Just before our Methodist School in Sibu closed for the second term break in August of 1974, a group of girls in my Upper Six Arts class expressed their desire for an outing. Led by Ivy Ngui, they planned a trip to Saratok and Debak during the break.
I suggested an additional idea that intrigued them—to visit our Kedap longhouse and the nearby Rimbas Bridge, the residence of our classmate Joshua Panggau. After a few days, they agreed to the proposal, and a few of them decided to join the trip.
Ivy took the lead among the girls, accompanied by Rohani Abdul Karim (now Datuk Seri), Shirley Goh, Hii Mee Gee, and one Lower Sixth Arts girl named Margaret Ting.
Ting Siew Nguong and Mohd Sait Ahmad (now Datuk), also from our class, expressed their intention to join the trip as well. Our classmates Joshua and Darius Munang were also part of the plan.
“I’m sure this trip will be very interesting for all of us town girls, especially visiting your longhouse in Saratok, a place we’ve never been to. We’re all very excited,” Ivy exclaimed to me in front of a few others during a class break, enjoying some cakes purchased by Joshua from a nearby stall in Kampong Nyabor.
“Don’t worry. You’ll enjoy the river scene near our longhouse and the area below Rimbas Bridge, close to Joshua’s residence. Joshua informed me that his eldest brother, teacher Jawi Panggau (later Penghulu and now deceased), was staying in the house with his family and a few others, including their sister and her husband.”
Before the school break began, we collected funds from the participants to book bus tickets, including return tickets. Joshua and I went out to book the tickets, and by noon on a Monday, we had secured them. On the following Saturday, the girls embarked on their journey, while Ting and Sait, despite having their tickets booked, couldn’t make it.
The bus journey started from Sarikei, and we travelled by express boat from Sibu to Sarikei. Ivy managed our funds and took care of the tickets.
I was thrilled to be in charge of our group of girls, and Joshua was equally delighted as his girlfriend, Mee Gee, joined us.
Darius, however, didn’t have a girl accompanying him on the trip, as his girlfriend, a Form Five Chinese girl, couldn’t join.
As for me, I was courting one of our female classmates, and Margaret, who hoped she was my choice, was included in the group. I managed to keep both girls happy with my actions.
My family was prepared to receive our visitors, as I had informed them through a letter, and my elder brother Jon had replied, confirming their readiness. After a long bus ride from Sarikei, with a stop in Saratok, we arrived at our longhouse around 3:30 PM. At that time, our Kedap longhouse was still the old one on stilts, with a modest yet clean appearance.
Since the weather was pleasant, I took them to our bathing site, just a five-minute walk from the longhouse. It was a serene scene, with a crystal clear river and knee-deep water, devoid of any river monsters, unlike now when it’s infested with crocodiles. At that time, several speed boats were still plying through the river, and the gasoline was said to cause discomfort to the crocodiles’ eyes.
Everyone wore sarongs to bathe, and our classmates—Ivy, Mee Gee, Rohani, Shirley, and Margaret—expressed their immense enjoyment while dipping in the water.
We spent around thirty minutes relishing the bathing experience and the beauty of the river.
It was a memorable moment for all of us. Joshua and Darius weren’t with our company at that time, as they didn’t stop at Kedap but went straight to Rimbas Bridge, to Joshua’s residence.
By the time we left the bathing site, darkness was descending from the edge of the jungle. When we returned to the longhouse, my brother Jon had prepared “lampu gis” (special lamps) to illuminate our “ruai” gallery, as well as two lamps inside our room.
He had set up one side of our modest room for the visitors, including three large mosquito nets for everyone. The girls were thrilled to use mosquito nets for the first time, as it was their inaugural trip to a longhouse.
Dinner was served—my dad, who was in his 60s, slaughtered chickens, and my mom prepared the chicken in a typical Iban soup, mixed with tapioca leaves. The girls praised my mom’s cooking. We spent the evening joking with each other and retired to bed, exhausted.
The next day, after a hearty breakfast, we ventured outside to admire the river view. By ten am, we were ready to head to Rimbas Bridge to join Joshua and his family.
It was a short bus ride, and Joshua and his brother Jawi were thrilled to welcome us.
Thankfully, the weather remained favourable, and in the late afternoon, we immersed ourselves in the crystal-clear waters of the Rimbas River, a tributary of the mighty Saribas in Debak.
The girls thoroughly enjoyed bathing in the pristine Rimbas River without any fear of river monsters. Joshua was occupied with his girlfriend, while I took care of two others, and the rest revelled in the delightful atmosphere. After about 40 minutes, we reluctantly returned to the ground, utterly exhausted.
We spent the night at Joshua’s residence. The following day, everyone was ready to depart, except for Joshua, who chose to extend his stay with his family.
Darius was also heading to his nearby longhouse in Keribau. I ensured that everything was in order and led the group back, reaching Sibu in the evening after bus and express boat rides.
Before writing this account, I reached out to Joshua, who has since retired as a teacher. He informed me that his brother Jawi passed away a few years ago, but their residence near Rimbas Bridge remains intact and in good condition, presently occupied by the family of the late Jawi.
I last met Ivy and Rohani around 2016, and we fondly reminisced about our unique trip in 1974.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the New Sarawak Tribune.
