Cigars, Coffee and Combrades @ Merdeka Palace

On Tuesday afternoon, after a discussion with Merdeka Palace Hotel's sales executive (hope you got us the best deal for Dec 23, guys :-), Ben, Robert, Mark, and Mr S were treated by Datuk JJ to Cuban cigars and drinks.

I believe this relaxing place is at the La Habana divan, which apparently specializes in a wide selection of Cuban cigars and also has one of the largest selection of Single Malt Whiskies in Malaysia. Of course, our friends were all very "kuai" and seem to be drinking coffee or tea only.

Jude joined them a little later, as the next photo shows ...

Now, am I the only one who can't recognise Mr S ? I'm sorry, he looks vaguely familiar, but .....

Here's a close up shot - trigger any memories for any of you reading this ?

Well, let me introduce you to none other than our old friend Subramaniam from Form 5 Arts 2 (1976) ! Now a high profile officer with the Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM), he's based at Bukit Aman in KL.

Ahem Mr S .... errr ... I've this little problem with speeding tickets ... JUST KIDDING lah !

Also Subramaniam will be there at our Grand Reunion on 23 Dec. Really looking forward to meeting you there, Mr S !

Nick in town - Get together, Badger Bar, S'wak Club @ 9pm, 18th Sept 2009

Our Vietcong friend, Nick Lau, is back in Kuching.

We're having drinks and snacks at the Badger Bar, Sarawak Club tonight at 9pm.

Spread the word, and let's make a crowd. What else you wanna do on a Friday night anyway?

Organiser: Bob Chew

Photos from the Evening

LtoR (front): Nick, Norbert, Ben, (back): Bob, Robert, Edward

Jensen & Norbert face off in a game of snooker at Hornbill Karaoke

Look out, Malaysia Idol! Bob Chew takes to the stage singing his heart out the numbers

“Whiter Shade of Pale” and “Soldier of Fortune”

Also at Hornbill Karaoke. (L to R): John Lee & Edmund Lee (Form 5 1975) , Ben Wong and Jensen Ng K T

Group singing at Hornbill Karaoke

Late supper at the Old Open Air Market

A Skrang Expedition ... 33 years ago

I received this great "photo essay" from our friend Robert Chin (Form 5 Arts2, 1976), describing an interesting expedition he and other buddies made during those boyhood days of the mid 70s ... here's the story as told by Robert (with WJ applying a wee bit of creative license :-)
xxxxx

xxxx
One fine evening, thirty-three years ago, Bob Chew, Philip Hii, Mark Chin and I sat down to think of something adventurous to do.

xxxx

Yeah… we decided to make a trip to Skrang to see and experience life in a longhouse. Our history lessons had taught us that the inner reaches of Sarawak were once the home of notorious pirates and headhunters …

We got hold of an Iban friend (as tour guide) , boarded a bus (STC) from Kuching and headed to a place called Entaban. From there, we continued by motorized longboat down the Skrang river, occasionally “shooting the rapids”.

We spent two nights at Murat or more precisely at Rumah Basing longhouse, Nanga Murat.

xxxx

From left: Tour Guide, Robert Chin, Philip Hii, Mark Chin

xx From Left: Tour Guide, Philip Hii, Bob Chew, Mark Chin
(Bob obviously attracted by something amazing)

Here we had our first-hand experience of the customs and traditions of the Dayak Ibans.

Brave warriors RC & BC, in ngajat headgear, ready to do battle ...

MC and PH getting also ready for ngajat dance

The highlight of the evenings was fun and entertainment by the longhouse residents (young and old) performing traditional dances and music.

We also saw many residents at work.

PH with his hunting dog and Granny busy with her weaving

Bob trying to concentrate on the weaving

BC helping mum with the padi pounding

We had chankok manis (“money cai”) & monkey for dinner, washed down with

“Chap Ah Pek” wine.