Well, this is my first blog to share in this Blogger. I am glad i made the effort to share with many who are in interested in my blog with photographs I took during my visit to KK for the Pesta Ka’amatan 2011. And this was my very fist visit to the Borneo Island. And Sabah is the start- off this year. I have always wanted to visit The Borneo island, particularly Sabah, where i love to see the many cultures ever existed here. In total there are about 30-32 ethnic groups recorded today, and it will be increasing still, as there are still many ‘hidden’ groups deep in the rain forest. Lets hope we will get to see most of them in the near future. The biggest groups are the ‘Kadazan Dusun’, ‘Murut’ and the ‘Bajau’.
Murut Tenom
Kadazan
Sukang
I arrived at the Pesta Ka’amatan very early on the 1st day (30/6) of this festival. Many participants from various ethnic groups were preparing themselves, displaying their necessary artifacts in their homes (baloi), preparing food and drinks, costume jewelries for sale, T-shirts, caps and hats for sale and drinkers, you know where they are heading for….Beers!
In the Murut Baloi, I enjoyed most are the cultural dance and the lansaran dance platform. The cultural dance flanked by the gong players, making the dance very interesting yet traditional. The lansaran dance platform is enjoyed by young and old, simply step on the platform and someone will start to bounced the platform with their 2 feet, giving the slow rhythm from the start and it gets faster as you wish. This is the past time dance by the Muruts in their villages.
Musicians from the Kadazan and the Muruts were excellent. Especially the flutes played by young musicians. The lure of the music simply captures everyone’s heart. I, for one just refused to leave the Baloi, simply waiting for another round of pure entertainment.
This Pesta Ka’amatan will not be complete when there is no Pageant Queen chosen in this festival. It was the ‘topic’ for the whole country during this time when comes harvest. Many would want their daughters to be ‘Huminodun’, the most beautiful princess for Sabah, taking the task to benefit all people of Sabah, the giver of life to nature and her people. She is also known as Ms Earth Sabah or ‘Unduk Ngadau’. This year is won by Ms Bo Tiza from Panampang, flanked by 1st runner from Tamparuli, and 2nd runner up from Tuaran.
Ms Bo Tiza (Panampang District) - Unduk Ngadau 2011
Will you want to join me next year to Pesta Ka'amatan and Pesta Gawai?
