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Author: Tom02

What ? No Sri Vijaya ?

What? No Sri Vijaya Toms Note: This is a condensation of a 53-page essay written by Liam Kelley and published in China and Asia in 2022. I requested Dr Kelley to review the manuscript, and he added minor corrections. Contact me if you want the whole essay. George Coed’es, a

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August 24, 2022 No Comments

All Creatures Great and Small #29

Zygogynum New Species from Sarawak A new species of Zygogynum thought to occur only on the eastern side of the Wallace line, has been discovered in Sarawak. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-022-10041-4 Tiger Leeches Soil moisture is the main feature governing the locations of leeches. Tiger leeches were found in lower elevations, while Brown leeches were

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August 21, 2022 No Comments

Teochew Temple in Kuching Centre

The Hiang Thian Siang Ti Temple in Kuching Many thanks to John Tan for his kind assistance in helping me understand the Chinese temples. The Hiang Thian Ti temple, on Carpenter Street, was first built in 1863 by the Teochew immigrants as a house of worship for the Deity of

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August 17, 2022 No Comments

Bidayuh Old Custom

Tom’s Note: This old custom has a much deeper meaning. The Malay, whom the Land Dyaks honour, is half Royal Blood and half land Dayak. I am not sure if the author means Bidayuh or another Land Dayak. Black flags are seen on some fishing boats on the river outside

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August 14, 2022 No Comments

Dayak Ghost Story

Kumang Kidundung by Sunga Tom’s Note: This tale comes from the Bidayuh in the Serian district. Kumang, in the Dayak world, are spirits among the people. This story tells an interaction between one of those spirits, Antu Puah, and a Dayak named Kidungdung. Kumang Kidundung One day Kaleng went out

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August 6, 2022 No Comments

Niah Bats

Tom’s Note: Probably one of the most awesome spectacles of the natural world is watching the bats leave the great cave at Niah. You must plan a trip for those who have not seen the show! 300,000 Bats  There are seven species of bats in the large cave at Niah.

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August 1, 2022 No Comments

Sandakan 1894

The Sandakan Diary Tom’s Note: The founder’s wife of Sandakan, located on Sabah’s east coast, wrote this small diary in 1894. Bajau Legend The Sultan of Johore had a beautiful daughter that was betrothed to the Sultan of Sulu. When the time came, a large fleet was assembled to escort

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July 27, 2022 No Comments

All Creatures Great and Small # 28

All Creatures Great and Small #28 Fish Information on fisheries in Sarawak is scarce and poorly known. This review completes a checklist of fishes in Sarawak waters and tells of the status of the resource. https:doi.org/10.33736/bjrst.4651.2022 Visitors will pay to see orangutans. This study states the visitors to the Sepilok

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July 24, 2022 No Comments

Dusun Proverbs

Tom’s Note: Here are some fun proverbs from the Dusun people of Sabah. Are there any similarities between Malay, Chinese or other languages? Some Dusun Proverbs and Proverbial Sayings 1. “One way or the other, when defeated becomes ashes when winning becomes charcoal a man engaged in a lawsuit. There’s

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July 20, 2022 No Comments

Datu Merpati: A Fable?

Tom’s Note: Here is an oral history of Datu Merpati. He is a person who, it was said, ruled Sarawak sometime in the 1700s and who many of the current and past rulers have traced their lineage. Much of it is fantasy except for one item the Sultan of Brunei

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July 17, 2022 No Comments
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