Reunion of old friends
The reunion at Gaya on 27th May 08 had given me the chance to reliven
the old life as a carefree and couldnt care less boy of 19. I landed at
Gaya by chance, and spent two very memorable years there. There was
little in book learning, but a lot on life learning where I learnt to be
streetsmart about life, began to speak English, to stand up in front
of people , to mingle in the crowd, to take a different route and be
different altogether. Today I met those friends , some of them I have
not met for many years, and reliven my good old days at Gaya.
I joined Yusof and Sulaiman to Kiulu to visit the old Kiulu school, which was no more than some wooden shed then , but now are concrete buildings with hostel and classes up to Sixth Form. The river is still the same of course, but the spot where we used to dive from the rock and the trees that graced the pool was closed to bathers.There was a Dusun marriage at the hall, and as it was Ku Bahadurs' niece that got married, we were invited to the wedding reception. The Dusun were well dressed, and that plus they are hospitable host, made me feel that I was attending a wedding someone close, indeed I hardly know the bride and the bridegroom.. There were band music and Dusun songs by the happy Dusun including by Sula dan Jo Ann, Sula's daughter who had become a Sabah celebrity. Of course the party wouldnt be complete without the malancholic melody of Jambatan Tamparuli and the Samazau dance where every guests got to the floor to dance the samazau.This was a party for everyone-food was aplenty and tapai was enjoyed in some corner in the yard.
My Sabah company of friends has still maintained the frank relationship that had bonded us together for many years.At Kiulu, I felt I had very old trusted friends as I visited Sula's parent's house.I walked on the hanging bridge to Hamdan's house on the opposite side of the river with Jo Ann becoming my photograhic model on the swinging bridge.The Dusun at Kiulu are spontaneous and naive and they regard me and friends as old buddies. I spent two days at Sula's KK house, where I talked, sang old songs and just lazying around.
The dinner at Gaya reminded me of the 60's gala night at the college. I saw Bohamin, Linda, Ronnie, Mokhtar, Salmah, Bernie, and many others.I was not able to relate much because I was recording the experience on my digital. This experience among friends will last forever in my memory.
I joined Yusof and Sulaiman to Kiulu to visit the old Kiulu school, which was no more than some wooden shed then , but now are concrete buildings with hostel and classes up to Sixth Form. The river is still the same of course, but the spot where we used to dive from the rock and the trees that graced the pool was closed to bathers.There was a Dusun marriage at the hall, and as it was Ku Bahadurs' niece that got married, we were invited to the wedding reception. The Dusun were well dressed, and that plus they are hospitable host, made me feel that I was attending a wedding someone close, indeed I hardly know the bride and the bridegroom.. There were band music and Dusun songs by the happy Dusun including by Sula dan Jo Ann, Sula's daughter who had become a Sabah celebrity. Of course the party wouldnt be complete without the malancholic melody of Jambatan Tamparuli and the Samazau dance where every guests got to the floor to dance the samazau.This was a party for everyone-food was aplenty and tapai was enjoyed in some corner in the yard.
My Sabah company of friends has still maintained the frank relationship that had bonded us together for many years.At Kiulu, I felt I had very old trusted friends as I visited Sula's parent's house.I walked on the hanging bridge to Hamdan's house on the opposite side of the river with Jo Ann becoming my photograhic model on the swinging bridge.The Dusun at Kiulu are spontaneous and naive and they regard me and friends as old buddies. I spent two days at Sula's KK house, where I talked, sang old songs and just lazying around.
The dinner at Gaya reminded me of the 60's gala night at the college. I saw Bohamin, Linda, Ronnie, Mokhtar, Salmah, Bernie, and many others.I was not able to relate much because I was recording the experience on my digital. This experience among friends will last forever in my memory.
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