Cassidy & Henry Up Close and Personal With Ben

Pesta Benak 2012 was some sort of homecoming for me as I managed to visit Sri Aman to experience a day's adventure. The carnival was held from 6-8 April 2012. Though I started early from Kuching that Saturday, traffic was a crawl as vehicles of all shapes and sizes squeezed themselves into any available space in Sri Aman Town. Experience helped in this case as I managed to find a parking space at the Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) office nearby.

Traffic in Sri Aman that Saturday night (7 April 2012) was almost a standstill

The Pesta experience started as soon as I walked into the waterfront area as familiar faces came up to say hello. I was eager to also meet my friend Ben @ Benak and I know he is always punctual. Sri Aman JKR Divisional Engineer Tuan Cassidy Morris and DID Engineer Tuan Henry Tuah asked me to hop in their boat and off we went to greet Ben upriver. The scene from the river was a spectacular sight, the crowd numbering in the thousands filled the Waterfont area and also the Benak Panorama Park area. There were  boats of all shapes and sizes, jet skis and that familiar helicopter hovering in the air. Then from a distance there was the surfers numbering about ten this time. I see them riding the waves, some surfing and some thrown back into the water by Ben's mighty waves. I know how that feels, as I have tasted the waters of Batang Lupar and may I say not in a very nice way. I still have this sore shoulder from that fall while playing with a surf board along Batang Lupar River. My knees were shaking more, not out of inexperience but more of fear on what lies below as Batang Lupar was famous for its large crocodiles. I have to say, it is not easy to pretend that they are not below.

Ouch: all in vain ~ trying my best not to fall into the 'teh c' coloured water during Pesta Benak 2011

Well, enough of that mouthful story about me drinking the river water last year. Its time to share the story of my two friends who seemed to enjoyed their moments during Pesta Benak 2012. This post will feature their adventure of being chased by the benak. The clips were taken by DE Cassidy for me to edit, but more towards getting it prepared for Pesta Benak 2013 but hey, why waste a good story about the videoman himself. Both of them kept Ben @ Benak company when I was not around. Cheers to both of you and a toast to your experience. I must say they had a splashing time.

Get their point of view below:



Cheers!

Memories Of Pesta Benak 2011 

Its been almost three months of saying adios to Sri Aman, but I feel I would not have done my part if I did not publish the second part of the Pesta Benak 2012 promo which I prepard earlier. After sourcing out all the necessary movies clips and experimenting with a few Movie making softwares, I wish to stick with the simple Windows Movie maker. Most of my March 2012 blogging time has been trying to fit in all this promo movie story line, So to the people of Sri Aman and the organisers of Pesta Benak 2012 Sri Aman, I share with you (and all Benak @ Tidal Bore fans) the part two of the promo video.

 

 May Pesta Benak 2012 this year be merry and grand. I am not sure of being able to make it though I do wish I can. Being in another capacity it is certainly hard to find the free time to meet my Sri Amanian friends once again. 

Cheers my friends.

I Know What You Did Last Pesta Benak 

This is Part 1 of a short promo video of the upcoming Pesta Benak 2012 (to be held on 6-8 April 2012) which feature clips mainly from last year's Pesta Benak 2011 held in July 2011. The introduction features Mr. Clément Gargoullaud, one of the Frenchman who is expected to visit Sri Aman this April 2012 for the Pesta Benak 2012. Although I may be far away from my friend 'Ben' @ Benak no that I am in Kuching, I will do my part to promote this wonderful event.

Pesta Benak 2012 Leaflet

The Pesta Benak 2012 Leaflet is available for distribution. Click here: Pesta Benak 2012 Download or just download the . I wish all the organisers and Sri Amanians a Happy Pesta Benak event.

The Transformational 'Surfer'

So here I am in my new office after reporting for duty on 16 January 2012. I forsee that this is going to be an exciting journey. So what lies ahead as I sit here heading Section 4 of the Human Resource Management (HRM) Unit, Chief Minister's Department. In a way it was homecoming for me. My new office located at Wisma Bapa Malaysia brings many memories. It was here that I reported for duty, in July 1994 and again in September 2001 (after our Ministry was relocated to the State Office Complex in 1998) before leaving for Sri Aman in 2008. I could recall that first day as I dropped by at the Ministry of Environment and Tourism as a newly recruited officer, still wet behind the ears. At the lobby I could recall how the occupants of the building looked older than me. Lots of people in dark coloured coats and bright colourful neckties. And large neckties they were. Mine was an outrageously thin necktie which did not match my maroon shirt and cream khaki trousers. This was a 'no no' dress code at that time but I guess being a new kid in the block I was forgiven.

Today it seems that everyone was new as I see lots of young faces at the lobby, while waiting for the lift. I was trying my best to catch glimpses of familiar faces. But I am fortunate as my new team at Section 4 made me feel at home instantly. During the signing of handing over notes, I was appropriately briefed on the challenges that lay ahead for the HRM Unit. The Chief Minister's Department was on an important mission. In line with the Government's Transformation Programme (GTP) spearheaded by the YAB Prime Minister via YB Dato' Sri Idris Jala, the State Government is also embarking on its own parallel transformation programme. Yes this Human Resource thingy is something new to me but its time to roll up my sleeves and learn something new. One colleague assured me that human resource management is nothing new. "We do HR everyday without us knowing it". When we apply for a job, to filling in job descriptions, attend in house training, apply for sick or study leave.......thats HR.

 

But 2012 opens with a different beginning. Gone will be the day to day type of administration as our State Secretary stresses on the need for a paradigm shift towards transformational management. The target is very high ~ becoming a strategic government to achieve World Class status. This means to review and redevelop procedures, processes and policies of world class standards. So that is a tall order is it not? But after a few years of serving on the ground (Sri Aman) I would say I can relate to this calling.

Look at it this way, after many eons of tidal bore @ benak occurrence at the mighty Batang Lupar river, not many people would have dared (or thought about it) to surf the waves on a longboard. That's when a Frenchmen by the name of Antony Colas came to Sri Aman in 2009 and changed that perception.

It takes mind over matter (after hearing all those stories on the giant crocodiles in the river including the famous Bujang Senang) to step on a surf board and play along Batang Lupar. The presence of the international surfers to guide and show you how its done helps one overcome this fear factor. You'll fall once, twice and many times but that's part of the learning process. Similarly this is the what the transformation journey is going to be like. You can give many excuses on why it can't be done but not until you try. You'll fall and fall, but hey there are others who have achieved World Class status. We can't say it can't be done. So pick up your longboard and together we can surf this Transformational Wave.

Congratulations to Mark & Azelea

There was another wedding to attend this weekend and i said 'hullo hullo' the groom's name is again Mark. Did I just not attend a Mark's wedding two weeks ago? The wedding happened to be my boss's daughter, Ms Azelea Bakrie, the eldest daughter to Mr. Bakrie Zaini who is currently the Director for the Human Resource Management Unit of the Chief Minister's Department. The wedding was held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).  The wedding was new to me in many ways. It was a  Malay wedding ceremony, full of colours and tradition where the groom, Mr. Mark Ali Stephens, who is obviously not from this part of the world (he's from Devon County, England by the way) wore the Malay traditional attire. So did his brother Mr. Jonathan who was the best man. Mr. Bakrie's two younger daughters who were the bridesmaid wore modern dress which blends well with the couple they were accompanying. Most Malay wedding ceremonies I attend is usually in the morning. This is another unique celebration which can be summarised in a blog about inter-marriages in Sarawak by YBhg Datu Aloysius Dris entitled A Uniqueness That is Distinctly Sarawak.

The stage is all set for the enthronement ceremony (adat bersanding) at The Great Hall, Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK)

The towering wedding cake on stage

Those attending the wedding can write their congratulatory messages at the entrance of the Great Hall BCCK

Traditional welcome: the arrival of the couple, Mr. & Mrs. Mark Ali Stephens

The couple walks into the limelight

The couple's grand entrance together with their Best Man and Bridesmaids 

Proceeding towards the stage 

Lined up to enjoy the cultural performances

Here the silat which is the traditional Malay martial arts is being displayed in front of the couple

The breathtaking view from the high table

More cultural dances being performed for the couple and guests

Raja Sehari or the royalty for the day

The tepung tawar or blessing ceremony here is being performed by the bride's father Mr. Bakrie Zaini

The groom's father performing the tepung tawar

The Makan Nasi Temuan is the interesting part where the bride and groom feeds one another the fastest they can. This is explained better by Borneo Love in her blog entitled Sarawak Malay Weddings.

Makan Nasi Temuan even: The result for Mr. & Mrs. Mark Ali Stephens ~ it was a draw

The cake cutting ceremony by the bride and groom

Its cake feeding time

The final part of the night was a thank you speech by Mr. Bakrie Zaini

At the end of the ceremony one cannot escape the feeling of how fortunate we are in Sarawak to be able to witness such unique weddings. Love knows no boundaries, that's what one can deduce when we notice here on how it overcame the continental, traditional and religious barriers. I have attended many weddings of all sorts and I can say no two weddings are always the same. That's the wonders of being in a multi-racial, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country where we are free to observe our different practices and for the outsider this can be a culturally enriching experience. From the church to the temples, to the bersandings to the longhouses and kampung (villages) its all there to cherish and appreciate. This is uniquely Sarawak, you are so right YBhg Datu Aloysius. There will never be a clash of cultures here, just a colourful blend of the different cultures. Cheers everyone and Congratulations again  to Mark and Azzie again. God Bless.