Travelogue: Outreach to Kampung Rudan Padawan

Assalamualaikum and greetings readers.

Here's a story our community service project to Kampung Rudan.

From 10th to 16th June 2015, a total of 22 students; 16 from MISI Club, 5 from Secretariat of English Language Linguistics and Literature (ELITS) and 1 Journalism student have embarked a journey to Kampung Rudan in Padawan district of Sarawak. First initiated by MISI Club, the outreach-based project is one of the annual community service programme to Sarawak besides Sabah.

Well, that's the gist of it. Sounds heavy but I promise you, your reading experience on this one travelogue will be your next best imaginary travelling experience.

*Terms and conditions apply. Don't forget to visualize. Lol*

Let's start with the village itself. Away from the honking cars, the busy traffic jam, smoky air, busy lifestyle, at least 27 families happily lived in a village between green hills and trees. It's not gonna be a village you've seen in Malay dramas, where the village is somehow structurally accommodated with great facilities. Kampung Rudan was not that kinda village, so many downs on that level. But hey, is that what we should seek in a village? Of course not. Allow me exaggeratedly describe the beauty of this village then.

On the way to the village, the view is magnificent! It's near 15 minutes roller-coaster and hellish ride but do not sleep or puke yet! Again, the view is magnificent at one point. So, don't miss it.

Lovely!

Wait, here's another view from the SK. St. James school.

Back to the village. It is wiser to expect the least of this village but why not expect the best? Because the village has its own river beside, behind or in front the houses, you name it where it is! Because I'm lost with the positioning. The river is awesomely nice, cold as always. If you're there, take a chance to be alone at 10 in the morning and sit on a big stone whilst having the water of the river runs on your skin. You'll love it! Take a deep breath, hold and release. It's a pressure relief session, free-of charge!

Behind Pak Tok's house. Oh, who is he?

As I mentioned before, the village is situated in the middle of a jungle. But fear not lads, they're not literally living in the jungle. If I were to draw the village plan, I'll draw a circle. Inside the circle is the village, outside is the jungle. Now, what's with this jungle? Most of the villagers lived surviving with what they have in the jungle. The crops; corns, sugar cane, paddy, and more, are their bread and butter. All fresh and good, you'll love it. I tasted the corns and it's good, but that's not all of the village's tricky treats. The village very own nasi bungkus is delicious. With few dishes, you'll be like Almaz. She loved the nasi bungkus. Other than that, nasi buluh, lemang, sayur rebung, ayam pansoh - all the dishes that can make your stomach wants some more as you eat like a horse.

We all couldn't taste it without the help of the villagers. Oh, they're all good people. You'll love them. When we did the big-scale cooking a.k.a rewang, the villagers came down to the home stay and give us helping hands; from preparing the onions to setting up the big pot and whatnot. We all did it together and we have our chill time even though we're strangers.

Oh, meet the most active uncle - Cikgu Jamali (retired) or also known as Pak Tok. Perhaps without him, the project would be a bit off the chart. I mean, he was really cool and we enjoyed the whole time of funny moments he has given us as we find ourselves among the people we just knew.

Me, and Pak Tok in front. Behind us, Rasyidun.

Pak Tok is quite participative in most of our activities and which is why most of us loved him so much. Al-Baghdadi quranic class, prayer camp, gotong-royong, rewang and cultural night, he'll be the first to attend. The kids were the same! We managed to conduct sukaneka with them. It was fun! 

I should've joined them and play along gahhh.

The kids performed a lot of local dances during the cultural night. It is an honour to see few beautiful Bidayuh dances such as Tarian Ngajat, Tarian Ngajat Tampi, Tarian Langgi, Tarian Buluh, and Tarian Lantong, and to dance Tarian Langgi on-the-spot by following Pak Tok is a whole new experience to me! I don't have the picture, but I promise I'll upload one. Anyway, check out this video I recorded on Tarian Ngajat Tampi.

There are more wonderful memories that I can share, but I wish to stop before I pack my bags and drive to Kampung Rudan right now out of excitement. Perhaps I'm missing the village too much already. Ask the other members, the must've said the same.

Therefore, this is another journey that I will remember for the rest of my life. So much to learn from, full tummy, and great sights. I promise I'll come again with an empty stomach.

With love,
Amirullahzul