some testing the CDs, some negotiating the prices at the Betang Gallery. |
More of Redline. Seen behind him were others buying at the Betang Gallery. I'm very sure the gallery make more than RP 20 Million of sales from us alone that day. |
When
food was ready, we were invited to a dining area for lunch. The food was
terrific, and they were prepared in Dayak style of cooking, with pansoh babi,
tapioca leave, sambal and ulam-ulaman. Here again we mingled with
the local Dayak prominences; asking normal questions such as names, addresses
and professions. Smiles, jokes and laughters flowed freely. Joining us were
their Peoples' Representatives (ahli2 DPR and MPR), academicians and candidates
for their upcoming election in year 2009.
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Menu
for the day:
1.
White rice 2.
Pork cooked in bamboo 3.
Pounded tapioca leave cooked in bamboo 4.
Fish cooked in bamboo 5.
Sambal belacan 6.
Ulam-ulaman 7.
Aloe Vera juice 8. Plain bottle water
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Waiting for food to be serve. |
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Grace before food |
The queue for food. |
Food on the platter. |
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Chit-chatting while eating. |
Poise after food for the camera. |
Being interview by WaiTV, the Indonesia dayak TV Channel interviewing the MP. |
After
lunch, representatives from BGA and SDNU had their informal "udung"
(meeting) with the local Dayak leaders.
