My mum & I went back to our longhouse on sunday,21st October, because the longhouse was selected to join in a 'beauty' competiton organised by a government department. The Tuai Rumah,Joanis Giri requested all the tuai bilek ( head of each household) of the longhouse to come back for the occasion. You see, most of the tuai bilek are away in Miri seeking a livelihood and hardly return to base. Names of tuai bilek of Rumah Panjai TR Joanis Giri,Nanga Geremai, working and living especially in Miri were broadcast over WaiFM,to make sure that the request to head back to "Home Sweet Home" was loud and clear,I suppose.
Upon our arrival,never had I seen such a breath taking environment of the longhouse. The compound was cleared of all debris,unwanted plants that were an eye sore were nowhere in sight. As we stepped on the 'tanju' we saw pink curtains on every windows throughout the 50+ door longhouse and all the walls of each bilek were painted the same colour(greenish blue). Only then, we realised the seriousness of the request to be present. Cousins and relatives (everybody is somehow related in the longhouse) related the scenes,pains(body ache, painting,clearing&spring cleaning) and the short notice given by the officials of this competition.
Well, to all those involved in the "beautification" of Rumah Panjai TR Joanis Giri,Nanga Geremai, we say,"WELL DONE".
