My parents with twin cousins Apak koko and Ah Lian koko posing in front of the old house in the village, where they come to pay visit on the second day of Raya. Papa especially is happy to see them. Apak koko had spent part of his childhood with us (I was too young to recall his presence) hence memories still hold close to his heart of time spent in his younger days. He reminisces about a road trip where he was thrown off an old jeep and only upon realizing that he was not in the car that our uncle hurriedly turned back to find him sitting unscathed on the roadside, and other near-death experiences; my father on the other hand has recounted vividly stories of his life, of learning `ilmu kebatinan’ from an elderly guru in his youth, and of how, once, after abstaining from killing in his old age (he used to be a hunter), he asked permission to recite a little Buddhist prayer for a dead cow before villagers would start cutting up and dividing its body parts, only to see blood oozing out from all directions of its body, leaving his village friends in stunned amazement unable to digest of what transpired before them. The conversation drags on till late afternoon, where my father, brother Ah Chai and Ah Lian kokos then leave to visit Pakcik Haji Bulat’s Raya open house, while Ah Pak koko continues on with a question-and-answer session on Buddhist teachings and its philosophy with my sister Chee Bee. I, on the other hand find some quiet little moments by myself picking red chillies at the small vegetable plot located outside the house.
Later that evening kokos offer to bring us to Beaufort town to have dinner but my mother insists on cooking for us. A quick and simple meal is served, thereafter the conversation ensues till time to bid farewell, heartwarming embraces are exchanged between my twin kokos and papa, before they depart to their place in KK, a more than two hours’ drive away from the village…
I can detect a sense of contentment on my father’s face later that night, he is happy to have this little reunion with his nephews who are close to him, to rebond and to reminisce old times through which he had accumulated lessons on life, learned and unlearned each with a little trepidation perhaps, to become who he is today.
Earlier on the day he has visited the grave of his grandmother in the Muslim graveyard and was reunited with his younger sister and nieces and their children from Ranau, and nephew from Bongawan. Again warm embraces were lovingly exchanged.
Tonight he goes to sleep knowing deep inside that what he has wholeheartedly and unselfishly given through out this life, is now being generously and amply rewarded..
Cousin's spinkling scented water over my great grandma's grave, while Ah Tong koko looks on.
Papa and 2nd aunt fr.Ranau with her children and grandchildren
Papa and 2nd aunt fr.Ranau
The lady with white scarf is my cousin who is a Muslim convert
Ah Lian koko with Pakcik Bulat and Papa
Brother,Pakcik Bulat and Papa
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