UPDATE 29th June 2009

Shooting starts 4th July. The program airs every Sunday at 3pm. Papier Mache will appear on the 11th episode. This week episode 1 will be aired.

Had a “discussion” session on Saturday 27th June at Firehouse, with a surprise guest making an appearance.

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I was informed just now that fledgling Tamparuli-based rock band Papier Mache will be featured in Astro’s Channel 180 (Muzik Aktif), the nation’s first TV channel to feature 100% Malaysian content and one of its first digital channels. It was launched in March.

For that purpose, that channel’s videography team will be coming over here end of this month or early next month to shoot a videoclip for their arguably most well-known song “Nung Olingan Oku Dia“.

That song has been played in SabahVfm and SuriaFM since last year, and recently added to PONet and Sabahan.FM’s repertoire.

There are 2 types of kurutut, the first one is simple, made of the bases of coconut fronds or of the areca-nut plant.

The second is more complex, its components are:
(i) frame constructed from the wood of the “biabas” tree (chosen due to its durability)
(ii) wheels made from “pakuh” tree (some people mentioned papaya tree too)
(iii) nails

There is the 2-wheel variant for beginners and 3-wheel variant for the “pros” [all photos taken in Bundu Tuhan, courtesy of Johnny Ghani]:

One would ride it like so:

Note the “brake”.

Preparing for a race:

A race in progress:

Apparently this was very popular among youngsters in the 1960s in Bundu Tuhan, located along the Kota Kinabalu - Ranau road. Where now every kid wants a PS3, back then possession of a kurutut was mandatory. Sure beats spending long hours in front of televisions!

Warning: players are advised to wear durable pants!

There are so many possibilities from this. Can patent it, promote to tourists, run a clinic on kurutut-making then organise an annual race. For a start, perhaps include as one of the traditional games in the Kiulu 4M!

Update 17th June 2009

It’s been pointed out to me that the larger dog is Coca-Cola and the smaller one, its daughter, is Pepsi-Cola.

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It became infamous when it was paraded by its owner at KDCA Hall at the height of the Kaamatan celebrations (end of May 2005) dressed in what looked like Kadazan/Dusun traditional attire. In local culture, that is taboo.

The incident was furiously debated in a top local newspaper for some time.

Someone took a video of it then:

Click here to see the video

Now who said all the pretty girls are from Ipoh or KL?

While we were busy with Kaamatan over here, full-time model JoannaBelle Ng, 20 of Penampang was crowned Miss Malaysia/Universe 2009 in Kuala Lumpur on 30th May. She also won two subsidiary titles: “Audience Favourite” and “Miss Friendship”.

Another Sabahan and full-time model, 5′ 10″ Cassandra Patrick, 24 emerged runnerup. She is also the Miss Malaysia/World 2006 1st Runner-up.

Cassandra, JoannaBelle and 3rd placed Claudia Sibert of KL

The 5′ 8″ lass won RM50,000 and will compete in next month’s Miss Universe pageant in The Bahamas.

She was also 1st runner up in the 2008 Miss Cheong Sam Malaysia competition.

This is quite a long way from her background, which she explains:

I come from a very simple and poor family. My father is a mechanic and my mother (of Chinese and Indian descent), a housewife. She tends a small chicken farm and vegetable patch outside our home. Sometimes, she sells egg and beef rolls and other foodstuff at the market. I am not embarrassed about my family at all. I am really proud of them and where I’m from. Why shouldn’t I be? They are the reason for who I am today. My parents have always encouraged me to fulfill my dreams because they don’t want me to have a hard life and struggle like they did. I love them very much and can’t wait to go back to spend time at home.

The Star’s video of the event, including the moment when the winner was announced

Click here to see the video

I don’t know any of her songs, and for sure I am not a fan of her kind of music, but I have heard of the name - that’s a testament to her sheer popularity.

Apparently one of, if not currently the world’s most popular “Mandopop” singer in the world came to 1Borneo on Friday the 5th of June in a program called “Jolin Butterfly Promo Tour in Malaysia 2009″.

From her wikipedia page, it seems the 28-year old has sold more than 7 million albums worldwide (mainly Taiwan and Asia). Her other fanbases are in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and of course Malaysia.

It was her first time ever in Sabah.

There were only 2 legs of that tour, the other one in KL the very next day. Both legs featured 90 minute shows.

Someone said that the crowd in 1Borneo numbered 2,000.

Even if you don’t know her, it would’ve been good to see what the fuss is about the pint-sized (5′ 2″) pop star, even if only to learn a thing or two about showmanship and how to sing live. There are already several videos of that show in 1Borneo uploaded to youtube, including this one:

Click here to see the video

After that encounter with the Bee Gees the day before, my Kaamatan long weekend music fest continued the next day at Courtyard Hotel, 1Borneo, where Felix Agus (of AF3 fame) launched his second album entitled “Aku Juga Iya”.

His first album “Warkah Berlagu Pilu” released in 2005 while he was under Maestro did not do too well, Felix himself acknowledged. Hence, he said he spent a year identifying and rectifying weaknesses, looking for and writing new songs. His contract with Maestro expired last year.

Several members of Papier Mache were invited by Felix for the launching, so I tagged along.

It was my first time witnessing an album launching, so it was a very interesting learning experience.

After the official launching followed a relatively hard-hitting speech by the state Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, we were treated to Felix singing a few songs off that album via minus one.

While he was singing his lead single “Aku Juga Iya”, suddenly Marsha Londoh (AF3) appeared and joined him onstage.

This is a video of him singing “Aku Juga Iya” in Kuala Lumpur on 2nd May:

Click here to see the video

My Kaamatan long weekend was filled with music.

On the evening of the 29th of May, at Magellan Sutera, The Australian Bee Gees Show made it here where Robbie Fowler didn’t.

After a sumptuous dinner, a pre-show by a 3-piece band, a video presentation and auctioning of paintings (where one sold for more than RM10,000), there were restless times when everybody waited for the Chief Minister to arrive, which he finally did at 10.15pm.

But when the show started, it was definitely the closest thing you’d ever have of the actual Bee Gees live!

So much so that someone mentioned that a tuxedo-clad elderly man, could not contain his excitement anymore and stood up on a chair while dancing away.

Some videos of the show:

Click here to see videos

The most anticipated event in KDCA Hall on the afternoon of the last day of May every year is surely the Unduk Ngadau finals.

Starting at 1pm, from the original 41 finalists, 26 were jettisoned for round 2, resulting in the top 15. Hence it’s already quite an achievement to make the list:

Miss Kinabatangan: Gloria Lyne Bami
Miss Penampang: Joanne Kimberley J Majalap
Miss Likas: Elinna Masuin
Miss Klang Valley: Jovenea Jim Lajim [Papier Mache's backing vocalist!]
Miss Sipitang: Rozyanah Mutang
Miss Banggi: Jacqueline Monalisa
Miss Papar: Appey Rowenna Januin
Miss Putatan: Maylesthelyn Matius
Miss Tanjung Aru: Elsie R Marius
Miss Tenom: Rounnah Bab Robert Sylvester
Miss Keningau: Jacqueline Joseph
Miss Ranau: Stella Nakaran
Miss Tuaran: Fredericka Camilla Richard Daut
Miss Tamparuli: Flina Rutum
Miss DBKK: Pearl Dianne Petrus

Then in the final round, 7 were selected, with the final results:

Unduk Ngadau 2009: Appey Rowenna Januin (Papar)
1st Runner-up: Pearl Dianne Petrus (DBKK - Kota Kinabalu)
2nd Runner-up: Joanne Kimberley J Majalap (Penampang)
3rd Runner-up: Flina Rutum (Tamparuli)
4th Runner-up: Jacqueline Joseph (Keningau)
5th Runner-up: Fredericka Camilla Richard Daut (Tuaran)
6th Runner-up: Elinna Masuin (Likas)

The top 3 (photo by Roy Ajin):

A video of the Q&A session for the top 3 placers, the most difficult segment of all

Click here to see the video

Update 2nd June 2009

Someone uploaded the whole movie to youtube already, first part:

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As I am writing this, I am watching the movie during lunchtime in the office.

Starring Akademi Fantasia stars Linda Nanuwil (her 2nd movie), Felix Agus and Ebi Kornelis.

It’s not the first Kadazan/Dusun-language (well, about 80% of the script) telemovie in history, but it’s apparently the first ever to be broadcast for the whole nation to see, and the timing is appropriate: on the approach to the climax to the Harvest Festival celebrations.

News of showing of the movie has been making the rounds since last year.

Part of newsreport in the New Sabah Times.

It’s about Ivy (Linda Nanuwil), a university student who wants to escape from poverty (well, who doesn’t?) currently afflicting her family. At the same time, she’s involved in a love triangle with Dol (Ebi Kornelis), a fellow undergraduate and Anggidau (Felix Agus), a man from the same village.

And in case you wondered… Ebi spoke only Malay in the movie

The soundtrack includes the exquisite “Mitongkiad Kito“, and “Upus Tolidang“, tracks off Linda’s self-titled album released August 2008.

Apparently most of the shooting was done at Kg Tombung, Kiulu where the greenery looked so nice it looked like turf grass.

Please support out local moviemakers, purchase the disc.

Update 24th May 2009

Another:
(i) Bruce Lee only knew one word in English: in his movies he repeatedly shouted “Watah!” i.e. “Water!”
(ii) “Selamat tidur” sounds like “slam at the door” (almost).
(iii) “Terima Kasih” sounds like “tear me car seat” (almost).

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When a new friend from Britain visited Sabah recently, he learnt a few local phrases like “aramai ti” and “buli ba kalau kau”.

After he went back, he commented on Facebook that “aramai ti” sounds like “hour of my tea”. What do you think of this: every time you shout out “arrrrrrrrrammai tiiiiiiii” would be like celebrating the fact that the time to savour your long-awaited cup of tea has finally come!

His comment reminds me of the time someone mentioned that Sylvester Stallone spoke Malay in Judge Dredd. What did he say? “Ayam Telor!” i.e. “I Am The Law!”

In my opinion, the funniest “English approximation of the original language sound” joke has to be that video by Buffalax, with incredible phrases such as:

Have you been high today?

I see the nuns are gay

I’d love to see you pee on us tonight

Who put the goat in there? The yellow goat I ate!

Send him the crazy Hindu!

Hugely recommended, I bet you’ll laugh so hard it’d be as good as consuming one of those colon cleansers…