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Your Rainforest World Music Festival Practical Guide

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The 21st Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) is coming this July 13 to 15!

It is a music festival like no other with world musicians from around the globe under one roof.

The festival is formulated to have interactive workshops in the afternoon and mind-blowing performances in the evening.

With Sarawak Cultural Village as its venue and Mount Santubong in the background, RWMF is an epitome of how indigenous music should be shared and appreciated.

Your Practical Guides to Rainforest World Music Festival 9
Have you bought your tickets yet to Rainforest World Music Festival 2018?

If you are planning to go, here is KajoMag’s practical guide to enjoying the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) :

1. Be there early.

Avoid the long queue at the entrance by coming early to the venue. Don’t forget to print your personal copy of your tickets or download it to your devices.

2. Don’t bring sharp items

There will be a security check at the entrance so do not bring sharp items to RWMF. And of course, no drugs are permitted.

3. No outside food and drink

Security will also check your bags for food and drink at the entrance. Even little things like your favourite mints or chewing gum are not allowed to RWMF. Don’t worry, food and drink are available at the venue.

4.You can bring your mats

Make yourself comfortable and bring your lawn chairs or mats. Some sellers at the craft bazaar do sell the traditional woven mats but stocks can be limited or they might be too big.

If you don’t want to take any chances, bring your own lawn chairs or mats.

Your Practical Guides to Rainforest World Music Festival 4
You can always plop yourself on a mat if you want to.
5.Protect yourself from UV rays!

RWMF is held in Kuching, Malaysia which is obviously located in a tropical country. Men might not care about this tip, but girls, do protect your skin by slapping on those sunscreen.

6. And a raincoat!

Even though the monsoon, or landas season, isn’t until December to March, there have been times when Kuching has been deluged by rain during RWMF.

A raincoat is a saviour for when you want to continue to dance in the rain. You might not able to save your slippers while dancing in the mud but at least you can protect your body.

Your Practical Guides to Rainforest World Music Festival 5
If it raining at night, you might need to dance in the rain so bring a raincoat!
7.Stuff them all in a dry bag

Speaking of raining during RWMF, a dry bag is very handy during RWMF. You can put all your important stuff like your wallet, camera and handphone in your dry bag. The festival venue, Sarawak Cultural Village, is just a stone’s throw away from the beach, so you’ll be able to enjoy the sun, surf and sand in before, after or between the music.

8. Shoo away those insects!

If you do not want to be distracted by mosquitoes or sand flies, spray on some insect repellent.

9. Bring along that power bank

One of RWMF’s most practical guidelines is to bring along your power bank. A proper power source to charge your handphones during RWMF is usually hard to find.

Your Practical Guides to Rainforest World Music Festival 2
This fellow might not be there to provide you with a fully charged power bank this year.
10. Have fun!
Your Practical Guides to Rainforest World Music Festival
Participate in at least one of the dance workshops!

In the afternoon, there are so many workshops to choose from. Pick at least one dance workshop to participate in. Nobody will judge you for having two left feet at RWMF. Be respectful toward other festival-goers and keep an open mind on learning about other people’s culturse.

Last but not least do not forget to have fun, fun, fun!

We hope that you find these Rainforest World Music Festival practical guidelines useful!

 

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The Frog Pond of Kubah National Park

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Most visitors to Kubah National Park would put Mount Serapi or its waterfall on the itinerary but only a few would stop and appreciate the frog pond located there.

Situated about a half-hour walk from the park HQ, this pool is the breeding ground for numerous frog species.

There are a few signs provided at the frog pond to educate the public more about this amphibian.

Kubah Frog Pond 2
Kubah National Park prides itself as “The Home of Palms and Frogs”.

If you are visiting the frog pond during the day, you might miss them. They hide among the leaf litter away from the hot sun and predators.

You can enjoy more of these amphibians if you are staying overnight at the national park.

This is because the frogs only come out at night. Furthermore, they are most active an hour after sunset.

Kubah Frog Pond
Most visitors tend to skip this small frog pond.

Have you heard a frog’s call before? Male frogs call to attract females.

Unlike catcalling among humans which usually repel the females, the louder the frog’s call, the better their chances of getting a mate.

Every species has its own distinctive call.

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A visitor walking pass the natural frog pond of Kubah National Park.

Some of the factors reportedly affecting the frog’s mating rituals are humidity, rainfall, temperature and even the phases of the moon.

After choosing a mate, the female expels its eggs into the water while the male releases its sperms to fertilise the eggs.

The eggs will later hatch into tadpoles and live like a fish for about 11 weeks.

Some tree frogs lay their eggs in the trees to avoid egg raptors.

When the eggs hatch, the tadpoles will fall into the pond.

Kubah Frog Pond 12
After choosing a mate, the female expels its eggs into this pond while the male releases its sperms to fertilise the eggs.

The importance of frogs

Frogs and their tadpoles hunt mostly insects allowing them to control the insect population. Hence, this helps to balance the ecosystem. Similarly, snakes, birds, bats and other frogs also prey on these frogs, continuing this important predator-prey cycle.

Did you know that having lots of frogs in the forest tells us that the area is still healthy?

They can be used as bio-indicator for pollution. This is because frogs have permeable skin which can be sensitive to any disease, pollution and changes in the environment.

If the number of frogs decline, it’s safe to say that it’s a warning sign that something is wrong with the environment.

Kubah Frog Pond 6
If the number of frogs decline, it’s a warning sign that something is wrong with the environment.

Frog species found at Kubah National Park

According to Sarawak Tourism Board website, some frogs that can be spotted here are Grass Frog, Common Asian Toad, Brookes’s Burrowing, Kerangas Bush Frog, Harlequin Tree Frog, Four-line Tree Frog, White-lipped frog and File-eared Tree Frog.

Apart from these, Hans P. Hazebroek and Abang Kashim Abang Morshidi listed more frog species in National Parks of Sarawak.

These include Kuhl’s Creek Frog, Black-spotted Rock Frog, Sarawak Slender Litter Frog, Abott’s Litter Frog, Giant River Toad and Brown Slender Toad.

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Catholics celebrate Easter Triduum in Sungai Asap, Belaga

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While the world celebrates Easter Sunday with eggs and bunnies, the Catholic community in rural Sungai Asap of Borneo took a spiritual turn of the celebration.

Like all Christians throughout the world, Easter Sunday for Sungai Asap folks was celebrated to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Easter 1
The Easter celebration for the Catholics in Sungai Asap was a spiritual experience.

Their celebration focused on the Easter Triduum – the period of three days beginning with the evening of Holy Thursday till Easter Sunday.

2018 marked the third year where Catholic devotees in the area came together at one longhouse for the weekend-long celebration.

This year, Uma Lahanan hosted the event, providing lodging and food for up to 1,000 participants. It had been held in Uma Sambop and Uma Apan back in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

To accommodate the high number of parishioners, a makeshift altar was built in the middle of the longhouse.

Some of them gathered there since Wednesday night (Apr 28) participating in activities throughout the weekend such as talks, prayers, a choir contest and bible quiz.

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One of the activities in during the weekend was a choir contest.

On Holy Thursday, the service included the ritual Washing of the Feet inspired by Jesus who washed the feet of His 12 apostles during the Last Supper.

Then the service concluded with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to St. Ambrose Church which is just a stone’s throw away from the longhouse.

The next day, Good Friday was celebrated in solemnity with fasting and prayers.

Easter vigil celebration

The highlight of the celebration was none other the Easter Vigil on Saturday night.

It consisted of four parts; including The Service of Light, The Liturgy of the Word, Christian Initiation and the Renewal of Baptismal Vows as well as the Eucharist.

During the vigil, a huge Easter fire was kindled right in the middle of Uma Lahanan’s open space.

Then, the celebrants Rev. Fr John Chia and Rev. Fr. Sylvester Ngau Juk blessed the Paschal candle before lighting it.

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The main celebrants during the Easter Triduum were Rev. Fr. John (right) and Rev. Fr. Sylvester.

The candle will be used throughout the season of Easter. It is a period of fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.

Once the candle was lit, it was carried in complete darkness from the open space to the makeshift altar.

While the candle was proceeding, all the candles held by the parishioners were slowly lit from the Paschal candle.

Rev. Fr. Sylvester, then proceeded to chant the Easter Proclamation before the vigil continued with the Liturgy of the Word.

The vigil was also the time all the attendees renewed their baptismal promises. While newly recruited members or catechumens were baptised.

Finally, the four-day long Easter jubilation ended on Easter Sunday with a mass and a luncheon at the ruai.

Next year, the Easter celebration in Sungai Asap is expected to be held at the 101-door Kenyah longhouse of Long Bangan, Belaga.

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Cathecumens ready to be baptised into the Catholic church on Easter vigil. Photo by Martin Ubung.

The Roman Catholic Community during the Easter Celebration

The congregation is mostly made of the Kayan, Kenyah, Lahanan, Ukit, Penan, Seping, Kejaman and other Orang Ulu tribes.

Some of the participating longhouses were Uma Balui Liko, Uma Bawang, Uma Badeng, Uma Sambop from different areas such as Long Urun, Sungai Seping, Tubau and Sungai Asap itself.

Most of the residents in Belaga are from the Borneo Evangelical Church (SIB) denomination.

At some of the longhouses like Uma Bawang, the residents were even divided into different blocks of longhouse according to their denominations.

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Hundreds observe Good Friday service in Uma Lahanan, Sungai Asap

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Hundreds of Roman Catholics flocked to Uma Lahanan at Belaga to observe Good Friday on March 30.

Most of them came from the surrounding areas including Sungai Asap Resettlement Scheme, Long Urun, Sungai Seping, and Tubau.

Churchgoers started to congregate as early as 8am to say the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.

It is a devotion based on the apparitions of Jesus reported by a Polish nun Saint Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938).

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Congregations kneeling down at the final stop of Stations of the Cross during Good Friday observance.

Stations of the Cross on Good Friday

Good Friday at Uma Lahanan 5
The final procession during the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday.

The day continued with the Stations of the Cross, a devotion to reflect Jesus Christ on the day of His crucifixion at Mount Calvary.

At 10am, all devotees went on for two-hour long procession in the hot sun starting from the Uma Lahanan longhouse to its main entrance.

The route was about 1.1km which took the congregation walking passed patches of pepper vines and oil palm trees.

Good Friday at Uma Lahanan 3
Each of the station is consist of a wooden cross.

The faithful made their way from one station to another while saying prayers and singing hymns.

Altogether there were 14 stations with 14 wooden crosses placed along the route.

The stations started with Pilate condemning Jesus to death, ending with Jesus’ body being placed in the tomb.

Some congregation members were seen walking barefooted on the hot, tarred road.

As Belaga is predominantly made up of Orang Ulu tribes, some parishioners wore hong (sun hat in Kayan) or sa’ong (sun hat in Kenyah) to protect them from the noonday heat.

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Parishioners wearing hong or sa’ong during the Stations of the Cross.

Good Friday Service

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The Veneration of the Cross during Good Friday service.

The highlight of the Good Friday observance was its main service at 3pm held at the ‘ruai’ of the longhouse.

There, the makeshift altar was bare with no candles or flowers as it was a solemn day for reflection and fasting.

Reverend Fr. John Chia and Reverend Fr. Sylvester Ngau Juk were the celebrants of the service.

The service was divided into three parts; Liturgy of the Word, Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion.

Other activities held on the day were bible quizzes and a drama competition based on the Passion of Christ depicting Jesus’ trial, suffering and death.

Good Friday at Uma Lahanan 10
A play depicting the Passion of Christ.

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3 easy trails in Bako National Park you must visit

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The oldest national park in Sarawak, Bako National Park is a tourist favourite in the state.

Located about 30km north of Kuching city, the park was established back in 1957 before Sarawak became part of the Malaysian federation.

Bako National Park is a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life especially if you are living in Kuching.

Unlike other national parks near Kuching such as Santubong National Park, Kubah National Park and Matang Wildlife Centre where you can still hear faint sounds of vehicles, you are completely immersed in the silence which nature offers at Bako National Park.

Most of the time, you can only hear the sound of the waves crashing, the trees rustling, and the pigs snorting.

And yes, it is pretty hard to ignore the park’s residents. Beside the bearded pigs, you will also get acquainted with other residents including silvered-leaf monkeys and long-tailed macaques.

However, the star of Bako National Park is none other than the proboscis monkey.

Some say that the proboscis monkey is one of the most unusual animals in the world.

It has reddish-brown fur with greyish limbs and its long tail and lower back are white.

Adult males have a huge, distinguising red nose and a pot belly.

Although they can be easily spotted near the headquarters in the evening, when you explore the trails you might find more of them.

Bako National Park (2)
Bako National Park is one of the few rocky shores found in Sarawak.

With so many trails to choose from in Bako National Park and so little time, these are the three easy trails you can visit:

1.Teluk Paku

Bako National Park (4)
A view of secluded beach of Teluk Paku.

Proboscis monkey, check. Doable trail, check. Secluded beach, check.

It takes about one-hour to hike to this small secluded beach called Teluk Paku.

If you are taking the trail early or late in the day, you might spot a proboscis monkey at close range.

2. Lintang

Bako National Park (3)
A female proboscis monkey spotted at Bako National Park.

This is a good trail for botanists or plant lovers out there.

Lintang trail makes a great introduction to the plants of Sarawak with many trees labeled with their botanical names.

It is a loop trail which takes up to 4 hours to complete.

3.Teluk Pandan Kecil and Teluk Pandan Besar

Bako National Park
A view from the top of the cliff at the end of Teluk Pandan Kecil trail.

It takes one hour to Teluk Pandan Besar and other half an hour to Teluk Pandan Kecil.

Pitcher plants can be found along the sandy paths of this trail. The trail ends with a breathtaking viewpoint overlooking the South China Sea. After which, you can descend to Telok Pandan Kecil beach to enjoy the seaside.

Always be aware of your surroundings, as there have been many reports of crocodile sightings in the area.

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Crocodile Effigies Part 1: The Iban Mali Umai Ritual

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In days gone by, Ibans carried out rituals and festivals for all occasions. From celebrating the birth of a new baby to warding off bad omens, pest control was no exception.

While some traditions are still practiced today – like the meri anak mandi ritual where a new baby is given a traditional baptism in the river – the mali umai , ngemali umai or nambai umai ritual which sees crocodile effigies being made to ward off pests is rarely done today.

As of 2014, the Sarawak Museum Department has recorded about 40 sites with confirmed effigies built by the Iban community throughout Sarawak. Some of these effigies can be dated back to 100 years.

Among them, 19 can be found in Kuching, Samarahan, Sri Aman and Betong division, while seven can be found in Sibu and Mukah division, three in Sarikei division, and six in Kanowit district.

Presently, there is one at Fort Alice in Simanggang, otherwise known as Sri Aman.

Living next door to Alice

The fort was refurbished in 2015 and turned into a heritage museum
The fort was refurbished in 2015 and turned into a heritage museum.

Fort Alice was named after the second Ranee of Sarawak, Margaret Alice Lili de Windt. Until 2015, it was an abandoned building until it was refurbished and reconstructed into a heritage museum under the Sarawak Museum Department.

The 153-year-old building was built following the victory of Charles Brooke, the second White Rajah of Sarawak, over Rentap, an Iban chieftain. It functioned to control the activities of the Iban from the Saribas area.

While the newly renovated building itself is worth visiting, the earthen crocodile effigies (baya tanah) located outside the compound at the foot of the building also deserves equal attention for their fascinating history and purpose.

A pair of male and female crocodile effigies at Fort Alice
The pair of male and female crocodile effigies at Fort Alice.

Traditional pest control

The effigies were typically made in pairs; one female and one male, the latter often slightly bigger than the former.

Sometimes, the pair would be accompanied with a smaller crocodile effigy, supposedly the baby crocodile.

As part of a hill paddy planting ritual, it is used as an ‘agent’ to get rid of paddy pests such as grasshoppers, locusts, sparrows, rats and monkeys during the weed clearing season (mantun) before the paddy began to bear grain.

According to an entry called “Mali Umai Iban” in the Sarawak Museum Journal vol I.XX, a path would be cleared from the crocodile snouts to the edge of the intended paddy farm after the ritual so that the crocodile spirit wouldn’t get lost.

Typically 2 to 3 metres in length and 0.4 to 0.8 metres in width, most of the effigies face a water source, such as a river or stream.

Only a few face inland. Those that do are in Simanggang, where the effigies face the paddy farm or the setting sun.

Ceramic cups used as the eyes of the crocodile effigies
Ceramic cups used as the eyes of the crocodile effigies

The earthen effigies would often be made on flat ground from the clay soil located at or around the chosen site.

The crocodiles would normally be made with outstretched limbs, forward-facing heads and slightly curved tails.

The ones at Fort Alice have porcelain cups and plates used as the eyes and scales of the crocodile.

Before the availability of porcelain dishware, pebbles were used instead. Besides porcelain, white glass marble or coins were also used.

Ceramic plates as scales
Ceramic plates as scales

Protection against the natural elements

Besides pest control, it was also said that the effigies were used in rituals to stop droughts, known as gawai minta ari.

Usually used in severe weather conditions, rituals were also conducted during torrential rain and flood, asking for dry weather.

The effigies were also used for a ritual called pelasi menoa, meaning to ward off bad omens and calamities.

With most Ibans being exposed to Christianity and the availability of pesticides, however, many have abandoned the practice.

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Pastor Ding, ahli sejarah Kayan luar biasa

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PHDing-left-with-two-men-from-Uma-Aging-Belaga-20150704-AZAM-IIC
Pastor Ding (kiri) bersama lelaki-lelaki dari Uma Aging, Belaga.
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Pastor Ding (kanan) bersama penduduk Uma Pako, Tubau.
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Lii’ Long (kanan) bersama isterinya Ipui Lahe.

Pada tahun 1970an, terdapat seorang lelaki berbangsa Kayan di Mendalam, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo dikenali sebagai Pastor Aloysius Johannes Ding Ngo yang bertungkus-lumus mencatat tradisi dan mitos kaum Kayan.

Beliau mendapat pendidikan beliau di Belanda dan merupakan orang Dayak pertama yang menjadi paderi Katolik.

Beliau bekerjasama dengan Lii’ Long, seorang penyanyi yang juga berasal dari Mendalam untuk mencatat cerita-cerita dongeng tersebut.

Pada tahun 1974, beliau memulakan perjalanan beliau ke Baram, Tubau dan Balui (Belaga) di Sarawak dan kemudiannya ke Kapuas dan Mahakam di Kalimantan Barat, seterusnya ke Samarinda pada tahun 1977 dan Apo Kayan pada tahun 1980.

Sepanjang perjalanan beliau, Pastor Ding akan menulis pengalaman beliau dalam bentuk diari dan gambar etnografi dan kemudian menghantar buku tersebut kepada rakan-rakannya.

Beliau juga menemu-bual mana-mana orang Kayan yang beliau terjumpa terutamanya mereka yang berpengetahuan dalam tradisi kaum tersebut.

Pastor Ding mempunyai kelebihan yang unik, beliau pandai menulis dan fasih bertutur dalam enam bahasa iaitu Kayan, Belanda, Latin, Indonesia, Jerman dan Inggeris.

Antara catatan terpenting beliau ialah Takna’ Lawe’, cerita mengenai legenda orang Kayan.

Lawe’ dianggap sebagai hero oleh Kayan Mendalam dan ceritanya tersebar ke orang Kayan di Balui, Baram, Mahakam dan Apo Kayan.

Namun di Balui, Lawe’ dikenali sebagai Belawan.

Pastor Ding juga menulis buku setebal 900 muka surat yang berjudul Sejarah Orang Kayan dan kamus Kayan-Indonesia yang termasuk perkataan-perkatan lama yang jarang diguna pada zaman sekarang.

Sepanjang hidup beliau, satu-satunya buku berjaya diterbitkan ialah ‘Syair Lawe’.

Buku tersebut diterbitkan pada tahun 1984-1984 oleh Gadjah Mada University Press.

Selebihnya buku-buku beliau dikumpulkan dan disebarkan dalam bentuk salinan karbon dan foto di antara orang Kayan tempatan.

Antara manuskrip yang belum diterbitkan ialah Takna’ Idaa’ Beraan dan Takna’ Kabuk Buaang oleh Juk Linge dan Lii’ Long, Takna’ Bakunng Dawing dari Mahakam dan Lung Jalivaan Hajaan yang terdiri daripada 22 cerita dongeng orang Kayan.

Malangnya, Pastor Ding meninggal dunia ketika menulis autobiografi beliau berdasarkan perjalanan hidup beliau semenjak 1940s.

Beliau meninggal dunia pada 6 Jun, 1995 di Sintang, Indonesia, 10 bulan sebelum hari jadinya yang ke-80.

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