Coming soon…

Malaysia is a land of festivals. After Christmas and ushering in the new year, we had Chinese New Year…and coming soon, at the end of this month, those of us in Sarawak will be celebrating the Gawai Dayak Festival while the Sabahans will be celebrating theirs – the Harvest or Kaamatan Festival.

I heard that the decor at this megamall in town is up and it is very nice so I made it a point to drop by and have a look…

It certainly is very well done…

…don’t you think?

The brass gongs sure look like real…

…but of course, the sape…

…isn’t anything like the real thing. This is the ethnic stringed-instrument or guitar, if you choose to classify it as such – the sounds are really so very pleasant and soothing.

They have all kinds of very unique and enchanting musical instruments, these ethnic races in the state of Sarawak and thanks to Sada Borneo who were in the reality talent show recently, many would have been enthralled by some of them…

…including the sape, I’m sure. As a matter of fact, I had never seen nor heard a few of those that they played before myself and was spellbound and so very impressed by the captivating sounds of each of them. Unfortunately, they did not garner enough votes to make it into the finals but at  least, they were the only Malaysian act to get that far in the competition and they did give a lot of people an insight into what’s in store here in Sarawak, musically and culturally, that is.

Back to the decor at the mall, they also have a bit at the entrance…

…to wish everyone Selamat Hari Gawai Dayak…

They did a really good job for Christmas last year…

*Archive photo*

…and the year before…

*Archive photo*

…and for Chinese New Year…

*Archive photo*

…earlier this year too and they have done it again. I must say that they do deserve a pat on the back for their good work everytime.