Kaleidoscope: Aya Pemangkung Tawak

Note: Just got back from Mum's longhouse (no pics, didn't bring camera and even my handphone) for a grand-aunt's ngetas ulit ceremony. Been years since I last went back to Mum's longhouse so it was unsurprising that I (almost) entered the wrong bilik since the ruai was renovated a few years back. Haha... Malu siiiiaalll.
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The title of my post is in Iban, it means gong-beater uncle. I am reflecting on the behaviour of a person residing (maybe) within 10-kilometre radius from us. Must be cryptic, no?
This uncle is rather infamous in our neighbourhood, no wait, let me correct that, this uncle AND his family is rather infamous in our neighbourhood. He was of the sort that likes to show off what he got (or what he ain't got yet but he swears to God he'll get it soon).
This is one of the rare post that I will write in Iban. Lest my Dad comment that my Iban is getting be'tegar' a bit. Heheh

Nyadi jaku tu ukai deka nyadung penyai sapa-sapa. Ukai mega deka ngemalu ka sapa-sapa. Tang jaku kenang tu ngambi ka kitai tau betati ka pengelikun pendiau diri empu. Nyadi ke bendar ia, aku tu sigi rindu berati ka ulah orang (engka nya kini ngambi bidang psikologi and cognitive science). Nyadi pendiau sida Aya Pemangkung Tawak (APT) tu sebilik sigi lama udah aku perati ke. Baka apai labang anak sigi ga nyadi burik (betul ka enda peribahasa aku tu?), nyadi perangai APT tu sigi dititih ka bala anak ia. Baka kuih kek sigi nitih ka chuan iya deh.

Nyadi sida APT tu sebilik sigi bungah sereta peramah enggau orang tang anang asa ati, sida ia tu tau nyadi ba menara pemancar signal. Kategal ia, suah ga bini APT tu ngangau ka indai aku ari pagar rumah sida kategal ka betusoi ka 'berita angat'. Indai aku semina nyaut 'auk, auk pia' aja. Ukai semina kami sebilik, mayuh bala orang bukai sigi madah ka signal 'radio' sida sigi kuat amat deh. Siti da perangai APT tu ti enda berapa dikerindu ka orang ianya ia rindu amat betapat enggau orang. Ia rindu nampak ka sida bisi pemisi agi ari orang bukai taja kami nemu, semua nya UTANG. Ia balat rindu muji bala anak ia pandai ngiga laki laban laki ukai orang sengapa. Menantu ia bisi nya kereja perintah, tuan pulis, pengajar sereta orang (Iban) NZ. Lebuh maya siku anak APT tu suba kala betunang enggau anak pensyarah, nya meh aya tu nyau kerah2 muji pemintar anak ia ngiga laki laban menantu ia ukai purih sengapa. Nyau geli hati bala orang ke ninga. Kasih endar, nadai endar ga utai ke membanggakan ia. Enti apai indai ke bukai, gaga agi enti anak bisi pemandai lalu kereja ti menyana.

Nyadi APT tu sigi enda tau bisi 'tawak', mit ke besai, sigi dipangkung ia. Tang diatu bisi tampak runggu APT tu laban siko menantu iya tu tadi udah ditemu serta disiasat orang kategal penyalah 'makai besuap'. Ukai mensia di dunia tu buta tauka paloi enda nemu ni sukat pemayuh gaji lalu manding ke nya enggau reta ke dikembuan. Bisi ga ba pikir aku, engka pengawa menantu ia nya bisi tebantai laban perangai APT tu. Tai mayau dilamun ba para pen nemu nempuh bau ia, anang ke agi tu tak dipangkung disadung aya nya berita menantu ia ti mayuh duit enggau rumah. Nama meh penyadi, tawak besai nyau udah rimpak. Nadai entu tetaing munyi tawak APT diatu tang agi ga ia kadang-kadang mangkung tawak. Baka ko ia nganu apai ku suba,

" Ka ngaga extension meh tu unggal, ngaga batu dua tingkat. Tang nya meh, agi nganti tiang segala besai (Roman-style pillar) bedau datai."

(Maya nya kami baru udah nyambung rumah dua tingkat, ba baruh simen tang tingkat atas papan).

That was two years ago. Engka nyau burok tiang nya kelalu lama dalam chuan.
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Forgot to post this picture of a wonderful halter neck dress I wore for Ron's wedding. I love this dress :-)

Photo taken with Daryl and Marinus