You-Want's Life

A curious visit to Berjaya Times Square for The Kelabits Live In Kuala Lumpur 2023, organised by Yayasan Kesenian Orang Asli, was fruitful beyond my expectations. Kuala Lumpur is certainly not a stranger to exhibitions run by the diverse races and ethnics living in the country. That’s what made our society unique (or at least as what we have been taught in school since young), we respect and appreciate different cultures, even those distinct from our own.  This past weekend, the Kelabits took over the foyer of the famous Berjaya Times Square and showcased their gorgeous cultures including dances, crafts, costumes and even food. The Kelabits are one of the smallest ethnic groups in the country, with most settlements located in Bario in Northeast Sarawak. Bario is a community of some 13 to 16 villages in the remote Kelabit Highlands, and it lies about 1000m above sea level. These villages are longhouse settlements and the people worked a myriad of occupations in modern days despite t...

A good friend’s keen recommendation of a white water rafting experience led us down winding, narrow rural roads in search of a service provider.  The rustic kampung scene off Gopeng was quiet in the morning. We cruised along rubber trees, free range chickens and scattered houses for at least 15 minutes, having only our navigator apps to trust, to get to Riverbug Perak’s base office. Our mission today was white water rafting along Sungai Kampar, which is rated Grade Three on rafting standards, depicting an intermediate class of river stability suitable for inexperienced challengers. White water rafting got its name from the churning white, foamy water created when the river flows rapidly and cascades over obstacles like boulders. Having been a recreational sport since the mid-1900s, white water rafting is a popular activity today and can be found in various locations across Malaysia. It usually involves an inflatable raft made of strong rubber, four to eight passengers including a...