Malay engagement ceremony (Majlis Pertunangan)

My white hair shines through,  15 March, 2020, Kuching.

On the 15th of March, I became the spokesman ('jurucakap') and representative ('wakil') for my brother-in-law's family, Cikgu Noorsaparuddin regarding the engagement ceremony of his son.  I append below a couple of 'pantuns' I used at the beginning, middle and end of the 'majlis bertunang' or engangement ceremony.

Keris sebilah putera mahkota
Mari digilap terus sarungkan
Dengan bismillah pembuka kata
Salah silap harap maafkan.

Buah pauh atas permatang
Dimakan tupai seberang titi
Dari jauh kami datang
Hendak sampaikan hajat di hati.

Beli kismis sepuas hati
Dibawa orang pergi Kidurong
Hajat kami terlalu tinggi
Melebihi puncak Gunung Santubong.

Nampak bersinar bagaikan emas
Gadis cantik pakai kebaya
Sekali mendengar rasa tak puas
Hati berbisik itulah dia.

Gadis cantik pakai kebaya
Rambut kerinting manis senyuman
Hati berbisik itulah dia
Ingin dipetik bunga di taman.

Pergi ke huma tercucuk duri
Duri rumbia sebesar lidi
Biar lama cincin di jari
Janji setia cinta abadi.

Rama-rama di hujung peti
Terbang rendah hinggap di kain
Sama-sama menaruh hati
Jangan berpindah pada yang lain.

My brother-in-law and wife at the 'pelamin'  next to the girl to be engaged with their son, Azrullah.  My sister is seen placing the engagement ring on the 'would be bride', InsyAllah.

The engaged couple.

The "World of Pustaka" coffee table book launched

Launching of the book " The World of Pustaka" by Datuk Hajah Fatimah at Pullman Hotel, 16 Nov'15.

Photos I contributed

 The Coffee Table book entitled " The World of Pustaka" or Alam Pustaka in Malay, was successfully launched this morning by the Minister of ,Welfare, Women and Family Development, Datuk Hajah Fatimah Abdullah, representing the Chief Minister of Sarawak.  The book launch was held in conjunction with the official opening ceremony of  an international conference called " International Knowledge Conference - the key to a better tomorrow" , organised by the Sarawak State Library ( Pustaka Sarawak) held at the same venue by Datuk Fatimah.   I am part of a group of 14 photographers who contributed to the extensive range of photos in the book under QBC or Quebah Clicks Kuching photography society.  At the inset are examples of the photos I contributed.  The book consist of 200 pages, in full colour , 25cm x 25 cm in size, 2.5 cm thick and is extremely valuable as a current source of knowledge on the web of life surrounding the Pustaka Sarawak library garden, greenery and landscaped areas.  It is a book full of appreciation of the natural world of Pustaka, its flora and fauna, community usage of the facilities provided by the library, done in generous spread of macro, close-up and landscape photographic perspectives.  I also had a hand in the text of the book.  The book project started in 2014 and completed in 2015.  Million thanks to Pustaka Sarawak being the sponsor/publisher of the book,

With some of the book contributors

Orchid splendour at Taman Orkid, Kuching.

The Astana (background) as viewed from the Taman Orkid or Orchid Park

 This month of June I took a brief visit to the Orchid Park in Kuching.  Apparently the blooms seemed to be in their best.  There is much to excite the eyes not least the varying colours of the many varieties of orchids planted on the ground, in hanging pots, and on tree stumps.  The place however seemed to be surprising quiet with a handful of visitors which made me think that a lot of continuous effort need to be organised and well coordinated by the authorities concerned on marketing the garden to local as well as foreign visitors.

All images taken on 3 June'15
Orchid Park, Kuching.

May flowering trees of Kuching

Above is CU of the Goa tree flowers.

This time around in Kuching I noticed that the Cabbage tree/ Indian Goa tree ( Andira inermis) is at its best. The flowers at the car parking lot near the Padawan's Pitcher Plant center have cast their magic spell. Currently there is a heat spell in Kuching and this could have stimulated the rich flowering of bougainvilleas too around the city. The flowers are small and purplish. After the flowering season is over, the tree wil bear almond-like fruits which resemble our local ' kedundong' fruit ( Otaheite or ambarella). However, while fruits of the kedundon are edible this one isn't.

The Goa tree takes its name for the town of Goa in India. The tree is small to medium ( 5-10 m) high. It has a good compact crown shape and as such is a good candidate for shade trees. This tree is placed in the family Papilionoide of which another common family member is the Indian Coral tree ( Erythrina indica as in here >> http://alltheplants.blogspot.com/search/label/Erythrina . The best planting distance on roads is 40 meters.

Thoughts on Kuching Garden city

Satok flyovers in flowering splendour of Bougainvillea glabra blooms.

" Cityzens" - are we citizens of Kuching city? What is the zen of a living city? Is Kuching garden city image good enough?
If Kuching were to make me come back for more, I think the city councils here have to do more abstract thinking about Kuching's future even in planning form to kick the ball rolling.

I feel a cold absence of vision for Kuching's future city concept I know the city authorities are hard pressed to solve immediate waste problems like polluted water and effluents, urban smoke, noise, heat , urban squalor etc., BUT isn't somebody thinking about making Kuching an eco-city?

Kuching main tourist attraction - the Kuching Waterfront.

Sarawak can draw from its rich past from the Srivijaya empire era, Brunei Sultanate days, the Brooke's rule and colonial heritage. Yet, the future is a creative adventure of synthesizing the old with the new values. Have we developed a balanced and self-sustaining city of the future in Kuching?

Where are the monorails, electric trains and underground transit networks? Kuching is slowly becoming another Bangkok? Unless of course ...........

Kuching City South corporate headquarters building with a magnificent avenue.

Kuching Reservoir park green lung - a colonial park heritage.

Imaginative use of colour schemes in urban aesthetics.

Surely, Kuching is more than a walk in the park, a confluence of minds and a living testimony of Sarawak's modernism.

Kuching has ways and means to be an icon of the future eco-city today.

Think on these things.
( Inset : a Hibiscus hybrid at Kuching Reservoir park area)

Shade, colour and proper highway system makes Kuching City north area a welcome garden space in Sarawak's every day evergreen, humid and tropical rainforest climate.

More parks makes city living healthy. Above is a part of an extremely large park surrounding the Kuching South corporate building. Kuching needs more green lungs than concrete jungle.

An evening of Elvis evergreens

Sarawak's very own Elvis.

I'm back in Kuching and my first night out was greatly nostalgic. At the Sapphire music lounge on Friday night, four Elvis impersonators came to stage and lived up to the expectations of Kuching's loyal Elvis fans. The place rocked with a smooth sequence of perfect showmanship and vibes as the impersonators took turns to entertain the fully-packed lounge with a wide range of Elvis unforgettable hits.


Three of them were from Sarawak and one came all the way from Kuala Lumpur ( Malaysia's capital city) to deliver his performance.

More of Elvis from Sarawak ~
Sonny from Kuala Lumpur entertained the audience with his pleasant rendition of Elvis slow numbers.

Performing the style of Elvis comes natural. The impersonation was perfectly executed in costume, dance moves and voice - bringing the legendary Elvis alive to Kuching.

There is no pretense in Dawi's performance as he belt out his numbers. He rendered his songs with ease and honesty thereby appearing more like a true artiste than an impersonator.

Feeling good with extra soul into the song.

As I mixed around the electrified audience I was caught in the nostalgic years of the 60's and 70's . I too shared the fun of singing the songs, music and dance moves of Sarawak's very own Elvis- live at Sapphire. For a flat entrance fee of RM 30/pax plus one free drink, the evening was entertainment par excellence.

Images of Kuching Today

Delicious mangoes

Deep purple eggplant fruits.

Going bananas over bananas

Fruits at the Satok Sunday market.

Images of Kuching Today

A river cruise boat is seen berthing at the Kuching Waterfront area.

A towering mature ' Angsana' tree ( Pterocarpus indicus) at the Sarawak Tourism Complex compound nearby the Kuching Waterfront area.

,A yellow hybrid of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis flower (' Bunga Raya' in Malay) on sale at the Satok Sunday market.