The journey to Pontianak

The journey to Pontianak, land of the Equator
Date: 2nd October, 2008.

The Udung

Next in the agenda of our visit was the dialog or forum udung with the local Dayak leaders of KalBar. We were told to gather around the foot of the kepala tangga, a whole log cut into steps. Both the guests and the hosts were ready to ascend the steep wooden stairs. The President of SDNU, Mr Menga Mikui, led the way followed by their MPR (a Dayak Parliamentarian), and the President of SBGA, Mr William Nyigor accompanied by the rest of the delegates.


Seen in the pictures are: SDNU President, Mr Menga Mikui walked up the log steps, while others followed.	Menga Mikui led the way up.	The President of SBGA, Mr William Nyigor, aka Redline and MBSY followed behind.	Redline and MBSY reaching the tonju and was given to sample the tuak or rice wine by the host of the Betang.

Redline and MBSY .	Jihem and the Vice-President of SBGA, Mr Nicholas Amin.	Tara, tara, tara ooooooo....ah!!	Seen here are swisserikin, Salam and Bar_guarding."ma kasi.. ma kasi.. ma kasi"

Notice the head of the steps. They carved a head on the big logs. Infect, it resembled a human body with that big log. Look like it was made from kayu belian.

Upon reaching the verandah or tonju, we were greeted by local ladies in Dayak costumes. Everyone was offered to sample the traditional tuak. It was a welcoming greeting and gestures of friendship and brotherhood being offered.


All seated around the hall of the Betang.

The delegates at the udung.

As we settled down and duduk bersila at the ruai, an announcement was made that the udung session was about to begin. The emcee offered the guests his welcoming speech with a slogan/motto "Adil Ka' Talino, Bacuramin Ka' Saruga, Basengat Ka' Jubata". The phrase, loosely translated which means, "Fairness to Humandkind, Heavenly Mirrored Actions, Dependent of God" , (Extract from Bar_guarding sentences). The slogan, we were told, have been officially adapted by three provincials in the whole of Kalimantan. (Bar_guarding felt so humbled that his dialect/language is being used for the slogan, and is widely spoken as the lingua franca for the Dayaks there, though they called the language Kanayatn, a variant easily understood by Salako (pronounce as Sa Lak Kao [369] in Chinese).

At the udung session, representatives from both sides shared their organizations' hopes and aspirations for the betterment of the Dayaks people in both countries. The Presidents of SDNU and SBGA spoke for our side. I am not at the liberty to divulge the details here, but suffice to say that hopes and ambitions of all parties are humble, noble and genuine; for the benefit of all the Dayaks people.

Our Emcee first word

"Adil Ka' Talino,

Bacuramin Ka' Saruga,

Basengat Ka' Jubataaa!

Everyone replied him "HARUUUUUS"

Ketua Bapak Mankarius of Rumah Adat Dayak Kalimantan Barat gave his word and remark, “Happy to have you guy here.”

President of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), Mr Menga Mikui, “We are the same people of the land and only the border separated us.”

Ketua Adat Dayak Kalimantan Barat, “We should have more of this dialog between us Dayak from Malaysia and Indonesia.”

An Iban from Kalimantan himself, and had studied in Sri Aman and now lecturing in Universitas Tanjung Pura, he hope that there's Cultural University being created for and by both countries. “It should be located somewhere in Sri Aman or Kapit”, said Pak Clarry Sada.

Dr John Brian said,” We should all start it from home, we should instill the value in the family than we go to the community if we the Dayak want to be successful.”

Our SBGA President also use the same phrase when he address the crowd.

"Adil Ka' Talino,

Bacuramin Ka' Saruga,

Basengat Ka' Jubata!

(Not as smooth as the local)

Everyone replied him, "HARUUUUUS"!

(Not bad as a beginner even if the word is alien to him.)

“We hope to learn from you about Dayak integration formula, infect we can share our success story together”.

“As a member of parliament of Indonesia, we in the government is looking highly on the national integration between us. Both Malaysia and Indonesia had already been working toward it.”

“Orang lain sudah lama korupsi, kita orang dayak baru-baru mula korupsi. Kenapa mesti disoalin. Apa bedanya”

Personal Assistant to the Governor spoke about problem faced by the Dayak working in Malaysia. They don't have anywhere to seek help and advice. He hope that the association can give a helping hand to them.

A kayan from kalimantan Bapak Mering, spoke about agreement to his earlier discussion with Dr John Brian and also what had been spoken. He hope that this forum was not the last but will lead to many more of its kind.

Cheers to a new beginning! Tara, tara, tara ooooooo.... ah!!

In between those speeches, I was busybody sikit. I asked Pak Surya about the phrase that the emcee had said and what it meant.


The Dayak ladies at the Betang.	The one piece band! A very talented guy with his YAMAHA electronic keyboard. His selection of songs and beautiful voices make I wonder if I could offer him to sing at any of our function held in Kuching in the future.	The Betang caretaker and his 'fierce' looking flat face dog! Don't be fools by her. A Toothless Guinness Stout!	This what I remember of this Betang!

	"Fairness to Humandkind, Heavenly Mirrored Actions, Dependent of God"
This was what he wrote for me. The meaning is very deep indeed.		Motive displayed around the hall.

He did look like a Red Indian of North America. Chief STORM CLOUD came alone. Watch out, there's cowboy around.		Another lost Red Indian. He said that he was the Last Mohican and he had just lost his horse! "We come here in peace."

The session lasted slightly more than two hours, after which there was a short session of betandak and joget-jogetan. After the betandak, we all dispersed and went back to our hotel.


A cowboy putting on his hat before the joget, and others waiting. MUSIC Please!	The joget started with the Iban song from Andrewson Nyalai of Sarawak, Malaysia, and followed by the local Dayak Song.

Giving their backs to the camera. Chief STORM CLOUD doing his Warrior dance and Wonderboyz keeping his gun.	Watch the guy in grey shirt "SALAKO BATO". Wonder where he learned how to dance like that, all over the places. Either he was dancing the joget or measuring the hall. Bar_guarding showed the way. “Sibonal bonal! Tok bih! Nak ku ponai mogo”.

After almost 30 minutes or so, the dance stop and it was time to go back and freshen up for the dinner at the hotel.


Our Emcee first word *"Adil Ka' Talino,* *Bacuramin Ka' Saruga,* *Basengat Ka' Jubataaa!* Everyone replied him *"HARUUUUUS"*	Ketua Bapak Mankarius of Rumah Adat Dayak Kalimantan Barat gave his word and remark, “Happy to have you guy here.”	President of Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), Mr Menga Mikui, “We are the same people of the land and only the border separated us.”	Ketua Adat Dayak Kalimantan Barat, “We should have more of this dialog between us Dayak from Malaysia and Indonesia.”

An Iban from Kalimantan himself, and had studied in Sri Aman and now lecturing in Universitas Tanjung Pura, he hope that there's Cultural University being created for and by both countries. “It should be located somewhere in Sri Aman or Kapit”, said Pak Clarry Sada.	Dr John Brian said,” We should all start it from home, we should instill the value in the family than we go to the community if we the Dayak want to be successful.”	Our SBGA President also use the same phrase when he address the crowd. *"Adil Ka' Talino,* *Bacuramin Ka' Saruga,* *Basengat Ka' Jubata!* (Not as smooth as the local) Everyone replied him, *"HARUUUUUS"!* (Not bad as a beginner even if the word is alien to him.) “We hope to learn from you about Dayak integration formula, infect we can share our success story together”.	“As a member of parliament of Indonesia, we in the government is looking highly on the national integration between us. Both Malaysia and Indonesia had already been working toward it.”

“Orang lain sudah lama korupsi, kita orang dayak baru-baru mula korupsi. Kenapa mesti disoalin. Apa bedanya”	Personal Assistant to the Governor spoke about problem faced by the Dayak working in Malaysia. They don't have anywhere to seek help and advice. He hope that the association can give a helping hand to them.	A kayan from kalimantan Bapak Mering, spoke about agreement to his earlier discussion with Dr John Brian and also what had been spoken. He hope that this forum was not the last but will lead to many more of its kind.	Cheers to a new beginning! Tara, tara, tara ooooooo.... ah!!