Author: Valentine Tawie Salok

Lessons learned from severe food poisoning

‘Food safety involves everybody in the food chain.’ – Mike Johanns. He was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 2005 to 2007 under President George W. Bush. In this article, I would like to share my personal experiences with food poisoning on two separate occasions. These incidents left a lasting impact

Memories of Melupa’s historic cemeteries

‘In the sacred grounds of our community cemeteries, the roots of our history run deep.’ – Unknown ‘Burial grounds are not merely plots of land, but hallowed spaces that connect us to our ancestors.’ – Unknown In our Facebook group, Ruai Raban Melupa Saratok, we often engage in discussions about

Memories of a scout training expedition

In 1982, I participated in a scouting leadership course held in a compound near the government rest house in Santubong. On a pleasant day in early December, we travelled by a pom-pom vessel from a wharf in Kuching to Santubong, which was a small village at that time. Accompanying me

Joining Facebook group to refresh kinship

‘In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony.’ – Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900); a German philosopher, cultural critic, poet, and philologist best known for his works on morality, religion, philosophy, and the human condition. Just two days

Memories of childhood fishing adventures

‘I can really fish… I’ve been fishing since I was a little kid.’ — American professional football player, Deion Sanders.  Since I was a small boy, I have enjoyed fishing, whether it’s during the day or at night. Daylight fishing involved using a rod, net, or a specially woven basket called

Remembering Elvis tribute artist’s legacy

Last September 25 marked the second anniversary of the passing of my friend and fellow counterpart, Ges Barundang, who was a popular Elvis tribute artist known as Elges Presley. He left behind his loving wife, retired teacher Helen Menon, and four university-educated children, along with a few grandchildren. Not to

A time when cockfights united the community

Members of the Iban community in the Melupa area of Saratok were really excited back in 1962 when they heard about the regular cockfights, known as ‘nyabung,’ that would be held in conjunction with the opening of the new Nanga Assam Primary School. I have vivid memories of my dad,

Durian tales, from orchards to exams

Durians the king of fruits are flooding the market again here in Kuching city. Just a day ago while making a trip to E-Mart here in Matang I encountered a sudden urge to sample the tasty golden flesh of the Musang King variety at a stall there and thus paying

Constructive, creative rural boys

Living in a rural setting exposes you to so many marvellous things – the natural world and the particular texture of small-town life, and the exhilarating experience of open space. – Susan Orlean, journalist —————————- In the 50s through to the 60s, rural boys had to be contented with their

Among privileged USM few

AN ex-girlfriend from Penang recently sent me her photo taken in front of my nine-foot tall wooden sculpture (done in 1978) placed at the entrance to USM’s Library.  It must have been taken circa 1985 and a bit grainy. Now at 62, she used the photo to reconnect and reminisce