Merry Christmas & See you in KK!!

Hi all.. Was occupied preparing for Christmas so I've at the same time, 'consumed' my blogging time. Deepest apologies for the late Bario final posting guys.

Anyway, to update you on my itinerary, Jenn & I will be off to Kota Kinabalu tomorrow. Will be doing some portraiture photo shooting sessions there soon. PICTURIFIC is offering a YEAR END PORTRAITURE PROMOTION from now till 31st December 2008. So, to any of you "KK-rians" who are interested for a 1/2 hour indoor/outdoor session, don't miss out tis opportunity to have a 'taste' of PICTURIFIC PHOTOGRAPHY in Kota Kinabalu. Just give me a ring and book your dates! YES!! I still can slot a few more sessions for the 29th & 30th DEC. Since everyone is also back for Christmas & the New Year, Lets Pose, Laugh & Freeze those expressions with ANDERSON's PICTURIFIC!

Okay, so you might be wondering how's the package like so I'll give u some details:

1/2 HOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION
- Between 1 to 5 pax per session (Individuals, Couples & Families are invited to share the excitement)
- Selected photos will be fully edited
- Selected photos will be printed in 8R & 4R sizes.
- Selected photos saved in CD
- Venue : Around Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
- Complimentary : "You DON'T have to pay for my flight ticket! Yeeeehaaa!!"
- Offer rate : RM (Call 019-814 7077 for details)

Before I go pack, I'd like again to wish you all A Blessed Christmas (..not too late ah!) and may blessings of Love, Joy & Peace overflows in your respective homes. Thank you for all your encouragements & support. To all you frequent visitors to my blog, thank you so very much. To all you 'commentors', your words are my inspiration in creating more 'Terrific Pictures'. Much love to all and to all... Be Blessed!

Here's Jenn the Santarina, also wishing you a Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!

Bario Highlands - Folks - Final Posting

Pian Pun




Pian Ulun


Buluh Ayu


Bulan Aran
















Finaly, a shot of Jenn, Kedung & Me at the Muned's Hill


Hope you enjoyed the portraits of the folks in Bario guys. These are just very few of em'. I may not know everyone's name here so if any of you Kelabits out there happen to know them, do contribute in the comment box below kay. I can only capture 1 thousands shots in Bario during our 2 nights stay so if anyone of you are there, do take more pictures & share em with me too kay! As I will be away for assignments & holiday till the new year, I may not load shots for the time being. Have a good holiday you all and do enjoy the time spent with your families & friends.

Jenn & I had our first Christmas together this year and I've gotta say it was a good one. My sister, Angela, is also back from KL with 'someone special' to spend the holidays with us. I'll load some shots from Christmas as soon as I get connected yah! As for now, I've gotta go pack for our KK trip. Till then, have a jolly good holiday everyone!

Bario Highlands - Pa' Ukat

Pa', in the Kelabit language refers to water or in this context, river. So Pa' Ukat is the "Ukat River" (excuse my direct translation kay!). After church, we headed to Pa'Ukat to visit an aunt. Its roughly a 1 hour walk from the airport (if ur slow tat is). Here are some plants & scenes from this nearby village in Bario.

A longhouse in Pa'Ukat


Playschool in the longhouse


A man by the door


Bamboo bridge


A walk in the garden










Now.. guess what is this?

Bario Highlands - To Church on Sunday

A norm for the Kelabits in Bario is attending church. Unlike in the cities, the villagers here goes to church twice a day. They wake up very early in the morning before breakfast and head straight to church. After church service, they return home for breakfast then to the paddy field. After dinner, they attend church service again.

Most of the folks there walk to church..


Some cycle..


Some go on motorbike..


A few ride a 'buggy' like this..


..and they waited for the rest to arrive..(From left: Melatu Tepun, Siren Tauh & Siwa Balang). Melatu Tepun is the wife of the late Guru Paul, a well respected individual among the Kelabit community. The late Guru Paul introduced education to the community.


Before the sermon, various groups from surrounding villages present songs. Choir more like it.


..and they sang..


..and they danced..


..friends from Australia were there too.. and they also danced..


Shake it Grandma!


A shot of our Penan friends enjoying the songs. Okay, they were rather shy but I bet they still enjoyed themselves. I know I was!(..running around shooting everyone of course)


Come offering time. Though she was weak physically, this grandma didn't miss her giving. Gotta admire her faith.


Reading the word from the Holy book


After the service was over and a long session of shaking hands with the old folks, here's a shot in front of the church.

Bario Highlands - Paddy

A walk across the paddy field is a must in Bario. Here's a glimpse of what you can expect of the origin of Bario Rice.

Paddy field


Almost harvest time




Wet paddy field




Removing debris from the processed rice grains


Traditionally, the rice grains in sacks are kept in high store room such as this.


"Do Not Enter"

Bario Highlands - Ulung Palang Longhouse

Located on a hill between the old airstrip & the school, stand two long houses namely the Ulung Palang Ditaq & Ulung Palang Beneh. Renamed Bued Main, the Ulung Palang Ditaq was destroyed in a fire. Ulung Palang Beneh however, is still standing but very old now. It is also the longhouse we are from. Most of the people there were from the now extinct Pa' Mada longhouse near Long Dano.

Passing the old airstrip's control tower. Can't really see the airstrip anymore due to thick grass. When I was a kid, this place use to be the 'town centre'. Passing it reminds me of the time when late grandpa use to send sacks of rice to the airstrip, dragged by his buffalo.


Upon arrival at the hilltop, you'll see a new row of longhouse still under construction. Now, this is the Ulung Palang Ditaq or now called Bued Main. Oh yah, we didn't walk from the airport. We took the car instead. Don't worry, there are always smiling faces to greet & transport you from the airport.


Do wear your rubber boots. Otherwise, your footwear will end up like mine here. Had to soak it overnight to remove the mud. Not complaining though. Aaaaahhhh.. the smell of mud again... Miss it!


Introducing the Ulung Palang Beneh longhouse. This is just half the length from outside.


The residence still await assistance from the government in filling soil at this erosion site just a few meters from the main structure.


One of the very few young residence of the longhouse. Most of the younger generations have left the village to pursue their studies & carrier in the cities. Most of the children brought their old folks to live with them. When I was around 10 yrs old, its normal to see kids running around the longhouse. Now, its really a quiet place.


The generator house located at the foothill of the longhouse. Another setback in Bario, no electricity till today. Generators are widely used to light the houses at night. Fuel is extremely expensive too coz everything has to be flown in.


To enter the longhouse, you'll walk along this narrow path towards our door.


Another shot of the walk path but this time, from our door entrance.


Inside Ulung Palang Beneh. Pretty vacant now coz most of its residence have moved to the cities.


Here's the 'tawak' located after the rows of rooms where on that day, a few boys were playing futsal.


Before lunch, I switched on my phone. As expected, NO NETWORK COVERAGE. Due to telecommunication barrier here, I was informed that there's a service provider in the midst of extending its mobile service. Hopefully by January 2009, calls can be made to mobile phones in Bario.


Made of Bario grown rice, the 'Nuba Layak' (Soften Rice) is wrapped in leaves and can last for days when kept dry. When I was younger, dad use to joke with us saying that the Kelabits are among the richest people around because they always throw away their 'plates' after every meal.


I'll make sure I'll finish posting on our Bario trip A.S.A.P... For now, "Kuman tauh" (Lets Eat!)