Chinese Numbers by Chang Pat Foh Numbers and their meaning in Chinese 1. One is always a good number because it is the first number; can mean loneliness or single 2. Two means meet; good things come in pairs 3. Three means alive; one of three essential stages, birth, marriage and death 4. Four means […]
您生日快乐，长命百岁 Chinese Birthday Celebrations as practised in Sarawak by Chang Pat Birthdays in Western countries highlight a child’s existence, while grown-ups tend to dislike being reminded of their age. However, in the Chinese community, the adults are to be congratulated for longevity. It is a big affair for the Chinese to celebrate the birthday of
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by Tom McLaughlin Across the river from where I live in Kuching, are several kampongs all to be torn down to make way for either high rises or a park where people can walk along the river. I am not sure which. The following is a report on a visit to the area. We were
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Cockfighting by Entika Glumbang In the good old days, cock-fighting was carried out on a regional basis in that a few long houses would join together against another team which, consisted of several other longhouses. It was like a game of football (soccer to the Americans). Earning money was never thought of as seriously as
Dreams: A Chinese Interpretation by Chang Pat Foh The interpretation of dreams by the Chinese community of Kuching Weather and Universe A shooting star-Your family may be struck by sickness A star going slowly into a cloud-You may have a child Stars in a clear sky-Good fortune The sun/moon setting-Your servant will cheat you The
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All Creatures Great and Small #34 Sun Bear The Sun Bear distribution outside protected areas in Sabah decreased by only 4%. Sun Bears seem to be resilient to forest degradation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-022-02503-9 Brooke and English Law When British subjects made land tenure arrangements with native authorities beyond Britain, they were understood to be entering into a
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Kuan Yin Goddess of Mercy by Chang Pat Foh The Chinese believe in the existence of many gods, spirits, devils and the souls of the departed human beings in the supernatural world. Thus, prayers to the god’s departed ancestors are offered by the Chinese community at specific times for specific purposes. To the majority of
All Creatures Great and Small #33 Ants A one-hectare of lowland forest in Brunei yielded 115 species of ants, of which 102 have been identified. No fewer than 24 of these are new records for Borneo. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31184/M00138908.1584.4153 Crocker Undersea Fan The Crocker undersea fan has good undersea gas and oil prospects for the west Borneo
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Tom’s note: Matang is located to the west of Kuching and has many Javanese Kampongs. This is the story of how the people got there. In the period before James Brooke came to Sarawak and became its ruler, there arrived in the bay between Santubong and Tanjong Datu a sailing-vessel from Java. As the vessel
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Courtship among the Ibans”Ngayap” Toms Note: To western observers, the term “Ngayap” often had a sexual connotation. This is not true and is an insult to the Iban people. The Ngayap is an Iban custom which they inherited from many different peoples several centuries ago. As the Ibans moved up the Kapuas river, and into
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