Suns of Matu

There may be only one sun, at least the one that we belong to. But any early morning drive from Matu to Mukah and a late evening return back to Matu proves that Matu has many suns. A different display of sunrise and sunset everyday. Something that gives drivers a refreshing start and a relaxing end to the day.

Driving into the early morning sun(s)

Driving back into the sunset

Cruising across the Igan River

Indeed refreshing and relaxing. What happen in between the rise and the set is ours to decide!

Matu Flood - Views From Above

It's the 10th day today, Feb 7 and water level has subsides, though at snail-pace. Fine weather since yesterday has brought down the level an inch a day! And fine weather yesterday has also given me a helicopter view of the situation with Mukah Resident, Tuan Hj. Abdullah Jamil, courtesy of YB Datuk Abdul Wahab Hj. Dollah, Member of Parliament for P207 Igan who was on his flood visit here.

So here's some views of the situation on Feb 6. Though water level has subsides, most areas are still surrounded by water, at 1 - 2 feet above road level so boats is still the way of the day in the affected areas.

Matu Bazaar - all roads still under water

The government quarters and office area. The Clinic, Agriculture office and
Pos Malaysia are only accessible by boat. The District Office is on the top left.

Kampung Bawang

Another section of Kampung Bawang

Kampung Jemoreng

Another affected area - Kampung Air ?????

SK Orang Kaya Sergunim.
Hoping that the situation will be back to normal soon and our children
will be back to catch up what they have missed for the past week(s).

Flood, Flood, Flood

When water started to spill over some low lying areas here in Matu on Jan 28 and swelled on Jan 29, it looks like it's just a spill-over from the current king tide. But the round-the-clock downpour on Jan 29 and dawn of Jan 30 has got everybody a shocking morning call on Jan 30. Water has exceeded the previous flood level in mid Jan. I thought of not writing about it anymore but I feel that sharing it with friends will make me feel better and connected with the outside world in my total isolation now. No boat, no road! So I'm just updating the situation from my 'island' home here, thanks to this free internet service that kept Matu connected to the world.

My 'island' home - no boat, no road. The car porch is somewhere 5 feet down there. This is actually my first experience to be personally affected by flood and it taught me new things about patience, leadership and management besides new friends and bloggers as well. Blessing in disguise...

My office building which is a kilometer away form my home is like a floating vessel. The flood ops-room, the police and the JPA3 personnel are all on high spirit and full alert inside. This is taken from across the road in front of the building but the road is already soaked down there, only good for higher vehicles.

The five-foot way along Matu Bazaar was inches above water during the last flood but this time around, water has already gone above. What a time to happen, our Chinese friends are still in their festive mood. Hope it will bring good business for the year to come.

The Melanau longhouse at Kg. Sok, Matu on Jan 30. The bridge in front is still high above water though other areas around is already under water.

Jan 31 - That bridge has turned into a river. Water has risen by 2 feet in the last 24 hours. The longhouse is still safe and sound, thanks to the tall structure. I think this is one reason why we built tall houses, being people of the river a.k.a. 'a likou', water is just one step away. I'll write more about this Melanau longhouse, the one and only, in my later posting. As for now I just hope and pray to the Almighty that this flood will be over soon.