Gawai at Rumah Ampik

Date: 1st June 2008

It's Gawai here in Sarawak and this year, I get to go on a visit to my foster family in the longhouse at Rumah Ampik with Catherine, Gerain and Sheah Yih. We reached the longhouse even before 10am and was greeted by the Tuai Rumah. Guess it was still early coz it was pretty quiet and there were a few people lying on the ruai sleeping...after getting drunk the night before. We were served with FOOD...real FOOD! okok...maybe because we didn't have pork during our two previous trip there, but this time, it was real pork! Not just any pork, but Wild Boar~! Roasted and cooked 'pansuh' Wild Boar~! OMG~! It was heaven.................

Later after munching up on the yummy yummy food, we were brought for house visits to all the families in the longhouse. Lucky for us, it was only about 10 doors coz there were others who weren't at home. Well, I was the 'wakil' for the four of us coz Catherine can't drink tuak anymore (phobia), Gerain and Sheah Yih don't drink as well. Lucky for me, they serve the tuak only once and in a very small amount.

...Tuai Rumah putting on the white mark on my head and Gerain already with his mark...

...Cath and I with the white mark on our forehead...

...Sheah Yih...

Went on from one house to another. We all had a mark on our forehead. It was one tradition they had and we had a 'ketua' who carried a basket and collect an item each from each family we visited. Thanks to our 'datuk' there who took care of us, we didn't get drunk!

...this uncle was really really drunk...

Once we finished all the houses there, we were brought back to the 'tree' for the 'tree cutting ceremony' and each of us were given a chance to cut an item down from the tree. What an honour..... *smile* So finally, the Tuai Rumah chopped down the whole tree and everyone started feasting on the tuaks and food we collected.

...Gerain's first time...


...Cath and I doing our 'ngajat' again...


...and I got cheated again (thought it was tuak but it was wisky!)...

...Tuai Rumah chopping down the tree...

Our 'datuk' later gave each of us a bottle of tuak and some kuih muih for us to bring back home. Later at about 2pm, we decided to make a move and that time, everyone had to 'wash feet' (drink tuak before leaving the longhouse). We bid farewell to our families and left with a smile and not forgetting...bottles of tuak.

...the best 'lemang' I ever had...

It was one great experience. My first time ever to celebrate Gawai in the longhouse. Hope to have another trip again...

Selamat Hari Gawai
Gayu Guru Gerai Nyamai.


To Cath: Go ahead and link this post to your blog. Haha...