23-10-2014. Kanowit.
I put up a night in Bintulu, meeting up over dinner with Fr. Michael Sia and a few of his parishioners.
Dennis Ting chauffeured us (me and Philip Kong) from Miri to Bintulu and taking good care of us until we left for Sibu on 23-10-2014 morning.
We took an express bus from Bintulu at 8:30 am for a 4-hour journey arriving at about 12:30pm.
I was met by Jackie and Hee Tong at the bus station ... and lunch followed.
More dining at night ... dinner with Linda and children. Linda and husband Peter are warm and generous, and always give us (me and my wife) best treatment whenever we are in Sibu.
The next morning, after breakfast, I went Fr. Fabian Kong to his parish at Kanowit which is an hour from Sibu.
Kanowit is a small time at the bank of Kanowit river, a tributary of the main Rajang River.
Fr. Fabian is the Parish Priest of the Church of St. Francis Xavier assisted by Fr. Philip Obaso (Kenyan) and Fr. Onesimus (Ugandan). Both are Mill Hill Missionary priests.
There are 10 outstations villages under the parish. The priests take turn to visit all of them, many can be reached by boats only.
I was taken by Fr. Philip to a boat ride crossing the Kanowit river to a small chapel at a village called Majau. It serves the Iban longhouses in the area.
Later, we visited a long house which is called Rumah Panjang Benjamin with 53 "pintu" (doors or households). It is Iban custom to name the house after the current head of the longhouse.
Benjamin is a jovial and friendly head. He and his wife welcomed us into their beautiful long house. It has 3 rooms for Home Stay guests.
We were treated to home brewed Tuak , a popular alcoholic drink during festivals particularly The Gawai (Havest Festival) which is celebrated at the end of May each year.
In the evening, I attended the Mass in the church attended also by many school children from nearby boarding school.
After the evening Mass, we went to a Chinese family for Rosary prayer.
The host, Joseph and wife Tracy, treated all of us to a delicious home-cooked dinner.
My Kanowit one-day visit was a great experience covering boat ride, outstation small chapel, Iban Longhouse, Tuak drinking, family prayer and the interesting bumpy car rides.
Hearth felt thanks to Rev. Fathers for their hospitality and kindness.
It was an unforgettable journey.
(More pictures in Facebook)
(Video in Youtube)
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| Eating BBQ Bishop's nose |
23-10-2014。加拿逸。
我在民都鲁住了一夜，与当地的谢必康神父和数位教友共进晚餐。
Dennis 陈兄弟从美里载送我们（我与昌春）来到民都鲁，并接待我们交通及膳食，直到我们在23/10 离开为止。真的万分感谢他与太太、儿子的热情与慷慨。
我们从民都鲁乘搭早上八时半的长途巴士，来到诗巫。这段路程需要大约四个小时，司机驾驶安全，也相当的舒适。
我们在中午十二点半抵达诗巫车站，见到了希通与冉颖在场迎接我们，并且接待我们午餐。
晚上，Linda （秀凤）宴请我们与他家人共进晚餐。Linda 与丈夫Peter 都是非常的热情与慷慨，每次到诗巫，都会受到他们盛情的招待。
第二天的早餐后，江宗欢神父驾车载送了来到了他的堂区 - 加拿逸圣方济沙勿烈教堂，小住一晚。
江神父是这堂区的主任神父，有两位米尔山修会的修士目前在在此协助 - 来自肯亚的菲力神父及来自乌干达的乌尼斯莫尔神父。
这个堂区有十个小区，大部分都是伊班长屋。他们轮流拜访这十个地区，有些只有乘船才能够到达。
抵步后不久，菲力神父带我乘搭小船，度过加拿逸河，去参观在一个名为Majau 的伊班长屋区的小教堂。
过后，我们前往一个离教堂不是很远的长屋，拜访了长屋的屋长本雅明兄弟。本雅明非常的友善及幽默，他与太太热情的欢迎我们来到他的屋子，并以当地酿制的Tuak 米酒接待我们。
这间长屋还有民宿设备，接待从世界各地前来的游客。本雅明本身的屋长就要三家房间，供游客住宿。
傍晚，我们参加了教堂的平日傍晚弥撒。附近一间住宿小学有好多学生，也前来参加弥撒。
弥撒后，我们前往一间华人教友的家诵念玫瑰经。
主人林家义、江美花夫妇，准备了好多自家煮的美味佳肴招待我们。
我们加拿逸一日之旅，收获丰富，多姿多彩。我体验了坐小船过江，参观了偏远郊区教堂，参观了长屋，喝了香醇的Tuak，还有那颠簸道路的车程。
感谢神父们的热情接待。
这些都令我难忘！
（更多照片 Facebook）
（录像 Youtube Video)
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