Memories came flooding back to me the minute my classmate mentioned something about the Penans. Almost instantly my hands started flailing wildly, my gestures feverish , my words coming out nonstophealmostdidntgetwhatIsaid. Trees, hiking boots, rain, ice cold crystal clear river pools, instant noodles, leeches and sleeping bags. I realized how much I miss Sarawak, its jungle and most importantly the people of the Penan tribe. My parents made it clear months ago that I wasn't going back again, especially not in September for the Long Lelang to Bario trip. Not only was it during Raya , but it would be my second Raya in the forest. My siblings would riot and have voodoo parties with voodoo dolls of me.
Somehow or rather, I decided to give it one last shot and I asked them again. To my utter disbelief they said yes.
Tan sent an email to everyone on the Penan-volunteer list;
Hi all,
It is nice to read again the reference to the Ba Tik bands of Nomadic Penan to the present ones like Along Sega, Sayap Magoh and Ba Puak and Ba Bareh.
Also finally today, we had our adopted Penan daughter of Along Sega joining us to this trip.
Welcome home to "Tong tana", SOFI.
Regards,
TBF
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