Malaysia​

When we reached Pa' Lungan, we were greeted with lots of hellos and smiling faces. Many children were running around and laughing, enjoying their time back in the village for their school holiday. This village does not have a school or medical clinic, so children and people must trek through the jungle like we did for school and medical needs. The children stay in a dormitory in the neighboring village and only come home for holidays or some weekends. 

 

At David's house, we met his wife, Jennifer, and his 3 children, as well as many other sisters and brothers and their children. David built his house, and it was very large and beautiful, with large open rooms and built on stilts. We were greeted with a feast of wild boar meat prepared 3 ways, chicken, chicken legs, Bario rice, cabbage salad, and the local porridge. 

 

Many of the children were taking naps when we got there, and we later learned it was so they could stay up late for the Christmas Eve festivities. We decided to roam around the village shortly after eating, and we were invited to play volleyball, which villagers, young and old, do every evening. Then the guys (40 of them?!) played soccer (football). We had a chance to talk to a few people in the village--most native people returning, and one other foreigner.

 

Later that evening, we went to a neighbor's house for dinner, then were asked to eat again back at David's. We had to decline, because we were so full. However, I did get to try a few shots of David's whiskey. It was very smooth--Label 5 Scottish Whiskey. 

 

Next thing I know, we hear the church bell and are all going off to church. They sang many familiar Christmas songs that were translated into their local dialect. We all got candles and lit them as we sang Silent Night. It we very memorable. Then, the pastor spoke, and everyone was very quiet, even the children. Many of the teens were on their phones. I guess some things surpass cultural differences. After a while of sitting on the hard wood bench and not understanding what was being said, my butt fell asleep and I was antsy. It was about 11pm when Josh and I skipped the end of service singing to head back to David's. It's a good thing we are heavy sleepers, because they were all up long after we went to bed.

 

Day 10: Bario

 

In the morning, we had tea and curry/egg noodle soup for breakfast. David even offered me more whiskey, but I declined. We said our goodbyes to David and his family, and met the village boatman who took us back a little ways through the jungle to the river. It had been raining and was pretty muddy. 

 

After an hour, we reached the river and washed our shoes and legs in the river. The boatman got the longboat (a everyone skinny boat made of wood that sits low to the water) and engine ready, and we hopped in. Along the way we saw colorful butterflies and dragonflies, and some of the biggest bamboo I've ever seen. Parts of the river were blocked with fallen bamboo and trees, but our guide just navigated over it. I thought we might tip twice, but we never did. At one part, the bamboo broke a propeller on the engine, so our guide paddled us to the side of the river and worked on it while we ate our lunch (fried meat and rice in a banana leaf). Amazingly he had it fixed and ready to go in 10-15 minutes. 

 

An hour or so later, we reached the village, where a random villager agreed to take us back to Scott's place. At Scott's, we showered and took a nice long nap. Before we napped, he prepared us a snack of minced pork meat and succulent pineapple (most as good as the pineapple we had in Costa Rica--and some of the best in Malaysia)

 

Later that evening, we went to Scott's longhouse (owned by many relatives and him), which is a two minute walk from his place. We met many of his cousins and uncles and other relatives. They offered us food and beer. They were laughing and singing and joking around, making us feel right at home. 

 

Next, we went to the church (right next to the longhouse), to watch them stir the huge pots of porridge outside that had been started a few hours earlier. Later, in the church, we ate that porridge, as well as big skewers of pork meat and other side dishes. Everybody was given a bag of treats, and we sang Christmas songs (in Kalabit) and lit candles when singing "Silent Night." There were other song performances and some dances, then the pastor and other people took turns speaking. We didn't understand much of what was said, but everyone was very friendly and smiling. During the hand shaking time, I think I shook 50 hands. After the service, there were some fireworks, and people stood around mingling and talking. We headed back to Scott's around 11pm to go to bed.

 

Day 11: Travel--Bario to Sabah

 

In the morning, we got up early to catch fish from Scott's pond. We had arranged this the day prior. He had prepared the bait--flour mixed with fish feeder and a little water--and gave us each a bamboo fishing pole. We were given some instructions on what to do, and ended up catching about 10 small tilapia, which we ate for breakfast. David also prepared us a delicious noodle dish, pineapple, and passion fruit. Yum! 

 

Soon after breakfast, we left for the airport. Our flight was a little late to leave, but that is common there. We arrived at our next destination, Kota Kinabalu two stops and about 2 hours later. We almost made sure huge mistake by getting off at the second stop, but an airport employee must have seen our confusion and helped us get back on the plane. We didn't realize where we were or that the plane was making two stops before our destination.

 

Once in Kota Kinabalu, we were taken to our hotel to prepare for an early morning the next day. 

 

-By Jaclyn Smalley