Honestly, when I got invited yet to cover the Rainforest World Music Festival this year for the second time, I told myself I was gonna cover it like a proper journalist would. A week prior to the festival, I drew plans in my head and on paper on how to collect as much information as I can, on the structure of my writing, on the photos and angles I was gonna take. Y'know, make it worthwhile for the readers. However, the moment I stepped into the festival ground, they were all but thoughts and words on pieces of paper. And that's not necessarily a bad thing! 

Before running my thoughts through, I'd like to extend my thanks to Sarawak Tourism Board for the opportunity and invitation, to Gustino and Hisyam (I hope that's the right way to spell his name) for taking care of us, to the rest of the Sarawak Bloggers team for the help, tips and pointer, to the volunteers at the media center, Damai Beach Resort for being such good sport and putting up with us and to those attending the festival! Y'all are awesome!!

So as I said earlier, I had just about everything planned out. Then I thought, if y'all my beloved readers want to know who's performing, where they come from and their musical career and stuffs like that, you can always ask Mr. Google, no? Or just use Mr. Wikipedia there on your left. I am a blogger, not a journalist (with all do respect). I write to tell stories of what I felt (occasionally I do write about facts though >.<)

I do get asked around what is Rainforest World Music Festival (or RWMF for short) quite a number of times, and my answers falls along the lines of "it's a chance to get to know, learn and immerse yourself in another culture, while at the same time teaching and showcasing your own culture". Many did not understand this - many thought that it was just an expensive rowdy, muddy concert where people dance and consume alcohol excessively. 

I tell my friends, the concert at night is the selling point for the whole festival, but what you're paying is the workshops in the afternoons. "There's a workshop??!!" Nope, not 'a' workshop, 27 workshops, to be exact. 9 each day for you to pick and choose which to learn and take home from. I definitely did. 

Having thrown my plans in the trash and decided to follow the rhythm of the jungle, I arrived at the festival grounds to the sounds of battle drums. It was the Big and Round workshop which frames drums from all over the world - there were those you hit with your hands, your palms, your fingers, and those you hit with a stick or baton. There were those that makes low, bass sounds, and those that makes sharp clapping sound. Some with jingles, some with snares. If you were there, you'll be sure to let me know how you felt attending the workshop in the comment below, no? 

Different performers with their own percussions

The Big and Round workshop featured bendirs, tamburello, pandeiretta, rebana, hadrah and tambourines. Mediated by members from 6 different group of performers, they each play a sample of how each percussion instrument is played in their culture, and at the end (my favorite part) they would all play together! Imagine these artists whom may have never met each other or heard each other play before, jamming together spontaneously! There is a gamble here - sometimes, it works, sometimes it does not! and that's ok, because from there we learn how similar, or different we are with each other, and give respect to one another, and that's how bonds are formed. 

Straight after Big and Round, as if being called by some strange, mystical force, I made my way to the Theater Hall where instead of a workshop, a third stage, the first year of RWMF that features 3 stages, Horomona Horo (wiki) was performing the ancient rituals of the Maori. Accompanied by his arrays of Taonga Pūoro his performance is truly resonating with the Land of the Hornbills. It was mesmerizing indeed (plus the theater hall has air-conditioning >.<) 

Horomona Horo and one of the Taonga pūoro

The performance itself loosely resembles that of the Sarawak natives, and it was indeed intimate and personal, as it was meant to showcase chamber concerts and performance. No flash photography was allowed, phones were set on silent or vibrate mode, even conversations amongst the audience was kept at minimum or in whispers. This third stage opened up a new dimension of performances and a different set of repertoire in this year's Rainforest World Music Festival. A note though: some of the performances showcased in the Theater Hall may not be performed in the evening concerts, so you may want to re-consider what you're missing out on! If you see yourself in the photos do comment and let me know which one is you! 

So after exiting the hall, I felt a sketchy sense of being creeped out, like something crawling under my skin! Or was it over my skin!! Like, SPIDERS!! So I headed back to Dewan Lagenda for a Bite of the Spider workshop! Sylvia Perrone of the Canzoniere Grecanico Salentiono (you MUST read it in an Italian accent Can-zo-niiiee-re Gre-ca-niiii-co Sa-len-tiiooo-no to have a glimpse of how AWESOME! this band is!) was teaching everyone on the floor how to do the tarantella. Owwhhh!! My skin crawls with goosebumps!!

Fuh! What a day - and that was only in the afternoon!!! Let me catch my breath for a minute and walk you through the evening concert in another post. If you'd saw me running around but didn't get to say hi, please write me a comment below. I'll definitely write you back. (^_^)/ 

Ps: Do enjoy the gallery below! 

Photo Gallery by QuickGallery.com

Hoooooyyeeaaahhhh!! 5 more days for that time of the year again where flocks of different folks come together for one of the most anticipated event of the year - the RAINFOREST WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014. This is it's 17th year, voted for the 5th consecutive year as one of the 25 best International Festivals by renowned world music magazine, Songlines. 

With management experience and worldwide recognition, you can rest assure that the event is as safe as any festival event as can be. Teams of staffs and volunteers alike line up to ensure the event flows according to plan with contingency and action plans accounted for any unplanned events. 

That being said, you, as festival goer, should not neglect your own safety nor the safety of other festival goers.  Remember, have fun responsibly!

The Venue
If you've been to the festival in the previous years or are already familiar with the Sarawak Cultural Village grounds, the same general rules still apply since past years. If this is your first time, here's an aerial view of the Sarawak Cultural Village (courtesy of Sarawak CUltural VIllage and rwmf.net)

The Programme
It's worth noting that some visitors to the Rainforest World Music Festival come for the highlight of the whole festival - the evening performance from participating bands from all around the world and spend the day sight-seeing around Kuching Town. The festival has loads and loads to offer, especially for the musical enthusiast looking for exposure and experience. Plan your timing, try to arrive early for the best spots and do join the afternoon workshops or shop for souvenirs at the arts and crafts or memorabilia booths set all over the festival venue. There are also plenty of food stalls if you feel like tasting the local delicacies. You can print out the daily festival program here:

• Day One | Friday (June 20th, 2014)
• Day Two | Saturday (June 21st, 2014)
• Day Three | Sunday (June 22nd, 2014)

The Dress Code
Kuching, in general, has good whether. However, it can be unpredictable. Dress for comfort. I have seen festival goers particularly ladies wearing high heels to the festival. This is highly discouraged as one, the festival ground spans over a large area and a whole lot of walking is expected; two, the walkways are made up of woodplanks (to reflect the traditional way back when) and there are gaps between the planks; three, the front-stage or 'mosh-pit' is earth, not paved, not woodplanks. 

I recommend t-shirt or tank tops, especially those made with jersey or quick dry material, shorts, and flip-flops. 

Accessories
I cannot stress this enough. Last year was my second time going to the festival, and my first as a media representative - on which I made a couple of small but costly errors. The first being not having a power bank for my devices. I almost used up all my phone battery by the first hour of the evening performance. So yeah, bring along a power bank or extra battery for whatever you may need. There are power points in Dewan Lagenda (I cannot confirm if these can be used) but you don't want to be grounded with all the happenings around you, do you? 

The second was my memory stick - I barely have enough memory to store all those photos I took with my DLSR! Dang! By all mean I'm no pro, but like many I want to capture the moment in photos! 

So to help you out, here's a checklist of items that you might want to consider bringing along with you.

1. Powerbank for your devices.
2. Chargers, again for your devices. I'm adding a power extension cord here. Sharing is caring, no? Plus, it's a good way to make friends!
3. A spare change of clothes, kept in a plastic bag to keep dry. 
4. Toiletries - this is really up to you how much you want to / can stuff into your backpack. Wet-wipes, tissue and toilet rolls, hand sanitisers are basic. Keep them in a sealed bag or plastic bag to keep them from getting wet in case it rains. 
5. Raincoat / poncho / umbrella - unless if you don't mind getting wet in case it rains.
6. A small torchlight - you never know if and when it becomes handy.
7. A whistle - to attract attention if you found yourself in a predicament. 
8. A backpack to keep all these in. 

Things NOT to bring to the concert! They WILL be confiscated!

1. DRUGS! Just say no to them. There are other ways to have fun, like, uhh.. I dunno - just enjoy the music and the crowd?
2. Dangerous objects / objects that can cause harm - knives, scissors, sharp objects etc. Simply, if the items were not allowed in an aeroplane, they will not be allowed to be brought into the event grounds. 
3. Food and drinks - yeah this is quite unfortunate. Even bottled water were confiscated last year. They do sell them inside at a price, so do bring cash with you. 

Additionally, for those who plan to drive to the festival,

1. Unless you have the official car sticker, you won't be able to drive into the festival ground. Ensure your car is safely parked and locked. DO NOT leave any valuables in your car (This is a general rule, festival or not >.<)
2. Wrap your seat with old newspaper or plastic. If it rains, it will be muddy and you'll want your car interior to still be clean. 
3. Bring a few bottles of water, both for drinking and to wash up after the event. 
4. If you want to skip 2 and 3 above altogether, just keep a spare change of clothes in the bonnet and change before you drive home. 

Keeping safe
Always be aware of your surroundings, especially if you're going to the festival by yourself (in which case you can also contact me! I'll most probably meet my friends there, you're always welcomed to tag along). 

If you're travelling in a group, set up a MEETING POINT in the festival grounds. You'll most probably see other groups of festival goers carrying banners and signs like these. It's also a good idea to wear an identifier i.e bracelets, sash, cap etc. in case you need to quickly locate a missing member by announcing from the PA system. 

Do OBEY THE LAWS AND FESTIVAL RULES AND REGULATIONS. They are there for a reason. For one, it's you keep you and other festival goers safe. For another, it's to ensure that the festival management successfully organised the event for yet another year, keeping a good track record in hope that next year it will be held bigger and better!

STAY HYDRATED. Drink lots of water, and stay under the shade as much as possible to avoid dehydration and heat strokes. Generally, tap water in the festival venue is treated, but there may still be pathogenic microorganisms that can cause diarrhea or worse. Drink bottled water instead - or beer, whichever you prefer >.<

ENJOY!!
After all, that is the main reason why you'd come to a festival in the first place, no? 

P/s:  http://preciousmadphoto.wordpress.com also provides some really good RWMF survival tips here. 

 

It has been four decades since the legendary P. Ramlee left us - but his legacy still lives on. Much of the fan I am, I admit I know next to nothing about the life of this icon in our performance industry, and this is but one and maybe the only time I have to learn a little bit out the journey that P. Ramlee traveled to become legendary as he is today. Having sat next to a bunch of veteran fans who interjected mildly with comments, I felt a little envious to the fact that they are true fans of P. Ramlee, elaborating the representation and re-enactment of P. Ramlee's life events that could not be shown on stage. On some scenes, I saw some of them probably half-in-tears, their crushed handkerchief in their palms - totally absorbed in the performance. Afterall, we've seen his movies - but to be witnessing the representation of his life's journey is a totally new experience, and for them that is as close as they can ever be to their idol. 

The stars : (from left) Tiara Jacquelina, Tony Eusoff,
Elly Mazlein and Nadia Aqilah Baiduri.

P. Ramlee : The Musical, now in it's forth run, was shown at the Borneo Convention Center Kuching for two nights - September 9 and 10. The new cast line-up featured Sarawak's very own Tony Eusoff as P. Ramlee, Nadia Aqilah Baiduri as first wife Junaidah and Elly Mazlein as third wife Saloma. Datin Sri Tiara Jacquelina herself, as the executive producer also plays the role of the second wife, Norizan. The musical itself is part of a five day tribute to P. Ramlee, also in conjunction with the celebration of Sarawak's 50th Independance Day Celebration, and includes a concert by Indonesia's violin maestro Idris Sardi.

Highlights in the programme book

The musical portrays the life of P. Ramlee particularly how he began in the art and performing industry in Penang. He was first offered a role as a clapper boy and background singer in Jalan Ampas, Singapore by BS Rahjans for Shaw Brothers. His migration from Penang to Singapore opens up a whole new opportunity in the industry. 

 His climb towards fortune and fame in Singapore was due to his incredible ability to not only sing and act, but also in writing lyrics, composing melodies, script writing and directing. His natural talent led to his success and was well known as an entertainer and an exceptional artist throughout Asia. 

No journey come without pain and sacrifice. His first marriage with Junaidah did not last. The marriage failed because fame and fortune was too much for Junaidah to handle as she would rather have her husband and a simple life than the lifestyle of artists with the media always scrutinizing their life. After that came Norizan, the second wife whom embraced the life of fame and fortune - but P. Ramlee was far too absorbed with work  and Norizan socializing with her friends caused rumors affairs, lies and deceit. 

The stars, ticket and banner

The third and last marriage with Saloma was portrayed as hitting the balance between work and family, and was probably the cheekiest most clever bit of the whole musical! As Tony Eusoff and Elly Mazlein acted their wooing scenes on stage, the audience went "ooooohh" and "aaaaahhh" and "yeerrrrr.. ingga ku nangga!" (all in good humour - you HAVE to know Sarawak dialect to understand the last bit there). Even the makcik (aunts) sitting around me had their melatah (hyperstartle response? I can't find the English translation for this word and hyperstartle response is the closest that I can get) moments at the cheeky scenes playing on stage. I would like to know if P. Ramlee and Saloma did call each other Remy and Sally respectively, or is it just icing on the cake for the musical. Still, very cheeky and clever indeed!!

Some of the exhibitions and part of the musical

What touched my heart most was at the end when the montaj tribute to P. Ramlee was rolling, I could hear the faint sobbing of the aunts and grandmas to my left, dabbing tears away from their eyes with their crumpled hanky or tissue. The loss of such a great artist, even if it was forty years ago, must've been heartfelt to them. 

To me, Tony Eusoff played an awesome role as P. Ramlee (althought I have nothing to compare it against). It was a great show, well deserved for a huge icon that is P. Ramlee. I never knew he (Tony) can sing that well, but as he sang Hujan di Tengah Hari, Engkau Laksana Bulan and Getaran Jiwa, I felt goosebumps! Datin Sri Tiara Jacquelina and Elly Mazlein was just as powerful - singing the musical original A Marriage Falls Apart and the evergreen Di Mana Kan Ku cari Ganti. 

The set was also AH-MAY-ZING!!! Being my first musical, I thought the stage was small while the side stage too big, but as the sets and props rolled in I was all open-jawed at much of the effort and details that went into the design. It was nothing short of amazing!


Credits :

• To Mina and Anthony for giving me a ticket in the first place! Sorry I did not sit with you guys cuz I had my brothers with me.  
• To friends Naydee and Lydia for sharing some of the pictures you guys took. 
• To brothers T-man and Lupi, for being a great company! And Faizin and Bang Fitri too during the first half of the musical! 
• The makcik and grandmas sitting around me for sharing the anecdotes of P. Ramlee's life - truly you all are real fans!