Tana Toraja where death is fun!

Quiet village of the Toraja at Kete Kesu

Proud and strong and untied tribe of Toraja

They bury their dead by the cliff face

I was taken in a catacomb..bit eerie but a good experience!

In the catacomb and I feel like an intruder!

Me again, fascinated by everything!

Or rather when someone dies there will be a big celebration and sometimes the remaining living relatives will have so much debt on them that they have to declare bankrupt.
It took three of us 10 hours and 40 minutes to complete a distance of 378 kilometers to reach Rantepao in Tana Toraja, but it was worth the trip.
The blue blood will bury their dead on the face of a limestone or a granitic cliff, why I do not know but nevertheless I found it unique.
Before they bury their dead they will celebrate by having a water buffalo fight and then the animals will be slaughtered for a big feast.
Well all of you must see how the Toraja lives and may be we can learn something!

Lunch with the new Yamtuan of Negeri Sembilan!

Posing with Yamtuan Besar Tuanku Muhriz and Tunku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani, after the lunch.

He is definitely a well brought up young man and the future king. With Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin, the eldest son of Tuanku Muhriz.

I am being the first to be formally introduced to the Yamtuan!

Me and my old Negeri buddies, Mokhtar (standing) and the great Kamel at the Istana!

Duli Yang Maha Mulia (DYMM) Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, will be installed as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan this coming month of October.
The installation will take place at the Royal Town of Seri Menanti from 22nd to 28th October 2009. A historic ceremony indeed, since the last one was held in 1968, when the late Tuanku Jaafar was installed the 10th Ruler of the state.
The announcement was made by Yang Amat Mulia (YAM) Tunku Besar Seri Menanti Tunku Ali Redhauddin, the eldest son of Tuanku Muhriz.
After the announcement I, and few others, was invited to have lunch with the man who would be the official king of Negeri Sembilan, and I found him to be a real people's king when he hosted the lunch without very much fanfare and strict protocol.
Speaking in his negeri accent, he and his wife, the new Tuanku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani binte Almarhum Tengku Besar Mahmud, spoke and exchanged views without making us uncomfortable, hed dhas a very god sense of humour and I really appreciate that.
Tuanku Muhriz is already more well liked by his subjects when he dropped in at various mosques in his state unannounced, especially at the many mosques in Seri Menanti doing his Friday prayers.
He normally drove his old BMW with his unobtrusive body guards following him from afar.
A mark of a very considerate man! I believe I have my "old king" back to rule my state that is so steeped with so strong customs and traditions that one simply cannot ignore!
Daulat Tuanku!

My sauna and jacuzzi in the jungle!

My green dimension!

Enough water for 20 people at one time without re-pumping!

Our tubular well. It went 180 feet and struck gold!

My avocado trees that I planted!

My hideout plus the new annex where the sauna and jacuzzi lie!

I can now brush my teeth with total joy!

I will be spending a lot of time here thinking?

Another view of my new sink!

My sauna!

And yes! My jacuzzi!

Remember my house in the jungle well I have an additional extension made to it.
I have decided to have a tubular well, about 180 feet down, and lo and behold we struck water, a lot of water!
So the water is being pumped, via electricity, to the annex where I will have a nice shower, a jacuzzi and a nice toilet where I can read, while doing it, and listening to the jungle sound at the same time.
Below are some pictures I like to share with my friends.

Our beloved Gimp is gone we shall miss him.....

Gimp
1994-2009

Our beloved Gimp cat-person died very early this morning and he was with us for 15 human years, he is now buried behind our place where it is green and peaceful, just to let you all know. Gimp loved to lie down on the balcony floor every evening to watch the birds, especially. . May he rest in peace! Thank you!