Longhouse Inside Photo

Photographer’s Note

Just about anything to build a Rungus longhouse is gathered from the nearby rainforest. Except the nails and bolts to keep the ethnic communal home together.

Rungus is an ethnic tribe, indigenous to the Kudat peninsular of Sabah or North Borneo. It is one of the 40 ethnic tribes making up the Kadazandusun ethnic group.

They lived in a communal longhouse, sharing the grilled veranda and "courtyard" with other 10 to 15 families, depending on the size of the longhouse.

A longhouse is usually divided into "apartments" with a family in each one. While the parent lived inside the apartment, the unmarried young men sleep outside on the veranda shown in the photo and the young unmarried girls, on the "attic", right above the apartment.

In the photo, an old Rungus lady sits alone tending to her weaving on a weaver they called "Inavol" in a longhouse called Bavanggazo in the Matunggung subdistrict of Kudat.

prajan, Manuj, alftrek has marked this note useful

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prajan (355) 2008-07-29 3:57

Hi Bani. This longhouse looks familiar:) How are you doing?

foozi (4735) 2008-07-29 18:17

Salam Rabani,
you have shown the beauty of a longhouse in its real authentic and genuine surrounding. How much people would appreciate is not known. But getting into the lives of these people are really interesting. I like the way you frame the lounge with nicely played shadows of wooden ballustrades. Wonderful perspective from one enf to the other with the added huma value of a lady and a man. Lovely capture here.
The other beauty I would read would be the brownish and solemn dark grey wolud make me interpret of the future of these people. The race against modernity, the race against humanity and the race for serenity. We appreciate the beuaty and its serenity, but deep inside of heart there are always something that cry out loud. Hope they are always contented and live happy live.
You did well to expose some ideality in life and its a wonder to ponder.
Rabani, thanks for your advice on my trekking adventure. I really appreciate that. I do know that youre a man of the jungle too. Your t-shirt you wear in your intro is enough to tell who you are, and what you are.i
Your advice is really something that I will always remember. Not that I dont know but for the care you have shown had touched my heart.
Thank you very much.

Wassalam.
Foozi

NB: Selamat menyambut Israk Mikraj

Manuj (441) 2008-07-30 3:37

Salaam Rabani
another fantastic shot from the your lens.
good defined depth of field.
i like the way you have handled the lighting here.
interesting expression of the woman.
nice view my friend.
regards
Manuj Mehta

alftrek (2911) 2008-09-06 7:25

Hello Rabani,
How are you these days? Heard from Bill that you have been busy with photographic assignment.

At first glance, I thought it is the longhouse hotel at Sabah Tea Plantation. We went in for a look but decided to move on to Sandakan that day after visiting the tea plantation.

I like the effects of light and shade on the wooden screen along the verandah.

Warm regards
alfred