By Alana Jane Wong
“How can I visit the longhouse? I am not welcome there!” I protested with indignation when I discovered Mom’s suggestion for Hari Gawai, an Iban celebration to display gratitude towards a bountiful harvest.
Mom glowered at me.
“Despite your denial, you are half-Iban. Besides, I want to expose you to your cultural roots. Do begin packing for the trip as we are leaving tomorrow.”
I sighed in resignation, realising I had no choice.
The following day, Mom and I awoke at dawn to commence our seven-hour-long journey to the Sungai Asap Longhouse. I was horrified as we drove through a marshy plain filled with dense weeds to reach the outlying longhouse. After I asked ‘are we there yet?’ for the millionth time, we finally caught sight of our destination.
I stepped outside and studied Sungai Asap’s inhabitants, feeling like a fish out of water, with the juxtaposition of my scrawny figure to the tanned, athletic Iban youngsters. I rested on a rattan mat while Mom accompanied her relatives to perform ‘tarian ngajat’ and sing karaoke. The adults were soon topsy-turvy from ‘tuak’—traditional Iban rice wine. Seeing their drunken stupor as a golden opportunity to escape the chaos, I sprinted away before straying to a wooden pier, the picturesque scenery soothing my unsettled emotions.
“Is it rowdy in there?” someone inquired, breaking the tranquil silence. I pivoted on my heel and came face to face with a girl my age flashing a warm, friendly smile.
“Yo-you are talking to me, a city kid?” I stuttered, causing the girl to throw her head back, howling with laughter.
“I am a ‘kampung girl’—big deal! Put our differences aside and follow me to see my prized possession.”
Consumed by curiosity, I followed her to an old but well-kept kayak.
“My name is Bulan. By the way, wanna go kayaking?”
I nodded, feeling exuberant as we dragged the kayak to the waters, and before long, we were on cloud nine, rowing to and fro while Bulan coached me patiently.
Nightfall was inching closer, so we headed back to the riverbank, trekking to the longhouse. I exchanged a pleasant tête-à-tête about everything under the sun with Bulan and her friends for the rest of the night. When it was almost midnight, we decided to call it a night.
I was awoken bright and early by Mom to start traveling back home. While walking away from the longhouse, I felt a sense of belonging tugging me back. As dissatisfaction brewed in my soul, I asked, “Can we return next Gawai?” Her face lit up with a radiant smile as she nodded, glistening tears forming in her eyes. I grinned from ear to ear, enveloped her in a tight embrace, and whispered, ” ‘Terima kasih, indai’.”
Henceforth, I fondly recall the unforgettable trip to Sungai Asap, having kept the tradition of visiting the longhouse every year, maintaining a close-knit relationship with my Iban relatives, and feeling eternally grateful to call magnificent Sarawak my home.
Alana Jane Wong from Kuching is the Silver Winner (Youth Category) in the ‘Magnificent Sarawak: An Unforgettable Trip’ writing competition organised by DayakDaily and supported by the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts and Imperial Hotel Kuching.
