Monolob & Monogit Ritual at Mamut, Ranau

Akinabalu (Mt. Kinabalu) is a sacred mountain for Kadazandusun. Aki means great ancestors while Nabalu means spirit of  the dead, thus the name of Kinabalu means the final resting place of the ancestors’ spirits. Every climber/visitor are advised to show some respect to the nature (mouton surrounding) especially immoral activities. However, a group of 10 foreigner was reported stripped naked on the mountain which has triggered anger locals and authority. Just a week later (5th June 2015), a magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook Mount Kinabalu, causing an avalanche of rock and boulders that killed 18 people, including four mountain guide.

Ritual ceremonies has been conducted recently including Monolibabow & Tumabur ritual by Libabows (Dusun Lotud shaman & spiritual medium) at Bantayan, Tamparuli. According to Odun Lumanjar, the guardian complained about the behaviour of some climbers who “behaved like animals” and performed sexual acts while on the mountain, just like snakes, deer, pigs, and squirrels. The guardian also bemoaned the conduct of the Kadazandusun people who committed terrible sins especially incestuous relationship between father and daughter, first causins and siblings who marry one another. They (the guardian) still waiting for Dusun Darat to “soothe” the spirits of Kinabalu by offering seven fowls and pigs.

A group of 7 Bobolian representing Dusun Darat conducted Monolob & Monogit at Mamut on 20th June 2015 started around 8am. According to the District Native Chief Taip Rashman, 68, the rituals were organised following request from locals from 7 villages who considered the naked on the mountain episode on May 30 by a group of 10 foreigner as sacrilegious. The same ceremony also being conducted at Timpohon Gate, Kinabalu National Park lead by male Bobolian from Bundu Tuhan on the same date and time. 7 buffalo and 1 fowl were to be scarificed in Mamut while 1 buffalo at Timpohon Gate.

The media was asked to keep at a certain distance as a mark of respect for the ritual

Pankau Bansayu, 84 from Kg Mininsalu, explaining message by the guardian to the locals after the ritual ceremony.

Pankau Bansayu, 84 from Kg Mininsalu, explaining message by the guardian to the locals after the ritual ceremony.

7 Bobolian from Kauluan, Bundu Tuhan, Lohan and Lingkudau.

The meat of the sacrificed buffaloes will be distributed to the seven villages that made the initial complaint to the native court

Welcoming Ramadhan

Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is the month during which Muslims observe fasting from morning twilight (Fajr Prayer) to the evening twilight (Maghrib Prayer). During the Ramadhan, Muslims are to focus on reparation for wrongdoings and good deeds. It is also the most ideal time for them to rebuild community, organizational, and family ties severed by misunderstandings.

Tumabur Ritual at Bantayan

After a rare ritual ceremony on last Saturday (Monolibabow), another ritual called Tumabur has been done yesterday outside Kg. Bantayan Hall, Tamparuli. About 10 Tantagas representing the Dusun Lotud including 4 Libabow performing the ritual which start at 10am and finished at 3pm yesterday.

Kuala Penyu Short Visit

Went to Kuala Penyu to assist Zhuang Wubin’s personal project, don’t get me wrong, I have nothing to do with his project, I’m just the driver. Based in Beufort, with minimal contact in order to get information Wubin looking for, we go back and forth for 2 days to Kuala Penyu. It is actually not a new name for me as I always passed by this town since I was a child. I can still remember how we need to put our luck on the Ferry Operation Status notice showing if the ferry is Good or Under Maintenance.  The ferry is actually operated by chains connecting Kuala Penyu Township to the other side which lead the way to Kota Kinabalu (an alternative route to Kota Kinabalu other than Beaufort), it took about 15-20 minutes to cross about 150 meter river. I can still remember how busy the town was. However the ferry is no longer in service since a new bridge was built. When we had our lunch at Kuala Penyu, a gentlemen claimed it was the longest bridge in Sabah. I have no idea about that.

The pictures below is not related to the story about the Ferry that I mentioned above.

Travel With Fujifilm X100S : Portrait Of Suraksha

While I was talking to her, she stopped the conversation for a while. She was enjoying the Ultra Light Flight circling the Sarangkot Hill. Even though she have seen it hundred times before this, but it never makes her bored. Getting ready to get to school, this 10 year old girl is among the kids living at Sarangkot Hill with her parents running guest house business. Meet Suraksha, speaks fluent in English, I can’t speak well in english when I was at her age. She walks about 30 minutes to reach her school, and it took about 1 hour going back to the hill.

 

Suraksha, 10

Travel With Fujifilm X100S : Portrait of Dhurba & Raj

I met these gentlemen on our road trip from Kathmandu to Pokhara. It was just near the roadside where people stop for toilet, tea or just to have some fresh air near the Trisuli River. By the time I got out from the car, I knew that I want to photograph them. But I took my time building up some confidence for both of us. He thought I was attracted with the lady who was nearby making local delicacy, the Sel Roti. Made of rice flour, deep fried to make crispy outer but puffy inside.

Sel Roti

After spending few minutes photographing the lady and the food, I made my move to communicate with him. Mr. Dhurba, 36, is a lorry driver coming all the way from Kathmandu like us, heading further beyond Pokhara. I took a look at the lorry and quite surprise to find the interior look like you were sitting in our living room. It was well decorated. Accompanying with him is his assistance, Mr Raj, 51, who came to and join our conversation. After gained enough trust between us, I ask permission if I could take their portrait. Without hesitant they agreed to my request.

Mr. Dhurba, 36

Mr Raj, 51

I was using Fujifilm X100S belong to a friend of mine during this trip. The classic appearance of the body makes other feel this was old camera and nothing serious about it, people feel more comfortable compared to the big black DSLR with its bulky lenses. Nowadays, people thinks that you make big money when you took photo with DSLR. I have been using Fujifim system more than 1 year and never thinking of turning back to other DSLR, this is there camera system that suits me well especially for travel.

Travel With Fujifilm X100S : Manakamana Hill Side Academy, Gorkha, Nepal

The gondola lift transportation has always steal the eyes of its viewer who pass-by Cheres, Chitwan after about 104km journey from Kathmandu – Pokhara route. The Austria imported cable car system connecting between the Base Station (Cheres, Chitwant) to the Top Station (Manakamana, Gorkha). Here is the fees for the cable car.

Screen Shot from Wiki

At the top station, about 1302 above sea level lies the Mañanakamana Temple, a Hindu temple which pilgrimage bring goat to be sacrificed in a pavilion behind the temple. The name Manakamana originates from two words, “mana” meaning heart and “kamana” meaning wish.

As we walk around the village near the temple, we came across an elementary school slightly below the hill. There we found the Manakamana Hill Side Academy

Manakamana Hill Side Academy

Manakamana Hill Side Academy

Manakamana Hill Side Academy | Mr. Ghupta, 24, Teacher

Manakamana Hill Side Academy

All image are taken with Fujifilm X100S (Silver).

The Musalman (Muslim) of Pokhara, Nepal

In Pokhara, we asked the guide to locate any mosque nearby the Lake Side instead of conducting City Tour in Pokhara. After about 30 minutes going around and asking local folks, we finally met Jame Masjid Aqsa at Pokhara-13, Miyapatan. The local muslim claimed that they have been here for 500 years. Almost 20 years ago, this place was very famous by the name Kundahar, but Kundahar is bigger than Miyapatan. According to the history, “Miya” is respective title of local mountainous Muslim given by other communities and “Patan” means the ground. We can easily guest the historical fact that Miyapatan means the land used by Muslim.

We can’t explore the mosque as there was on going renovation being held, several section of the mosque are closed due to that.

Jame Masjid – E – AQSA, Pokhara-13, Miyapatan

It was at this mosque I met a Muazin & Mr Mohamed Shafie, 81.

Mohamed Shafie, 81, a descendant of a Sheikh.

The Muazin however politely denied to be taken photograph when I asked. There’s no activity at the mosque at that moment but he mentioned that there is a Madrasa nearby which he volunteered to guide us to the Madrasa.

Local Canteen outside the Jame Mosque

Abdul Rahim, 62, President of Anjuman Islahul Muslemin (Islamic Organization in Miyapatan)

 

 

Madarrsa Islamia, Pokhara-13, Miyapatan

Madarssa Islamia, Pokhara-13, Miyapatan

The Classroom

After few shots of the school and its environment, I suddenly became weak and I can’t continue shooting or do anything even just looking at the kids. Then, there was tears in my eyes, I put myself as a father of the kids where we don’t have other option to offer for the best education for our kids due to poor economic status. There were many out there where parent couldn’t afford their children to school. But you don’t have an option. As a father, I couldn’t accept this kind of failure.

The school conduct only 2 hours a day for religious teaching and the remaining time if for national education. There is about 200 student and only 3 teachers.

Pasar SAFMA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Somewhere In Kota Belud

Actually this images already in my flickr account for quite some time. I personally like these images but I don’t have any idea what to talk about it due to lack of other supporting images.