Wednesday 20 July 2011

Back to nature: The Bidayuh way

Due to my hectic schedule, I don't have enough time to arrange and manage my thoughts and ideas on Bidayuh life. My weekend's retreat to my kampung gives me the least ideas to write. Well, it's go green and save the environment, the Bidayuh way - "sungkoi tungkus".

My mum would prepare "sungkoi tungkus" everytime I left home, since my younger days till today. Last Saturday  I managed to go back to my kampung to visit my parents. Of course we had to come back to Kuching on Sunday evening. As usual, my mum would prepare our "bekal". We love it because we don't have to cook when we reach our home in Kuching.

"Sungkoi tungkus" is cooked rice wrapped in leaves. It is not just any leaf (I need to check the name/scientific name). The different Bidayuh communities would have different ways of doing it. Since my mum is from Bau, she would do it the Jagoi way but she is also able to do it the Sadong way. There is a difference between the two ways.

So, any environmentalists out there, learn from the Bidayuh on  how to conserve and preseve the environment. The used leaves are bio-degradeable and don't contribute to pollution. After your meal you don't have to do any washing, JUST THROW THEM. Very easy eh? Not plastic containers and poly packs. The leaves are free of charge too. What you have to do is look for them.

I'm not the only one who  love it, my kids too. They love the taste, smell and uniqueness of the rice. My son, once requested my wife to do it for him for his "bekal" to school. Well, you know the answer.

If you want to try it, just pay me a visit (but I have to take you to my parents). "Bidapud lagi..."


1 comment:

  1. Hi my friend,

    I just stumbled upon your blog. An interesting one. I missed the "sungkoi tungkus" very much. You don't have to be alone on your journey. I am traveling almost the same journey and I have 2 very close friends and of course the whole "school" are with me doing it together. Come and join us, via the virtual world...

    Your friend,
    Gen

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