Monday, September 12, 2011
During my travels in Borneo I often procured such rice from the Dayaks. It is a very clean and convenient way of carrying one's lunch, inside of a bamboo, the open end closed with a bunch of leaves. Fish and meat are prepared in the same manner. With fish no water is used, nevertheless, when cooked it yields much juice, with no suggestion of the usual mud-flavoured varieties of Borneo. It will remain wholesome three days, and whenever necessary the bamboo is heated at the bottom. One who has tasted meat or cereals cooked between hot stones in earth mounds knows that, as regards palatable cooking, there is something to learn from the savages. It is a fact that Indians and Mexicans prepare green corn in a way superior to that employed by the best hotels in New York. There is no necessity of returning to the bamboo and hot stones as cooking utensils, but why not accept to a greater extent the underlying principle of these methods? In the evening we arrived at Long Pelaban, a large Kenyah kampong, where for some time I made my headquarters. On the opposite bank of the river we cut the tall grass and jungle and made camp. Soon we were visited by many small boys who afterward came every day to look for tin cans. With few exceptions they were not prepossessing in appearance; nearly all were thin, and one was deaf and dumb, but they were inoffensive and well-behaved. During my travels among Dayaks I never saw boys or girls quarrel among themselves--in fact their customary behaviour is better than that of most white children. Both parents treat the child affectionately, the mother often kissing it. Next day we stopped to photograph a beautiful funeral house on the bank of the river, in which rest the remains of a dead chief and his wife. This operation finished, the Dayaks prepared their midday meal consisting of rice alone, which they had brought in wicker bottles. A number of bamboo sticks were procured, which were filled with rice and water and placed in a row against a horizontal pole and a fire was kindled underneath. As soon as this cooking was finished the bamboos were handed to the chief, Amban Klesau, who in the usual way split one open with his parang to get at the contents. Having eaten, he distributed the rest of the bamboos. I was given one, and upon breaking it open a delicious smell met my olfactory sense. The rice, having been cooked with little water, clung together in a gelatinous mass which had a fine sweet taste, entirely lacking when cooked in the white man's way. During the night much fish was obtained even as far down the river as our kampong, and many men searched for it here, using as lamps petroleum in bamboo with a piece of cloth for a wick. Next day all the able-bodied people left the kampong for a week's stay at the ladangs (fields), one day's journey up the Kayan River, only the weak and old people remaining behind. On this occasion I observed five or six individuals, men and women, of a markedly light, yellowish colour. One woman's body was as light as that of a white woman, but her face was of the usual colour, perhaps somewhat lighter. The fleet of prahus thoroughly searched the water, descending the river slowly in seven hours. At a few places where the stream makes large pools a few hundred metres long the boats loitered for a considerable time, as the prey would not often rise to the surface. Now and then there was much excitement over a fish that had risen and dived again, and the nearest prahus would all try to get it. Soon a man would be seen to jump after it with fixed spear, pass out of view, and after a while reappear on the surface, invariably with a large fish on the spear point. It was a magnificent exhibition of agility combined with skill Before daylight they began to beat these light-brown tuba pieces until the bark became detached. The bark is the only part used, and this was beaten on two previously prepared blocks, each consisting of two logs lashed together, with flattened upper sides. On either side of these crude tables stood as many men as could find room, beating earnestly with sticks upon the bark, singing head-hunting songs the while with much fervour. Occasionally they interrupted the procedure to run about animatedly, returning shortly to resume their labour. Long Pangian is a small settlement where ten native soldiers are kept, under the command of a so-called posthouder, in this case a civilized Dayak from the South, who met us at the landing in an immaculate white suit and new tan shoes. It was warmer here toward the end of March than at Tandjong Selor, because there had not been much rain for a month. The soil was therefore hard, and in the middle of the day so heated that after a shower it remained as dry as before. A few Chinamen and Bugis who live here advance rice and dried fish to the Malays to provision expeditions into the utan which last two to three months, receiving in return rubber and damar. The Malays come from lower down on the river, and a good many of them leave their bones in the jungle, dying from beri-beri; others ill with the same disease are barely able to return to Long Pangian, but in three weeks those who do return usually recover sufficiently to walk about again by adopting a diet of katsjang idju, the famous green peas of the East Indies, which counteract the disease. The Malays mix native vegetables with them and thus make a kind of stew. It is about 112 kilometres from Tandiong Selor to Long Pangian, our first halting-place, and, as the current of the river is not strong until the last day, the distance may be covered in four days. When low the Kayan River is light greenish-brown, but when high the colour changes to a muddy red-brown with a tinge of yellow. We used the dilapidated pasang-grahans as shelters, but one night we were obliged to camp on the river bank, so I had the tall, coarse grass cut down on the embankment, which was a few metres higher than the beach. Underneath the tall growth was another kind of grass, growing low and tangled like a mat, which could be disposed of by placing poles under it, lifting it and rolling it back, while at the same time the few roots attaching it to the ground were cut with swords. In less than fifteen minutes I had a safe place for my tent. I had found the Kayans very agreeable to deal with, and later had the same experience with many other tribes of Borneo. They ask high prices for their goods, but are not bold in manner. Though I made no special effort to ingratiate myself with them they always crowded round me, and sometimes I was compelled to deny myself to all callers regardless of their wishes. When I was reading or writing it was necessary to tell them to be quiet, also to stop their singing at night when my sleep was too much disturbed, but they were never offended. Presents of fruit, fish, mouse-traps, and other articles which they thought I might like, were constantly offered me. The women, free and easy in their manners, were ladylike to a surprising degree. In spite of having had ten teeth of the upper jaw filed down and the remainder coloured black by the constant chewing of betel, they are literally to the manner born. At times as they paddled along, the men would sing without words, but more impressively, a song which until recently was used when the Kayan returned to a kampong from a successful head-hunting expedition. Though the Dutch authorities evidently have stamped out headhunting on the Kayan River, and have even destroyed the heads that were hanging in the houses, smashing them throwing them into the river, the Kayan still speaks of the custom in the present tense. Even one or two of my companions were credited with having taken part in such expeditions. How can they possibly look bright? Store business and petty trading like that. People here really aren't buying anything, either. They're spinning and weaving themselves. Why, they live like mice in the field--they don't seem to belong to this human race of ours. Here we are, required to make a living off this little town of ours, this grotesque spectacle of a town, a mere port of loading, a few hundred people with no more than a copper each in their pockets. It's a mockery. I ought never to have come back home and taken over this business." "Well, let's see once," says Gammelmoderen. "You've quite a bit outstanding on your books. Can't you try to get some of this in?" Then the Queen came near to where the lady was, and she said to her, "Lady, I pray you give me my child again!" Upon this the Lady of the Lake smiled very strangely and said: "Thou shalt have thy child again, lady, but not now; after a little thou shalt have him again." Then Queen Helen cried out with great agony of passion: "Lady, would you take my child from me? Give him to me again, for he is all I have left in the world. Lo, I have lost house and lands and husband, and all the other joys that life has me to give, wherefore, I beseech you, take not my child from me." To this the Lady of the Lake said: "Thou must endure thy sorrow a while longer; for it is so ordained that I must take thy child; for I take him only that I may give him to thee again, reared in such a wise that he shall make the glory of thy house to be the glory of the world. For he shall become the greatest knight in the world, and from his loins shall spring a greater still than he, so that the glory of the House of King Ban shall be spoken of as long as mankind shall last." But Queen Helen cried out all the more in a great despair: "What care I for all this? I care only that I shall have my little child again! Give him to me!" with the empty saddle. When Foliot beheld that he said: "Lady, here meseems is great trouble come to us, for methinks something hath befallen my lord, and that he is in sore travail, for here is his horse without him." Then it seemed to Queen Helen as though the spirit of life suddenly went away from her, for she foresaw what had befallen. So she arose like one in a dream, and, speaking very quietly, she said: "Foliot, take me whither my lord went awhile since!" To this Foliot said: "Lady, wait until the morning, which is near at hand, for it is too dark for you to go thitherward at this present." Whereunto the Lady Helen replied: "Foliot, I cannot wait, for if I stay here and wait I believe I shall go mad." Upon this, Foliot did not try to persuade her any more but made ready to take her whither she would go. Now the young child Launcelot was then asleep upon the Queen's knees, wherefore she took her cloak and wrapped the child in it and laid him very gently upon the ground, so that he did not wake. Then she mounted upon her palfrey and Foliot led the palfrey up the hill whither King Ban had gone a short time since. [Sidenote: The Lady Helen findeth the King] When they came to that Ban, and Queen Helen, and the young child Launcelot, and the esquire Foliot left the town privily by means of a postern gate. Thence they went by a secret path, known only to a very few, that led down a steep declivity of rocks, with walls of rock upon either side that were very high indeed, and so they came out in safety beyond the army of King Claudas and into the forest of the valley below. And the forest lay very still and solemn and dark in the silence of the nighttime. Having thus come out in safety into the forest, that small party journeyed on with all celerity that they were able to achieve until, some little time before dawn, they came to where was a lake of water in an open meadow of the forest. Here they rested for a little while, for Queen Helen had fallen very weary with the rough and hasty journey which they had traveled. So King Ban summoned to him the seneschal of the castle, who was named Sir Malydor le Brun, and said to him: "Messire, I go hence to-night by a secret pass, with intent to betake me unto King Arthur, and to beseech his aid in this extremity. Moreover, I shall take with me my lady and the young child Launcelot, to place them within the care of King Arthur during these dolorous wars. But besides these, I will take no other one with me but only my favorite esquire, Foliot. Now I charge thee, sir, to hold this castle in my behalf with all thy might and main, and yield it not to our enemies upon any extremity; for I believe I shall in a little while return with sufficient aid Now, though King Ban thought himself very well defended at his Castle of Trible, yet King Claudas brought so terribly big an army against that place that it covered the entire plain. A great many battles were fought under the walls of the castle, but ever King Claudas waxed greater and stronger, and King Ban's party grew weaker and more fearful. [Sidenote: King Ban bethinks him of King Arthur] So by and by things came to such a pass that King Ban bethought him of King Arthur, and he said to himself: "I will go to my lord the King and beseech help and aid from him, for he will certainly give it me. Nor will I trust any messenger in this affair other than myself; for I myself will go to King Arthur and will speak to him with my own lips." Then came the autumn, then came the winter. And the winter was a dismal time, snow and cold, short days, darkness. The small farms and the lonely cottages had deep pathways through the snow to each other, and now and then a human form might be seen there, walking. It might be of an evening with moon and stars, and it might be the woman from Roten walking over to the neighbouring farm in order to borrow a skirt. Ay well, and all the menfolk were off in Lofoten and Karel was off in Lofoten and it fell to the lot of that woman of his to keep things going, what with the children and the cowbarn, until some three weeks after Easter when the menfolk would be returning home. It was a hard time for her, she had good use for all her patience and all her frugal ways. She had once been the girl Georgina, Gina to most, as poor then as now and not much for the eyes of a man, but young and healthy and able at work and she had sung so wondrously with her strong alto voice. Now she was Gina i Roten. She had not come from any high place and she had married into no worse state of poverty than some others, only that she was older now and many times a mother, and forty years. But was that anything! She was used to it and she was used to nothing else. Things might have been worse with her, of course they might; her years went by, one by one, and she had her children and her man and they had their little farm and their cattle in the shed, though 'tis true they owned but little clear. And if her man was a wizard at singing a ditty--ay, and famous for the words he had once set to a waltz--she was something in her own way, too. There was no one like Gina to stand upon the knoll and call home her creatures from the pasture of an evening. "Soo-a! Soo-a!" A melody which sang through the air, though 'twas nought but a cry, a call for the cows to come home, like a prayer in a voice of rich velvet. And in church she would sing out like no one else, and those at her side would fall silent. Her voice she had received from a God who could afford to squander his gifts.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
World's Top 100 Universities 2009
1 HARVARD University United States
2 University of CAMBRIDGE United Kingdom
3 YALE University United States
4 UCL (University College London) United Kingdom
5= IMPERIAL College London United Kingdom
5= University of OXFORD United Kingdom
7 University of CHICAGO United States
8 PRINCETON University United States
9 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (m... United States
10 California Institute of Technology (calt... United States
11 COLUMBIA University United States
12 University of PENNSYLVANIA United States
13 JOHNS HOPKINS University United States
14 DUKE University United States
15 CORNELL University United States
16 STANFORD University United States
17 AUSTRALIAN National University Australia
18 Mcgill University Canada
19 University of MICHIGAN United States
20= ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of T... Switzerland
20= University of EDINBURGH United Kingdom
22 University of TOKYO Japan
23 KING'S College London United Kingdom
24 University of HONG KONG Hong Kong
25 KYOTO University Japan
26 University of MANCHESTER United Kingdom
27 CARNEGIE MELLON University United States
28 Ecole Normale Superieure, PARIS France
29 University of TORONTO Canada
30 National University of Singapore (NUS) Singapore
31 BROWN University United States
32= NORTHWESTERN University United States
32= University of California, Los Angeles (u... United States
34 University of BRISTOL United Kingdom
35 HONG KONG University of Science And Tech... Hong Kong
36= École Polytechnique France
36= University of MELBOURNE Australia
36= University of SYDNEY Australia
39 University of California, BERKELEY United States
40 University of BRITISH COLUMBIA Canada
41 University of QUEENSLAND Australia
42 Federal Polytechnic School of LAUSANNE Switzerland
43= OSAKA University Japan
43= TRINITY College Dublin Ireland
45 MONASH University Australia
46 The Chinese University of HONG KONG Hong Kong
47= SEOUL National University Korea, South
47= University of NEW SOUTH WALES Australia
49= TSINGHUA University China
49= University of AMSTERDAM Netherlands
51 University of COPENHAGEN Denmark
52= NEW YORK University (nyu) United States
52= PEKING University China
54 BOSTON University United States
55= Technical University of MUNICH Germany
55= TOKYO Institute of Technology Japan
57 HEIDELBERG University Germany
58 University of WARWICK United Kingdom
59 University of ALBERTA Canada
60 LEIDEN University Netherlands
61= The University of AUCKLAND New Zealand
61= University of Wisconsin-madison United States
63= AARHUS University Denmark
63= University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (U of I)
United States
65 Catholic University of LEUVEN Belgium
66 University of BIRMINGHAM United Kingdom
67= London School of Economics And Political... United Kingdom
67= LUND University Sweden
69 Kaist - Korea Advanced Institute of Scie... Korea, South
70= University of YORK United Kingdom
70= UTRECHT University Netherlands
72 University of GENEVA Switzerland
73= Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore
73= WASHINGTON University In St. Louis United States
75 UPPSALA University Sweden
76= University of CALIFORNIA, San Diego United States
76= University of TEXAS At Austin United States
78 University of NORTH CAROLINA, Chapel Hil... United States
79 University of GLASGOW United Kingdom
80 University of WASHINGTON United States
81 University of ADELAIDE Australia
82 University of SHEFFIELD United Kingdom
83 DELFT University of Technology Netherlands
84 University of WESTERN AUSTRALIA Australia
85 DARTMOUTH College United States
86 GEORGIA Institute of Technology United States
87= PURDUE University United States
87= University of ST ANDREWS United Kingdom
89 University College DUBLIN Ireland
90 EMORY University United States
91 University of NOTTINGHAM United Kingdom
92= NAGOYA University Japan
92= University of ZURICH Switzerland
94 Free University of BERLIN Germany
95= NATIONAL TAIWAN University (NTU) Taiwan
95= University of SOUTHAMPTON United Kingdom
97 TOHOKU University Japan
98 Ludwig Maximilian - University of MUNICH... Germany
99 University of LEEDS United Kingdom
100 RICE University United States
Source: QS Quacquarelli Symonds (www.topuniversities.com)
2 University of CAMBRIDGE United Kingdom
3 YALE University United States
4 UCL (University College London) United Kingdom
5= IMPERIAL College London United Kingdom
5= University of OXFORD United Kingdom
7 University of CHICAGO United States
8 PRINCETON University United States
9 Massachusetts Institute of Technology (m... United States
10 California Institute of Technology (calt... United States
11 COLUMBIA University United States
12 University of PENNSYLVANIA United States
13 JOHNS HOPKINS University United States
14 DUKE University United States
15 CORNELL University United States
16 STANFORD University United States
17 AUSTRALIAN National University Australia
18 Mcgill University Canada
19 University of MICHIGAN United States
20= ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of T... Switzerland
20= University of EDINBURGH United Kingdom
22 University of TOKYO Japan
23 KING'S College London United Kingdom
24 University of HONG KONG Hong Kong
25 KYOTO University Japan
26 University of MANCHESTER United Kingdom
27 CARNEGIE MELLON University United States
28 Ecole Normale Superieure, PARIS France
29 University of TORONTO Canada
30 National University of Singapore (NUS) Singapore
31 BROWN University United States
32= NORTHWESTERN University United States
32= University of California, Los Angeles (u... United States
34 University of BRISTOL United Kingdom
35 HONG KONG University of Science And Tech... Hong Kong
36= École Polytechnique France
36= University of MELBOURNE Australia
36= University of SYDNEY Australia
39 University of California, BERKELEY United States
40 University of BRITISH COLUMBIA Canada
41 University of QUEENSLAND Australia
42 Federal Polytechnic School of LAUSANNE Switzerland
43= OSAKA University Japan
43= TRINITY College Dublin Ireland
45 MONASH University Australia
46 The Chinese University of HONG KONG Hong Kong
47= SEOUL National University Korea, South
47= University of NEW SOUTH WALES Australia
49= TSINGHUA University China
49= University of AMSTERDAM Netherlands
51 University of COPENHAGEN Denmark
52= NEW YORK University (nyu) United States
52= PEKING University China
54 BOSTON University United States
55= Technical University of MUNICH Germany
55= TOKYO Institute of Technology Japan
57 HEIDELBERG University Germany
58 University of WARWICK United Kingdom
59 University of ALBERTA Canada
60 LEIDEN University Netherlands
61= The University of AUCKLAND New Zealand
61= University of Wisconsin-madison United States
63= AARHUS University Denmark
63= University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (U of I)
United States
65 Catholic University of LEUVEN Belgium
66 University of BIRMINGHAM United Kingdom
67= London School of Economics And Political... United Kingdom
67= LUND University Sweden
69 Kaist - Korea Advanced Institute of Scie... Korea, South
70= University of YORK United Kingdom
70= UTRECHT University Netherlands
72 University of GENEVA Switzerland
73= Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore
73= WASHINGTON University In St. Louis United States
75 UPPSALA University Sweden
76= University of CALIFORNIA, San Diego United States
76= University of TEXAS At Austin United States
78 University of NORTH CAROLINA, Chapel Hil... United States
79 University of GLASGOW United Kingdom
80 University of WASHINGTON United States
81 University of ADELAIDE Australia
82 University of SHEFFIELD United Kingdom
83 DELFT University of Technology Netherlands
84 University of WESTERN AUSTRALIA Australia
85 DARTMOUTH College United States
86 GEORGIA Institute of Technology United States
87= PURDUE University United States
87= University of ST ANDREWS United Kingdom
89 University College DUBLIN Ireland
90 EMORY University United States
91 University of NOTTINGHAM United Kingdom
92= NAGOYA University Japan
92= University of ZURICH Switzerland
94 Free University of BERLIN Germany
95= NATIONAL TAIWAN University (NTU) Taiwan
95= University of SOUTHAMPTON United Kingdom
97 TOHOKU University Japan
98 Ludwig Maximilian - University of MUNICH... Germany
99 University of LEEDS United Kingdom
100 RICE University United States
Source: QS Quacquarelli Symonds (www.topuniversities.com)
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Kadazandusun First Sabahan To Be Appointed Consul-General
KOTA KINABALU, April 8, 2010 (Bernama) -- Francisco Munis, a Kadazandusun native from Sabah, has been appointed Malaysia's Consul-General in Guangzhou, China, the first Sabahan career diplomat to made head of a Malaysian mission overseas. A Foreign Ministry statement here says Munis, 39, will replace Roslan Abdul Rahman, who had been consul-general since 2007. His appointment is effective Monday.Munis is among the very few Sabahan administrative and diplomatic service (PTD) officers to join the Malaysian foreign service. Previously, he served as assistant secretary at the ministry's protocol department before being posted in 2001 to the Malaysian embassy in Mexico City as Ffrst secretary.Upon his return in 2006, he served at the Information and Public Diplomacy Department of the Foreign Ministry as Director of Research and Documentation. He holds a Bachelor of Science Honours degree from Loughborough University, United Kingdom, the statement adds.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Hidangan "Hinava" di Sambutan Pesta Kaamatan
Sempena sambutan Pesta Kaamatan, beberapa makanan tradisi Kadazandusun boleh diketengahkan. Cara untuk membuat hinava sangat mudah dan hanya memerlukan 30 minit saja untuk membuatnya.Contohnya seperti di bawah untuk keperluan 5 orang makan.
Bahan-bahan:
Ikan Yu 250gm
Garam 1 sudu kecil
Gula 1 sudu kecil
Cili padi 10 biji
Limau nipis 5 biji
Air 250ml
Cara-Cara Menyediakan:
Panaskan air sehingga mendidih, buang sisik ikan yu, rendamkan ikan yu kedalam air panas tadi selama 3 minit, hiris isi ikan kecil-kecil mengikut kesukaan, masukkan ke dalam mangkuk, tambahkan 3 cubit garam, 2 cubit gula, serbuk perasa, cili padi 10 biji dan air limau nipis. Gaulkan sehingga sebati (jika kekurangan rasa bolehlah ditambah ikut kesukaan) dan biarkan setengah jam sehingga ikan masak. Selepas itu, bolehlah dihidangkan.
Selamat Mencuba!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Getting the Inspiration from Lee Chong Wei!
Lee Chong Wei in seventh heaven (Photo: AP/Simon Dawson)
WORLD No. 1 Lee Chong Wei is in seventh heaven after realising his dream of becoming the All-England champion in his seventh attempt in Birmingham on Sunday. He defeated Kenichi Tago of Japan 21-19, 21-19 in a tight final at the National Indoor Arena. It has been a challenging journey but one that the 28-year-old will always remember. He goes on record as the 100th champion of the world’s oldest badminton tournament. He talks to Starsport’s RAJES PAUL and tells how he lived up to the expectations after many past frustrations and what the future holds for him and the Malaysian badminton team.
HOW does it feel to become the champion that you always wanted to be?
It is an indescribable feeling. In my first All-England in 2003, Hafiz (Hashim) won the title while I was a first-round casualty. I had a heart-to-heart talk with coach Misbun (Sidek) and told him how much I wanted to win the All-England. He promised to make it happen for me if I was willing to give full commitment in training.For the last few years, I returned home very disappointed ... always losing to a Chinese. On the eve of the final against Tago, I could not sleep that well. I was restless as I did not want to go back without the title. I still cannot believe that I have won it. It has not really sunk in yet. One thing is for sure, I can sleep well now. I am only the fifth Malaysian to win the All-England but I am glad that I ended a seven-year wait for it.
WHAT was the driving factor behind your success this time?
I think the key word here is the 100th celebration. I had to win because it is a special edition of a prestigious tournament. People don’t really remember if you are the 2008 or 2009 winner. But it makes a lot of difference when you are the champion of its centenary tournament. I was driven by this. Besides, I have not won any major title and this seemed to be the perfect stage to pull it off. I have always crashed out in the early stages, especially in the world championships.
HOW do you feel about winning the title without having to deal with China’s top stars Lin Dan or Bao Chunlai?
Probably, I will be more satisfied if I had beaten Lin Dan for the title. That is what people want to see. I had a better chance following the exit of Lin Dan (quarter-finals) and Chunlai (semi-finals) and I took that well. But of course, I cannot stop people from having their opinion. Some may discount my achievement because I did not have to play against any of the top Chinese players. That is their view. But I have to admit that it would have been hard against them. They have five good singles players (the others being Chen Jin, Chen Long and Du Pengyu) and it is not easy for one to clear so many hurdles. The Chinese are not in an All-England men’s singles final for the first time since 1999 but I am sure they will bounce back. And I hope to be ready for them.
WHAT is the most priceless lesson that you will take back home from this All-England?
I came into the tournament as an unbeaten player on the international stage since the Super Series Masters Finals (in December). I started the year by winning the South Korean Open and then the Malaysian Open. The pressure was heavy on me. It felt like the Olympic Games. But I managed to cope with it in every match . I am getting better in handling the pressure, which is really good.
IS TAGO ready to challenge strongly and consistently on the big stage?
He has improved tremendously since I last played against him a year ago (in the Swiss Open). He made life difficult for me in this final. I wasn’t safe even when I had a two-point lead over him. He kept coming back at me. Tago is certainly a great fighter and has good skills. The South Korean (Shon Wan-ho) also did well in the quarter-finals. These players do not show nerves and we will have to watch out for them. I hope our younger players would be inspired by them too.
WHO are the people behind your success?
There are so many of them. My coach, Misbun, however, needs special mention. He has been with me since I was a junior. He knew how much I wanted to win this title. He is the most understanding coach a player can have. He is always the first to arrive for training – by 5.30am. He is so dedicated and committed and I am lucky to have him as my mentor. Of course, my parents have been supportive. I also get strong support from the BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia), National Sports Institute and National Sports Council. And my team-mates who have been selflessly sparring with me. Back-up shuttlers Tan Chun Seang and Chan Kwong Beng gave me quality time in sparring. I will also not forget my adopted father, Wong Wai Choy, who provided the pillar of strength for me when I left Penang for Kuala Lumpur when I was 18. I have to say a big thank you to all Malaysians too. I was also pleasantly surprised to receive a call from the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib (Tun Razak), after my victory. The Prime Minister and his wife had stayed up to watch me play the match live on TV. It meant a lot to me.
HOW do you intend to reward yourself for this achievement?
I will give myself a one-week break to celebrate the win. That will be it. I am skipping the Swiss Open so that I can have some time to relax after giving 100% or more in training and in tournaments for the last three months. It can be mentally draining. But when the one week is up, it’s back to hard work again. There are still other major tournaments for me this year.
WHAT’s next for you?
There will be no tournaments for me until the Thomas Cup Finals (in May). I want to improve on my game and be ready to face all the top ranked players. But the Finals is not an individual event. It’s a team effort and I will do my best to inspire my team-mates. We will be playing at home and hopefully, we can surprise everyone with some good results. I consider the All-England as my first major title after many disappointments. And I hope that this will be a start for better things to come. I want to be a world champion and that means I have to beat some good players from China to achieve it. I will stay focused.
HOW would you sum up the achievements of the other players in the team?
It is unfair to say that the other players were big flops because they lost early. The national players are one big family. Sometimes I win, sometimes Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong or Chin Eei Hui-Wong Pei Tty win. Most importantly is victories for Malaysia.I have had my bad days too but the others did well to cover up. I hope the players will do well in the Swiss Open and no one will be too hard on them.
WHAT do you have to say to your fans?
I really love them for all the support that they have given me. The final day saw so many Malaysians in the stadium. It was heart-warming and gave me the extra motivation to do well. They have always been encouraging and wishing me well. I went to Chinatown for dinner once with my uncle here and I was swarmed by fans. I just want to thank them all from the bottom of my heart.
Source: The Star, Tuesday March 16, 2010
Monday, March 08, 2010
"Mogongoi" Ritual in Traditional Dusun Tambunan Wedding
Posted By Allan G Dumbong
Article Under Construction!
"MOGONGOI" in Dusun language means "to officaly invite" the bride to join the groom and become his new family member. This is one of the most significant part of the Dusun community's wedding ceremony as in the early days, the mission by a group of selected poeple to invite the bride often fail to persuade the bride and would continue the attempt untill the next day.
The groom would have to look for the bride who is hidden somewhere unknown to him. Accompanied by his family members, they will go to the bride's house. Upon arrival, he would proceed to search. However, in most cases, the groom is required to answer some questions of "pantun" or pay the toll charges which normally includes rare combination of coins such as 7 pieces of 1 cent coin before he is allowed to search. Sometimes it is not an easy task however it is accepted as an ice breaking by the bride's family...normally it won't take long. Once found the groom can then bring the bride back to his house. That would start the celebration. Those days, the journey would take the whole day depend on the distance between the bride's and groom's house...the bride's family won't let the newly-wed couple and his family members go before they finish the food and drink (tapai) served to them.
On arrival at the groom's house,th entire group will be greeted by the young boys and ladies with tapai and food, and no one is allowed to enter before they are being served.. The bride and groom would be the last to enter. Everyone has to comply otherwise they would not be allowed to enter the gate.
atuk koi osiok kopiyo kawin secara tradisi..ba mai tokou tungkusai t tadat bangsa tokou supaya amu o pupus walaupn yati berada di zaman yg maju...dusun still alive!!!!
Extracted fromhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQuSQZtDQJM, by papatengo90
Article Under Construction!
"MOGONGOI" in Dusun language means "to officaly invite" the bride to join the groom and become his new family member. This is one of the most significant part of the Dusun community's wedding ceremony as in the early days, the mission by a group of selected poeple to invite the bride often fail to persuade the bride and would continue the attempt untill the next day.
The groom would have to look for the bride who is hidden somewhere unknown to him. Accompanied by his family members, they will go to the bride's house. Upon arrival, he would proceed to search. However, in most cases, the groom is required to answer some questions of "pantun" or pay the toll charges which normally includes rare combination of coins such as 7 pieces of 1 cent coin before he is allowed to search. Sometimes it is not an easy task however it is accepted as an ice breaking by the bride's family...normally it won't take long. Once found the groom can then bring the bride back to his house. That would start the celebration. Those days, the journey would take the whole day depend on the distance between the bride's and groom's house...the bride's family won't let the newly-wed couple and his family members go before they finish the food and drink (tapai) served to them.
On arrival at the groom's house,th entire group will be greeted by the young boys and ladies with tapai and food, and no one is allowed to enter before they are being served.. The bride and groom would be the last to enter. Everyone has to comply otherwise they would not be allowed to enter the gate.
atuk koi osiok kopiyo kawin secara tradisi..ba mai tokou tungkusai t tadat bangsa tokou supaya amu o pupus walaupn yati berada di zaman yg maju...dusun still alive!!!!
Extracted fromhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQuSQZtDQJM, by papatengo90
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
LAUNCHING OF KAAMATAN 2010 - MAY 1, KENINGAU
KOTA KINABALU: Keningau will kick off this year’s State-Level Kaamatan Festival celebration on May 1.
This was disclosed by the State-level Kaamatan Festival Committee chaired by Huguan Siou Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan at the Infratsructure Development Ministry, Monday.
Pairin, who is Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Infrastructure Development Minister, said that this year’s festival theme would be “Cultural Diversity Foundation of Harmony” (Kepelbagaian Budaya Asas Keharmonian/ Pogisuaian Koubasanan Koimpuunon Piunungan)” as a contributing factor towards strengthening the family spirit within 1Malaysia.
Tambunan will hold its district-level celebration on May 15, while Klang Valley on May 8.
(Source: Daily Express,9/2/2010)
This was disclosed by the State-level Kaamatan Festival Committee chaired by Huguan Siou Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan at the Infratsructure Development Ministry, Monday.
Pairin, who is Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Infrastructure Development Minister, said that this year’s festival theme would be “Cultural Diversity Foundation of Harmony” (Kepelbagaian Budaya Asas Keharmonian/ Pogisuaian Koubasanan Koimpuunon Piunungan)” as a contributing factor towards strengthening the family spirit within 1Malaysia.
Tambunan will hold its district-level celebration on May 15, while Klang Valley on May 8.
(Source: Daily Express,9/2/2010)
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