Unintended intention

Have you ever done something that you didn’t intend to do but later enjoyed it anyways when that something-without-intention happened? Well, I guess that happened to me. And Balan and Bertran. Or something like that. I went to Danu last Saturday with the sole intention to inform Robert of a certain meeting on Sunday. Since there’s no phone line in Danu and we’re not adept to making smoke signals, the form of communication is to actually drive there and meet the individual in person. The time and place is then set, and unless something dramatic happens, one is expected to be there. That’s the general code among rural communities that do not have modern communication technological infrastructure. Then again, the general code can always be ‘modified’…

‘Kerangan’ at Danu

I took my cousins Bertran and Balan with me as insurance. Y’see, I did not intend to spend the Saturday drinking langkau in Danu because I had too much a lot to drink the night before. It’s strange but true. Both Balan and Bertran enthusiastically agreed to come with me because I’m sure they had nothing to do that afternoon. And it’s also a good way for them to escape doing house chores. They didn’t say it but I know. Yes, I know.

When we arrived in Danu, we went to Robert’s place and saw him busy mending his fishing net. There was a large hole in his net and I thought he must have caught a whale in the river. He told us that we should go with him upriver to set up the fishing nets – 12 altogether – and then, camp for the night by the riverbank. It was a good proposition, no doubt, but I told him that Bertran and Balan had something to do at home in the evening so we can’t be hanging around too long. My insurance. The two cousins didn’t say a thing. Robert didn’t pursue further. I told him about the meeting the next day and he told me that he and some of the villagers will be waiting. As I – on behalf of my insurance cousins – told him that we’re about to leave, Robert motioned us to wait. Then, he said “Why don’t we get a bottle of langkau before you leave?” Without thinking, I unconsciously blurted “I think that’s a brilliant idea!” Doh!! Balan and Bertran nodded in agreement. Useless insurance.

The langkau bottle duly arrived at the table and so we drank. Then, half way through, the food came in from the kitchen. We had squirrel and fermented fish with rice and it was super delicious! Yummy. Well, once the food and langkau project was done, I politely asked to be excused. Robert still thought that it would be a good idea to go upriver. I thought it was a good idea to go home. But of all people, my cousins (so-called reliable insurance) came up with another different idea. “Can we go to the river?”, Balan asked. “Yes, I haven’t been to the river!”, added his cousin Bertran. I said ok. Robert said it’s a good idea. And so we went to the kerangan. There’s been no rain for the past five days so the river is relatively calm and clear.

Once at the kerangan, Bertran and Balan went for a dip. I was tempted to swim but the idea of getting wet while driving back to Kuching for 45 minutes wasn’t that appealing. So, Robert and I chatted while watching my two useless insurance policies frolicking in the river.

 

 

Not more than two sentences of chatting, I (again) unconsciously blurted to Robert: “Wouldn’t it be just ideal if we have a bottle of langkau with us?” Too late to take that back! Bugger all. Robert’s expression lighted up and immediately signalled to one of the villagers who was on the other side of the kerangan. That guy, Talma, ran up the slope to his house by the riverside. Ten minutes later, he came running down with not one but two bottles of langkau! I mean, what can I say, right?

And so, the rest is history as the cliche goes. The evening slipped into the night and as much as I wanted to go home (NOT!), I proposed that we continue drinking on the kerangan. If I was a politician then, I would have gained a 100% vote from my peers just from the expression of total agreement on their faces.

Langkau flowed through our veins gleefully. It was nice. We decided to put on a small fire and relax the night away. As the night gets darker with millions of stars lighting the sky, Robert’s friends and relatives came down from the village. Some had more langkau bottles with them. Some brought food and pork for BBQ. What better way to spend the night. I like.

The best thing about having a BBQ on the kerangan (a huge one!) is the sound of the river flowing nearby. Then, we made jokes, drank some more langkau, ate some more damn brilliant food. Why did I ever think of wanting to go home? And my insurance policies, although they were useless but they seem to have fun…man, life is good! (just for the record, Balan was the first to be KO-ed by langkau).

Gradually, as poet Coleridge once said, “one after one, by the star-dogged Moon, too quick for groan or sigh…with a heavy thump, a lifeless lump, they dropped down one one by one”. That’s what happened to us. I got KO-ed soon and then, I didn’t have control over my camera anymore. They took some photos of each of us sleeping but I don’t think it’s appropriate to post it on this entry. Let’s just say we all looked like this by the time it passed midnight (or thereabout):

It was a great unintented evening! Have a great weekend!