Ambassadors Get A Taste of Gawai
SIBU, June 4 (Bernama) -- Not everyone will have the opportunity to visit a longhouse on his /her first visit to Sarawak.
But for Patricio Torres, Chile's Ambassador to Malaysia, he managed to visit not one but 10 different longhouses and more so during Sarawak's Gawai Dayak, the harvest festival of the Iban community, which is celebrated on June 1 every year.
Russia's Ambassador to Malaysia, Alexander A. Karchava, who came on the second day of the Gawai, managed to visit four (longhouses).
They were guests of Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Joseph Salang, who took them to the longhouses in his Julau parliamentary constituency including his own 40-door longhouse, Rh. Kassin in Nanga Bangau, Muara Bunut, across the Rejang River opposite Bintangor town on Saturday.
On Sunday, they were brought for open house visits to three longhouses in the interior of the Pakan district in Sarikei Division.
Speaking to Bernama of their expriences here last night, both were unanimous in describing the visits as not only educatinal but also found the Ibans to be extremely friendly and hospitable as hosts.
"The trip gave me a lot of knowledge about Sarawak and is another eye opener on the plural society and the solid harmony in the great diversity of Malaysia," said Karchava.
He was also full of praise for the "Tuak," the traditional rice wine popular among the Iban community, saying it reminded him of his hometown in Georgia where the people brewed their own spirits including the Vodka.
For Torres, he said it was a privilege of a lifetime for him to be able to celebrate the Gawai with the Ibans in their longhouses.
"The Ibans they are very proud of their culture and identity but they will willingly share with you when you come as their guests. They receive you with open arms," he said.
-- BERNAMA
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